Chapter Twenty Seven
Harley
Two weeks later
“You’re famous,” I said as I put the newspaper down on the kitchen island next to Carter's arm.
He looked at them, picked them up and scanned the title.
A real life Frank Farmer Takes Down Stalker Live On Tour
“Who the fuck’s Frank Farmer,” he scowled at the paper.
“That’s the name of the character Kevin Costner played in the movie Bodyguard,” I chuckled.
He turned his scowl to me, “What’s that got to do with this?” He threw the paper down and went back to his breakfast.
“Don’t tell me you never watched Bodyguard,” I snickered.
His frown stayed in place as he chewed, shaking his head in the negative.
“Well,” I came up behind him, my arms going around his shoulders, my chin on his shoulder blade.
I turned my head and pressed a soft kiss at his butterflies, and inhaled my favorite smell in the world.
Staying just as I was, I educated him on one of the most romantic movies in the history of mankind.
“Frank Farmer is hired to protect Rachel Marron, a music superstar. She’s not exactly thrilled by this decision as it was forced on her by her manager.
She resents Frank because he’s costing her freedom, and doesn’t want to go by his rules.
After the riot at one of her concerts, she sees things differently.
In the tangle of the threat, and danger, they fall in love.
Later he whisks her away at a secret location. And in the end, he saves her.”
“Sounds familiar,” Carter chuckled.
“Just as I told Tim, I knew someone would make that connection. But my money was on the fans.”
Carter reached, and took one of my hands. Turning he shifted me, and positioned me to stand between his legs.
“Who was the threat?”
“Hunh?” my brows creased.
“In the movie,” he clarified. “Who was the threat in the movie?”
I looked down, sorrow piercing my heart, “Her sister. She was jealous.”
I still couldn’t believe I had a sister.
I didn’t doubt Cassie’s claim even for a second. I knew my father was fooling around, even though he was married, so it really didn’t come as a surprise.
I just wished I knew before it all went down. A small part of me hoped that things would then be different. That the longing I held in me, wouldn’t be there, and instead of hurt and pain that I was left with, I would have a sister right by my side.
“Hey,” Carter called then and I looked up at him. “Are you sure you want to do this? No one would blame you if you don’t”
I nodded, knowing it was the right thing. “I have to, Warden. I have to at least try.”
***
The doors slid down and slammed behind us. I didn’t know what to expect, but this claustrophobic feeling that grabbed me, wasn’t it.
“Sit right here,” the guard motioned to sit in the third partition.
I gulped and murmured, “Thank you.” Then went to where he told me she would come and sat down on the small, steel stool with the round top.
The man grunted, then walked over to the wall behind us.
“This feels…awful,” I looked up at Carter standing behind my back.
“We can still go,” he leaned over me, “You don’t have to do this.”
“She’s my sister, Warden, I have to try.” I whispered.
He kissed my forehead before straightening back up, “Yeah.”
The buzzer sounded then, and another door slid open.
She took a step, and came into my line of sight.
She was wearing khaki pants, and a grey bluish shirt. Her hands and legs were chained, and a number was stitched over the pocket on the left side of her chest.
As she slowly walked over to us, I could see her face closing down with each step she took.
It felt like a lifetime before she came to the partition, and slid down on the stool.
My heart was beating a staccato rhythm that I felt in my throat.
She eyed Carter, then slid her blue eyes to mine.
God how didn’t I see it before.
We had the same eyes, same shape, only mine were a little more dull in the color, while hers almost sparkled.
I reached over and took the phone that was on the side wall of the partition and watched as Cassie hesitated for a second the picked hers too.
“Hey, Cassie,” I said softly into the phone the moment she pressed her receiver to her ear.
“What are you doing here?” She sneered.
“I wanted to come see you. Talk to you.” I shrugged. “Help you.”
“You want to help me?” Her lip curled, her eyes turned hard.
“Yes,” I nodded. “I can find you a lawyer. Maybe give a statement so you’ll receive a smaller sentence, or I don’t know,” I shrugged looking around. “Be transferred into another facility. One that’s not so… cold.”
“I’m in prison, bitch. There’s no hiding that fact. And it’s all because of you.” She hissed the last part.
“Cassie, you shot and killed Finn.” I said, my voice trembling. “You plotted to hurt me.”
“Should’ve killed you while I had the chance,” she muttered.
“You don’t mean that,” I murmured, my hope of forming some kind of bond with my sister dying a slow and painful death.
Would it always be like this? Or was there still hope?
I knew I was being stupid hoping to have a relationship with my sister after everything, but I couldn’t help myself. I was alone my whole life. Constantly surrounded by people, but all alone.
She arched her bow but didn’t say anything.
“Cassie,” I called even though she was looking at me. “Please, let me help. What can I do to help you?”
“You could die,” she smiled. “Then he would finally love me.”
I gasped and leaned back. The phone slid from my hand, and my vision blurred.
Arms came around me then, lifting me up and guiding me out of the room.
The last image of my sister was blurry, all I could see were the khakis and blue color as she stood up and banged her fists and chains against the glass.
The last thing I heard from her was her scream of, “Did you hear me, superstar. You could die. That would help me a real lot.”
***
“Never fucking again,” Carter growled as he shot out of the prison’s parking lot. “I knew it was a bad idea. Knew it would hurt you, but never again will you talk me into bringing you here.”
I hiccupped, tears glided down my face and neck, pain suffocating me from inside.
“Dynamo,” Carter whispered. He reached over, took my hand and brought it to his lips.
“I’m sorry,” I said brokenly.
He ground, “You have nothing to be sorry about. It’s me that needs to be sorry. I knew we shouldn’t go there, knew she would be like this. I shouldn't have let you talk me into it.”
“I had to try,” I wailed.
“I know,” he murmured. “I just wished it had gone differently for you.”
We fell silent for a moment as he drove. Both lost in our thoughts.
As we neared the hotel we were staying in, I whispered, “I still want to help her. Find her a lawyer. Maybe a shrink who can examine her. She’s not well, Carter.” I looked up at him. “I want to make sure she’s taken care of.”
Carter stopped next to the valet. He turned to me, his face soft, his eyes shining with love, “Just like you did with Jude.”
I bit the inside of my cheek and fidgeted.
After everything settled down, I made Carter track down where the police had taken Jude after the hospital.
He was rushed to surgery, and thankfully pulled through. But, when I went to the hospital to see him, I was informed that he was taken into custody, and would be recovering in prison since he violated the restraining order that was put in place after he scared me in that hallway.
God, that felt like a lifetime ago.
I was in hysterics since I didn’t know where he was, and he jumped in front of a bullet for me.
It took him a few days, and some jumping over red tape, but Carter found him for me.
Once we found out where he was, I was once again stopped and forbidden to see him.
Apparently, he went deep into psychosis and was muttering my lyrics under his breath and talking about how he needed to get to me.
The first thing I did after hearing that was calling Tim, and demanding he found the best facility that could help Jude.
He was now currently staying in a nice place in California, and was well taken care of. However, the restraining order was still in place since Carter didn’t want to take a chance on my security. Not ever again.
I released my cheek, and said, "I had to do something, he saved my life.”
Carter smiled, leaned over and kissed me, “That’s the only reason why I didn’t say anything. But still, you’re not going back to that place and forcing a relationship on a woman that’s clearly unwell, is highly dangerous, and wants to do you harm.”
“I promise, I won’t.” I whispered. “I’ll take care of her in other ways.”
“I know you will, Dynamo.” Carter smiled then got out of the car.
Later that night, after finishing the movie Bodyguard, I turned to Carter.
“I think I’ll go back into the studio soon, Warden.”
“That’s great,” he smiled as he went back to surfing the channels.
We were on a couch, my head was in his lap and he was sifting his fingers through my hair.
“That means another tour.”
He frowned then, and looked down at me, “This tour isn’t even over, and you’re planning another one?”
He was right, I haven’t finished the tour. Not yet.
We paused it, and were planning to pick it up again in two weeks.
I shrugged, “It’s how this works. Album, tour, album, tour. And on and on as long as you can do it.”
“Okay,” he tilted his head. “Do you want me to talk to Trevor or to my guys about planning the security for it? Do you even have the dates and stops planned?”
We talked and decided that Trevor would finish the tour as the head of my security. I didn’t want Carter to feel torn between being with me, and enjoying life on the tour and seeing new places, and thinking about my security.
He wasn’t happy about it, but after I explained to him that I wanted to stroll down the streets with my boyfriend and not my bodyguard, he reluctantly agreed.
“That’s not why I’m bringing it up,” I bit my lips.
“Then why?”
“I usually record in L.A. and then dive straight into promo and touring once the album is finished.”
Carter’s brows creased, “Okay.”
“I want you with, Warden.”
He smiled then, “Where the hell would I be, Dynamo if not with you?”
It was so simple, his question. But it meant everything to me.
“I love you, Carter Ryan, Frank to my Rachel.”
I love you too, Harley Thorne, my ray of shining light.”