Beyond the Stix (Warrior Black #2)

Chapter 19

NINETEEN

John

The horror on Connor’s face is something I will never forget. The truth is out. Now everyone knows that sick, twisted bastard touched Connor when he was young. From the shocked looks across each band member’s face, the only conclusion is that they didn’t know what happened either. And that’s why he took off like he’s trying to flee the devil.

I want to rip every limb from Jessup’s body, but Tobias has me in a choke hold, while Dom is an impenetrable force wrapped around my middle.

“Calm your shit,” Tobias hisses in my ear. “You’re not helping Connor.”

“Cops are coming,” Dante calls out as they have a cell phone to their ear.

“Tobias.” I’ll plead if I have to. “Let me go. That fucker deserves a beating.”

“No, John. Let the authorities handle this,” he says firmly.

“But he fucking touched him,” I wheeze out, but still my friend’s grip on me doesn’t loosen despite how I’m trying to wrangle out of his hold.

“It won’t be me going to jail, asshole,” Jessup jeers, as he tries to shake Cal and Pen off.

“Shut up, you piece of shit,” I shout.

“I’d do what he says.” Cal shakes the unsteady man.

“John.” The steely tone Tobias barks out has me squashing my rising rage, and I still.

“Connor,” I choke out, desperate to see him with my own eyes.

“Let Danny and the guys take care of him,” Dom advises in a grunt.

Jessup drops to his knee, momentarily getting free. Thinking he’s smart, he attempts to take off in the opposite direction, but Pen and Cal scramble and get a cross-collar choke hold on him.

“You slippery little eel,” Pen hisses, before spitting at Jessup’s feet. “Try that again, and it won’t fare well for you. I promise.”

“Yeah, what he said,” Cal growls, then he wrenches Jessup’s arms backward, which has him yowling in pain.

“Tobias.” I relax in his and Dom’s hold. “I promise I won’t do anything rash.” Knowing Jessup isn’t going anywhere but to jail, my focus needs to be on Connor and making sure he’s okay.

“Why don’t I believe you?” Tobias questions, but his hold around my neck loosens.

“Because you know me. I won’t go after that piece of dog shit,” I promise.

“I take your cue,” Dom relays to Tobias.

Seconds pass before Tobias, and then Dom step away from me. Though, they remain where they stand, blocking my avenue to Jessup.

I raise my hands. “I said I won’t go after him, and I won’t.”

Sirens fill the air, as whirling lights approach from the south end of the park. I look around, and realize we have a crowd of people watching us. Camera phones in numerous hands are recording the scene, and flashes are going off from the paparazzi taking tons of pictures.

Shit. This isn’t good. The last thing the band needs is bad press, especially right before the event kicks off.

Another flash goes off, lighting up the area and blinding me for moment.

“Jesus,” Dante hisses before they land on their ass.

“Where did he go?” I hear Pen yell.

Damn it. Jessup’s loose.

“How the hell did he get away from you? Find him,” Tobias shouts.

“I think he went that way,” Cal yells.

With Jessup loose, my goal is to get to Connor before he does. If that bastard has the balls.

Not wasting time, I head to the bus, where I find Danny, Callum, and Rafe sitting in the living area, while Bobby is passed out in one of the chairs. No one’s talking. But they will once I tell them about Jessup.

“Jessup escaped.”

“What do you mean he escaped?”

“I don’t know how.” I glance at each band member, their faces all displaying indignation. “How is he?”

“He won’t speak to us,” Danny admits with a hitch to his voice. “I’ve never seen him this angry before.”

“I blame you.” Rafe stands, jabbing me in the chest.

“Rafe.” Danny gets between us.

“Me too,” I admit, my eyes on the guitarist. “At least I got there before…”

“Yes, we’re all glad you were there,” Callum replies, rubbing at his eyes.

“But I don’t know how to—” Danny begins to say.

“No. He has to fucking fix this,” Rafe rails, pointing at me, before dropping back into the seat and covering his face with both hands.

“Where is he?” I ask, looking toward the back of the bus.

“He’s in the last bedroom, but don’t tell Connor about Jessup yet—not until he cools down,” Callum utters, then gets up and heads to the bar. “I think I’ll join Bobby, and get shitfaced.”

“We’ll join you.” I hear Danny say as I turn my back to them and head to the bedroom. As much as I want to tell Connor the truth about Jessup fleeing from the scene, Callum might be right on waiting until Connor cools down.

I pause a moment, to get my racing heart to slow down, before knocking lightly on the door. “Connor?”

Nothing. Pressing my ear to the door, I hear Connor’s beautiful voice, but I can’t decipher the words he’s singing.

“Please open the door, Connor.” I knock again, then check the handle and sure enough, he has it locked.

“No,” he croaks out. “Go the fuck away.” His broken words reach my ears, and I wish for all this hurt to go away, so I can hold him, and tell him I’m sorry for breaking his trust. But that isn’t what Connor needs right now. He has to know I won’t go—no matter what he demands.

“Alright. If you won’t let me in, I’ll just sit out here and we can talk.”

“I don’t—I don’t want to talk to you.” I know he’s lying, the hitch in his voice tells me so. But I’m not going to call him out on it. “Just leave me alone.”

“No,” I say flatly.

A manic chuckle bubbles out from behind the door, but it’s quickly muffled. “What do you want from me, John?”

“Nothing, Connor. I just want to make sure you’re okay.”

“Right. Are you sure you didn’t come here for a fuck?” That’s a low blow. But I understand Connor’s sharp barbs. It’s his way of protecting himself.

“Are you offering?” I reply coolly.

Silence. Then finally, “Tell the guys that I’m okay. I just need some time alone.” Connor’s shaky tone says otherwise.

“No,” I counter, again, knowing that’s going to piss him off. But that’s my plan. I want him to release his anger on me. Use me as the target, and not hide himself away from the world, from his friends—from me. He needs to confront whatever he’s running from. “Use me.” And I’ll be here to catch you when you fall.

“Use you?”

“That’s exactly what I mean. You have people out here that are worried about you— I’m worried about you. You can’t lock yourself in that room forever. You need to face us—you need to talk to me.”

“Go away, John,” Connor thunders, then a crash reverberates from the room. I’m about to kick the door down, when Danny and Callum crowd into the small space. It appears they decided to not get shitfaced after all.

“John,” Danny pleads. “Give Connor the time he needs. Don’t push him.”

“I can’t?—”

“Yes, you have to,” Danny replies solemnly. “Trust me. We know how he is and what he needs right now.”

“May I have a word with you, Mr. Brand?” Dante’s standing behind them, with a disparaging frown on their face. “Now.”

“We have him,” Danny utters and places a hand on my arm in encouragement. I reluctantly nod, and move out of the way for him and Callum to take my spot at the door. Rafe and a slightly-wobbly Bobby slide by me, their focus is on their friends.

I hesitate, admitting to myself that I don’t want to move, in case Connor comes out. And yet, judging by the chaotic sounds coming from within the room, Connor is destroying the space.

I wish I could call out to Connor and tell him how I feel—that he isn’t alone in this, but the warning glare on the band manager’s face has me moving and meeting Dante head on. I glare at them before striding toward the living area. They follow closely behind.

I spot Tobias standing near the front of the bus, talking to the driver. I move past him and head outside, where the rest of the security team are waiting.

“How did you get in the park?” Dante scowls, their hands on their hips.

“I still have my security pass,” I disclose, keeping my eyes on Dante.

The manager extends their hand. “I want the pass.”

I pat the back pocket of my jeans, where I shoved the pass earlier, but it’s missing. “I must have lost it in the fight,” I confess, without a hint of remorse. If I had to repeat my actions, I’d do it all over again, especially to keep Connor safe.

“You were told to leave,” Dante spits out, sparks of fire in their amber stare.

“Yes, he was.” Tobias walks up. “And it was me that changed the order and told John to come here.”

When I got off the bus in Gerlach, I told Tobias that my gut was telling me that Jessup is up to no good. After I explained about his numerous strange text messages to Connor, Tobias had agreed, and we devised a plan for me to head to Black Rock separately, and to keep an eye on the band from a distance—specifically watching over Connor. Good thing too.

Dante rounds on Tobias. “It wasn’t your call to make.”

“Yes, it was. I’m the lead. And if I feel that one of the band members is in jeopardy, I will take every precaution to make sure they are safe. Having John in the background will ensure added safety.”

“As their band manager, I need to know what dangers are lurking for them. You as the lead have to keep me apprised of any and all details where Warrior Black is concerned. You keeping me in the dark will only cause more issues—something none of us want,” Dante declares resolutely. “Don’t you agree, Mr. Grant?”

They are right. I turn to Tobias. “We need to tell Dante what has been happening since Jessup came into the picture.”

“Tell me what?” Dante folds their arms across their chest, a mask of determination on their face as they listen to Tobias breaking down the events of the last three weeks. I add my input about the times where I’ve been the only one present during Connor and Jessup’s confrontations. However, I withhold the details of Connor’s true history with his uncle.

“I want John to remain here.” Tobias isn’t asking.

“Sons-of-bitches. Why didn’t Ron tell me all this was happening?” Dante begins to pace. “If this is where we are now, the question is how are we going to deal with Jessup?”

Tobias glances at me, and I know immediately what he wants. I give a slight nod of understanding even though what I need to do to keep Connor safe will gut me. I promised Connor I wouldn’t leave, but in order to protect him, I have to.

Dante bounces a glance between me and Tobias. “You two are up to something.”

“To catch a stalker, you have to be in their shoes,” I say before turning around and striding away to try to find my security pass.

“Now what the hell does that mean?” Dante’s shout easily carries to my ears.

I grab my cell phone and call Dean. If anyone can help me, he’ll be the best person to organize it.