Wicked End (30 page)

Scott smiled, lifted her hand to his mouth and kissed it, “When you’d do anything to make them happy. They’re on your mind and make you smile, all the time.” He thought about his first love. It was almost 15 years ago. He would have given her the moon if he could, until she cheated on him. He shook off the thought and continued. “You do little things for each other, for no reason at all. It’s complicated, but you get the idea, right?”

She looked up to see Chico on the balcony almost above them. “I think so.” She tried to will Brandon to come out also. She wanted to see his smile.

“The girl at the front desk said she’d come up here tonight.” Jake grinned, recalling the woman who had given him the room card. “When she gets here, you guys make yourselves scarce for an hour.”

Chico laughed as he walked back into the room. “Dude, she so did not wanna fuck you! She was just being nice. She told me you were a dick.”

Jake stood and glared at Chico. “When?”

Austin quickly got between them. “Drop it, guys. She’s probably busy working anyway.” He knew the situation could get ugly fast. They had been in their share of fistfights. “Let’s just relax and not worry about it.”

“He thinks every girl wants him.” Chico rolled his eyes. He wanted Jake to stop being so arrogant.

Brandon exhaled loudly then also got up. “Can we not have the cops here tonight, please? I’m getting a headache from all the stress.” He closed his eyes and rubbed his temples.

“You need to grow up and stop acting stupid,” Chico blurted out, without thinking. Suddenly, Jake ran at him. “Shit!” Chico had nowhere to go but the balcony.

Unable to move, Brandon watched Jake lunge at Chico, miss, and then go over the balcony edge. “Fuck!” he screamed, sure Jake was a dead man.

Mackenzie heard the sound and looked up just in time to see Jake fall in the pool. “Holy shit!” She quickly got up, worried Jake was hurt.

Brandon raced to the rail, adrenaline pumping through his veins. Chico was bent over, hysterical laughing. Brandon looked down and was surprised to see Jake emerge from the water. Relief washed over him, but it was so close. “Do me a favor, and shut up for a while.”

“Fucking idiot!” Scott rolled his eyes and pulled out his headphones. “When he leaves, we’ll talk some more.”

Mackenzie walked to get Jake towels from the outside rack. She smiled and waved at Brandon just before he disappeared. She placed them on a chair as close to the pool as she could, watching her step.

“You think it’s funny?” Jake shouted at her, thinking she was smiling about him. He reached out and grabbed her ankle.

She panicked. “Don’t! Please! I can’t swim.”

Jake chuckled, not believing her. “Don’t wanna get your clothes wet, huh?”

“No!” Mackenzie screamed as she fell into the water.

When she went under, she flailed, desperately trying to surface. Things were moving in slow motion while she panicked. She tried to scream, getting a mouthful of water, which she accidentally swallowed.

Jake pulled her up and wrapped his arms around her waist while she coughed and spit out water. He was so drunk, it didn’t even faze him. “How about we fuck in here?” He slipped a hand under her top and squeezed her breast. “It’s fun, you know.” He ground his semi-erect cock against her ass.

She was shivering and struggling. Then she felt him moving towards the deeper end. “Jake, really—I can’t swim.” Her voice was a bit hoarse. She looked around. “Scott, help me.”

Scott was lying down with his eyes closed, immersed in “Damage Inc.” It was the first song he had ever played on the guitar. He had no clue what was going on. The volume was up too loud.

“You don’t need to swim.” Jake opened her jeans, ignoring her physical protests. “I’ll hold you against the wall.” He pulled her pants down to her knees.

The floor was suddenly unreachable. Mackenzie started crying, terrified and not caring about anything else. “Jake, don’t let me go. Please! I really can’t swim.”

“Excuses, excuses,” he whispered in her ear. Then he pinned her against the pool wall, her back to him. “I’ve seen you in the water with Brandon before. You scared he’ll be jealous if I make you scream again?” He had his cock out and moved it between her legs. “Fucking in the pool is so hot.”

Mackenzie had been in a pool many times, but only in the shallow end, or in Brandon’s arms. She trusted him. No way did she trust Jake, especially when he was drunk. Then she felt her body slipping. “No, Jake!” She grabbed the side and held on. Suddenly, he was pulling her away from the wall. She could feel his grip failing. “No, Jake, please!”

Brandon flew to the balcony. He thought he had heard Mackenzie. His eyes opened wide when he saw her in the deep end of the pool. Then Jake let her go. “She can’t fucking swim!” he yelled. “Get her up!” For a few seconds, he froze, watching her slip further under the water. “Oh God!”

Mackenzie couldn’t kick. Her sneakers and jeans were weighing her down, which made it even worse. Quickly, she sank as she screamed. Anxiety high, she kept breathing in water. It burned. Her vision started to fade as shock set in.

Racing from the room, Brandon headed to the stairs and down to the pool. By the time he was at the edge, Scott realized something was going on. Brandon ignored him and dove down to Mackenzie, fully dressed. She was at the bottom, unmoving. When he had a hold of her, he struggled to swim. Their wet clothes and his heavy boots were making it difficult. Terrified he would lose her, his adrenaline surged, and he found the strength to break the surface with her.

“Call 911!” Scott yelled to Chico who was still on the balcony.

Scott reached down and pulled her out. He laid her on her back and listened at her mouth. “She ain’t breathing, man.” He nixed the thought of pulling her pants up. “Oh, shit!” He put an ear to her chest; there was no heartbeat. “Fuck!” He yanked his shirt off and covered the exposed part of her body.

Brandon hauled himself out and quickly started CPR. It was something he made sure several people in the crew know how to do, so he thought he should go to the classes also. He cried, sure he had lost her.

“Please, Kenzie, come back.” With each compression, he lost hope. “Scott, do something!”

His friend got down next to him and breathed into her mouth. Together, they continued to work on her, while her lips turned blue. Her still form was freaking them both out.
How could Jake be so stupid

“Tink!” Brandon screamed, his heart breaking, like never before. “Tink, I love you, please!”

He didn’t even know he said it. The words came naturally. Words he had said to no one but his mother his entire life. Then she coughed up water and drew a noisy breath. Unimaginable happiness washed over Brandon as he scooped her up and cradled her body against his. He held her forehead to his lips and closed his eyes, rocking her.

Jake had gotten out and laid several towels over her shivering body. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t…”

With a glare, Brandon shut him up. He didn’t want to hear anything but her voice. He felt her gasping for air, so he knew she was alive. He wouldn’t relax until he knew she was truly alright.

Mackenzie was disoriented and cold. She clung to Brandon, trying to focus on breathing, which wasn’t easy. Her body felt heavy, and her chest hurt.

Austin had run downstairs just after calling 911. “Get her wet clothes off!” He ordered seeing her shivering, with bluish skin. “We have to warm her.” He raced to the balcony. “Toss me a blanket, Chico. Now!”

Chico looked down and saw the crazy scene. “Oh, fuck!” He hurriedly got one and tossed it down. Then he made his way downstairs as well.

Jake and Scott undressed Mackenzie. It wasn’t an easy job because Brandon was crying while he cradled her. Austin wrapped her in the blanket, forcing Brandon to release her for a few seconds. They all stood around her, shielding her from the other guests who were gawking while they waited for an ambulance. Someone handed Scott another blanket. He draped it over Brandon, who had started to shiver as well.

“Brandon… Brandon…” Scott had tried to get his attention several times without success. He touched his arm. “Brandon, the ambulance is here.”

Looking up, Brandon was shocked that people surrounded him. He didn’t want to let her go though. He looked into her eyes, which were half-closed. Finally, he understood why she affected him the way she did. He loved her.

Mackenzie slowly rubbed Brandon’s shaking hand with a lone finger. Her ear was against his chest so she could hear his heart beating like crazy. She tried to assure him, but only a rasp came from her mouth.

Brandon held her closer. “Oh, God, I thought I lost you, Tink.”

“Sir, let us check her,” a paramedic urged Brandon. “Wait, aren’t you…”

Jake stepped closer. “Not now, man, please. We’ll give you autographs later.”

In a whirlwind of confusion, Mackenzie felt her body moving. Then someone said. “Careful, she’s naked.”
Where are my clothes
She reached out; trying to find Brandon. A hand closed over hers then lips brushed her fingers. Instantly she relaxed.

“I’m right here, baby,” Brandon whispered, near her ear. “I’m here.”

Scott walked with his friend and rubbed his back. “We’ll meet you there. I’ll bring you guys a change of clothes.” When Brandon nodded, he turned to the stairs.

Mackenzie freaked out when once in the ambulance, her mouth was covered. She fought, thinking she couldn’t breathe again.

“Shh, it’s OK.”

Brandon’s soothing voice in her ear, instantly calmed her, again. She looked up and saw a mask over her face. They had given her oxygen. Then the vehicle started moving. She reached out and grabbed Brandon’s arm, who sat next to her.

He took her hand in both his. “Relax. We’re gonna get you checked out at the hospital, just in case.” He waited until the paramedic finished putting in an IV then leaned down and kissed her forehead. “I’m so glad to have you back.”

Several hours later, Brandon lifted Mackenzie out of a taxi and carried her towards the motel. His hands were shaking, but he was afraid to let her go. The incident had shaken him badly.

“I can walk,” she insisted, her voice hoarse.

With a loud exhale, he glared at her. “Just let me take care of you, please.”

Jake was walking ahead of them. Scott, Austin and Chico had taken another cab back from the hospital, which was close behind. All of them were there to support Brandon, concerned for the both of them.

“Hey, how’s she doing?” Angelo asked as he walked towards them.

Brandon looked up. “We were lucky. She’ll be OK.” He took a shaky breath then shuddered, remembering thinking she wasn’t coming back. “She just needs rest now.”

“I got the door!” Jake raced to open the door for them. He took Brandon’s key card and held it open as he watched Mackenzie. “What does she need? How about I go get dinner?”

Mackenzie looked at his pained expression. She could see the deep guilt he had. “Jake… it’s… alright…. Relax.” Talking was complicated.

He smiled at her, hiding his anxiety. He knew he almost killed her. Technically, he did kill her. If they had been alone, she would still be dead. “Let me help, please. I need to.”

“They said she has to take it easy for a few days,” Brandon said while everyone followed him into the room. “I’m gonna stay in here. You guys go out, like you planned.” He laid her on the bed and drew the sheet and blanket over her.

Scott closed the door when the entire band, Angelo and a few roadies were inside. “I’m not leaving until I know she’s really OK.” He recalled the terror he felt when he realized she had stopped breathing. “They said she could go downhill quickly.” He looked around at his friends. “We’re all gonna help watch her round the clock in shifts.”

“I got it. Don’t worry.” Brandon didn’t want them to miss their first long break on the tour. “I’ll just stay awake.”

Jake huffed. “Dude, you’re as exhausted as she is. We’re not gonna fuck her while you sleep.” He regretted that comment when Brandon’s eyes shot daggers at him. “I mean we’ll just make sure she’s OK. We’re a family. You gotta let us help.”

Scott sat on the bed near Mackenzie’s feet and rubbed her calf. “Look, I know you wanna be the hero. You already saved her. Let us help you do the rest. You’re no good to her exhausted.”

“They’re right.” Mackenzie’s throat hurt. She cleared it and winced. That hurt even more.

Austin jumped to his feet, from the chair he had been sitting on. “Ice cream may help with that. Come on, Jake. Let’s go down to that pub we saw down the road.”

“Get me a bacon cheeseburger.” Brandon was starving. He hadn’t planned to eat, because he knew Mackenzie probably couldn’t, but the mention of food made his stomach growl. “Tink, you think you could eat fries at least?”

She closed her eyes, trying to hide the stabbing pain in her chest. “Maybe mashed potatoes?”

“I’ll get you a burger, too.” Jake stared at Mackenzie, who had stopped moving. He rushed to her side. “Kenzie, you OK?”

She opened her eyes partway. “Yeah, get me something cold to drink, please.”

Brandon lay on the bed next to her and hugged her body to his then kissed her lips. “They said something with electrolytes is best.” He touched his forehead to hers, so grateful she was still with him. “Get some sleep, Tink.” Within seconds, he fell asleep instead.

“Do you want anything else?” Austin whispered, leaning close to Mackenzie’s ear.

Her eyelids were heavy. “I don’t know.” She lost the battle to keep them open. “Aspirin, maybe?” She had a headache, too.

Scott sighed when the room emptied, for the most part. He sat on the bed watching both of them sleep, and caressing their legs, alternately. The day had been very draining. Waiting for word in the emergency room lounge was excruciating. Not to mention, the amount of fans that had approached them. After a while, Jake told a few people Brandon had a heart attack. Chico made him stop when a girl started to cry because of it.

“If you wanna get some sleep too, I’m staying.” Angelo could see the strain on Scott’s face. He crossed his arms over his chest and stood next to the door.

Unsure if he should, he looked at them asleep, in each other’s arms. They needed each other, not for him to intrude by getting in the middle, so to speak. Then Mackenzie whimpered. He snuggled up against her back, arms around them both.