Beyond the Stix (Warrior Black #2)

Chapter 3

THREE

Connor

Warning bells go off in my head as John whisks me away from Jessup. That familiar lurch twisting around in my gut eases the moment we enter the elevator and the doors slide closed.

With my friends and our bodyguards stepping out of the elevator first, I don’t see the swarm of people outside the main entrance of the hospital, but I can hear muted noise.

“Why didn’t Tobias give us a head’s up?” Dom questions, looking to John.

“I don’t know but I’ll find out.” John takes out his cell phone and puts it to his ear.

The people are shouting Warrior Black . Some of them are screaming out our individual names. There are photographers, taking pictures through the glass and some with their cell phones.

The people inside the hospital are gawking at us—some are frowning like we’re intruding in their space. Others have taken out their cell phones, enjoying the show.

“Shit, are all those people really here for us?” Callum asks in shock.

I’m just as stunned. And for the briefest of moments, I almost forget the reason why I wanted to leave in the first place. Then I remember my dying father upstairs and my stomach wants to lurch up what little I ate today.

“Damn,” Rafe says in disbelief.

The hospital security staff is doing their best to keep the mass at bay, but for how long? I don’t know.

“Shitastic. Now how are we getting out of here?” Bobby poses.

“I don’t know,” I utter, and glance at John, who’s still talking on the phone. “I’m going to call my mom.”

While I dial her number, my eyes scan the people that are coming off the elevators.

Still no Jessup. Good .

The call goes straight to voice mail. I leave a message and then shove the cell back into the front pocket of my jeans. I take a calming breath and return my attention to John.

“I talked to Pen,” John quickly explains as he shoves his cell in his pocket. “He said he tried to warn us, but the cell signal in the hospital is shit. Tobias wants us to meet them in the back of the building.”

Danny’s eyes go wide. “Crap. I have Tobias’s cell.” He pulls the phone from his back pocket. “Sorry.”

“It’s not your fault that your boyfriend gave you his phone,” I say to Danny.

“But it is. I took the phone away from him in the waiting room—and don’t ask.” He drops his eyes and a blush blooms across his cheeks. I don’t even want to know what they were doing.

“Then we should head toward that door.” Dom points back to the way we came. But I can’t help noticing the frown marring his face.

“Let’s go,” John says, letting Dom lead us out of sight from the masses, with Cal and John flanking the back.

We rush through a single metal door that has an exit sign above the frame and find ourselves in a painted cement corridor with a metal staircase. Down a flight, we reach the ground floor and another gray metal door.

John moves around me, stepping out behind Dom.

I’m about to follow, but Cal stops me. “Let them see if the coast is clear.”

It’s not long before John opens the door and waves us out. The second we breach the threshold, cool air hits my face and I’m finally able to take a normal breath. My heart’s still pounding, though, and the rolling panic in my gut at seeing Jessup after all this time hasn’t subsided.

“I don’t know who announced that we’re here, but, dude, I’ve never…” Bobby shakes his head. He grips my shoulder and says, “I can’t fucking believe how many people are out there.”

I meet his eyes, then turn to the rest of my bandmates, who are staring at me with stunned but worried looks across their faces. “I’m as freaked as you are,” I admit to the guys.

“Was that your Uncle Jessup you were running from?” Bobby asks, sticking another sugar-filled tube into his mouth.

“Yes,” I declare with some trepidation. I never told the guys what really happened to me with Jessup. Danny only knows a mild version of what he did that night. But to fully explain to my friends about the past would only dredge up more shit I’d rather forget altogether. So, I change the topic back to the shitshow in front of the hospital. “I want to know who spilled the fucking beans about us being here.”

“Dude, it could have been any one of the hospital staff who recognized us,” Callum says.

“Callum’s right.” Danny turns to me. “Do you want to leave and come back later once all those people are gone?”

“I’m not worried about the damn paparazzi. What about Jessup?” There’s an acrid taste rising at the back of my throat from saying that bastard’s name out loud.

“He won’t get to you,” John promises. He glances at Cal and Dom, and they too agree that my uncle won’t get near me.

“The guys can tell him to leave,” Danny says with a frown. “Or we can just call the cops.”

“No cops,” I bite out, not meaning to snap at my friend. “Sorry.”

“I get it.” Danny’s grimace fades a bit. “We’ll figure something out.”

As much as I want to keep Jessup away from me, guilt slides in, since it’s my dad’s only brother—only living family. He has every right to see my father. “He came to see his brother. I have to give him that.”

Just then my phone rings. I pull the cell out of my pocket and see it’s my mother. I debate if I should answer, but Danny takes the phone out of my hand and taps the green button.

“Hi, Mrs. Wild… Yes… Connor needed some air and… Yes… We saw… Okay… Security is handling it… Yes. Then give him a few minutes and we’ll be back inside… Alright.” With that, Danny hangs up.

“What did she say?” I ask, as panic simmers in the pit of my stomach.

“She wanted to know where you’d gone to, and said she found your uncle in your father’s room, but he left a few minutes ago. Connor, she’s also worried about the people collecting outside of the hospital. She doesn’t want them coming up.” Danny hands me back my cell. “I assured her it’s being handled. But what do you want to do? Stay or leave?”

I’m too numb to think straight, and all I want to do is run. But there’s no way I can leave now—not with my mother sitting alone and facing the reality of my father’s fast deteriorating health.

I glance at all the faces around me. “It’s okay if you guys want to leave, but I need to stay with my mother,” I admit, my eyes landing on John, who gives me a nod.

“What’s your decision? I need to tell Tobias,” Dom says before retrieving his phone.

Danny ignores Dom, but whispers to me, his hand firmly gripping my forearm. “Are you okay?”

I glance at my best friend, and a weary grin slides across his face. I know he’s trying to help soothe me—and it does, somewhat. “I’ll be better once I’m upstairs.”

He nods in understanding, but he doesn’t stop there. He leans in further and whispers, “You didn’t tell me everything about Jessup, did you?”

I can’t look at him, but admit with a swallow of guilt, “No, I didn’t.”

“You know we’re going to want answers.” He means him and the band.

It’s been so long and I figure it’s a moot point to talk about it. I’ll just evade, like I always do with shit I don’t want to talk about. I ruefully chuckle—seems that’s what I’ve been doing with John, too.

“I know.” And I leave it at that.

“Pen says Tobias wants us out of here.” Dom has the cell to his ear.

“You guys head out. I’ll take Connor back,” John says.

“Got it,” Dom replies, tells Pen, and then tucks the phone away.

“Let’s go in.” John’s commanding words ease something in me.

“Call if you need me.” Danny hugs me.

“I will.”

John presses a gentle hand to my back and urges me inside the building. We retrace our steps, moving toward the elevator, where I get an itchy feeling, like someone is watching. Granted, there are loads of people outside taking pictures, but this feels different.

The ride up the elevator is quiet. Without the rest of the band and the security team, I’m alone with John and uncertainties about the night we shared in the shower threaten to spill out of my mouth like vomit. But I hold the words in and walk into my father’s room.

Given Dad’s comatose state, the nursing staff lets us stay in the room. For the rest of the night, I sit by my father’s bed—alongside my mother, with John stationed at the door.

When the cardiac surgeon and the neuro specialist arrive early the next morning, they confirm that my father no longer has brain function, and the machines are what’s keeping him alive.

Once the doctors leave, my mother bursts into tears. Me? I can’t cry. I’m too fucking numb to believe that Dad’s going to die once we take him off life support.

The man I know in that bed is powerful like Superman. He wouldn’t let Mom or me down by dying. So, no. I won’t believe what the doctor said.

As I hold my mother, I glance over to the door, where I see John staring back at me. The stony expression on his face confuses me. I don’t know why, but it does.

“It’s time, Connor. We have to say goodbye.” Mom’s words penetrate.

Fuck . She is going to take Dad off of life support. I want to tell her hell no . In the back of my head, I’m screaming for my father to wake up and open his eyes.

Staring down at my mother’s watery blood-shot eyes, I have to face reality. My father is gone and I have to make peace with that.

Peace . I will never hear his voice again. His booming laughter. Or his gruff tone when he’s angry at me. And that’s a gut-punch I’ll feel for the rest of my life.

“Connor?” My name as she says it is broken, but I can’t answer her. “Want to call the guys, so they can say their goodbyes?” Mom’s voice is as strained as the tightness in my chest. I’m about to burst from the pain of holding in my anger and regret.

I look at my father’s still form, and swallow down the tears. “I’ll ask John to call them.” Out of the corner of my eye, I see John take out his cell phone and put it to his ear.

“Okay. I’ll let the nurse know my decision, then I’m going home to make some calls.” She gives me a hard hug which adds another layer of ache to my heart. “I love you, Connor.”

“I love you, too, Mom,” I utter back, the vise gripping my throat strangles my words.

Like she promised, Mom leaves, but I don’t move from my spot next to my father’s bed. Not much later, John informs me that the band have arrived. One by one, my friends walk in and say their final farewells to my dad.

Each one had a special connection with him, and I don’t have to imagine how they are feeling, since their dejected faces mirror my own.

He was always the go-to man for anything we needed. And I loved him profoundly for being there for me and the band. Even with our differences in our beliefs about life, I know my father loved me wholeheartedly, and cared deeply for my bandmates.

It’s nearing four in the afternoon when my mother calls and tells me tomorrow morning at nine a.m. will be the time. I have no words for her, except for okay .

I decide to stay by my father’s side. Just in case.

Danny and Tobias walk into the room. “We’re going to dinner.”

“I don’t want to eat,” I reply, keeping my eyes on my father. But Danny isn’t having it.

“I promise, your father isn’t going anywhere.” Danny drags me off the chair.

I glare at him and call out, “Tobias, can you do something about your stubborn boyfriend?” I glance angrily over at the tall man whose stoic face says nothing. Then I turn to my bodyguard. “John?”

“I’m sorry, Connor, but I have to side with Danny,” John says evenly.

“Of course you do. Traitor,” I hiss. As much as I want to fight them, my empty stomach is begging for food.

“Come on.” Danny tightens his hold on my hand and tugs me along.

I could easily yank out of his hold, but I don’t. Instead, I let him lead me down the hall toward the elevators. John’s presence at my back gives me some peace of mind, which sounds ridiculous when I have my best friend with me. Right?

“Where’re the guys?” I finally ask, as we pass the empty waiting room.

“They’re heading to Callum’s parents’ house. They’re out of town and gave us permission to use their place. The guys are tired, and hungry—like me.” Danny pushes the down button of the elevator. “Besides, I want to talk to you alone.”

“About what?” I don’t look at Danny, not yet. Still, I can feel his eyes lasered onto the side of my face.

“Don’t play the stupid card with me, Connor. I’ve known you practically all your life. You didn’t tell me everything about that night, did you?”

Before I can retort, the elevator opens, and the four of us step inside the empty space and John presses the button for the cafeteria’s floor.

“No,” I admit, but my attention never leaves John.

“I want to know what that bastard did to you,” Danny grates out.

John’s body goes solid, but I remain silent, and Danny clues in. He understands that I don’t want John or Tobias to know. Though, I have a feeling Danny’s boyfriend does know something, since he doesn’t react to what Danny said. But John…

My best friend pinches his lips shut and doesn’t push.

After John scopes out the large room, Danny and I grab some food, and sit at the far corner of the open space, while Tobias and John sit nearby at another table.

People are looking at us, most of them probably wondering who we are since we have bodyguards hovering nearby. There are a few whose faces are lit up like they know who we are. And of course, there’s one person who has their phone out and is recording us.

Neither Danny nor I pay attention to any of them.

“I want to know the full truth of what actually happened between you and your uncle,” Danny finally whispers, while munching on some fries and tenders.

I gulp down bites of my chicken salad sandwich and then shove a couple of chips into my mouth—anything to keep from having to spill the truth. I never thought I would have to tell my best friend that my uncle had inappropriately fondled my dick when I was a kid. That secret was supposed to stay with me to the grave.

When I meet Danny’s eyes, guilt floods in, because we promised each other that we’d never have secrets between us. But we were kids when we made that oath.

“Tell me,” Danny insists, but with the gentleness he’s known for.

As much as I don’t want to tell him the truth, keeping it from Danny would only incite him to keep asking.

I open my mouth to explain when a shout from the other end of the room has us swinging our heads in that direction.

“Jesus Christ,” Danny hisses as he stands. “He’s like a wart you can’t get rid of.”

I want to laugh at my friend’s comparison, but I’m too damn gut-punched at what I’m seeing. John and Tobias are holding my uncle back, while the asshole is calling out my name.

“Get your fucking hands off me,” Jessup yells. “Connor, I only want a minute of your time.”

John has Jessup’s arms pulled behind his back, while Tobias is in front of the bastard, with a tight grip on my uncle’s shoulders. “Weren’t you told to stay clear of Connor? His bodyguard told you that he doesn’t want to talk to you. You aren’t welcome around him. If you persist, we will call the police and you can talk to them. What will it be?” Tobias snarls.

Danny looks at me, then back at the people who are all watching, especially the one with the cell in his hand. Then two more pull out theirs and start recording.

“Guys,” Danny says in warning.

John clues in, but doesn’t give Jessup any leeway as he tries to struggle out of the bodyguards’ hold.

“I just want to tell him I’m sorry,” my uncle shouts, then winces, like he’s experiencing pain. “Connor, please—You are hurting me, asshole.” Jessup attempts to wrench his arms out of John’s hold, but it’s futile.

“Let him go, John,” I say. If I want this man out of my life for good, I have to cut it off here.

John regards me for a moment, questioning my words, before he release him and Tobias steps back. Jessup tries again to move past the two bodyguards but doesn’t succeed. “Connor.”

As I approach, Danny grips my forearm. “Con,” he whispers with trepidation.

“No, Danny, I’m done.” I shrug off his hand and advance, but stay far enough away that Jessup can’t touch me. “Let him say whatever he needs to say to clear his conscience and then he can leave.”

Danny moves next to me for support, which I appreciate. I need to remain firm, and so I fold my arms across my chest and stare the man down.

John moves in, positioning himself slightly ahead of me, in case my uncle has any idea of coming closer. Tobias flanks my other side.

I’ve learned from the many times we’ve entered or exited buildings, or from when fans have surrounded us for autographs and pictures, that these men will make sure we’re safe. Especially John, who’s always close. A warm tingling begins in my chest, and my suspicion that he cares more than he shows is a small encouragement.

My uncle straightens, looks at me with pleading eyes and takes those small tentative steps. “Con?—”

“Not any closer,” John warns. I can’t see my bodyguard’s face, but I can imagine how intimidating he looks. Another zing jolts my insides and shoots right down to my dick.

This is not the time for a boner, idiot.

Jessup looks around and realizes every pair of eyes in the cafeteria is watching us. I don’t care, since his apology for what he did means fuck-all to me. His words are as shallow as the depth of my feelings toward him. Grade A nothing.

“Can we talk in private,” he says as he looks around us.

“No.” I shake my head.

“Get on with it,” John orders gruffly. His assertive tone has tingles racing across my skin.

Jesus. What the fuck is wrong with me?

“I’m sorry,” Jessup says with eyes full of remorse. “For everything .”

“Really? For everything ?” I counter, not believing one word. If he’s truly sorry, then why now—after all this time, is he coming to me with this apology? “Now you said what you needed to say, I don’t want to see you ever again.”

“But, swee?—”

“Don’t ever call me that,” I hiss. Then I turn to Danny. “I need to get out of here.”

“Go,” he says, but his eyes, which are full of hate, are on Jessup. “You, aren’t welcome around my friend ever again. I will make sure of that.”

Danny’s words are the last thing I hear before running from the cafeteria. It might be a cowardly choice to flee, but my insides are about to explode. And I have to move quickly if I want to escape from John.

Knowing exactly where I’m going, I take the stairs instead of waiting the elevator, while ordering an Uber ride to Stewie’s. The bar is on North Broadway just west of downtown Chicago. It’s not a total hole in the wall, but it’s a place I can slip into and chill—without any fandom or pedo-uncle looking for me.

Luck is on my side, and the ride is three minutes out. I add an additional instruction to have the car pick me up at the back of the building. Right as I step outside, a black Corolla pulls up and I jump in.

Just before the vehicle rounds the corner, I spot John, my uncle, Danny and Tobias rushing out of the building. With a ping from my phone, I pull it out and see Danny’s name.

Danny: Where’re you going?

Me: I’m heading to Stewie’s. Don’t tell anyone. Will call you for a ride later.

After texting him, I shove the cell back into my pocket, then lean back and close my eyes.

For the rest of the night, all I want is to get drunk and forget for a little while that my father is about to die, and my past is quickly catching up to me. Knowing him all too well, I’m sure my uncle has something up his sleeve and this isn’t the last time I’m going to see him.