by Jenna Jacob
“All the packages are loaded,” Ruben stated, to whom, I didn’t know.
“Ten-four,” McCoy’s familiar voice echoed from the front seat.
I realized they were communicating via walkie-talkie or a multi-way cell call.
“Getting ready to pull out of the garage. Robinson, you in place?” Ruben asked.
“Affirmative,” the other bodyguard replied. “I’m just waiting for you to clear the drive so I can pull in and secure the garage door.”
“Ten-four.”
As the Escalade started to move, I held my breath.
“It’s going to be okay, baby girl,” Dad cooed, lightly stroking my back.
“I’m out and heading south. So far my backside is naked and blowing in the breeze,” Ruben announced.
“Are the birds still in the dark?” McCoy asked.
“Affirmative. They’re still trying to figure out what I’m doing just sitting here in the driveway.” Robinson chuckled.
“Good. Keep ’em guessing,” McCoy replied.
“Dino wake up,” Dustin said as he tried to wiggle free.
“Not yet,” Dad and Ruben called out in tandem frantic voices.
“Dino just ate a whole palm tree,” Dad continued in a calm, steady voice. “He’s got a full belly and is really, really tired.”
“Let us hear your dino snore,” I coaxed.
As Dustin began snuffling, McCoy asked for an update.
“Still clear, boss,” Ruben replied.
“The paparazzi is just taking pictures of my vehicle.” Robinson chuckled.
“Hot damn,” McCoy responded.
“Can we get—”
“Not yet,” Ruben said cutting me off. “I need at least two clean miles first.”
“Location one is still satisfactory. We got a couple lookie-loos, but nothing we can’t handle,” McCoy informed. “Everyone be ready to bag and tag when we hook up.”
Both Robinson and Ruben confirmed the order.
“Hey, Green. Keep your eyes peeled,” Robinson instructed. “I got a mass exodus happening here. Looks like they figured out our little bait-and-switch maneuver.”
“Dammit,” McCoy barked. “I was hoping for another four minutes.”
“Still clear,” Ruben stated. “But I’m hitting the side streets, just to be safe. ETA to the rendezvous point, six minutes.”
“Copy,” McCoy acknowledged. “Hey, Al, secure that garage door and see if you can hook some minnows to drag to the north side of town.”
“On it,” Robinson replied.
The men worked together like a well-oiled machine. Still, I was a knot of nerves, and enduring another six interminable minutes before seeing Darren seemed an eternity.
Ruben mumbled something unintelligible, then announced, “I’ll be coming in hot, boss. I got two…make that three on my tail.”
My blood turned to ice. As he took a sharp turn, my body was slammed against the base of the bench seat.
“Can you lose them?” McCoy snarled.
“Working on it,” he bit out, taking another turn so fast the tires squealed.
I clutched Dustin tighter as he peered up at me with a wary expression.
“It’s like a roller coast ride,” I said, forcing a grin. “Remember the dragon coaster I took you on at the fair last month?”
A bright grin lit up his face as he nodded.
“We’re riding a dino coaster this time,” Dad added, helping keep Dustin calm.
“Might as well sit up and get comfortable, y’all,” Ruben called over his shoulder. “Cat’s out of the bag.”
As Dad repositioned himself on the seat, he lifted Dustin from my arms and settled him on his lap, while I lifted onto the soft leather beside them. I glanced back. The cars were trailing us so close they were nearly on the Escalade’s bumper. I started to shake.
“Talk to me, Green,” McCoy barked. “Did you lose them yet?”
“Negative. I can’t shake ’em, boss. Should I proceed to the rendezvous point two?”
“Negatory. Bring them on in. We’ll deal with it.”
I didn’t know how McCoy intended to deal with it or how on earth we were going to get out of town without a flippin’ convoy of prying press and zealous fans kissing our bumper. But before my worries blossomed any further, Ruben pulled the SUV up an incline and into a church parking lot. He punched the gas pedal and barreled toward a big, silver conversion van.
My heart swelled as I watched McCoy, Thomas, and Darren spill from the rental as Ruben pulled to a shuddering halt beside them. The second Darren locked eyes on me, relief crawled across his face. The blinding smile spreading over his lips vanquished my fears.
“Dino ride is over. Everyone, please exit the ride,” Ruben said with a grin. “We’ll hold the fan club back while you guys grab your stuff and load up the van.”
“Thank you for everything, Ruben,” I said as Dad opened the door and stepped out clutching Dustin to his chest.
“It’s been my honor to protect you and your family, Miss Tori. Now, go on. We don’t have much time.”
I glanced out the window and watched as reporters and fans poured out of their vehicles like ants. Dragging in a deep breath, I clambered out of the SUV. As soon as my feet hit the pavement, Darren pulled me into his arms and claimed my lips with a hard, quick kiss.
“I missed you, beautiful.” He scrubbed a hand through Dustin’s hair. “And you, too, little man. Ready to go for another ride?”
“More bye-bye?” Dustin squealed, kicking his feet.
In my periphery, a flash of yellow rushed toward us.
As I turned my head, I watched a young brunette yank her top and bra up to her neck before thrusting a pen at Darren.
“Sign my tits, Darren!” she demanded.
“Look, Mommy. Nakie lady,” Dustin screamed, pointing to the slut’s nipples.
Shock pinging through me, I raised my hand to shield his innocent eyes. While Dustin batted my fingers away, McCoy gripped the woman’s arm and hauled her back. But another eager girl with bleached-blond hair slipped past him. Racing toward Darren, she locked a fat, sloppy kiss on his lips and ground her body against his.
My stomach lurched to my throat.
“Kissy Darren… Kissy Darren,” Dustin chanted with a laugh.
Bile rose to the back of my throat.
With an animalistic growl, Ruben snagged the bitch’s arm as Darren pried her off his lips with a curse. He spat on the pavement and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.
“Move,” Thomas bellowed from over his shoulder. Arms extending from his body, he tried to keep the press and fans at bay. “Get your stuff and get out of here.”
While Darren and Dad began tossing our suitcases, duffle bags, and boxes into the back of the van, I bit back the urge to puke.
Plucking Dustin from Dad’s arms, I hurried inside our escape vehicle. When I saw the car seat, properly secured with the seat belt and waiting for Dustin, a sliver of relief slid through the oily sludge of jealousy and revulsion pounding in my system.
“Get the fuck off me,” Darren roared.
Already on the verge of losing my shit, I forced myself not to look out the window and fastened Dustin into the car seat.
“Blockade time, Green,” McCoy yelled as the back doors of the van slammed shut.
Dad stepped into the vehicle, pulling the door closed behind him. Then he nudged me to the front passenger seat as Darren jumped in behind the wheel.
“Buckle up,” he instructed as he started the engine and sped toward the street.
Heart pounding, stomach swirling, and fingers shaking, I complied. From the side mirror, I watched Ruben inside the Escalade barreling toward us before the vehicle slid sideways, blocking the exit. It was then that I noticed the rock retaining wall surrounding the parking lot. The entire tarmac had been poured over a three-or four-foot slab.
The string of cars that had followed us was now stuck behind Ruben’s Escalade with nowhere to g
o. The angry occupants were honking and screaming while McCoy and Thomas stood there grinning, waving to us as we drove away.
“Everybody, all right?” Darren asked, glancing at me, then Dad and Dustin in the middle seats.
“We’re good back here,” Dad assured.
I gave a curt nod and silently stared out the passenger window. The image of the two women molesting Darren played over and over in my brain like a horror movie.
“Tori?” Darren pressed. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” I lied, staring at the rows of field corn flashing by my window.
I desperately wanted to blame him, wanted to lash out and slice him with the anger and jealousy scorching my system. But I knew Darren was as much a victim of his own fame as we were collateral damage of the same. Still, I had a duty to protect our son’s fragile psyche from the press invading our privacy and the inappropriate behavior of Daddy’s fans. I simply had no clue how to accomplish that.
Worse, I didn’t know how I was ever going to find the strength to turn and walk away from Darren again without utterly destroying myself. Sadly, my broken heart had to take a backseat. This wasn’t about me, my desires, or fantasies of happily-ever-after. This was about raising my son in a normal, healthy environment. I’d never be able to do that if I were a part of Darren’s world.
Grief and pain consumed me. All I wanted to do was find a nice quiet corner and cry. But I’d learned, these past few days, there were no more quiet corners for me to curl up and mourn the loss of what could have been…what should have been. Somehow, I had to leave my dreams of Darren behind once and for all and forge a new life for the sake of my son and my father…again.
“Tori, look, I’m sor—”
“Don’t apologize. You didn’t do anything wrong. We’ll discuss it tonight, privately, after Dustin goes to bed.”
“Fine. McCoy told me there’s a burger joint in Garnett. We can use the drive-through and grab some lunch.”
The mention of food while my mind was still flashing images of that nasty snatch locking lips with him made my stomach pitch and knot all over again. Thirty minutes later, while Dad helped feed Dustin his lunch behind me, I pretended to nibble my cheeseburger before tossing it back in the paper sack.
By the time we hit the Oklahoma border, Dad had rearranged some of the suitcases and duffle bags in the back, then lowered the seats and piled blankets and pillows to form a makeshift bed so Dustin could nap. Dad’s deep snores told me he’d succumbed right alongside his grandson.
As the miles stretched on, my worries and sorrow bled most of the jealousy away. I still didn’t know how to say goodbye to Darren, or what awaited us at his home. I prayed we hadn’t traded in one fishbowl for another. Would we truly be able to find respite from Darren’s adoring fans and prying press?
“How long are you going to keep giving me the silent treatment?” Darren asked as we reached the city limits of Tulsa. “It’s going to be a little awkward introducing you to my folks if you’re not talking to me.”
“I’m not giving you the silent treatment. I just have a lot on my mind.”
“Me, too, mostly worrying about what’s going on in that pretty head of yours.” I glanced at him, and the depth of concern in his eyes and etched on his face nearly ripped my heart out. “I’m not psychic, Tori. You have to tell me what’s bothering you.”
“We’ll talk about it tonight.”
“We’re going to be doing a whole lot more than talking, beautiful.”
The silky sensual drawl of his voice sent ripples sliding through me. Dammit, even when I was churning in a volcano of mixed emotions, Darren stroked the carefree carnal woman inside me.
A slow smile kicked up one corner of his mouth. “The fact you didn’t just shut me down makes me feel a lot better.”
“I’m not mad at you, Darren, I’m just worried.”
“About?”
I sent him my best bitch, please look and shook my head. “All that, back there…”
“I can’t control—”
“I know. I don’t expect you to wave some magic wand that will make your fans behave like humans instead of hookers. I’m just not sure I can handle what happened back there.”
He darted me a look of pure panic and swallowed tightly. “That wasn’t… It was… Fuck.”
Darren scrubbed a hand over his face as the Tulsa skyline slowly disappeared in my side mirror.
Chapter Eleven
Darren
I wanted to tell Tori the shit show in the church parking lot was the exception to the rule. But it wasn’t. And I refused to lie. Not when we were finally putting the crap from the past behind us.
Turning onto the county road leading to my house, I prayed the fresh air and open land might heal the trauma of these past few days.
If not… My heart clutched.
No! I couldn’t lose her and Dustin. They were now the center of my world.
When I turned onto the private gravel road, Tori sat up a little straighter. Her eyes scanned the horizon expectantly. After we crested the top of a little hill, both houses—my parents’ and mine—came into view. My heart swelled at the sight of home and Tori’s wide eyes and stunned expression.
“Oh, my gosh. Those aren’t houses, they’re mansions.” She gaped, darting her gaze between both two-story, stone and stucco ranch homes.
Though my folks’ place was a little smaller than mine and built in a more traditional style, they were both impressive pieces of architecture.
“Not quite,” I chuckled. “Mine’s only fifty-four hundred square feet.”
“Only?” She rolled her eyes. “My whole house could probably fit in one of your bathrooms.”
“Maybe the master one. It’s pretty nice,” I drawled, a bit embarrassed for having the means to afford such luxuries. “I’ll take you on the grand tour in a minute.”
As I drove past Mom and Dad’s place, I slowed and honked the horn, then continued down the road.
“You’re not going to stop and see them now?”
“Nah, they take one look at you and Dustin and they’ll never let us leave. Don’t worry, they’ll be over before we can get the van unloaded.”
“What’s happening?” Ed asked, a hint of panic in his tone as he sat up and looked out the back windows.
“Nothing, Dad. We’re here. See?” Tori pointed to my house.
From the rearview mirror, I watched Ed blink and his jaw drop open just like Tori’s had.
“Holy mother of…” he murmured. “You said you had a house, not a castle, son.”
“Right?” Tori giggled.
“Are your other houses as big as this one?” Ed asked.
“Pretty much.”
“I was wrong, Darren. You don’t play the guitar good, you play it spectacularly.” Ed grinned, shaking his head in disbelief as I pulled to the security gate and entered the code. “You got maps for us so we don’t get lost in there?”
I chuckled and eased down the driveway.
After Ed rousted Dustin awake and Tori changed his diaper, a task I still needed to learn, I led them inside.
We climbed the curved staircase first, and I showed them each of the seven bedrooms, letting them decide which one they wanted. Though I counted on Tori sharing my bed each night, for the sake of appearance, I simply smiled when she decided on the guest room facing the rear of the property, overlooking the pool and the pond. Ed’s eyes lit up when I assured him the pond was stocked and the fishing poles were in the garage.
Once back downstairs, I showed them the living room, formal dining room, kitchen, baths, laundry room, and my music room. Then we were off to the finished basement with a full gym, wine cellar, reinforced storm cellar/panic room, bar, game room, and the other full kitchen and open living room used when hosting pool parties and the like.
When we entered the media room, Dustin’s eyes lit up when he saw the cinema screen and thick, padded leather recliners.
“Movie. Movie,” he chante
d happily.
“Oh, yeah. We’re going to watch a ton of movies and eat bunches of popcorn.”
“And football,” Ed said, drinking in the size of the screen as well.
I chuckled as I moved in close to Tori and whispered in her ear, “I knew I shouldn’t have let you destroy that CD yesterday. It would have been amazing on this big ol’ silver screen.”
“Ha, ha,” Tori drawled with a scowl.
“I’m just teasing, beautiful. You’re going to dance just for me. I bet we could install a pole down here. What do you say?”
“I say you’d better shut up before I smack you,” Tori said with a feigned sneer.
“I say we unload that van.” Ed’s chuckle told us, without telling us, that he’d overheard our conversation. “It’s going to take an hour or more to carry up all the stuff we brought with us.”
“No, it’s not,” I assured as I led them through a door and into the four-bay garage housing my prized muscle car.
“Holy…” Ed gaped. “That’s a sixty-nine Chevelle SS.”
“The keys are in the kitchen. Feel free to take it for a spin whenever you want,” I offered.
“Don’t tell him that. We’ll never see him again,” Tori teased.
I pushed the button to open the garage doors, then we started gathering our things from the van. Even Dustin followed, dragging his bag of toys.
“This way,” I said, directing them to the elevator in the garage.
“Are you kidding me right now?” Tori blinked. “Who has an elevator in their house?”
I shrugged and grinned. “Me.”
“Wow, just wow,” she murmured. “This is crazy.”
We’d barely finished unloading the van and getting everything unpacked when the doorbell rang. Tori stepped from her room, chewing on her bottom lip as if it were her last meal. She picked Dustin up and settled him on her hip.
“You ready to meet my mom and dad?” I asked him. Dustin gave me a pensive nod. “They’re like Papa. And they’re going to love you to pieces just like he does.”