Haunted(2)

Beth’s eyes looked to me and I nodded my head. The nurse smiled and gave Beth the dose through her IV.

“Thank you.” I didn’t know how to act. Everything was just so clerical and formal with all the nurses and doctors. I wanted answers, but would anyone tell me?

“Can you tell me what her condition is?”

“I am so sorry, Mr. Reed, but I am not allowed unless you are immediate family.”

I gave a curt nod.

“I can tell you we are taking real good care of her.” She gave me a huge smile. “If you need anything, let me know.”

I nodded.

“By the way, I am a huge fan of your music.”


While being captive, I’d forgotten about the fans. I gave her a tight smile and said, “Thank you. Can you shut the door on the way out?”

She nodded and left the room.

I climbed onto Beth’s bed and cuddled her against me. I started singing something soothing to her, and she melted against me. Beth told me that my voice could soothe her when she was in a bad mood. That was one reason she was a fan of mine. I wished it was because she knew on some level that I meant safety to her even though it was furthest from the truth. If it weren’t for me, she wouldn’t be here. If I were more of a light sleeper, she wouldn’t have been raped. Fuck! I was the worst thing for Beth, but selfishly I didn’t care because she was the best thing for me.

***

After Beth fell into a deep sleep, I left the room. I found Phoebe and Eve sitting in the waiting area.

“Where did your daughter go?”

“I had Dennis come and pick up Kaylee. I know it was something about her and I thought it might be best to have my husband come get her.”

I nodded. I was glad that Phoebe was being rational now. I knew it was difficult for her to watch me take care of Beth. Beth had told me many times that Phoebe was vicious when it came to the people she loved. I was glad that Phoebe finally decided that I was the best thing for her at the moment.

“Tell us.” Eve broke my train of thought.

I motioned for them to follow me to my room. I shut the door, sat down, and told them as much as I could without being too forthcoming. I told them about the detox, Andrew hitting Beth, Tate raping her, and all the way to Jason and what he’d done to her. The girls looked horrified.

“That’s why her hair is blue? He dyed it blue so he could pretend that Beth was a doll.” Phoebe breathed in. “Fucking pervert!”

I nodded.

“Is he dead?” Phoebe asked with pure hate in her voice.

“Yes, without a doubt.”

“I hope it hurt like hell!”

“It did.”

Phoebe looked at me. She was quick; I’d give her that. I could tell that she’d figured out that I had killed him. On purpose.

“I like you better, rock star,” she murmured.

We all paused for a breath and then Eve spoke.

“So…you and Beth are together?” Eve asked me.

“Yes.”

“You’re telling us that you and Beth are a couple?” Phoebe questioned. “No offense, but you’re Roman Reed. Didn’t you invent the one-night stand?”

Her words stung, but they were the truth. I had no redeeming qualities to show her. None accept the truth.

“I know that you are Beth’s family. I will tell you this. I love Beth and I want to do whatever it takes to help her get through this.”

“And then what? You go back on tour?” Phoebe asked.

“Phoebe, Roman was captive too. Don’t give him the third degree right now,” Eve said.

“Have Joey or Eric been contacted yet?” I asked.

“They’re on their way. Eric had to check Joey out of school, so he should be here in about thirty minutes.”

“Will one of you sit down with Eric and explain to him what happened? And maybe the other could take Joey in to see his mom?” I asked. “I don’t think I should be the one to sit down with Beth’s husband and tell him what happened.”

“Ex-husband,” Eve chimed in. “It was official last week, but Beth wasn’t here to get the paperwork.”

I had to admit that this news actually was the best thing to happen to me since the night I told Beth I loved her.

“Still he needs to know, and I think it might be better if you told him.” I hung my head. I knew that Eric still loved Beth from what she told me while we were in the basement. I couldn’t imagine the pain he would go through knowing what happened to her.

“Here, Roman, let me give you my phone number,” Eve offered as she stood.

I didn’t have a phone at the moment, so I sprinted over to the table and grabbed a pen and hospital stationary. I gave it to her and she wrote down her and Phoebe’s numbers.

“We are going to look in on Beth before we wait for Eric.”

I nodded.

***

I paced my room for hours. I made a couple of calls. I was beyond tears once Berg came by. He booked a hotel room for us to go back to until we figured this shit out. It was confusing, all the stuff he told me about the liability for the rest of the concerts and the next one starting in two days.

A light knock sounded at my door.

“Come in,” I called out.

A man walked in with the little boy from the concert—Joey. I looked at him; the man had to be Eric. He was blond with blue eyes. I guessed that was where Joey got his looks. He was about 6'0" and a good-looking son of a bitch. I wished that Beth’s ex was a little less handsome. Great, now I felt insecure. That was what I got for putting off falling in love until I was in my forties. I felt like a f*cking teenager.