“Hey, what's up everyone. We're The Skull Arise, I'm McKenna and we're gonna sing a few from Joplin, Nirvana and Avenged Sevenfold. Enjoy.”

I stood at the back, watching as the light above the stage grew dim and only focused on the guitarist who started the song from Janis Joplin, Piece of My Heart. The crowd applauded and let out a chorus 'wooh'. I crossed my arms on my chest and wondered why am I even here?

The light shone through and a girl with bright pink hair stood on the stage, singing her heart out. I know that girl. I've seen her photo in my case file not long ago. But which case file was it? The crowd wasn’t that full tonight, and when some sounds of loud clapping and yelling appeared I quickly glanced at it.

It was Brian. And another Brian next to him. Two Brians in one night. What a handful of event.
My mind quickly matched information that this singer called McKenna is Brian’s little sister and Andy got me this ticket knowing that I’ll bump into Brian here. What he didn’t know was, I already ‘bumped’ into him this morning without planning anything.

I scanned around, looking for suspicious faces as the person I need to protect was here. So as the person who paid me to protect his son. I wiggled through the medium crowd, carefully not to let the two Brians see me and stood near them but in the dark. McKenna sang beautifully but I’m sorry, my mind wasn’t together with her music. My focus was mostly on Brian Jr, which seemed happily enjoying himself beside his dad and a few people I recognized as his band members.

Suddenly I saw a guy approaching them, wearing a hoodie jacket with hand in his pocket. I automatically reached to my own back pocket, taking out my gun. The guy brought out something from his pocket and I quickly grabbed him from behind. Locking my arm around his neck, I brought him away from there. Luckily nobody realized it because the ambient was dark as hell and my eyes have this super amazing power that I can see in the dark. No, I’m just kidding.

“Who sent you?!” I urged and slammed his body to the wall when we were finally in the empty hallway of this indoor concert venue called Chain Reaction.

“What? Sent what?!” he look startled. This wasn’t the same guy that I attacked earlier at his house. The guy that Andy was still analyzing his details.

“I saw you’re approaching them. Who are you?!”

“I’m just a fan, dude! Jeez! What did I do wrong?!”

I finally realized that the thing he was holding was actually pen and paper. He was about to ask for their autograph. God, I need to calm down.

“Sorry. Now scoot.” He scurried himself out of there when I shoved him away, sighing to myself. I should really look into this before making a move out of anything.

Suddenly I felt my body being pulled, a muscular arm locking around my neck and a switchblade on my throat.

“Well, well, well…he found himself a bodyguard did he..?”

Shit.

____________________________________________________________________________



Brian gave his sister a standing ovation while a still chewing a gum inside his mouth. McKenna nailed tonight, though the attendance of the crowd wasn’t really pleasing but it was something. He’d always encouraged her to do things that she loves and she loves singing. His family always revolved around music as his father, Papa Gates is a renowned guitar player in California and he, himself followed his footsteps when he found love with guitar at the ripe age of 10.

“Your sister’s amazing, dude.”

He looked over to Arin next to him, his facial expression blown away by McKenna’s beautiful singing. Brian’s mind wandered at the conversation on the phone he had with her earlier.

“She thinks you’re annoying.”

“What? Why? What did I ever do to her?”

“I dunno, Arin. But apologize to her or I’ll kick your fucking nuts if you don’t.”

Arin stared at him, dumfounded. “But – but -”

“Naaah. I’m just kidding man. It’s a teenager thing, I know. She probably has a crush on you.”

Arin felt hot all of a sudden. His face went red as he glanced back at the stage. McKenna was now singing a song from Nirvana called Come As You Are. Arin never thought that Brian’s quiet little sister would have a crush on him, the new kid that replaced The Rev – her best friend and brother.

As Brian let Arin wondered curiously at the assumption he just made, he let his mind drifted to a certain girl that took his attention away from everything tonight. His encounter with a hot neighbor full of resistance really challenged himself from within. Usually when he made a move to touch women or even threw some pick up lines, they would go ballistic. Running to his feet, begging for the adventure to his bed. But not Addie.

She was a bit defensive, denying his touch or even his charms that he felt vulnerable when standing next to her. He can’t believe that he spilled his emotion for Jimmy towards her. He didn’t like to be seen like a weak man, especially in front of women. But today, in front of Jimmy’s painting that he had gazed millions of times before, he’d almost broke down in tears.

She refused a chance to jump into bed with him, which is understandable since they lived next to each other. It would be fucking awkward if they have one night stand and he decided not to contact her. Just like he did with other women he picked up at some bar or groupies at their concerts. He even used his band members’ names when he was with strangers and they don’t listen to Avenged Sevenfold.

But with Addie, he used his real name.

He’d give anything to see Addie strips down naked in front of him. That body of hers, hugged by a tight yoga pants and a half tank top making his manhood erect even by the slightest image of it.

Damn it, I want to just bed her and get it out of my system. Fucking seriously.

“Brian, are you listening?”

Brian snapped out of his thoughts and searched aimlessly for the voice. It belonged to Zacky in front of him.

“What? What? What did I miss?”

“A whole lot of performance, that’s what you missed. Where’s your fucking head dude?”

Brian scratched the back of his head. “I dozed off. Don’t tell Mac.”

“She’s done playing. You should have seen when they were doing a cover of Rev’s Fiction.”

“Oh, that’s alright. I’ve heard like a zillion times.”

Brian took a sip from his regular Heineken and raised his eyebrows at Arin who was now making his way towards McKenna.

“Dude, something’s wrong with you lately?”

“No, why would you say that?”

“Gee, I dunno. Everytime you bumped into Michelle, you will have this sudden need to look for a one night stand right away.”

Brian snorted a laugh. “No I didn’t!”

“Yeah you kinda did. Remember Rock in Rio? Valary brought her along in the backstage and next thing I knew you’re banging the first groupie you saw in our bus.”

Brian cocked an eyebrow and smirked at him.

“And what really pains me is, you succeeded everytime. Every fucking time dude. What the hell?”

Brian laughed and swung his arm over to Zacky’s shoulder.

“Not everytime, Z.”

_____________________________________________________________________________


Okay Addie, don’t panic. If you’re gone panic, the blade will cut through your throat. But how can I not be panic? There’s a fucking blade on my throat!

“Who sent you?!”

I closed my eyes as the guy behind my back shot my own question at me.

“Nobody.” I calmly answered and raised my hand slowly to grab his neck. But he was faster.

“Uh-uh! Don’t try anything!”

Shit. He gripped my throat even tighter with his arm. I caught a glimpse of a Hebrew tattoo on it and quickly remembered how it looked like.

“Don’t lie to me, woman. I know you’re here for Gates. He wants protection does he? We’ll see about that!”

I felt a sting on my cheek when he buried the blade on it just for the sake of fun.

“You have a really beautiful body, sweetheart. I would have raped you if I didn’t have to kill you first.”

That’s it. This fucker’s going to get it. I shoved my foot ahead and kicked backwards with full speed and momentum, a trick Andy taught me a long time ago. My foot landed on his balls and he groaned loudly, releasing his knife on the floor. I scrammed out of his grip and kicked the knife away from his reach.

I brought out my gun and pointed to him.

“Who the fuck are you?!”

I swear to God I wanted to just shoot the shit out of him but I needed proof. He didn’t answer as he was still in pain but in one fucking swift move he stood up straight and pointed his gun to my head. I can see his face clearly now. It wasn’t the bearded guy, this guy was a bit more intimidating than the earlier criminal I met. My gun lowered to my side immediately.

“Who’s in charge now, bitch?”

I stunned in speechless, not really knowing what to do. There isn’t any trick to this. Andy hasn’t teach me yet.

“Drop the gun.”

I heard a low voice ordered from behind him. He looked appalled, his eyes widened in shock.

“I said, drop the fucking gun.”

As the intimidating guy bent his body to put his gun on the floor I saw a silhouette formed behind him.

“Andy!” I gasped. But he looked serious with his gun pointing down and didn’t return my excitement.




As soon as the guy was halfway to the floor, Andy grabbed him and tackled his knees so that he would dropped fully with Andy forcefully pinned him down.

“Who sent you, motherfucker?”

I’ve been listening to that question for over and over tonight. The guy spat at him and I couldn’t resist the urge to kick him in the shin.

“Addie, let me handle this.”

Andy sounded furious when I did that. Okay, I’ll back off!

“You’re gonna rot in hell, cunt.” The guy spat again, but this time towards me. Andy punched his face once and he immediately passed out.

“Woah. That is one hell of a punch, dude.”

“Thanks. Now help me get him out of here. The crowds are coming out.”

Together we lifted him off the floor and brought him out of the venue before it filled with innocent people. Andy led me towards a black SUV and I saw a few of senior agents were already in there.

“You’re here because you know I was being attacked?”

“Course I’m not. I didn’t know. I’m here to give you your stuff.”

“My stuff?”

“We’ll talk later. Now get this fucker in the car.”

Notes

A/N: guys..silent readers..best friends..really need your feedbacks here..XD