Chapter Six
Keaton
N ORA FINALLY SITS up and brushes her tears away.
It removes the make-up from her face and I can finally see the darkness of the bruises covering her pale skin.
They’re the only blemishes from what I can see as I take in every inch of my best friend.
There are more bruises than I first thought as Bridger sleeps in my arms and rage consumes me completely.
For the first time in my life, I want to beat the fuck out of Dillon and make sure he pays for every second of pain he’s made my best friend suffer through.
For the shell of herself she’s become. Nora is usually so outgoing and full of life.
Now, she looks like she’d jump at a shadow and is scared to say or do the wrong thing.
Nora was never afraid of getting in trouble before.
In fact, there were times she’d go out of her way to cause trouble just to see what someone would do to punish her.
I used to envy that about her because I could never be as open and honest as she is.
While I never lie, Nora always lived her life unapologetically.
Each moment belonged completely to her and she owned every action she chose to take. I miss that version of my friend.
“Sweetie, what happened?” I ask her as she finally looks at me with her trembling lip and tears still clinging to her eyelashes. “Is this why you’ve been so distant with me lately?”
“Yes,” she whispers, her voice breaking as she looks up at me.
“I’m so sorry, Keaton. I didn’t tell you because I’m so damn ashamed.
We always said we’d never let a man put his hands on us in anger.
I used to protect anyone I saw getting hurt by a guy.
Now look at me. Dillon completely controls my life and I’m not allowed to do anything on my own.
Bridger isn’t supposed to leave the house.
Dillon can’t even stand it if I have to take him to the doctor. ”
Rage burns even brighter in me from Nora’s words.
I try to hold it back and not let my friend see how pissed and worried I am for her.
Fear starts to build at a slower pace because if this continues, Dillon will kill Nora.
There isn’t a doubt in my mind about that being the ending of this situation.
“Babe, what do you need from me? Are you ready to leave him for good?” I ask her, keeping my voice as gentle as possible because this is a difficult situation. “Has he hurt Bridger?”
“I am. I can’t keep going through this, Keaton.
Dillon will kill me. He hasn’t touched Bridger yet, but he’s hit me when I’ve been holding him.
Then he blamed me when the baby started to cry and I couldn’t get him to stop.
I know it’s only a matter of time before Bridger becomes his target and I won’t allow my son to feel a second of pain at Dillon’s hands.
I’ve put plans in place over the last week.
That’s why I said I was busy. I’ve been having to do everything when Dillon is gone.
It’s taken me forever, but I finally got all the stuff taken care of that I needed to.
I’m not sure where I’ll go for now, but I won’t be returning to the depths of hell he made our apartment become,” Nora tells me, a determination lacing her voice that I haven’t heard from her in a while.
“I promise Bridger and you that I won’t ever go back to him.
Dillon is evil and nothing good will ever come from staying with him. ”
“That’s good, Nora. If you don’t know where you’re gonna go, I have a few options for ya.
You can stay on tour with me for a while.
Jagger won’t care at all once he knows what’s going on.
Or you could take Bridger to my house. I’ll hire a security team so Dillon won’t have the chance to get close to you.
Or, I could send you and my Godson somewhere Dillon won’t ever find you again.
I’ll give you enough money to start your life over again.
Go to college and finish your degree if you want.
Anything at all,” I tell her as Nora starts to cry again.
“How did I end up with such an amazing best friend like you, Keaton?” she questions me, her voice breaking as I pull her back in for a one-armed hug.
“I ended up with the amazing best friend, Nora. You’ve dealt with all of my craziness from the very beginning of all this stuff with my career and never once have you pushed me away when I’ve disappeared.
You’ve gone on tour with me and been an ear when I need someone to talk to because the road is too damn hectic and I didn’t know what I was doing.
I love you like a sister and you’re the best person I’ve ever had the privilege of knowing,” I tell her honestly because it’s my truth and she needs to hear it.
Nora needs to feel my love for her and know she has someone in her corner who won’t disappear because she pushes them away in her darkest hour.
The two of us start to laugh as we look at one another because this is our thing. Bridger stirs in my arms and I rock him gently to calm him back down.
“He’ll be waking up soon so he can eat,” Nora tells me as I look around the room and find a couch against the back wall.
I get Nora set up as there’s a knock on the door and I open it to find a cart full of food for Nora and I.
Pulling it in, Noah lets me know Jagger will be here soon with the couple for the private meet and greet and that he’s already checked the food for us.
I thank him and close the door before making sure Nora has food before myself.
She’s still nursing Bridger and has to have the food to nourish her body along with water to drink because she gets extremely thirsty when she nurses the baby.
I give her a tray loaded with lasagna, cheesy garlic bread, and a salad. Nora’s eyes water and she looks up at me.
“It’s been so long since I’ve been able to eat a full meal like this. It smells amazing,” she tells me as my heart breaks for Nora and I wish I would have stepped in sooner to help her.
“You can eat anything here you want, Nora. If you finish the lasagna and stuff, you can have more. There’s cake, pie, cookies, cupcakes, and a few other things for dessert.
Plus, Memphis and I bought a ton of snacks on the way here.
Some of your favorites are included in that stash,” I tell her as Nora’s eyes light up.
“Yes, your favorite ice cream is on the bus already. You know I always keep it stocked for you. Memphis just bought you a new one because he ate the last container.”
“He did what?” Nora asks, making Bridger stir against her as he continues to eat. “I thought he was a friend. He’s my enemy.”
I can’t help but laugh because this is something Memphis and Nora do all the time when they’re together.
They bicker like an old married couple and I know Nora has a crush on him.
She admitted it when we got drunk the last time we hung out after she had Bridger.
I took care of my Godson that night because it was her birthday and she deserved to celebrate the new year of her life.
“You and I both know he’s not your enemy. And he did replace it for you. That was the first thing he put in the cart because he wanted to make sure you had it if you showed up for tonight’s show,” I remind her as she looks at me with a mouthful of food.
Another knock sounds on the door before she can respond. I grab the blanket I found and cover her up so no one can see her exposed chest. Once Nora and Bridger are covered, I go over and slowly open the door. Jagger stands there with a smile on his face.
“Everything okay in here?” he questions me, his voice gentle with understanding as I look at him and smile.
“Everything is okay. She might stay on tour with me for a little while,” I inform my manager as he nods in response.
“Here’s Judge and Wren for the private meet and greet. They know not to talk to Nora,” he says and I appreciate his warning to them. Nora is overwhelmed with everything already and the last thing she needs is a stranger all up in her business.
I open the door wider and step back for Judge and Wren to walk inside.
Closing the door behind them, I turn with a smile on my face and keep their back to Nora so she can nurse in peace.
Looking at Judge, I see the tension in his body and know he’s already noticed the bruises on my best friend.
That it’s taking everything in him not to talk to her and make sure she’s okay.
If he’s anything like his brothers, Death and Talon, then I know he’ll want to step in and help her get away from her abuser.
“It’s so good to meet you both,” I tell them honestly as I take in Wren’s excitement. She’s practically bouncing in her spot and I know she’s going to explode soon if she doesn’t get the chance to expel some of her energy. I love fans like her. “You’re Death and Talon’s older brother, right?”
“I am. You’ve met them before?” Judge asks me as he smiles down at his wife.
“I have. They’ve been on tour with us before and they’re good guys. Don’t take shit from anyone and tell it like it is. I appreciate their kind of brutal honesty,” I answer him as I step forward and pull Wren in for a hug. Her eyes light up like the Fourth of July when she realizes what I’m doing.
Wren hugs me a lot harder than I expect from such a small woman. It reminds me of the hugs I get from Memphis and I love it.
“Wren, I’m happy Jagger asked me for this private meet and greet.
Knowing Judge is related to Death and Talon only made me want to say yes because they talk about you all the time.
Those two worship the ground you walk on and you can do no wrong in their eyes,” I tell Judge as he smiles at me.
I can tell my words mean a lot to him as he rubs the back of his neck and looks at the floor.
“It’s so good to finally meet you, Ruby. I’ve loved all of your music from the very first song I ever heard. And your show tonight was absolutely amazing. Are you going to record the song you did with Memphis?” she asks me when I pull back from our hug.
“We’re going to record it and release it soon.
As we said, that song literally just got written over the last week when we were on break and Jagger loved it when we sent him a clip.
He wanted us to sing it here first to get a reaction from the crowd and I don’t think you guys disappointed us at all.
I have a feeling we’ll be in the recording studio sooner rather than later,” I tell her as Nora moves slightly in the background.
“That’s such great news. I can’t wait to hear you live again tomorrow.
This is the first chance I’ve had to see you in concert,” Wren informs me as Judge lets his wife have the spotlight and remains at her side.
The love I feel and see between the two of them is what I want to find for myself.
It’s pure and full of them working together to make it last.
“I’m so happy you’re coming again. I’ll be doing some different songs, but I’ll close out my set with Memphis again.
I know a lot of fans are coming to both days, but some new ones will be here tomorrow.
I don’t mean to rush this, but my friend and her baby need to get some rest,” I say as Wren keeps her attention on me and smiles.
“We can do some pictures before I take her to her room for the night.”
Wren pulls out her phone and hands it to Judge.
I stand between the two of them and he takes a few pictures of the three of us and then of Wren and me together.
It’s fun and her energy is seriously contagious.
I thank them for coming to meet me and enjoying the show before they leave.
When I open the door for them, my eyes immediately land on the new guy on my security detail. I want to know who he is.
“That’s Ice. He’s here for the week,” Judge says quietly so only I can hear him as I look up in shock. “He’s a good man and will do everythin’ he can to protect you.”
“Thank you,” I tell him as my eyes linger on the man in question once again. He’s got his back to me and I take in the muscles in his arms as he moves. Before I can step back, he turns and our eyes lock. I can’t look away from him.
Judge and Wren leave and I finally manage to break the trance he’s got me locked in so I can shut the door.
Nora is done nursing Bridger and has eaten most of her food.
I didn’t really get to eat more than a few bites of mine, but I’m used to eating on the go.
I’ll grab something on the bus. These desserts are coming with us though.
“Are you ready to head to the bus?” I ask Nora and watch as her eyes droop in exhaustion.
Nora doesn’t answer me as sleep already starts to claim her.
I walk over and cover her more completely while taking Bridger from her arms. My best friend doesn’t even stir as I quickly find the diaper bag she had so I can change his diaper.
Bridger giggles and kicks his feet the entire time.
He’s perfect in my eyes and I can’t wait until Nora becomes herself again so she can be the best version of herself for this little guy.
He deserves that from her and she deserves to be free enough so she can have fun with her son and treasure him like she’s always wanted to.
I will do everything in my power to ensure it happens and they both live the lives they were meant to.