Page 34 of Laying it Bare Backstage

That was my phone in my back pocket. If only I could will my hands to grab it.

My efforts didn’t produce any victory on that front. Hopefully she didn’t notice my phone before I was able to call for help. When she finally slammed on the brakes, I tumbled to the floor, striking my head off of some metal box. My brain function was going to be severely fucked up after this. If I survived.

Naomi jumped out of the car and I sluggishly scrambled back onto the seat so I was ready to attack. She ripped open the door, her dark eyes full of hatred.

When she leaned inside, I summoned up every bit of strength I had and shot out my legs to kick her right in the gut.

She stumbled back briefly, but instantly gained her balance and flew at me in a rage. I used my hands as best I could to block her hits, but I was growing lethargic from the abuse my body had already taken and adding that to the fact there was a good possibility I was still recuperating from my concussion. When a searing hot pain shot through my stomach, I gasped in agony and then shock when I glanced down and realized she had stabbed me, multiple times.

“Let’s go bitch.” Grabbing my legs, she jerked me out of the back seat, my head connecting soundly with the car and then the ground. While she dragged me, I frantically tried to get my arms to cooperate; to grab my phone; to tug myself free; anything. Although with the amount of blood I was losing, I wasn’t sure how far I would get – or if I could even run – or how long I was going to survive. I tried to force down my panic, but it was also a losing battle. The nightmare I had been plunged into had immeasurable fright taking up residence inside my chest. And it didn’t show any sign of ending soon. At least not in the way I wished. At some point I was positive my phone slipped from my pocket. I didn’t feel the bump anymore. Although I wasn’t feeling much beside the intense pain burning my insides.

She dumped my body in a pile of broken branches. I was vaguely aware she had lugged my body into the woods somewhere. “You just couldn’t take the hints.” She spat at me, while I curled up to hopefully ease the blistering pain blazing me from the inside and staunch the blood flow. It poured from my wounds like a broken spigot.

“You couldn’t stay away from him. You would have ruined him for everyone. He would have eventually quit writing his music and sharing it with us. You are a selfish bitch to want him all to yourself. Well, I’ll make sure that doesn’t happen. I hope you die before a wild animal catches the scent of your spilled blood. I wouldn’t want to be torn apart by a wolf or a bear. Sucks to be you.” She shot me a cruel smile and then walked off.

When I couldn’t hear her footsteps crunching along the leaf and twig cluttered ground anymore, I tried to crawl in the direction I hoped my phone had dropped. I wondered if I would even get a signal out here. Wherever here was. But I didn’t get to ponder long as darkness engulfed me.

Eight

~ Teak ~

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The complete and utterdisarray of the fans’ opportunity to meet us backstage was outrageous. I cursed myself for not bringing Jasper along. I would have paid him triple time. As soon as I had lost sight of Serenity, I went into full panic mode. Pushing through the crowd of excited fans, I apologized, but I needed to find her. A horrible feeling crushed my chest. When I finally reached Ivy and Ascher, I pulled them aside as best I could.

“Where is Serenity?” Sweat trickled down my back and my heart thudded against my ribcage. Pure fear evident in my voice.

“She has to be here somewhere. Why the alarm?” Ascher put his hand on my shoulder.

“I’m almost positive I caught a glimpse of Naomi out in the audience.” I pulled my phone from my back pocket and tapped Serenity’s number and put my phone to my ear. “Please pick up and be okay. Please pick up.” I prayed I was being a ridiculous ass. The fans would be pissed because I had stopped interacting with them, but I had a really bad feeling I couldn’t shake. When her phone rang three times and then went to voice mail, that bad feeling morphed into unadulterated terror. Sweat now pooling along my neck and back and the hammering of my heart in my chest intensified.

“Call Serenity. Her phone isn’t turned off, but she’s not answering.”

Anita, one of the coordinators for the concert walked up to me. Her brown eyes unsure. “I was asked to see if you would resume the autographs.”

Swallowing down my panic and frustration, I gave her a tight smile. “There might be an emergency, so there is a good chance I’m going to be taking off right now.”

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