Irreversible Damage (Irreparable 2)

That did it. His anger is back full force. I watch his face turn bright red as he takes a step toward me. His teeth clamp shut. I hear them grinding together. “Fuck you. You don’t know me, bitch.”

I flinch and look down. “I know enough.”

“Shut your fucking mouth and listen to me!” He throws his hands in the air in frustration. “I didn’t come here to fight with you.”

My face connects with the doorjamb when I turn to run. Fuck, that hurt. Blood drips into my mouth as it oozes from the split in my lip. I glare over at Davey, who is approaching me in an angry show of control.

“Let me explain. I just want to talk.”

I run out to the back deck, hearing Davey’s footsteps pounding into the floor behind me. He reaches the deck out of breath, looking angrier than he did before. “Would you stop running? You’re going to hurt yourself. Just hear me out.”

He’s still coming at me. I’m terrified. I decide to make a run for it. If I can make it to the neighbors, I can call the authorities. It’s my only chance.

As I scramble backward, I lose my footing and tumble head over feet down the stairs. The slicing pain that tears though my head has me reeling in pain. I’m dizzy. The world around me spins in a blurry haze.

Tug’s murderous expression as he pounds his fist into Davey’s face is the last thing I remember.

Chapter 13

Brady

The show’s just about to start when my phone vibrates in my pocket. Thinking it might be Tori, I pull out the phone and glance at the screen. It’s Tug. I don’t answer it. He’s probably running late. Just as I slip it back in my pocket, the vibrating starts again, but I ignore it, making my way on stage. The large crowd screams as I nod at Jesse and reach for my guitar. My nerves begin to take hold. The dryness in my throat threatens to mess with my voice. My hands shake wildly. I miss Tori. Seeing her in the crowd is calming.

Again, my phone vibrates. Before I pick up the guitar, I pull the phone from my pocket. When I see Tug’s name again, I decide I’d better answer it in case he’s been in an accident or something. I exit the stage at the complaints of the crowd and answer the phone.

“This better be important, Tug. We’re just about to start.”

“Brady…it’s Tori.”

He begins to talk as the band starts up for a test. Shit! I can’t hear anything. I head immediately for the back door.

“You have to start over. What’s wrong with Tori?”

“Davey came to the house…and Brady, it’s not good. She’s unconscious. They’re taking her to El Seguro. I’m in the ambulance with her, but you’d better get here soon.”

The entire room morphs into a black pit of nothing. Tug’s voice transforms to a muffled hysteria in the back of my brain. I can’t move. The phone slips from my grasp, crashing to the floor.

“Brady.” Jesse’s hand slaps my shoulder. I turn toward him slowly, pointing to the phone on the floor.

He picks it up and talks to Tug. Why the fuck can’t I move?

“Tug, it’s Jesse. What the hell is going on…. Oh, shit…. Okay…we’re leaving right now…good, motherfucker deserved it.”

Jesse slips my phone in his pocket. “Let’s go. I’ll drive.”

I follow Jesse to the car as my mind tries to understand what’s going on. I stop just short of the exit. Jesse turns to see what’s keeping me. “I’m not going to the hospital.”

“What?”

“Take me to Davey’s.” I look over Jesse’s shoulder to the exit.

He walks back to me. With his hand on my shoulder, he looks me in the eye. “You’re too late, man. Tug took care of him. Now, come on. Tori needs you.”

Jesse drives fast and crosses the border into Tijuana without a word. He knows if he talks, I’ll lose it. I’m glad he’s here. There’s no telling what I would do if he wasn’t.

I send a text to Liv.

Tori’s had an accident. Meet me at El Seguro.