Facing Me (23 page)

“Bitch!” He
shouts.  Tad turns and in three strides is in front of me again grabbing a
handful of my hair, yanking painfully.  “If you make a scene while we load
you into the van, Cam, I’ll shoot that bitch in the stomach right on that
fucking stage and leave her to die.” He bites out, punching me.  My jaw
explodes and I whimper in pain.  Daisy is sobbing, clutching her belly
with both hands.

Dustin opens the
door to the hallway, looking out carefully. “It’s all clear.  Now let’s
get them to the van, the sooner we’re out of here the better.”

Tad disappears
down a hallway, leaving Jackson and Dustin to drag us up the main access to the
parking garage.  Looking around, I see no one, not even security. 
How
is this possible, a half hour ago there were thousands of people here!
 
My main goal is to get us both out of this, realization sets in that if I am
not smart I will never see Aiden again.  My heart instantly aches, just at
the thought.  Tad is a desperate man, and I have no doubt he plans to kill
us both.  Passing the last hallway, and still seeing no one, I come to the
conclusion that I have one shot. “Just stay calm, Daisy, and do what they tell
us.” I say, trying to come across un-phased, Daisy just nods through her tears.

They lead us
through the parking garage and up the stairs to a black passenger van. 
Jackson releases one of my wrists to open the door, giving me my shot.  My
elbow flies back into his nose, blood spraying everywhere as the bone cracks,
before I stomp his instep again, Jackson cups his nose, screaming in
pain.  Instantly, I launch at Dustin, shoving Daisy out of the way. “Run
Daisy!   Damn it, go!  And don’t look back.”

Daisy looks at
me stunned, but runs toward the stairwell.  My worst fear is that Tad
finds her before she can get to anyone.  I fight with Dustin.  He
punches me knocking us both into the van before tumbling to the ground. 
My knee connects with his groin, letting me roll over him before I bash his
head back into the concrete knocking him out cold. “You stupid bitch.” Jackson
roars, grabbing me by the throat, pulling me to my feet.  The blood from
his nose smearing on me from his fingers before throwing me to the ground hard,
“You’ll pay for that.”  Pulling something out of his pocket, he shakes his
head. “Have to do this the hard way, don’t you?” He asks.

A loud crash
echoes through the garage.  Jackson’s body falls to the ground, the stun
gun he used on Mack skates across the ground in front of me.  Looking up,
I see Daisy holding a pole in her hand. “Are you okay?” She asks, helping me to
my feet.

“I told you to
go.” I mutter before hugging her hard.

A gunshot from
the stairwell makes us jump apart. “Incompetent.” Tad barks, looking down at
Jackson and Dustin both unconscious on the concrete. “I’ll make this quick.” He
smiles, pointing the gun at Daisy. “You and those bastards took everything from
me, including Landon.  Now we will see how they live with losing you.”
Tires squealing through the garage startle all three of us.  Tad squeezes
the trigger, the loud echo of the gun going off rattles through the
garage.  I look over at Daisy; my last thoughts are of Aiden and the guys
and how we fought this hard but will never see them again.

Guns and Posers

*Aiden*

Walking back up
the aisle after my shower, I meet three worried faces. “Where the hell is my
woman?” I ask looking around. “It’s been over thirty minutes.” I glance at my
watch, knowing that’s it’s been damn near forty five.

“Mack won’t
answer when I send a text, the girls are meeting with Jackson an-.” Henry
starts.

“They what?!” I
shout angrily, punching the wall. “I fuckin’ knew something was wrong.”
Flinging the door open, I run through the parking lot toward the
entrance.  Dread and fear coursing through my veins with every step. 
I jerk on the door, but it won’t open. “Fuck!” I scream and run back toward the
bus where the guys are loading into the ‘Burban. “There’s access through the
parking garage on the other side.  Get in.” Henry yells from the driver
seat.

“I can’t believe
they didn’t tell us and went to meet with them alone.” Gray growls. “What were
they thinking?”

“I tried to talk
them out of it, they we’re afraid of a fight.  They wanted things to go
away with Jackson, we had been more worried about Tad.” Henry says,
apologetically.  Stomping on the accelerator, Henry tears through the
parking lot.

A gunshot
sounds, as we enter the lower level. “Who the hell is shooting?  Fuckin’
floor it Big Man!” Hunter yells.

The world is
spinning as we weave through the garage, dodging pedestrians and
cars.   Everything feels like it’s going in slow motion.  “We
aren’t moving fast enough!” I shout.  If anything happens to the girls
none of us would ever recover.  None of the success we’ve had, or will
have, will mean shit if I don’t have Cam to share it with.  My heart
thumps frantically, blood roaring in my ears.  My hands are clenched into
fists at my sides, as I try desperately to hold onto my control. 

The ‘Burban damn
near skates on two wheels as we round the corner, just in time to see Tad
standing in front of Daisy and Cam holding a gun.  Jackson and another man
lie behind them only adding to my fear.   He squeezes the trigger
just before being knocked to the ground from behind by event security
officers.  Time stands still as Cam shoves Daisy out of the way, before
she falls to the ground, her head bouncing off a parking block. “No!” I scream,
jumping from the car before Henry gets it into park.  My feet can’t move
fast enough.  I fall to my knees next to her, scooping her body up in my
arms. “Cam,” I start, then see the blood streaming down her face and more
running down her arm, soaking through her black shirt. “Oh God, she’s
bleeding.” I shout, “Get an ambulance!”

“We’ve got rescue
on the way, Sir.” One of the men who tackled Tad says, crouching checking out
Jackson and the other guy that I assume must be Dustin.

“Don’t leave me,
baby.  Please.” I whisper nuzzling her neck. 

Henry kneels
beside me, grabbing Cam’s wrist. “Let me have a look, Aiden.” Pulling back, I
lay her on the ground yanking off my shirt to support her head. “She has a
pulse, let’s have a look at the rest of her.” He lifts her shirt, checking her
side, and hisses out a breath.  Ripping part of his shirt, he thrusts it
into my hand. “Hold that there and apply pressure.  We have to stop the
bleeding.” Henry’s eyes searching around the van, “Where the hell is
Mack?”  Jumping to his feet he heads to the stairwell.

“Aiden…” Cam
moans, wincing at the noise around us.

“Yeah, baby.” I
choke out, “Right here.”

“Daisy, get
Daisy.” She mutters.

Looking over, I
watch Daisy sob into Gray’s chest. “She’s fine, baby.  Everything is fine,
it’s over.  Are you okay?”

The ambulance
pulls up next to the ‘Burban, Cam winces again at the piercing cry of the
sirens. “Good, that’s good.” She breathes before going limp in my arms
again.  This time my heart does stop.  Everything whirls around me,
people running, lights flashing, as they load Cam onto a gurney and take her
into the back of the ambulance.

“I’m coming with
her.” I shout to the paramedics, once they have her settled.

“She your wife,”
The paramedic asks hooking monitors up to Cam’s chest.

“She’s
my everything
.   She is everything.” I choke
out.  He nods as I climb into the back and grab her free hand while he
attaches an I.V. into the other.  Watching as he takes vitals, and radios
updates to the hospital I send up a desperate silent prayer, knowing if I lose
her tonight, everything I am will die right along with her.

*Camaron*

My head aches,
the beeping that echoes in my ears isn’t helping.  As much as I want to
yell at whichever one of the guys is making that irritating noise, I can’t make
my lips move.  People are talking around me, I strain to hear, trying to
figure out who they are but the words jumble in my head.  The pain in my
side brings back visions of Tad holding the gun.  Aiming at Daisy before I
shoved her to the ground; we never should have made it out alive.  I’m not
dead though and neither is Daisy.  The pain is a welcome reminder that I
am alive. 

The only thing
running through my mind was Aiden.  I had to get Daisy and I away from the
danger and get back to Aiden.  In the split second, I saw my life flash
before me and everything good was tied to Aiden.  Hell, even Chase and
Luke are.  There is so much I need to tell him, things I should’ve said
before.  I want to be his, in every way; for him to be mine. 
Marriage has scared the hell out of me all my life, but now I can’t think of a
good reason not to marry him.     

“Cam, I’m here
baby.” Aiden’s voice soothes me instantly.

I want to tell
him, to open my eyes and see his face.  Those brown eyes that I know will
warm my entire body.  To have him kiss me, so that I know this is all real
and that everything will be okay now.  No more fear that Tad will hurt any
of us, it’s all over.  He takes my hand in his, kissing my palm. “Wake up,
please.  I love you so much.”

I force my hand
to squeeze his back, I’m weak but I feel his sharp intake of breath when my fingers
tighten around his.  I force my eyes open, wincing as my eyes adjust to
the light bouncing off of the white walls of the hospital room. “Baby, shit,
I’ve never been so afraid in my life.” Aiden sighs in relief.  Those
beautiful browns of his full of worry, but warm once they meet my eyes. “What
the hell were you two thinkin’?” He scolds, burying his face in my neck and
inhaling deeply.

“I never thought
that Jackson would’ve been involved with Tad.” I choke out, tears brimming in
my eyes. “God, Aiden, I was so scared I would never see you again.  Oh
god,” I shriek replaying everything in my head. “Mack, they- oh Aiden, is he?”

His thumb sweeps
along my cheek, taking the tear along with it. “You’re not getting’ rid of me
so easily
Wildcat
and yes, Mack is fine
. 
He’s pissed at
himself for goin’ down like a bitch, but he’s alright.  Just as soon as we
get out of here, you and me are havin’ a serious discussion about shit.”
Leaning down, he kisses my lips softly. “Long fuckin’ overdue, too, baby.”

“Ms. Allen,
you’re awake.” A woman in a white coat walks in the room holding a file. “I’m
Dr. Cox, I’ve been tending to you this evening.” She says walking over to the
bed. “How are you feeling?”

“Like I’ve been
shot,” I toss out.  She chuckles, Aiden does not.  He is too busy
glaring me down for my joke.

“Yes, I suppose
you would.” Dr. Cox, says sitting the file down to lift my gown. “It seems it
was a graze mostly, deep, yes, but didn’t damage much of anything; aside from a
scar on your side, you’ll be fine.

“Takes a damn
bullet, nearly dies, and she’s makin’ fuckin’ jokes.” Aiden mutters, standing
to pace the room. “Unbelievable.” His chest is bare, and he’s still covered in
blood, my blood.  Memories flood back of him holding onto me, his voice
whispering in my ear cutting through the sirens.  Telling me that Daisy is
okay, that everything is fine, that’s it is over.

“I’m fine.” I
say, wincing when the doctor pushes on my bandaged side. “Ouch, at least it
wasn’t the side with my tattoo.” I mutter, trying to lighten the mood.

“Well, since
your stitches are setting nicely we can get you up and walking.  After
hearing your travel plans, I’ll admit I’m not happy with them, but I’ve been
told you are heading back to Nashville for an extended stay and you will follow
up, immediately, with a colleague of mine there.”

“Yes, she will,
I’ll make sure of it.” Aiden assures her. “Our hilarious patient will be well
taken care of.”

“I’ll get her
paperwork started.  I see no reason why she can’t be discharged in a few
hours.” She replies, before turning to leave the room. “You were very lucky,
just mere inches.” I hear her say before closing the door behind her.

Aiden takes
three steps and is glaring at me. “I can’t believe you find this funny.” He
scolds. “I lost my fucking mind when I saw you bleeding on the goddamn pavement
and here you are making jokes.”

“I’m not making
a joke out of it, Aiden.” I snap, leaning up in the bed.  Pain roars
through my side, reminding me to slow the hell down. “Don’t you think that I
know how close Daisy and I were to dying in that garage tonight?  How
close I came to never seeing you again?  When I felt that bullet, all I
could fucking think of was that I needed to tell you I love you, that I want
nothing more than to be your wife!” I blurt, before clap a hand over my mouth.

“You what?”
Aiden asks, his lips twitching up into a grin.

Crossing my arms
over my chest, I slump back against the pillow. “You heard me.  I want it
all with you.  Probably always have, just too scared to say it out loud or
admit it to even myself.  Took a gunshot to make me admit it to myself,
and to you, but that’s how it is.  I want to walk down the aisle to you,
wear your ring, have your name, and be yours in every sense of the word. 
I’ve been yours ever since you asked me my name at that shady ass bar in
Louisiana.”

“Well, I’ll be
shit.” He says dropping into the chair.  My face falls, and I wait for him
to say something, anything about what I just said.  Looking up at me after
a minute, I see his shit eating grin. “Here I was planning to tell you the same
damn thing, minus the gunshot shit, once you came back to the bus
earlier.  Racked my damn brain thinking what I was gonna say to convince
you to jump with me and marry me. Here you go, pretty much proposing to me, in
a hospital gown no less.”

“I do enjoy
putting a wow-factor on things.” I chuckle, when he pushes to his feet.

“So, this means
you’re gonna marry me?” He asks, cupping my face in his hands.  Aiden’s
rough fingers stroke my cheeks, reducing my insides to goo.  My eyes
flutter closed, and for a split second I consider the damage to my stitches and
debate hospital bed dimensions for sexual positions. “I don’t like where you’re
thoughts are headin’.  I mean I like it, seeing as how I’m now thinkin’ it
too, but don’t like that I can’t do it.  We will both have to wait it
out.”

“Dr.
Chesterfield, P-E-N-I-S.” Hunter says flinging open the door. “Have they
successfully plugged your
hole
ma’am?  If not,
I’m more than happy to glove up and perform the procedure.” Walking in the
room, Hunter “Maybe, I can use my cock-ammeter to take your temperature. 
We can do this orally or anally, you’re choice.”

“Well, thank
you, but I’ll have to pass.  Dr. Cox has it handled, but thank you for
being so helpful Cunter.” I mutter rolling my eyes.

“I’m always here
for you, when it’s convenient for me.” Hunter says with a wink. “Update on
everyone else.  Daisy checked out just fine, and so has Mack.  Fucker
will learn to hit the panic button before chargin’ in the room instead of doing
it while being fuckin’ tased.  Dumbass.” He mutters.

“Panic button,
what panic button?” I ask curiously.  Surely, I would have known about
this, right?

“Button that
goes straight to Henry if there’s trouble.   It’s inside his jacket
pocket, was Henry’s idea when Mack was brought on.  You know in case of
emergencies or crazy ass women tryin’ to handle shit on their own.” Aiden
replies, explaining that, while Mack was being tased, he was trying to protect
us by getting help.

“Alright bro,
cut her some slack.” Hunter teases, before his eyes go serious. “Wait! 
Did you say your doctor’s name was Cox?  This is a great fuckin’
day.  I love hospitals!” Jumping up, he runs out the door. “Dr Cox! 
I need a vagina STAT!”

“Someone needs
to explain to him that it’s not going to be very funny to Dr. Cox, when she
hears him screaming that shit through the halls.” I mumble.

Aiden slides
into the bed, carefully adjusting me against his side. “I don’t give a shit
what he does.   He can always ice his balls once she’s done stomping
on them.” He says, nuzzling my neck.
Gah, I love when he does this.
“Now,
all I want to do is hold the one who holds my heart.” Sliding down carefully
against him, I lay my head on his chest so that I can feel his heart beating,
thumping like a bass drum, soothing me, with Aiden running a hand through my
hair, I drift to sleep.