Chapter 40
Melody
M y fingers tapped on the steering wheel when I messaged B.B that I was heading toward the bar. I had everything planned out and I was more anxious to see Hound’s face when he saw me on stage. At that moment, I felt good. I listened to B.B’s advice about focusing on Hound in the crowd.
Between being confident in myself, in my skills, and knowing that there was only one person I was truly focusing on, maybe it would be my best chance.
I could hear my sister’s voice in my mind. You’re a star sissy, you are the light on that stage. Maybe after all this time, she was right. I mean, it was what Hound Dog kept telling me, and I’d let my own stubbornness and lack of self-confidence tell me otherwise.
The club was busier than ever, a mixture of tourists and regulars. Nevertheless, it wasn’t going to stop me. Heavy with the flow of musicians and people aching to see them perform. I knew tonight was going to be a success.
When I told him we were leaving, he panicked, worried that Hound would wring his neck for not keeping me home. When I had to call B.B and tell him to make Woody calm down, the young prospect eased up and gladly followed along.
I parked his truck by the back entrance and walked out by the front. Woody, the prospect, was trailing behind me. He was a cute kid, like a little brother. His blonde mop still aged him young, but his sincerity and protectiveness made him wiser than anyone his age.
Woody frantically looked around before edging closer to me, like he was in some kind of security detail, afraid that I would be gone in a flash.
“Buddy, calm down.” I tried to get him to chill out.
“I’m just trying to keep you in one piece,” he blurted out.
I laughed, “I’m not a broken doll anymore. I won’t break on your watch.”
“I’m just not sure that Hound’s going to like this.”
“How about you let me handle Hound Dog, and you focus on just making sure we get through the door?” I coaxed him.
He nodded and pushed through people in front of us before coming up to the bouncers to let us in. Without hesitation, we walked through and my hands got a little sweaty. All the plans quickly became real. With my guitar case in my hand, my dress grazing the floor, I dismissed Woody to be free because soon I was going to be in the arms of Hound and soon on that stage that taunted me. Woody was worried but I waved him off.
My eyes scanned around the hustle and bustle of the place trying to find B.B or very least my man. Even in the warm lighting, it wasn’t hard to find them as they draped along the bar top.
My heart should have been happy to easily find who my soul was calling to, but it shrank deep in my chest when I couldn’t understand what I was seeing.
What I didn’t fathom was a woman with a look of fierceness stalking toward Hound. I waited to see how it would play out because I knew he would ignore her or walk away or something. I set the guitar down by me as I leaned against the wall waiting for what would happen next.
I couldn’t hear what they were saying, but it was a brief conversation that landed her nearly in Hound Dog’s lap. Her lips smashed into his, and for a moment I thought he was going to shove her off even before she had the chance.
I didn’t know if it was my mind playing tricks on me, allowing time to slow down, tormenting my mind into believing everything that I feared.
Hound gripped her arms, his hardened expression full of confusion.
Maybe it was a mistake to be there, maybe I shouldn’t have seen what I saw. All air escaped my body, finding it hard to stay where I was, feet firmly planted on the ground. I turned and left, pushing past anyone who was at the door. I kept muttering apologies feeling the push back from patrons.
I rounded the corner, back toward a familiar alley that sent shivers down my body. My stomach churned, threatening to release the contents that boiled in the pit of my stomach. Burning tears that bubbled up to the corners of my eyes, I held them back for as long as I could. I breathed, finding the air I had lost.
He would never do that, allow someone to come near him, giving him a chance to dance with temptation. He was mine, he was always going to be mine.
Pull your shit together, go find that fucking bimbo, and pull out those fake extensions. He is yours.
I kept repeating that command over and over again.
I wasn’t going to let some cheap trash take him from me. I wiped the tears of confusion and straightened up. My feet were trying to make their way back inside. I would say my peace and then continue what I planned to do.
Turning the corner, I ran into another person, their body felt as solid as a wall. I was knocked back a few steps and uttered a simple apology, only to look up and see the man had multiplied.
“Well, who do we have here? Pretty little thing aren’t you?” the deep voice said, breathing his smoked-filled breath in my direction.
The men surrounded me, trapping me into a human barricade.
“Excuse me, I think you got the wrong impression.”
“We know exactly who you are.” another voice said behind me. “Time would tell when you would be alone, no guard dog following you.”
My eyes became clear, looking at the clothing that was in front of me. No longer was it my nightmare, but Hound’s. I pushed through them, attempting to yell out for help, but no one heard me. Someone had covered my mouth. I bit them, hard enough for one to grunt and slap me.
The sting of the hit shocked me. And yet the darkness from the very first night I met Hound circled my thoughts.
“Thought this was a simple snatch and grab, Prez never said she would be scrappy,” one voice said.
“It’s what happens when you become a little club whore, chasing dick, and having to fight for attention,” another one taunted.
Any other time, I’d make a teasing comment about I’m only Hound’s little slut in the bed, not in the present company.
Blood dripped from my mouth as the ache continued to pulse through my skin. And yet all I wanted to do was look up with a crimson smile on my face, challenging them to keep going because this little birdie had a hellhound that would set the world on fire and give me the match to watch it all burn.
I had to think of something to do, buy me some time until another brilliant idea struck me.
“If you know I’m nothing but a club whore, then why snatch me?” I said, attempting to derail them any further. I had to fight a little longer until someone could notice.
The light from the alley and street never gave me a clear view of who held me hostage, only could hear the gravel voices that made me wince in disgust. “We ain’t stupid, if Prez said that you were important, then you’re important. Now be a good little cunt and sleep for a while.”
Sleep for a while? I didn’t know what he meant until something pricked my skin at my neck. I tried to struggle against the two men that were holding me at my sides. My voice yelled, pleading for someone to hear me, save me.
But only one name was on my lips, Hound. I wasn’t going to have him think I left him. As much as I was ready to and believe in the bad dream that was before me, I knew it wasn’t true. Because in the end, we were in love, and he wouldn’t hurt me like that. He wouldn’t want me to think that someone else caught his eye, because I was the only one for him.
He wasn’t going to know that the only name I said was his and his alone.
My silent screams burned my throat and a whole new darkness welcomed me and I only hoped that the darkness would let me see Hound’s face one more time. If it was my time to go, then maybe I fulfilled my purpose of knowing that we were worthy of each other.
Never did I think that a man and a woman
Could love each other like a wolf to the moon.
And all I need is to know you howl
Because I’ll howl with you
If it meant staying with the moon and the stars.
He would never know.