Wicked End (42 page)

Carefully, Brandon sat down next to Mackenzie. He put the bottle of water between his legs and wrapped an arm around her. “I got your pills. Can you open your eyes a bit?”

Hearing him in a dream, she moaned softly, a bit achy. He called her name, again, and she realized it wasn’t part of the dream. Her eyelids started to flutter. Then she found her head on his chest. He smelled like sweat, but she could care less. “Something… wrong?” She was so groggy.

He pulled both pills out of his pocket. “You need these. Open up.” He popped them into her mouth then held the water for her. When she got them down, he hugged her. “You can go back to sleep now.” He turned a little and lay back on the side pillow. “When you wake up, we’ll watch Gasoline, if they’re still playing.”

The next thing Mackenzie knew, there were several voices in the room. She lifted her head and rubbed her sore neck.

Brandon had been talking to Chico, quietly. “Hurts, huh?” He pulled her between his legs and rubbed her neck. He had thought about moving her when she fell asleep in an odd position, but she seemed comfortable. A soft sigh told him he was easing her pain.

“Show’s over,” Chico announced, after putting his phone away. “We’re gonna head back to Ashley’s. We keeping the bus here or there?”

Austin came into view. “I think we’re keeping it here tonight and moving it later. There’s a big party in the hotel down the street. Not smart to drive after a bash like that. You know we’re all getting smashed.” He stretched his limbs. “I’m gonna jump in the shower and change.”

Scott was sitting next to Brandon. “I’m gonna take a shower on the bus, before someone else claims it.”

“Hurry up.” Brandon stroked Mackenzie’s hair. “I need one bad. Don’t know how she can stand me.”

He lifted her up and carried her back to the bus, several of the guys helping shield her from view of the fans. By the time they were in the front lounge, she was trying to squirm out of his arms.

“I’m OK, just tired.” She hated being babied.

After Scott’s shower, Brandon jumped in, to a few roadie’s dismay. Jake and several others used the showers in the arena. Brandon had a feeling Mackenzie was keeping something from him. Her and Scott kept looking at each other. He was sure Scott had told him everything that happened at Ashley’s, so it had to be something recent.

“You have to tell him,” Scott whispered to Mackenzie while she searched for clothes. “Someone’s gonna mention it to him.”

“No, I don’t,” she growled softly. “I can take care of myself.” She wished he would forget about it.

Scott looked around. There wasn’t anyone within a few feet. He exhaled loudly, angry that she wouldn’t let him punch Dean as well. “I’m not saying you can’t take care of yourself, but he’s gonna kill me for hiding it from him.”

“You promised.” Anxiety gripped her. Brandon could never know.

Scott heard the water turn off and looked down the aisle. “No, I didn’t.” He lifted her chin and saw her lip trembling. “Shit’s gonna hit the fan if someone else tells Brandon.”

“Tells me what?” Brandon stood close by in a towel.

Scott stared at him for a few seconds, desire building within. “Nothing. Don’t worry about it.”

Mackenzie could see Brandon was not going to let it go. She had to make something up. “It’s just a groupie thing.”

“One of my groupies?” Brandon’s eyebrows rose. He looked her over and saw the knuckles on her right hand were red and a bit swollen. “Did you get in a fight with one of them?”

She looked up at him. “No.” Then she grabbed a long T-shirt. “I’m gonna take a shower.” Quickly, she brushed past Brandon, while Andy exited the bathroom. She exhaled loudly once she had closed herself inside. She shivered, remembering Dean trying to force his way into her. Washing him off her was just what she needed.

Jake came up the stairs of the bus, changed and ready to go. “Who’s ready? I don’t wanna walk in alone.” Then he saw Scott and Brandon. “Hey, Brandon—is Mackenzie OK?”

Brandon was starting to get angry. He had definitely missed something. When he heard Mackenzie turn the shower on, that sealed it. She was hiding something big. “What the fuck’s going on?” He looked from Scott to Jake. “Why’s she acting so sketchy?”

Scott grabbed the edge of his bunk. “She punched Dean… twice.”

“Why? What the fuck did he do to her?” Her needing a second shower made his mind race. If he touched her again…

Nervously Scott shifted his weight. “She asked me not to say.”

Mackenzie heard the raised voices. She washed faster, knowing Brandon would explode if she didn’t calm him.
What is he gonna do if someone tells him what they saw?

“Spill it now!” Brandon demanded, tired of the run around.

Scott pulled his bottom lip in before uttering, “I walked in on Dean on top of her. He had her pinned down, and she was trying to get out from under him. That’s all I saw.”

“Was he fuckin’ her?” Brandon’s heart was pounding, his anger boiling over. He thought of every time she shied away from Dean after he had her alone that first show. She seemed to fear something.

Scott wished he had seen more. “I don’t know. She yelled for me. By the time I got in there, all I saw was Dean on top. She didn’t want my help, so I didn’t think he was hurting her.”

Jake thought Brandon knew. “She clocked him when they came out of the room,” he added. “Scott had to hold her back. She gave him a bloody nose, funny as hell.”

Brandon was breathing hard, fury consuming him. He knew she never reacted that way unless someone deserved it. “Jake, you saw it too. Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Um, you guys left.” Jake realized he had missed something also. “Did Dean do something to her?”

Mackenzie opened the bathroom door, slowly. She wasn’t sure how much Brandon knew. Peeking out, her heart sank. Jake was there too? Damn! That meant Scott couldn’t hide anything.

“Hey, I’m next.” Jason gently pulled her into the hallway. “We all wanna leave.”

She found herself with no way out and Brandon staring at her.

“What’d he do?” Brandon bellowed. He had thrown shorts on. “Dean did something to piss you off or scare you. What?”

She wasn’t sure what to tell him. “Forget it, please. I took care of it.”

“Fuck that! What the hell did Dean do to you?” Brandon was losing control of his emotions. He wanted to wipe the streets with Dean, no matter what he did. He stared at her, waiting for a response, but she stayed silent. “When we were in Michigan, you said it wasn’t worth it, why?” He moved to stand in front of her, glaring down at her.

Never had Mackenzie felt fear when next to Brandon, but his fury scared the hell out of her. “Baby, please don’t. Not here.”

“Fine.” He grabbed her arms and backed her into the lounge. He looked around at Angelo, Daniel and Jim. “Get out!” As soon as they were alone, he closed the door. “Now tell me.”

She sat down, not wanting to think about the pain. “There’s nothing to tell.”

“Look. Something fucking happened, and you’re gonna tell me what. I don’t care if it was just rough sex. He did something to hurt you. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have hit him. I have the right to know. I’m your boyfriend now.”

Her hands trembled, but she wasn’t sure why. “In Michigan, he… he kinda…” She wasn’t sure how to describe it. “You know I wanted him, right?”

“Yeah.” He scowled, wishing she hadn’t.

She sighed. “Well he knew it too, but when he started, it hurt, bad. He wouldn’t stop.” She winced, as a memory came back. “It didn’t hurt the whole time, but he was so big, I couldn’t take it.”

“Why didn’t you punch him then?” Brandon was confused, but still furious. Dean should have stopped when she told him it was painful.

She looked up at him. “I tried, but he held my hands down. Tonight... he um… he tried to fuck me again. He pinned me against the wall, then on the couch. He deserved a broken nose.”

“He deserves to fucking pay!” He didn’t care whether or not Dean succeeded. He took advantage of his woman, hurt her. “He ain’t getting away with it.” He flew out of the room. “Let’s go. That asshole’s getting a taste of his own medicine.” He grabbed Scott and Jake. “I’m gonna kill the motherfucker.”

Mackenzie hurried to catch up with him. “No, don’t!” She was sure Dean would sue Brandon if he did anything. Barefoot, she ran out into night. “Brandon!” The men were already hundreds of feet away, running at full speed. She was too exhausted to follow. Defeated and worried, she sulked back inside and climbed into Brandon’s bunk. Then she burst into tears.

Brandon slowed when he reached the birth Gasoline’s main bus had been in. It was empty, but a few of the road crew were still packing the truck. Brandon looked around for Vince, Gasoline’s Production Manager.

As soon as he located him, he jogged over to him. “Hey, were did Jon and them go?”

Vince looked up from his checklist and looked at Brandon. “Uh, they left already. They have to record in the morning. Dean and Tommy almost stayed, but Jon threatened them with a pounding if they did.” He turned at the sound of a cymbal crashing. “Watch what you’re fucking doing!” He hated incompetence. “You want me to have Jon call you?”

Brandon sighed. “No. I’ll call him. Thanks.”

“Don’t.” Scott urged him as they walked away. “It’s between you and Dean, not Jon.”

Jake followed them, wishing they would tell him what really happened.

“I’m not letting it go.” Brandon stopped when they got to the bus and leaned against the side. He waited until he was alone then pulled out his phone. Staring at it, he tried to think of something to say without screaming. He couldn’t think of anything.

Then Scott stuck his head out. “Dude, she cried herself to sleep.”

Brandon pushed past Scott and bounded up the stairs two at a time. He skidded to a halt in front of his bunk. Mackenzie had curled into a ball, both cheeks wet. He closed his eyes, knowing it was his fault. He took off his shoes, carefully climbed into bed and pulled her into his arms.

“I’m so sorry,” he whispered. “I know you can fight for yourself, but things’ve changed. Please let me protect you.” He didn’t get a response, other than a sniffle.

She had woken up when he moved her, but was too upset to say a word. He meant well. She knew that. It was that he didn’t even listen to her.

“Besides that, I can’t let him get away with it.” Brandon held her closer, glad she was able to stop Dean herself. Although, if she couldn’t, he knew Scott would have. “He needs to know it’s not right to force himself on women. Tink, please. Please try to see it from my point of view. He tried to rape you.”

Mackenzie had not thought of it that way. He was right, but she wouldn’t dwell on it. Dean didn’t get what he wanted. “I’m sorry.”

Brandon barely heard the soft words. He leaned his head on hers. “It’s not your fault. He…”

“No. I mean for keeping it from you.”

“Oh.” He stroked her hair. “I see why you didn’t tell me.” He paused. “I’m gonna have a talk with him, whether or not you like it. I have to. He must’ve known you were my girlfriend.” He groaned. It happened before they officially got together. “You know what I mean. That’s probably why he pounced on you, to take a shot at me.”

“He did know I was with you.” She had assumed he was attracted to her, but that made more sense. “Just don’t beat the hell outta him.” She worried he would go overboard.

He sighed. “I can’t promise that.” After taking a deep breath, he looked at her and lifted her chin. “Open your eyes. Honey, please.” He felt so much closer to her and didn’t understand why. When she met his gaze, he bit his lip. “I love you.” He kissed her lips softly. “I’m sorry I upset you.”

“I love you too.” She caressed his cheek. “Can we please drop it now? I’m OK, I swear.”

He nodded. Then they both relaxed. He closed his eyes and held her as close as possible. He could feel she
was
fine, maybe still a bit angry with Dean, but nothing more.

“What time’s your flight?” Scott asked as he peeked out of his curtain.

Brandon looked up from the bag he was packing. “Um, noon. Why?”

Scott sighed. “Just wondering.” Then Austin pulled his body towards him. “Hey, cut it out.” Scott tried to pry Austin’s arm off his ribs, but he held on tight. “I wanna talk to Brandon.”

“Talk later, cuddle now,” Austin whispered in his ear and pressed his erection into Scott’s ass cheek. “Or I’ll…” He slid Scott’s underwear down in the back. “…pound this sweet ass of yours.”

A shudder went through Scott. It had been days since they fooled around. There hadn’t been time or privacy. “Wait.” He felt the head of Austin’s cock brush his skin and cringed, scared he would penetrate him dry.

“Can you guys wait till I leave, please?” Brandon turned away when he noticed Austin’s hand dip into Scott’s underwear. He looked up when Mackenzie stepped into the hall. “Tell these guys to get a room.” He pointed his thumb at Scott’s bunk.

She grinned and leaned on the edge of the bunk. “I want a video of this, boys.”

“You gonna masturbate to us?” Austin’s voice was dripping with need, as he stroked Scott slowly. “Wanna see me fucking him or my cock in his mouth?” Her interest was really turning him on. “Or maybe a bit of both?”

Scott grit his teeth when Austin’s hand ran up his dick and squeezed the head. “Fuck, don’t start, please.” He met Mackenzie’s eyes. “Don’t encourage him now. We’re getting a room. I’ll set up a camera there for you.”

“Cool.” She winked. “I need some new porn to watch.” She had an extensive collection, but no male on male videos.

Brandon pulled Mackenzie back. “We don’t have time now. Stop getting her all worked up, or we’ll never get to the airport.” He closed Scott’s curtain.

Scott grinned. He loved that she enjoyed watching him and Austin. “Call me when you land, so we know you’re OK.” He was worried Brandon wouldn’t want to leave her down there.

“I will.” Mackenzie assured him.

Jesse helped them bring their bags to the cab. He tossed the last one into the trunk just before hugging Mackenzie, tightly. Then he fished a set of keys out of his pocket and put them in her hand. “I told the property manager you’re my sister.” He smiled but then his expression turned to alarm. “Oh shit! I left the place a mess. They asked me to fly in a few days earlier, and I ran out of time. I’m so sorry. I think I did the dishes though, maybe.”