Irreversible Damage (Irreparable) (10 page)

Liv nods, letting me know she’s going to play along. “That’s too bad. They’re serving Popsicles in the caf.”

The bushes rustle as Camilia pops out. “Sorry, Tor. Gotta go.”

Liv and I laugh as we watch her run to the cafeteria.

“God, I love that kid.” Liv’s voice is strained. Something about Camilia and Paco always has that effect on her.

“I hope I’m not about to upset you…but…”

She rolls her eyes dramatically and smiles. “But you want to know what happened to your friend last night when her boyfriend had to drag her away and reassure her that she’s not a terrible human being.”

“Oh, God, Liv.” I don’t know what else to say. There’s so much pain in her words. “Why would you think that?”

She huffs, but smiles like it’s not tearing her apart. “I think that because I was raised by Sheila Hunter, the selfish bitch who ignored Brady right under my nose for my entire life.  I never saw it, and worse than that, I went along with it.”

Her painful expression toys with my emotions. “None of us saw it.” I put my hand on her arm. “That’s why you were upset?”

She nods and looks up at me. “When I heard Brady sing, I lost it. I realized that I’d treated him just as awful as my mother. I bragged to all of my friends about my brother the football star and my brother the law student.  I thought his music was a pointless hobby, just like my parents did.”

“You were just a kid.”

She lets out an awkward laugh. “That’s what Harrison said.”

I’m sure he did. Harrison hates Sheila as much as I do. He’s the only other person who knows what it’s like to love one of Sheila’s children. “He’s right.”

“I know.” Her eyebrows lift, and she nods. “I just felt so bad. I saw real passion for something in Brady for the first time. I was mad at myself because I know it was always there, and if I’d bothered to get to know him at all, I would’ve seen it.”

I grab her arm and haul her in for a hug. She lets me hold her. “Brady wouldn’t want you to be upset. Don’t let your mother hurt you anymore, Liv.”

She pushes me away with a gentle shove. “God, I swear, sometimes I think you and Harrison share a brain. I’m good now. I promise.”

I know she’s not. Her mother’s mistakes still haunt all of us. I’m glad Liv has Harrison to help her through those times when she can’t let go of her demons.

After Brady is done with Rodrigo, we have to go home so he can get ready for the show tonight. When we get back to the house, Brady loads his truck and I fix us a quick bite to eat. When it’s time to leave, I’m feeling extremely tired. I can barely keep my eyes open.

I tell Brady I’ll meet him at the show after I take a nap. He’s not thrilled, but agrees and kisses me goodbye. Once he’s gone, I curl up on the couch and doze off. After a couple of hours of sleep, I get up to use the bathroom. I don’t feel rested and wonder if I’m coming down with something. I decide to text Brady.

Still not feeling gr8. Think I’ll stay home. I love you. Good luck!

He texts me back almost immediately.

Bummer. I’ll miss you. Get some rest. Be home soon to take care of you.

I’ve just set my phone on the coffee table and started flipping through channels on the TV when the doorbell rings.

I open the door without checking who it is. Davey stands on my doorstep, looking like he hasn’t slept in a week. He glowers at me. My stomach balls with nerves.

“Is Brady here?”

I’m holding the door as if it can offer me some comfort. “No, they had a show tonight. I’ll tell him you stopped by.” As I start to close the door, his foot wedges between the jamb and the door before he pushes it toward me, knocking me off balance. I fall back onto the floor. My tailbone slams into the hard marble, shooting sharp pains up my spine.  I’m sent sliding backward until I hit the wall behind me. With one hand under my belly, I press the other into the wall for support as I slowly get to my feet.

Davey towers over me in our foyer with a look of fury on his face. His hair is a greasy mess, and he reeks of alcohol. He’s not shaven in days. His red, puffy eyes are glossed over and full of hatred.

“Fuck,” he says as he holds the wall for support. “I didn’t mean for you to fall.”

Opening the door might have been a huge mistake. He’s clearly angry, and it’s even clearer that he’s angry with me.

“You’re drunk!” I don’t know why I bother accusing him when it’s so blatantly obvious.

“It’s the only way I know to numb this shit.” He taps his chest melodramatically.  “I need to talk to you.”

“I think you need to sleep it off first,” I suggest, hoping he’s sober enough to understand reason. “Call Brady tomorrow.”

“I’m not actually here for Brady.” He turns and closes the front door as I inch closer to the hall leading to the kitchen in case I need the phone. I stare at him with wide eyes. “Did you think our conversation was over just because Brady came to your rescue?”

His question has all my nerve endings exploding. What does he want with me?  “There’s nothing for us to talk about Davey.” I stand tall, feigning confidence. “Whatever you’re upset about, you need to discuss it with Brady.”

“Oh, no, sweetheart. It seems Brady can’t take a piss without asking you for permission, so we definitely have a lot to talk about. It’s time you knew a little about me.”

“What do you want?” I stick with putting up a tough front. On the inside, I’m scared to death.

“I want my friend back.” He sounds desperate. “Tell Brady to let me back in the band.”

“I can’t do that.” Or, more to the point, I won’t do that. Davey is unstable. Brady doesn’t need that in his life.

“It wasn’t a question. You’re the reason I’m out, and you will tell him to let me back in.” It’s an order.

I huff at his request. “No, Davey. You are the reason you’re out. You flaked on practices and you missed opening night. They had to replace you.”

His lips curl into a sinister grin. He comes closer to me, his smell pungent and repulsive. “Do you think he loves you?”

I fight the urge to run, knowing he’ll catch me. “My relationship with Brady is none of your business.”

He laughs. “You didn’t answer.”

“I don’t have to!” I shout, not about to give him the satisfaction.

“You’re not good for him. You bring him down. All women bring their men down.” His smile disappears as his hands find his hair. “He used to be fun. We used to party with different girls every night.” His hands leave his hair as a satisfied grin returns to his face. I already know about Brady’s past, but Davey must not know that. “Do you know that about him? I think he misses it.”

He’s trying too hard and obviously doesn’t know Brady like I do. Brady doesn’t miss it. He regrets it.  “He grew up.” I smile now. “Maybe you should try it.”

“If he’s so grown up, then why is he lying to you?”

He’s trying to goad me. As much as I want to play along to find out what he’s talking about, I won’t give in to him. “You’re pathetic.”

He laughs hard, his hand reaching out to touch my hair. I slap it away. “Did he tell you that I was in prison?”

I can’t hide my shock.

He laughs nervously. “For manslaughter.”

My mouth falls open as I take a step back.

“Ha! No, I didn’t think so.” He takes a step closer to me. “Why do you think he would hide that from you?”

As angry as I am with Brady right now, I won’t engage Davey. He’s close to snapping. “I don’t care.”

I look up, expecting to see anger, but instead Davey looks like he’s in pain. “Fuck! I didn’t come here to fight with you. I came here to explain. You need to know. I want you to understand.”

Now I’m just pissed. He’s playing games. “I understand. You are an irresponsible, reckless, and spoiled child who refuses to grow up, and you’re angry that your faithful playmate has moved past that.”

That did it. His anger is back full force. I watch his face turn bright red as he takes a step toward me. His teeth clamp shut. I hear them grinding together. “Fuck you. You don’t know me, bitch.”

I flinch and look down. “I know enough.”

“Shut your fucking mouth and listen to me!” He throws his hands in the air in frustration. “I didn’t come here to fight with you.”

My face connects with the doorjamb when I turn to run. Fuck, that hurt. Blood drips into my mouth as it oozes from the split in my lip. I glare over at Davey, who is approaching me in an angry show of control.

“Let me explain. I just want to talk.”

I run out to the back deck, hearing Davey’s footsteps pounding into the floor behind me. He reaches the deck out of breath, looking angrier than he did before. “Would you stop running? You’re going to hurt yourself. Just hear me out.”

He’s still coming at me. I’m terrified. I decide to make a run for it. If I can make it to the neighbors, I can call the authorities. It’s my only chance.

As I scramble backward, I lose my footing and tumble head over feet down the stairs. The slicing pain that tears though my head has me reeling in pain. I’m dizzy. The world around me spins in a blurry haze.

Tug’s murderous expression as he pounds his fist into Davey’s face is the last thing I remember.

Chapter 13

Brady

The show’s just about to start when my phone vibrates in my pocket. Thinking it might be Tori, I pull out the phone and glance at the screen. It’s Tug. I don’t answer it. He’s probably running late. Just as I slip it back in my pocket, the vibrating starts again, but I ignore it, making my way on stage. The large crowd screams as I nod at Jesse and reach for my guitar. My nerves begin to take hold.  The dryness in my throat threatens to mess with my voice. My hands shake wildly. I miss Tori. Seeing her in the crowd is calming. 

Again, my phone vibrates.  Before I pick up the guitar, I pull the phone from my pocket. When I see Tug’s name again, I decide I’d better answer it in case he’s been in an accident or something. I exit the stage at the complaints of the crowd and answer the phone.

“This better be important, Tug. We’re just about to start.”

“Brady…it’s Tori.”

He begins to talk as the band starts up for a test. Shit! I can’t hear anything. I head immediately for the back door.

“You have to start over. What’s wrong with Tori?”

“Davey came to the house…and Brady, it’s not good. She’s unconscious. They’re taking her to
El Seguro.
 
I’m in the ambulance with her, but you’d better get here soon.”

The entire room morphs into a black pit of nothing. Tug’s voice transforms to a muffled hysteria in the back of my brain. I can’t move. The phone slips from my grasp, crashing to the floor.

“Brady.” Jesse’s hand slaps my shoulder. I turn toward him slowly, pointing to the phone on the floor.

He picks it up and talks to Tug. Why the fuck can’t I move?

“Tug, it’s Jesse. What the hell is going on…. Oh, shit…. Okay…we’re leaving right now…good, motherfucker deserved it.”

Jesse slips my phone in his pocket. “Let’s go. I’ll drive.”

I follow Jesse to the car as my mind tries to understand what’s going on. I stop just short of the exit. Jesse turns to see what’s keeping me. “I’m not going to the hospital.”

“What?”

“Take me to Davey’s.” I look over Jesse’s shoulder to the exit.

He walks back to me. With his hand on my shoulder, he looks me in the eye. “You’re too late, man. Tug took care of him. Now, come on. Tori needs you.”

Jesse drives fast and crosses the border into Tijuana without a word. He knows if he talks, I’ll lose it. I’m glad he’s here. There’s no telling what I would do if he wasn’t.

I send a text to Liv.

Tori’s had an accident. Meet me at
El Seguro
.
 

Jesse drops me at the door, and then leaves to find a parking spot. I sprint in through the doors, screaming frantically, “Where is she?” I stop a few people with hospital attire. None of them are able to help me. “Where is Tori?”

“Señor, yo te ayudo. Es lo que buscas?”

Finally, someone who can help me. I turn to the woman speaking from behind the desk.  “Tori…Victoria Preston. She was brought in by ambulance.”

She smiles, one of those patronizing smiles, alerting me that bad news is coming. “Oh, yes. The doctors are with her now? Are you her husband?” I’m thankful she’s switched to English so I don’t have to translate.

“Yes.”

She gestures to the waiting room. “Someone will be out to speak with you soon.”

“I need to see her.” My voice breaks on a plea of desperation.

“I’m sorry.” Her gaze falls. “You can’t see her right now.” She points at the waiting room again. “Please have a seat.”

“Have a seat? Are you fucking kidding me?”  I don’t want to sit. I want to see my wife. I know I’ll get nowhere arguing with this woman.

“Sir.” It’s all she says, and it’s a warning.

I start wearing a hole in the floor in front of her desk, raking my hands through my hair and cursing under my breath. She looks up every so often and offers me a concerned smile.

Liv and Harrison come running up the hallway with Jesse. Liv practically knocks me over when she hugs me. “Oh, God, Brady.  Is she okay?”

I look up, shaking my head. Liv’s been crying, her mascara dripping down her cheeks.

“I don’t know.” I scowl at the woman behind the desk, but she doesn’t see me. “They won’t let me see her.”

“What happened?” Harrison asks, pulling Liv close to his side.

Both of them watch me with wide eyes. “Davey came to the house. He fucking attacked her.”

“What?” Liv shouts, earning her a scornful look and a “shush” from the receptionist.

“I should have been there.” My voice cracks, and I know if I look at Liv, I’m going to lose it.

She brushes her hand down my arm once. “How’d you find out?”

“Tug.”

“Where is he?” she asks, glancing around.

“He’s here somewhere.” I hadn’t even thought to ask about Tug. “He rode in the ambulance with Tori.”

“I’ll go check on him,” Harrison offers, and I nod. He makes his way over to the receptionist, speaking with her much more politely than I did before. I watch him take the corner and disappear down the hallway. Jesse excuses himself to make some phone calls. I know he has a mess to clean up with the band since we bailed on the show.