by A. J. Sand
It had taken her a few tries with her contacts to get his number without her boss finding out, and she knew this was the only chance she’d get. Kai was talented and his potential as an artist would only grow, but she wasn’t sure she’d really have a huge role with the tour going forward. It was becoming more and more apparent. And she hadn’t taken this job to be stuck in L.A. A tour manager was supposed to be on the road with the band. Fuckin’ J.Kutch and his gigantic entourage, and Kai had betrayed her by just going along with it. Asshole.
Yeah, so maybe, she’d been really mean to Dylan during her time with the tour. She’d insinuated she was slut on more than one occasion, and had threatened to get her fired. Yeah, power had gone to her head a little bit. How the fuck was she supposed to know she and Kai were the real thing? He was a musician; they banged like they breathed.
Dylan didn’t like her; she was just civil. Sure, Ashley was putting on a good face now to save her ass, but she couldn’t shake the paranoia that Dylan would eventually ask Kai to fire her. It was the perfect payback. Dylan got the upgrade, so she would get the downgrade. Erica was back, too, and she’d probably want her old job back. And maybe she’d want him to re-vamp Kai White, LLC completely and clean house with the tour staff. Fuuuuuck. She and Dylan were living together. In cahoots. Bitches. She knew she was on borrowed time. Kai was a sucker for the women in his life. Dylan had completely won him over. Ashley knew she had to be smart. She could call up old contacts, but who the hell wanted to interview and wait to be hired. And she certainly wasn’t about to go back to being anybody’s assistant. Not a chance in hell.
“Hello?” the apprehensive male voice on the other line said.
“Hi, is this Chase Bunyan?”
“Yeah… who the fuck is this? And how’d you get this number?”
“I’m Ashley Hart and I work for Kai Whi—”
Chase interrupted her with a scoff. “What do you want?”
“I want in on Jeremy’s tour. And I want to be his tour director, but I’ll take a tour manager position at minimum.” Those were her terms. Ashley bit one of her nails.
Chase laughed. “Are you on fucking meth or something?”
Ashley rolled her eyes. She remembered now that this guy was a piece of work. He’d caused a bar fight in New York. And come to think of it, she was the one who had re-scheduled the show really quickly for Kai. He was a goddamn fucking traitor. Screw him. “I’m making a trade.”
“Oh yeah? What are you gonna give me in exchange? A blowjob? Because those come a dime a dozen…but…how badly do you want me to talk to my brother?”
God, he was such a douchebag. But he was just the troll guarding the bridge. Emphasis on troll. “Definitely not an option. I know something about your brother that you’ll want to know.”
“And what’s that?”
Fuck. This had seemed like a great plan two days ago, but she was sort of hesitant now. Erica had left so abruptly last year, but that didn’t mean anything necessarily. Oh well. She had to look out for her self right now. She wanted to work. Kai had already cut back so much on her duties since the Eight Cities in Eight Days tour. If what she’d heard was true, when this shit hit the fan, she would have hopefully found another tour away from all this mess anyway. “Well, I know Erica Evigan is telling her friends your brother raped her. I overheard it with my own ears at a house party Wes and Abel Elliott threw.” There. It was out. Couldn’t take it back now. Shit. What if Kai suddenly wanted her back on the tour and it got out that she’d told Chase this? What if he didn’t give her the job either? Fuuuuuck.
Chase was silent on the other end for several long seconds. “What? You’re lying.”
“I’m not. I tend to be punctual. I was the first one at the party and I went upstairs to say hello to all of them, and I heard them talking about it. People started coming into the house, so I couldn’t listen the entire time, but I know what I heard.”
“Well, if she said it, she’s lying. She’s a lying bitch.” Ashley couldn’t say for sure. All she knew was that Erica and Jeremy had been good friends and really close before Ashley started working for Kai. He was rich. That was like a bat signal for women, so why would he force anybody? Bullshit. Right? Oh well, Kai was going to fire her eventually anyway.
Fuckin’ Dylan. Whatever. None of this was her problem.
“I don’t know what’s she planning to do or why she’s telling people.”
Chase growled. “He can get way hotter girls than her. She’s been a tease all this time and probably finally gave it up.”
Ashley sighed. “I’m not interested in what your brother does in his free time or his personal life.”
“Where is she right now? If you know, you better tell me. I’m about to—
”
“No, no, you have to think smart about this. Something like this could ruin your brother’s career and image if you don’t handle it right, right? Especially if she goes public without warning? And that’s not any good for you or me. Let me help. I told you, I want in. Look, I don’t know PR at all, but I’ve worked with a few artists here and there, and I’ve seen how that industry works… Turn it into a he said/she said. Be prepared to fight fire with fire. You can probably make it go away if you push her enough.”
“What does that mean?”
“I can tell you what I think you should do, but I’m going to want a job when this is all said and done. Deal?”
“I know what you did. You told Chase something that wasn’t yours to tell. And I’m willing to put money on it that you were one who gave him access to my pictures and pictures of me. You’ve spent a lot of time with Kai, Xavier and Heath. I’m sure along the way you’ve used their computers or phones. You ran their lives on tour, so I’m sure they trusted you with their property. You probably learned a password or two along the way. Logged on as one of them, you’d have access to my pictures and tagged pictures of me,” Erica said with clenched teeth. “You were the one who took the picture of me and Abel at Luz, weren’t you?” Her fists were balled at her sides.
Somewhere inside she questioned why someone she barely knew would do something like that to her, but then she remembered what someone she’d known since she was seventeen had done to her. Her reason didn’t even matter right now…anymore. “And I read your words myself. You eavesdropped and went behind my back to the brother of the guy who hurt me.”
Ashley took a few steps back until there was a weight machine between her and Erica. “If you hit me, I’ll call the police. There are tons of witnesses here.”
Erica sighed, laughing a little but without a dash of amusement. “I don’t want to hit you…or yell anymore for that matter. I’m tired. Really tired. People like you have made this incredibly exhausting on top of what I’ve been putting myself through. Have fun living with yourself, Ashley. Expect a call from Kai in a few.” After a lingering raise of her middle finger, Erica turned and walked out of the gym in time to see Bryson pull the car around. Every time she conquered one small step regarding this entire situation, she felt her lungs expand a little more. She was breathing again. Really breathing. The burden didn’t lighten, and she didn’t know if it ever would; she was just figuring out how to shoulder it better.
“So, what do you think, E?” Naomi was beaming when she stepped back from Erica with an expectant look. She wanted Erica to love the strapless fuchsia mullet dress—short in the front, long in the back. She didn’t.
Erica pulled her cell from her ear and stared at herself in Naomi’s full-length mirror in her bedroom. “It’s… going to look amazing with your wedding color scheme.”
Naomi rolled her eyes. “You’re such a bitch! Fine, we can make it short all the way around. You’re, like, seriously determined to look better than me at my wedding.”
“Sorry, Kai, so what did she say?” Erica asked. She had asked him that four times now. Too busy imagining Bryson in his boxer briefs making his prized five-cheese lasagna for dinner—and dancing—at home. It was almost like she had no wo
rries.
“Dammit, E. Come on. I gotta go soon.”
“Skype date with Dylan?”
“No comment. So, anyway, Ash explained some of it… tearfully. I didn’t even know she knew how to cry. After I threatened that me and Bryson would get her blacklisted in the industry, she talked. She thought Dylan was going to get me to fire her as payback for the way she treated her last year, and she thought with you back on board, it was definitely a sure thing since you and Dylan were such good friends, and she saw a stupid way out. She thought Chase would talk to Jeremy about a job for her. He didn’t. So she decided to start sucking up to Dylan again.”
“Insane. I never would’ve guessed. You know for a second…a really, really brief second, I thought it was one of our friends,” Erica admitted.
“I did, too. We should’ve known better. We’ve doubted them in different ways for a long time now.”
“Yeah… Of course, if I could go back in time, I would’ve handled this way differently in general. My mind was just… Anyway, I’m sure you want to go talk to Dyl. Please don’t keep my old roomie up all night. And tell her I miss her.”
“All right, E. I love you.”
“Same.” After she went over to her sulking sister, she wrapped her arms around her and said, “Meems, you can keep the dress, you goof. And can you give me a minute to change?” It wasn’t that she was suddenly fearful of Naomi seeing her naked, there was something she needed to do alone. She pressed out a quick text to Bryson to let him know she was on her way. After Naomi walked out and shut the door, Erica turned on her phone’s camera with the lens facing her and started filming.
“Hey, guys—no I’m not naked. Naomi just has me in this awful maid of honor dress. Anyway, I’ve been through so much this year and the last alone because of my own stupid issues, when I had a huge support system in all of you. I’ve always felt like I had to be strong and take care of everybody and it’s a curse as much as it is a blessing. But strength doesn’t always mean not needing help…sometimes you’re the strongest when you know when to ask for it. I shouldn’t have taken that choice away from all of you. So, I’m asking for your help. You know the risks going forward.
“In the next few weeks, I’m going to call someone in Phuket and figure out how you guys can give statements or pictures or anything you have related to Jeremy and that night. And if you want to do it, great. But I certainly won’t hold it against you if you decide not to. Okay, I’ll be in touch. Love you, guys.” She shut off the video and emailed it to all her friends. Okay, maybe now the burden felt a little lighter.
Once she was out of the dress and back in her clothes, she followed the sound of Naomi’s voice into the kitchen. She was wrapping up her phone call with Hayden, who was working late tonight as he sometimes did. Naomi studied Erica with a curious look as they walked to the front door. She couldn’t stop smiling at her.
“I’m tempted to ask you to stay and watch a movie just because you’re bursting out of your skin to get back to Bryson,” Naomi said. “Just to see who you’d choose.”
“That would be completely evil. More than making me wear that dress,” Erica said, and she squealed as Naomi tried to swat her backside when Erica stepped outside. They walked to her car, which was parked a few houses down, and she slid inside after watching Naomi jog back up to her house. Yes, she was glad Naomi hadn’t asked her to stay. Erica was so excited to go home to Bryson. Now that they were back together, she really didn’t want to be away from him.
Her phone chimed with the arrival of text messages from her friends responding to her video message. The ones who had so far said that they would be willing to give statements and whatever pictures from Thailand they had. She couldn’t help feeling grateful for them. Maybe more than she ever had. As soon as she started the car, her phone rang in the passenger seat and Naomi’s photo flashed across the screen. Erica frowned as she answered, wondering if she had forgotten something at the house.
“Hey, whatever it is, I can—”
“Hey, Erica…can you come back to the house, please?” Naomi interrupted. Her voice was wavering.
“Naomi, what’s—”
“Erica Anne, just get back to the fucking house—” The line went dead, and a chill streaked down Erica’s back. Even without the dropped call, she knew something was definitely wrong. Naomi never called her “Erica Anne.” Oh God. Oh God. Oh God. She accelerated away from the curb, but didn’t go far when the car emitted a series of rhythmic slapping sounds. Flat tire? Erica reversed back into the spot and flew out of the car, running toward Naomi and Hayden’s house cell in hand, quick-dialing Bryson.
Naomi’s house looked fine from her vantage point as she approached, but it was the sight of the black Camaro parked out front that halted her steps so quickly that she tumbled down and landed with her palms on the sidewalk right in front of it. Her phone fell a few inches in front of her. This was Chase’s car. When Erica looked up, she spotted Naomi in the passenger seat, bawling next to him. The engine was on, but the headlights were out.
With a hand out the window, he gestured for her to come to him. Erica’s heart was slamming into her chest when she stood up. He jerked his other hand across the air, and rage filled her when she noticed that Naomi’s hair was wound around it. Naomi cried out a little from the movement and Erica’s chest twisted. She shot her sister an apologetic look.
“Don’t hurt her, Chase,” Erica said, and before she took her first steps toward him, she noticed that her call to Bryson had gone through. The phone was on, and he could probably hear her. “Please don’t hurt Naomi, Chase.” Erica made a swift sweeping motion with her foot, and slid the phone across the pavement toward his car. She looked around and there was not a single person on the street right now. Life in the suburbs had its disadvantages. Calm, just stay calm, Erica. You can do this.
“Come here, and keep your fucking voice down. If you don’t, I’ll drive off with her,” he threatened, revving the engine to back up his claim. The way his car was angled, he could get away from the curb and out of the cul-de-sac in seconds. And she was just flesh; she’d never have a chance against metal, anyway. Each of her steps was wobblier than the last by the time she reached the window. He narrowed his angry brown eyes on her. “Don’t scream or make any sudden movements, Pretty Girl.”
She cringed at the sight of her sister who was shaking so much as she cried. I’m going to fucking bury you, Chase. Tears pricked her eyes. “What do you want?” Erica tried to sound brave but she was trembling, too. You can get through this. You can do this.
“Admit you lied! Admit that you’re lying slut! Admit it, Erica,” Chase whispered with force, spittle sailing from his mouth.
“Will you let Naomi go if I do?” she asked. It was stupid to bargain, but she needed to buy some time for Bryson to call the police or get there. “Will you let her go back into her house?” She was trying to tell Bryson her location.
“Fucking admit it!” He yanked Naomi’s hair and she covered her mouth so she wouldn’t scream.
“Okay! Okay! I’m lying. I’m lying! Please don’t hurt her!” Erica said, tears spilling from her eyes as she raised her hands in surrender. “Naomi, I’m so sorry. I’m so incredibly sorry.” Naomi nodded and whimpered from behind her hands.
“Hey! Don’t talk to her. Talk to me!” Chase demanded. “So, you lied. My brother never touched you! You were just looking for attention or money or something, right?”
“You’re right, Chase. Now please let her go!” Erica begged. She could barely hear herself over the sound of her heart or her ragged breaths. She flicked her eyes over to her cell. Bryson’s cell was still on the call. With her luck, though, it was probably voicemail. “I’m the one you want, right? Just let her go. I’ll admit whatever you want. Record it. Record me saying it. I’ll say it into your cell. I swear to God. You’ll be able totoastit against me. You’ll have what that P.I. could never get.” She swung her eyes over to Naomi, trying to signal to her sister to get
ready to make a move because she suddenly had a thought… a plan. One of those crazy-enough-to-work ones.
“I don’t believe you! And stop looking at her!” Chase said.
“Sorry. But you have to understand that I’m just looking out for my sister. The same way you look out for your brother. You want the proof, right? I’ll say it and you’ll have it. But you have to let my sister go, first. It’s the only way…” Her throat clenched as the panic grew. But she pushed past it because something was building with hurricane strength within her. No matter what happened in the next few minutes, she would get through it. She’d just get through it. No matter what. And she wouldn’t run. She wouldn’t try to handle it on her own. But she’d survive it. Anger swirled in with her adrenaline…anger at the way she hadn’t been able to fight back that night last year. Anger that they wouldn’t just leave her alone. Anger that they were determined to trap her in some cage of powerlessness.
Here goes. Erica took a few steps back away from the car. “I’ll even give you back the prepaid card you were putting money on to pay off the witness to what your brother did. The one you were putting several grand on all last year. To cover up what he did to me. The shit he got you involved in, Chase. Some brother. He set you up.” It was a risky move, but she was hoping to throw him off and shock him enough for him to drop his guard and give Naomi a chance to run. Chase’s mouth fell open and she saw his skin pale under the glow of the streetlight. And sure enough, in the split second that passed, but which felt like years, she saw a shift in Chase. Maybe his grip had weakened, and he looked scared. Yes, motherfucker. We win. Not you.
“How the fu—”
“Go, Naomi!! Get out of there! Go!” Erica screamed at the top of her lungs. “Go! Go!” And right after she saw the door swing open and heard Naomi, too, yell, Erica ran down the street as fast as she could. Screaming the entire way, fighting against the burn in her lungs and her legs. The houses finally started lighting up along the street, but she didn’t stop, even for the car barreling into the cul-de-sac toward her. A Mercedes-Benz CL550 she knew. But it didn’t stop for her, either. It careened past her and slammed into something behind her with a sickening thud, which followed another thud. A person. The sound made her stop cold.