He does because he’s here to cause harm. Instantly, the image of the defaced newspaper article that I saw him with that time in Whimsicality comes back to me. I look around, frantically. I step toward the stage, only to be stopped by a large arm.
“Mrs. Davis, what’s wrong?”
I point to Damien who is now closer to the stage. The bodyguard shakes his head, he doesn’t understand.
“He’s my ex,” I say, barely audible. He leans down so I repeat myself. He turns and looks to where I’m pointing. His body goes rigid. He moves in front, trying to shield me, but I move. I need to see. The bodyguard says something into his hand. Men move toward Damien.
“Gun,” I say, as I tug on his shirt. “Gun,” I yell louder.
Damien raises the gun and points it at Jimmy who doesn’t have a clue what’s going on. Neither do Liam and Harrison. They’re playing, as they should be.
I get past the bodyguard and run onto stage. The crowd yells louder. Liam stops me, placing his arm around me. I beat on his arm. I kick and scream in his ear. “Gun, Liam!” He looks at me with utter confusion.
Jimmy drops to the ground. My ears feel like they’ve been filled with cotton and there’s a panicked scream bursting out of my chest. My feet are heavy, but I need to run to him. I need to be there with him. With my husband.
Liam turns in slow motion, dropping his guitar to his side, the dissonance ringing out over the sound system. Strong arms pick me up from behind and carry me away from my husband. The roar of the crowd is deafening, but the only sound I can focus on is the rush of blood through veins in my temples. I scream out for Jimmy as Liam and Harrison rush to his side.
Lights come on and people start screaming. The crowd’s so loud no one can hear me. “Put me down,” I yell, kicking whoever is carrying me. I’m set on my feet and the moment I’m touching the ground, I’m running back to Jimmy, my heart pounding against my ribcage.
“Jimmy!” I scream, but Harrison is there to stop me.
“Let me go, Harrison!”
He wraps his arms around me, holding me tight to his chest. He leans down. “Calm down, sweetheart, think about the baby. Let the paramedics work on JD.”
“He’s been shot.” I don’t remember crying, but there are hot streaks running down my cheeks and pooling into his t-shirt.
“I know. I know,” he says, running his hand up and down my back. The gesture that’s meant to be soothing only serves to agitate me more. He’s holding me back.
“He needs me.”
“Right now, he needs them more, Jenna.” He pulls back and cups my tear-laden face. “He needs them, okay? They need to help him.”
Harrison’s eyes, the ones that are always calm as still water, are frantic and dark. I press my hand to my chest as something inside me breaks.
“Is he going to be okay?” I’m unraveling, like twine from a spool, falling away from myself into disjointed pieces, tangled and messy.
Harrison looks over his shoulder and back at me. “I don’t know.”
I fall into his arms, clutching at his shirt as sob after sob rolls through my body. My ex has done the unthinkable and there isn’t anything I can do to help. Harrison pulls me off stage when the paramedics pass by with Jimmy.
I love having my missus here. It’s like I have a new energy flowing through me. Being on stage has always been a high for me, but now, knowing she’s just off the stage watching me perform takes it to a whole new level. The only thing I’d change is our stage set-up. I want to be near her so I can watch her all night and not the crowd. These women out there – the ones who are wearing shirts that are two sizes too small? The ones who used to do it for me and float my boat? They don’t even compare to Jenna.
I glance at Jenna as often as I can. Liam is doing a bloody excellent job at keeping her entertained, but if I’m honest, I wish it was me being the front-man today. I need it to be me. Maybe tonight I’ll give Jenna her own personal show. I can play her body like a piano and make it sing. That’s if I can get her to undress for me again. I got a little carried away when we got back to the tour bus, but I couldn’t help myself. My dick has a mind of its own when it comes to her and he wanted to be buried deep inside of her. He didn’t care that my band mates were sitting a few feet outside the room. He wanted her, and I’m not one to deny him and his needs.
I’m a no-one without Jenna. I should tell her this, but finding the right words to do so is pretty much impossible. Admitting my feelings to her, albeit suddenly, has been such a relief. It’s like we’ve been together for years now and not just months. With her at my side, I know I’m going to be a better person, lover and musician. She makes me feel like I can conquer anything I put my mind to.
Taking out my harmonica, I start the beginning of Tobacco Sunburst and take a sneak peek over my shoulder. Jenna’s hand is on her tummy, her fingers dancing along. I wink, but know she can’t see me. I wasn’t planning on telling her that the song I sang to her when she told everyone she wasn’t feeling very well was one that she inspired. I should’ve known she’d listen to it as soon as I went out of town. I’ve been so quiet when singing to Little One because I didn’t want her mum to hear. She’s sneaky, that one.
Liam belts out the lyrics as Harrison adds the beat. I look out to the crowd quickly before bringing my harmonica back to my mouth. I think the only thing that can make me happier right now is to hold Little One in my arms. I’m not going to be afraid to hold her like some men are. I’m excited. I can’t wait to have her snuggled into my neck while I rock her to sleep. I’m going to be a hands-on dad, I’ll do everything Jenna needs me to do, even the disgusting stuff that involves nappies and shit.
Pain suddenly rips through my chest. Hot, searing and torturous. I try to move my hand to touch the throbbing, but I can’t. It’s immobile, dangling uselessly at my side. I look down at my shirt and see a wet red spot forming. I hear screaming behind me. Jenna. It’s her voice.
My head rests on the stage. How did I get here?
My eyes look at the man standing in front of me. I know him from somewhere. I try to reach out to him, but he turns, leaving me.
“Holy fuck, JD.” Liam says, hovering over me. The stage lights behind him make it look as though he’s glowing and there are black spots dancing in front of my eyes. I don’t like this new lighting effect.