A Blue Tale

by Sarah Dosher

  “I think you’re wrong, I think that’s all in his past.”

  “I think he reminds you of your father; therefore, you have your head so far up his ass you can’t see he is exactly like your father. Same music, same guitar, same drug habit.”

  I shook my head.

  “Go! Have your fun. When he breaks your heart, or you realize what a piece of trash he is, I’ll be here. Because I love you.”

  He ran his thumb across my cheek and stared deep into my eyes. I could almost feel his black eyes begging me to say something else, to declare my love in return. But I couldn’t. Bright blue eyes had burned into my soul, and no matter what Shaw said, I had to figure Deacon out for myself, trust him myself.

  A motorcycle engine revved up the driveway drawing my attention. I felt Shaw’s hand move from my face then saw his back as he retreated to his vehicle and drove away.

  Deacon was immediately on me, “What was he doing here?” He snapped.

  “He just randomly shows up sometimes. It was nothing, he hadn’t been here long.” I answered, but the scowl never left his face as his eyes stayed on Shaw’s disappearing figure.

  “He just randomly shows up with flowers?” He pointed toward the porch where the flowers were still laying.

  “Deacon, I don’t know what to tell you. The doorbell rang, I rushed outside thinking it was you, but it was him. I told him I had plans today, and he left.”

  His eyebrows drew together as he squinted at me. Finally he shook his head and turned to walk to my car. Angela looked at me, shrugged her shoulders and followed after him then so did I.

  The drive to the prison was short, and I didn’t speak a single word the entire time; none of us did, really. My eyes stayed trained on the road with my hands gripping the steering wheel so tight, my fingernails dug into the palms of my hand. I wanted to demand answers from Deacon about what Shaw told me, but I kept my mouth shut. I didn’t know if I even had to the right to ask him about any of it. I mean he’d seen me naked, but what did I really know about him? Shaw was right about one thing, getting intimately involved with someone like Deacon without knowing anything about him, beyond what he made me feel, wasn’t like me. But I wasn’t sure I didn’t like this person better than the old me.

  Angela was a nervous wreck, which was easy to see. She kept twitching around in her seat, rubbing her hands up and down the top of her legs. As much as I wanted to hone in on my doubts about Deacon, there were obviously bigger things to worry about right this minute. Even Deacon didn’t look happy about being here. He kept cutting his eyes at me, and I felt it every single time. His infamous scowl was securely planted on his face, and didn’t look like it was leaving anytime soon.

  “Only two of us can go in at one time.” Deacon announced as we approached the prison. “Eli will not go in there without me, so if you need some support, you’re stuck with me.” He told Angela.

  She looked at me and her eyebrows shot up. I smiled at her, trying to make her understand it was okay. “It’s fine, I can wait out here.”

  She nodded, but Deacon didn’t even look at me. They walked down the long hallway leading to the visitor area and I took a seat on a bench out front.

  ***

  Deacon

  Angela and I entered the main doors, filled out the required forms, showed our identification, and were searched before they allowed us inside. The visiting area was filled with people waiting for their thirty minutes with their loved ones. We took a seat next to a woman carrying a small baby, probably here to meet his father for the first time.

  I should have been focusing on what we were going to say to Tony; instead, I was too busy thinking about why Shaw had been at Eli’s house. We’d barely been gone and that asshole was already there, perfect fucking timing for him.

  A guard called our names when it was our turn, and we walked through the long, narrow room and took our seats on our side of the glass wall with Tony on his.

  “What’s going on?” Tony asked. “Not very often I get two visitors in one day?”

  He was right; Angela and I never came here together. Hell, I wasn’t even sure if Angela ever came to visit her brother.

  “Nothing’s wrong.” Angela said with a fake smile.

  “Bullshit, I already know something’s wrong.” He paused and glared at Angela. “I’ve had other visitors this week.”

  All the blood drained from Angela’s face, and she swayed toward me, the complete weight of her body colliding with my shoulder. I wrapped my arm around her to help steady her.

  “What’s going on?” I asked through gritted teeth. “Obviously, there’s more going on here than I know about.”

  “I can’t fucking believe you brought him here with you, what were you expecting to gain? Did you think I wouldn’t say shit in front of him?” He tapped the glass with his finger trying to get her attention. “Huh? Did you fucking think that?”

  “Hands off the glass!” A guard yelled from behind Tony.

  “He was there.” Angela whispered.

  “Fuck.” Tony whispered and rubbed his hands up and down his face.

  “Are you two kidding me? What’s wrong with you?” I stood from my chair. “I’m done with you both, I don’t want to know what you’ve gotten yourself mixed up in. I told you a long time ago I was done with that shit, and I meant it.”

  I turned quickly and took two steps toward the door.

  “You’re already involved.” Angela said. “They’re already following you, have been since the day you picked me up. That guy you fought, Vito…well you shouldn’t have.”

  I leapt back to her. “I shouldn’t have? No, you shouldn’t have. You involved me in this shit when you called me asking for help.”

  “They were gonna kill me!” She shrieked, drawing far too much attention.

  “Both of you calm the fuck down, right now.” Tony ordered.

  “Fuck you both!” I said softly.

  “Deac, you’re already involved, whether you wanted to be, or not. Vito came in here making threats left and right, they want their greens back or the merch. But from the looks of my sister I’m guessing that’s gone.”

  “Tony, I’m…”

  “Save it Angela, I shoulda never trusted you. I knew better, that’s my fault. But now’s not the time to fight, we gotta stick together and get shit straight. Agreed?” Angela nodded and he looked to me.

  “No, not agreed. I don’t give two fucks if they’ve been following me, Angela has been with me every second of the day since I picked her up. Maybe they’re just following her. I don’t want in this shit again, you know this.”

  “I hear you have a nice little plaything that lives in a great big house in the Hills.” Tony said. “Do you want her caught in the middle?”

  “Are you fucking threatening me?” I leaned closer to the glass that was the only thing saving my friend from the biggest ass kicking I could give.

  “Nah man, but they are. They’ve been following you, and they know all about her. I’m just stating facts. Vito doesn’t bullshit, he gets what he wants.”

  “Eli’s got money, she can pay them.” Angela said.

  I looked from her, to Tony, then back again.

  “You planned this shit. You cried your eyes out to her, and told the exact sob story you knew would remind her of her dad so she’d get involved so deep, she’d give you anything you needed. Who the fuck are you people? My friends would not do shit like this.”

  “We’ve always been these people, Deac, you just were always on the other side of it.” Tony dead-panned.

  “What happened to you? Don’t you give a shit about anyone now?”

  “Shit’s different in here man, you gotta learn to worry about yourself, and no one else.”

  Chapter Twenty

  Eli Blue

  I knew Deacon and Angela only had thirty minutes with Tony, but I had no idea how long they’d have to wait before they even got to see him. I’d been sitting in the same spot on a cold, metal bench for
over an hour when a man dressed in a long, tan trench coat walked by. He stopped in front of me and smiled, which was a gesture I would normally return. But in this case I didn’t, the little hairs on the back of my neck stood up and a chill ran down my spine so fast, it made me shiver.

  “Hey darlin’.” He said in a sickly sweet tone. “You cold? They got coffee inside.”

  I diverted my eyes to the sidewalk and quickly shook my head.

  “C’mon, you been sittin’ out here all by your lonesome for quite a while. Why don’t you let me get ya a cup of joe?”

  “No, thank you.” I said softly. “I’m waiting for someone, he’ll be here any second.”

  He lightly chuckled and sat next to me, placing his hand on my leg. I flinched when he touched me, but he tightened his grip, locking me in place.

  “Yeah, see, I’ve been meaning to have a little talk with your new pal, Deacon, and as luck would have it, yous just happen to show up here visiting Tony the same day I did.”

  His beady eyes were glued to mine, and he leaned so close I could smell the stench of stale cigarette smoke and whiskey. He was a short, pudgy man, with dark hair on the sides and a gleaming bald spot on top. His cheeks were covered with small bumps, and the corners of his mouth were white and crusty.

  “How well ya know Tony and his little enterprise?”

  “I don’t, I’ve never met him.” I said with a shaky voice.

  “So you’re new to the inner circle of this operation then?” He said, nodding his head.

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I work with Deacon, on his music, and I just met Angela today.”

  He laughed so loud it made me flinch my head back before he pulled swiftly on my leg, snapping my head back toward him.

  “You, deary, have horrible timing making new friends, let me tell ya. But you’ve landed yourself in my path, and that’s where you’ll stay, especially seeing as you’re the one with all the money in this group.”

  “Wha…what are you talking about?” I asked, as two men wearing identical trench coats flanked either side of us.

  He lifted his free hand to my face and traced one finger from the tip of my ear across my cheek and tapped twice in the middle of my lips.

  “Your new friends owe me a lot of money, one of yous is gonna pay up, or I’ll find other ways of taking what I’m owed.” He leaned even closer, making me to hold my breath to avoid his stench. “You’re much prettier than the other one, I think we could have some fun.”

  I felt wetness as he ran his tongue up the side of my face stopping just below my eye.

  ***

  Deacon

  “Get your fucking hands off of her!” I shouted as I ran toward the bench where Vito was practically lying on top of Eli.

  Vito turned to smile at me, but before I could reach him I felt a fist collide with my face, knocking me to the ground. I landed flat on my back and felt a heavy foot press into my chest.

  “I think our encounter last time might’ve given you a false sense of power over me, Mr. Chastain.” He said as he walked to stand over me. “As you can see, any man can be knocked down when taken by surprise.”

  “Fuck you, Vito, keep your sorry ass away from her, or I’ll fucking kill you.”

  “Such language, I’ll never understand why you youngsters can’t have a simple conversation without cursing.” He stared down at me and shook his head disapprovingly. “Now I’m assuming you like your girl untouched, and your guitar playing hands intact.” he stepped even closer to me, placing his foot on my hand and pulling a knife from his pocket, holding it at my wrist, and I heard Eli gasp. “So I suggest one of yous comes up with a way to get me what’s mine before you regret it.”

  “Fuck you, Vito.”

  “Learn some manners, son.” He pushed the knife a little deeper into my flesh and pain shot up my arm.

  “You’ll get what yours, if you leave us all alone.” I choked out.

  “Hey! What’s going on over there?” I heard a man’s voice coming from near the prison. I turned to see a guard walking toward us.

  “You got one week, Chastain…one week.”

  Vito and his thugs quickly disappeared. Pulling myself off the ground, I looked toward Eli who was staring after them, her faced covered with shock.

  “Are you two okay?” The guard asked as he neared us.

  “Yeah.” I told him. “We’re fine, just a little misunderstanding.” I hide my bleeding arm behind my back hoping he’d be on his way.

  “Are you sure?” He asked, his eyes moving to Eli.

  I moved toward her drawing her attention to me, and watched horrified as she pulled away from me and curled her arms around her middle. I sat on the other end of the bench, trying to keep my distance because I could only imagine how badly she wanted to run away from me after what she’d just seen.

  “Oh, I see. Well you two take your troubles somewhere else.” The guard said thinking he’d come across a lover’s quarrel.

  I nodded at him and watched as he turned to make his way back to the prison.

  “Eli, are you okay?” I asked softly. “Did he hurt you?”

  She turned her head slowly and her eyes were glazed over with unshed tears.

  “Me?” She shook her head, making the tears roll down her cheeks. “No, I’m fine. But you…” she grasped my wrist and blood trickled down my arm from where Vito had pressed the knife. “You’re the one that’s hurt. They could have…”

  Her words were choked off by her tears. I pulled her body to mine and held her as she cried tears born from fear. I held her shaking body for a few minutes before pulling back and cupping her face in my hands.

  “No princess, I’m fine. Just a little cut, don’t be scared.”

  “Don’t be scared? What scares me is that you aren’t.” She turned her face to break free from my grasp. “You were so consumed with your own anger, you didn’t even seem to care what he did to you. Instead, you spurred him on when you should have been trying to escape.”

  Her eyes were wide with fear, and I saw the desire to run flash through them. But she was right; I didn’t care what Vito did to me, as long as he left her alone. I’d done enough in my life, I deserved any shit karma was going to throw my way, so I couldn’t care less what happened to me. But her, Eli deserved better. She was good and innocent, she didn’t deserve to be anywhere near scum like Vito.

  “You’re right.” I admitted, hoping honesty really was the best policy. “I’ve done shit in my life, shit I’m not proud of, and I deserve many of the bad things that happen to me.”

  “So what then? Angela, Tony, and you are somehow involved with Vito? You what, work for him?”

  “Fuck no! I don’t do anything for Vito, I wouldn’t call for help if his throat was slit, and he was bleeding to death on the side of the road.” She flinched at my words, and I exhaled, trying to calm myself. “I have been involved with scum like him before, but that was a very long time ago. I got away from that life, a life I’d learned from Tony. I don’t know what the hell is going on with Tony and Angela, but I haven’t been a part of that since I found music.”

  I paused, waiting to see if she would say anything, but she just stared into the distance, not even acknowledging my words.

  “I owe Tony, he saved my life. He and Angela are my only ties to that part of my life. I thought I couldn’t turn my back on him; I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for him. But now he’s dragged both of us into this shit, and he made Angela help him. They’ve both fucked up, and I won’t let them pull me down with them, or you.”

  Her eyes finally came to mine and her voice was merely a whisper. “What do I have to do with any of this?”

  “Nothing, except you know me, and Vito sees that as a way to get his money back for the drugs Angela stole from him. He looks at you and sees dollar signs.” I reached out and laid my hand across hers. “I’m so sorry, Eli, you shouldn’t be involved. You have nothing to do with this shit. But I’m going to fix it, you
won’t have to ever see Vito again, I promise.”

  “I don’t understand any of this.” She said, staring up at me, her eyes pleading with me.

  “And you shouldn’t. The less you know, the better. Just know that it will all be taken care of by tomorrow; I’ll kill someone before I let them touch you again.”

  She nodded and then wrapped her arms around me, squeezing tight. I let out a steady stream of breath, feeling a small amount of my inner panic leave with it. If Eli could forgive me, and not get caught up in this anymore than she already was, I believed things would be okay.

  “Deacon?” I heard Angela’s meek voice call from behind us.

  I stood, blocking her from Eli.

  “No.” I said calmly. “I’m done. I’ll take care of Vito, but I’m done with you and your brother. Disappear for a few days while I get it under control, but I don’t ever want to see you again.”

  “I…I’m sorry.” She said as tears started to trickle down her cheeks. “I never-“

  “It doesn’t matter, it’s done now. You fucked up when you decided to cross me, if you needed my help you should have asked instead of tricking us. I’ve always been there for you, always did anything you asked, given you anything you needed.” I took two steps toward her, knowing it would be the last time I’d ever see her. “I’m done, Angela, I won’t let your bitterness ruin me anymore. I’ve loved you like a sister, and that same love was all I ever asked for in return. I can’t do it anymore. Leave, just leave, and if I ever see your face again, you’ll regret it.”

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Eli Blue

  The drive up north to the location for the show, Unforgiven’s first show since signing with Savage Man, took for fuckin’ ever. My mind whirled with a million and one thoughts taking root then shooting ten feet tall in seconds. I didn’t have a clue what the hell was going on. Deacon had given me information, but just enough to confuse me even more.

  I didn’t live in this world, a world where you had to watch your back, or thugs would jump out and try to cut your fucking hand off. Deacon was still bleeding, all over my expensive car, but he didn’t seem to care. All he did was sit in the passenger seat, constantly cutting his eyes at me, and dripping blood all over his jeans and down to my floor board. I was going to have to sell my car now, with it looking like a crime scene, or at the very least, get the damn thing cleaned and hope the cops didn’t show up at my door looking for the dead body.