Page 13 of Beyond the Stix
“Get on with it,” John orders gruffly. His assertive tone has tingles racing across my skin.
Jesus. What the fuck is wrong with me?
“I’m sorry,” Jessup says with eyes full of remorse. “Foreverything.”
“Really? Foreverything?” I counter, not believing one word. If he’s truly sorry, then why now—after all this time, is he coming to me with this apology? “Now you said what you needed to say, I don’t want to see you ever again.”
“But, swee?—”
“Don’t ever call me that,” I hiss. Then I turn to Danny. “I need to get out of here.”
“Go,” he says, but his eyes, which are full of hate, are on Jessup. “You, aren’t welcome around my friend ever again. I will make sure of that.”
Danny’s words are the last thing I hear before running from the cafeteria. It might be a cowardly choice to flee, but my insides are about to explode. And I have to move quickly if I want to escape from John.
Knowing exactly where I’m going, I take the stairs instead of waiting the elevator, while ordering an Uber ride to Stewie’s. The bar is on North Broadway just west of downtown Chicago. It’s not a total hole in the wall, but it’s a place I can slip into and chill—without any fandom or pedo-uncle looking for me.
Luck is on my side, and the ride is three minutes out. I add an additional instruction to have the car pick me up at the back of the building. Right as I step outside, a black Corolla pulls up and I jump in.
Just before the vehicle rounds the corner, I spot John, my uncle, Danny and Tobias rushing out of the building. With a ping from my phone, I pull it out and see Danny’s name.
Danny:Where’re you going?
Me:I’m heading to Stewie’s. Don’t tell anyone. Will call you for a ride later.
After texting him, I shove the cell back into my pocket, then lean back and close my eyes.
For the rest of the night, all I want is to get drunk and forget for a little while that my father is about to die, and my past is quickly catching up to me. Knowing him all too well, I’m sure my uncle has something up his sleeve and this isn’t the last time I’m going to see him.
FOUR
John
After watching Connor leave,Jessup spins around and aggressively gets in Danny’s face, yelling at him like he has the right to. Tobias quickly cuts the bastard off, pushing him back and putting his phone to his ear to call the cops. The man couldn’t move away fast enough, then took off toward the parking garage.
“Are you okay?” Tobias asks, looking over the singer as he shoves the cell phone back in his pocket.
“Yeah, but that son of a bitch did something to Connor and I don’t want him anywhere near him.” The vehemence in the singer’s voice bolsters my need to track down the drummer. He shouldn’t be alone, especially seeing how enraged his uncle was when he spun on Danny. I don’t trust that motherfucker to not do something erratic.
“Where did Connor go?” I ask, but still keep a look out, in case that idiot comes back.
Danny glances at Tobias, then at me, hesitating for a long moment before he relents. “He went to Stewie’s. But John… I have never seen Connor like this. Be careful.”
“I will. Where’s the bar located?” I ask, hoping the place is close by.
“Here in Chicago. On North Broadway,” Danny says as he glances down at his phone. “It’s Ron.”
He answers the call, while I take my cell out and find out exactly where Stewie’s is located in the city. Once I locate the place, we call for a car to take us all to Callum’s parents’ house.
When Callum finds out where I’m heading, he suggests I take his father’s black BMW M240. “It’s smaller, and easier to park in the streets than the limo. And Connor won’t recognize the car and run.”
“You think he’ll take off on me otherwise?” I ask as the bassist tosses the keys to me, and I snatch them out of the air.
“Fuck yeah,” Bobby affirms, sticking a striped pixie stick into his mouth.
“Please try to bring him back in one piece,” Danny pleads.
With that promise, I put the address into the GPS and drive away with two missions in mind, to track down and retrieve.