Finding Us

by Debra Presley

  “Really, Vivien, you can stop pretending.”

  “If Sean did anything to Abby, that has nothing to do with me, and everything to do with you and your failure to do your job.”

  “That’s my point. Your interference is making it impossible for me to do my job effectively.”

  Vivien sighed exaggeratedly. “Stop talking in circles and tell me what issue you have so I can get to bed.”

  His issue? It would take more than a few minutes on the phone to tell her all his issues with what an incompetent, uncaring mother she was. He paused a moment to collect himself. Allowing himself to get off point with this conversation might make him feel better momentarily, but it wouldn’t in the long run.

  When he was able to speak without yelling, he said, “My issue is that Sean told Abby that you helped him stage a mob outside the stage door. He used the distraction to kidnap Abby.”

  “What?” Vivien sounded truly panicked, and Danny realized what he’d implied.

  “We have her, Vivien. She’s safe now. Scared, but safe.” It was odd, trying to comfort a woman who did nothing but hurt Abby and make his job harder.

  “Then why would you say something like that? Are you really so incompetent that you would let a guitar player kidnap my daughter? Or are you just so stupid that you would lie about something so awful.”

  Danny considered his response carefully. He wasn’t sure whether she was emotional about Abby or if she was simply baiting him into losing his temper. Ten years ago, he would have jumped all over it without considering the angles, but not now. He knew responding with anger wouldn’t get him anywhere with Vivien. She enjoyed sparring too much. He needed to keep the focus on the main issue and not let her sidetrack him.

  “I’m sorry I scared you just now. That wasn’t my intention. I’m just trying to understand everything, and it’s not easy. I know that you and Abby have…a complicated relationship. And it’s none of my business. Until,” he paused for effect, inhaling and exhaling fully before saying, “your…disagreements put Abby in danger. I don’t understand what you have to gain from hurting Abby, but I know that it has to stop.”

  “You’re out of line. I handle the talent. You protect it. If you can’t handle that job—and from what I’ve seen recently, you can’t—then you can leave. I’m sure I can find a more competent security company.”

  “You can try to fire me.” And he’d love to see that. “But I won’t leave Abby’s safety in anyone’s hands but my own. And I’m worried, Vivien. I’m worried about what would happen if the press found out that you protected the man who abused your daughter. Or if they found out that you knew about the abuse and allowed it to happen a second time. Or what if they found out that you were more worried about that man’s career than you were about your own daughter’s safety? How do you think that would go? Do you worry about that too?”

  “Are you threatening me, Mr. Nucci? Do I need to remind you about the non-disclosure agreement that you signed? If you leak anything, I will own you. Nucci Securities will become Murphy Securities; do you understand me?”

  Danny almost laughed out loud at the indignation in her voice, but caught himself just in time. “No, no threats. You don’t need to worry about me. I’m just thinking about all the possibilities. That’s what you pay me to do. The situation is volatile. Abby is scared. I can’t promise that she won’t go to the press.”

  “She’d never do that. Abby knows better. And if you encourage her, you’ll only make matters worse. If you care about her as you say you do, you won’t let that happen. You’d be better off focusing your worries there.”

  “Keeping Abby safe is the only thing I worry about. You hired me to protect Abby, and that’s exactly what I’m doing. Even if it means protecting her from you.” He’d remained as calm as he could for as long as he could. Tomorrow, he’d pay for being so abrupt, but tonight it felt good.

  “And what do you propose would keep both Abby and I safe from vicious, unfounded rumors like that?”

  “I think if you terminated Sean’s contract before noon tomorrow, it would take the teeth out of any claim someone could make about you not caring about Abby’s well-being.” He tried to keep the smug satisfaction out of his voice, but he knew he failed. He couldn’t help it. He’d actually backed Vivien into a corner and forced her to consider what he was saying.

  “I’ll give some serious consideration to your…suggestion.”

  “Thank you. That’s all I can ask. Good night, Vivien.” Danny disconnected the call and returned to his bunk. He felt a tentative swell of pride bloom in his chest. His plan might actually work.

  “What do you think she’ll do?” Sophie’s voice startled him.

  “I don’t know. But it won’t matter at all if Stephanie releases those pictures.” For Abby’s sake, Danny hoped that Stephanie wouldn’t release them, and that Vivien ended Sean’s contract. That would be the simplest, easiest solution and would cause Abby the least harm. Regardless of how the next twenty-four hours played out, one thing was certain; Danny was ready to go to war if that’s what it took to keep Abby safe.

  * * *

  By late morning, the bus pulled into San Francisco. Danny hadn’t heard a word from Vivien, which could be good or bad. He never knew with her. He tried not to think about Vivien by focusing on Abby and making sure she was taken care of, especially after yesterday.

  “Here’s the plan,” he said while standing in the door to Abby’s room, the perfect spot to talk to both her and Sophie. They were both getting ready to leave the bus. “I have a buddy of mine meeting us at the hotel. He’s going to help with security until we leave for New York. He should be waiting for us.”

  “Oh good. I was wondering what was going to happen now that Ron’s gone. What’s his name?” Abby asked.

  “Scott. I couldn’t get anyone here fast enough from New York, so I called in a favor. All right, now the important stuff. Once we check in, can we find some food? I’m starving, and the schedule today is insane.”

  “This hotel is completely over the top. I’ve scanned their menu online, and we have to eat there. Trust me. I’m Italian. I know food,” Sophie said from the bathroom. “I think we’re a bit underdressed compared to you.” She inspected Danny’s crisp, black tailored suit.

  “To hell with that. I’m hungry. You can drop me off at McDonald’s,” Danny teased. He glanced at Abby. She smiled but seemed distant. “What do you want to do?” he asked as he took her bag.

  “Breakfast here is fine,” she said in a small, tired voice, and Danny wanted to strangle Vivien for being such a horrible mother and allowing an abusive fuck like Sean to touch her daughter.

  “Okay, food decided. Anthony said we’ll be at the hotel in about ten minutes. I’m going to see if Scott is here.” He left Abby alone, but he had bad feeling in his gut.

  After they pulled into the hotel parking lot, he left the bus, greeted Scott, and quickly filled him in on the basics before checking back in with the girls.

  “Ready?” he asked Abby.

  “Yep.” She stood in the kitchen, sunglasses in her hand.

  He guided her up the stairs of the historic hotel and through the black and gold revolving door. Sophie followed closely behind them.

  Danny veered left when they entered, avoiding the large lobby of onlookers. He went straight to the concierge, sidestepping the line.

  “Welcome to the Mark Hopkins, Ms. Murphy. We’ve been awaiting your arrival. I’m Jonathan,” the gentleman greeted them.

  “Good morning, Jonathan,” Abby said. “I’m very excited to be staying here. I’ve heard nothing but good things.” She greeted him with a bright smile. Danny stifled a laugh because he knew how Abby hated places that were filled with pretentious people. She was very much a down-to-earth kind of woman who would rather spend a night watching a Yankees game with good friends than hobnobbing with the rich and famous.

  He scanned the large crowd, thankful he had Scott at his back. The crowd seemed to be
growing, a common occurrence when people realized they were in the same room as Abby Murphy. He needed to find a permanent replacement for Ron, but Scott would definitely do until he had a minute to sort shit out. Luckily, there was a two-week break coming up, and he could go back to New York and handpick the perfect person.

  “Your rooms are ready, Ms. Murphy. Here are your keycards, and your luggage will be brought up shortly.”

  “Thank you,” Sophie said and grabbed the keycards.

  Danny didn’t wait for him to finish. Instead, he tucked Abby into his side and headed toward the elevators.

  “You first,” he directed Sophie to walk in front of him.

  “This place is beautiful,” Sophie said as she looked around.

  “It’s all right.” Abby rolled her eyes and glanced Danny’s way. They both knew how Sophie loved the extravagance of hotels like this one.

  “Good morning, Ms. Murphy. The bellman greeted the group and ushered them in. They rode the elevator in silence.

  The doors opened, and Scott walked out. He gave Danny the all clear, and Danny motioned for the ladies to follow. He heard Abby thank the bellman before she left the elevator.

  “This way,” Danny gently placed his hand on Abby’s lower back and guided her down the hallway toward her suite.

  “There are only three rooms on this floor,” Sophie said as she handed him two of the keycards.

  “Good. Makes it easier to keep an eye on things. Breakfast, half hour?”

  “Perfect. I’m starved. Just knock on my door.”

  “Scott, check out Sophie’s room please.” Scott took the keycard from Sophie, and she followed him in. Danny moved down the hall with Abby close behind.

  He opened the door to her room. “Stay right here,” he ordered.

  “Aye-aye Captain!” She smiled, and it gave him a little thrill. He couldn’t stop himself from smiling back. It was automatic—when she smiled, he smiled.

  “You think you’re funny, eh?”

  “As a matter of fact, I do.” Her smile got bigger.

  “Well, at least someone does. Hang on. I’m going to make sure the suite is clear.”

  “Yes sir.” Abby saluted.

  “You’re too much.” Danny entered the suite and swiftly checked the rooms then returned to the living room. “We’re good,” he announced.

  “Well, that’s a relief.” She came in, and he followed her with his gaze as she traveled the short distance into the living room and sat on the sofa. That was his cue to encourage her to open up.

  “I think—” they both began.

  He motioned for her to start.

  “I want him gone. I…”

  “Talk to me.” He said simply. The nagging feeling in his gut returned, and he finally understood it meant something was wrong with Abby. She wasn’t herself, and he could see why, but he wanted to talk about it. Abby had admitted that she had something to share, he just hoped she was finally ready to talk. He sat down next to her on the couch.

  “I don’t want to be my mother. Staying with some man because she thinks she doesn’t deserve better or because she’s somehow dependent on him. I’m not her, and I don’t want that to be my life, but she’s forcing him on me, and it doesn’t matter what I think or say. I can’t go on like this anymore.”

  “I spoke with your mother last night after you fell asleep.” He figured there was no reason to sugarcoat it.

  “What? Why?” She was clearly surprised, and he couldn’t tell if it was good or bad.

  “I couldn’t sleep, and I needed to speak with her about what happened. I reminded her about what might happen if the press learned that she prioritized Sean’s career over your safety.”

  Abby gasped. “You didn’t?”

  “The only thing I want is for you to be safe. Period. I’m willing to do whatever it takes. Whatever. It. Takes.”

  “I still can’t believe you did that. She must have been so angry.” Abby shook her head, a look of disbelief on her face. “I can’t even imagine.”

  He picked up her hand and brought it to his chest and then he waited. Danny inched closer and looked into her beautiful blue eyes that held so much sadness and worries behind them. “Please Abby, let me keep you safe. I can’t stand back and let this continue to happen. I’ll do whatever you want, but you have to let me protect you.”

  She gripped his shirt in her hand and leaned over to lay her head on his shoulder. He knew she was struggling. He could feel it, but he wasn’t going to back down. This was too important. She was too important. “He assaulted you, twice, and I’m no PR guy, but if that gossip lady really goes public with those pictures, the little privacy you have is going to disappear. Maybe talk to Sophie, but I’m thinking you’ll want to be ahead of the story.”

  “I haven’t spoken with my mom about them yet. I don’t even know if she knows they exist or that Stephanie has them. I’ll talk to Sophie. I just need some time to think things over. I’m not mad you talked to her but please from now on discuss things like that with me.”

  “You got it. I’m sorry.”

  “Thank you.” She sat up and dropped her hand. “What did my mom say?”

  “She wasn’t happy, that’s for sure. She threatened and yelled.”

  “I bet.”

  “She did sort of fire me though, but I told her what I thought of that.”

  “You did not!” She laughed, and he was relieved that she wasn’t screaming at him for stepping over the line.

  “I sorta did.” He grinned, feeling smug. “Now, breakfast?” He stood.

  “What about Sean? He isn’t going to go away quietly.”

  “I don’t expect him to. He’s stepped over too many lines, and your mother really has no choice, and she knows it.”

  “I know.” She was quiet for a beat. “I’ll have to replace him. Which won’t be easy. He’s actually a very good guitar player.”

  “Do you have anyone in mind?”

  “Eric, one of the roadies, is my first choice. I heard him play during sound check once, and his riffs are a-maz-ing.”

  Danny shrugged. “I’m glad he’s in house. That will make things easier. Now, can we go eat before Sophie knocks down your door, bitching that she’s starving?” He motioned for her to follow him.

  “Yes. I seem to have gotten my appetite back.” Abby jumped up and gave Danny a hug.

  He was taken aback for a moment, but soon closed his arms around Abby and held her tightly. He reveled in the feel and smell of her. He gave himself this moment but knew he couldn’t take this further without crossing into some dangerous territory.

  He still had occasional nightmares over the loss of Vanessa, and he couldn’t risk getting involved with Abby. He didn’t trust himself. If he ever let his feelings for someone he was supposed to keep safe overrule his better judgment again, and something bad happened because of that, he couldn’t take it. He barely survived Vanessa, and it’d been nearly two years.

  He needed to stay as detached as he could and keep sharp. If he didn’t he knew he couldn’t provide her with the protection she obviously needed, not only from Sean, but from her mother. Not to mention the general crazies out there.

  “Don’t think with your dick” was the advice he’d gotten from a C.O. he’d respected during his military service. He was dangerously close to doing just that. Before he ended the hug, he took one more breath so that he could commit her smell to memory. Getting this close to her again would be a mistake, and he hoped she couldn’t tell how fast his heart was pounding.

  “Let’s go get Sophie,” he said hastily and motioned for Abby to walk ahead of him. He needed some physical space. The two paces she walked ahead of him wasn’t much, but it would have to be enough. His self-control, and her safety depended upon it.

  Abby waited right inside the door of her dressing room as Danny and Scott did a sweep of the area.

  “You’re a tiny bit paranoid, Nucci,” she hollered as he checked the bathroom.

  “I l
ike to think I’m thorough.” Danny finished with the bathroom, apparently satisfied that no crazy-stalker ex-boyfriend was hiding in the toilet. He smiled as he walked toward her.

  “Thorough is good.” She turned away, trying to hide the blush that stained her cheeks as she thought about the other things he might be thorough about.

  “You shouldn’t hide your face,” he said as he passed her.

  “What?” She wondered if she’d heard him right.

  “It’s all clear. You can get ready now.”

  Before she could press him about his earlier comment, her phone rang. She dug through her bag, and found her phone at the bottom of the mess that she liked to think of as an organized disaster.

  Her stomach clenched. “Great. My mother.”

  She didn’t really have the energy for this, but she was filled with an odd mix of curiosity and dread. Was she calling to say Sean was packing his suitcases? Did she know about the pictures or video? God, her life had turned into an episode of TMZ, and it wasn’t nearly as amusing to live as it was to watch.

  Danny smiled softly and nodded in a way that she’d come to recognize as his silent form of encouragement.

  “Hello?”

  “Abigail, you’ll be pleased to know that Sean has been released from his contract. You can thank Mr. Nucci for that.”

  “It needed to happen.” Abby moved to the back room.

  “Well, it’s done. Don’t blame me for what happens next.” Vivien’s implied threat was impossible to miss. Her tone dripped with contempt and annoyance…and a strange tint of disappointment. Abby wasn’t sure if she was disappointed about Sean leaving or with Abby pushing for it to happen.

  “I’m sure it won’t be as bad as when Stephanie releases the pictures of you and Sean fucking.” Abby hadn’t planned on confronting her mother over the phone, and the words probably surprised her as much as her mother. Vivien’s attitude put Abby on the defensive, and so she blurted out things best said calmly and with tact. She’d wanted to be face to face with her so she could see her reaction. Was it regretful? Spiteful? Did she have any emotion at all? Or was she this stone faced person that Abby had come to expect? Too late for that now. What was done, was done.