Page 27 of Holding On

“On it, Jack. And ladies, just so you know, in addition to Ethan, we have multiple Lux security guards outside the door. No one is getting into this room without your permission, okay?” Jett adjusts his glasses as he vows to keep them away from prying eyes before going to find someone to help with the physical wounds. I squeeze Tinsley tighter and she winces while taking a sharp inhale of breath.

I freeze.

“Tinsley, baby, what’s wrong?” She shakes her head and won’t answer.

I look to Allie, who in the aftermath of being saved from the bathroom is starting to register everything that just happened as tears start to stream down her face. “He … he threw her up against the wall like she was a stuffed doll, and he punched her in the stomach so fucking hard, Jack, I…” Allie shakes her head and rushes over to sit next to me on the couch so she can grab Tinsley’s hand. Jett returns with a female paramedic, two police officers, and Ethan. There is a lot of commotion in the hall.

Fuck, the concert.

No. Fuck the concert. I don’t care if I have to personally refund everyone. Tinsley is not going out on stage. “Jett, I need you to call Max and let him know what’s going on. I don’t care what has to happen. Tell him it’s a family emergency, but she’s not going on that stage tonight. Max will handle it.”

That snaps Tinsley out of her shock. “No, Jack, I have to! They came to see me! I owe them!”

“No, Red, you don’t owe them anything. Not right now. You need to take care of yourself—and Allie—and we can reschedule tonight. I’ll even authorize to reimburse ticket sales and honor them for a rescheduled date if you want. I don’t care. None of that matters, not tonight. Not now. You are the only thing that matters. Taking care of you and Allie and getting out of here is the only thing that matters tonight.”

“But they came to see me. All those people are waiting for me, and I can’t let them down.” Tinsley’s voice wavers like a child’s and anything left of my heart is completely shattered for whatever hell she’s been stuck in. Her limbs start to tremble, and I think shock has to be setting in.

How did I not know what was going on?

How did Wells not say something? There’s absolutely no way he knew and allowed it to continue. He has to be in the dark. I know Wells has wanted Tinsley to sign with a different manager for years—we all did—but the recent conversation with their mother about it didn’t go well. Tinsley is an adult though, why are her mother and stepfather even involved in those discussions?

“Hey.” Allie squeezes Tinsley’s hand as she looks up at her cousin, seeing her face for the first time since they left the bathroom.

“Oh, Allie, honey, I’m so sorry.” Tinsley throws her arms around her cousin and pulls her in for a hug.

“We’re going to reschedule, and people are going to understand, okay?” Allie asks and Tinsley nods. I look to Jett who takes my chin lift as a directive to make the call. He goes over to the far corner of the room to call Max. Max runs our entire music division of Lux and will have the right people handle this as quickly and smoothly as possible. I make a mental note to call him later and fill him in on everything. Not as my employee, but as one of few people Wells and I both consider a close friend.

“I’m so sorry, Allie, I’m so damn sorry,” Tinsley repeats as I look over at the police officers who solemnly watch the scene unfold before them. “He wasn’t ever supposed to touch any of you, you guys were all supposed to be off-limits, I’m so sorry. This is all my fault.”

The EMT sets their kit on the side table and starts pulling items out to tend to the small laceration on the side of Allie’s face. There are spots that are already starting to bruise a deep purple. How hard did the bastard hit her?

Ethan comes in to let me know that Rick and Debbie Jo have been removed from the premises. Rick is going to be booked on charges of domestic assault, and his sister is being charged with assault against a law enforcement officer. Before stepping back into the chaotic hallway, Ethan informs me that he has already directly spoken with the commander of the police precinct where The Pointe is located, and he will let me know if there’s anything else Tinsley or I need to be made aware of.

As the police officers take Tinsley’s and Allie’s statements, the red haze of anger comes back tenfold hearing firsthand how they were threatened and injured. The fact that it happened where I had security, and my company’s name was attached to the event, makes my stomach churn. The EMT suspects Tinsley has at least two broken ribs, but will need to confirm at the hospital, which Tinsley tries to fight, but Allie and I are able to convince her that she won’t be in trouble for getting help.

How many times did he hurt her to the point where she should’ve seen a doctor but didn’t because she was afraid of Rick? Or Rick wouldn’t allow her to seek medical assistance? Did Debbie Jo know? Did she hurt Tinsley, too?

How did we let this go on for so long right under our noses? I press my fingers into my temples and try to calm my breathing as Tinsley and Allie finish up with the police officers. Jett walks over with his phone outstretched. “It’s Wells.”

I take the phone and reluctantly step away from Tinsley. “Wells, it’s Jack.” I know he’s in Paris, but I also know my friend.

“What the fuck is going on, Jack? Am I in the damn twilight zone? I missed a single call from my sister an hour ago and now the internet is blowing up about her. My texts are filled with all kinds of wild theories from people. What the hell, Jack? Is Tinsley okay? She’s never missed a concert, and if there’s a family emergency, what the fuck is going on? I’m her family! I would know if there’s an emergency. Did something happen to our mom?”

“Man, you know I’m doing everything I can, but I know you. You need to get the jet and come home as soon as possible. There is an actual emergency situation, but it’s not her family, Wells.”

“What do you mean?” Wells snaps at me.

“It’s her, Wells. It’s Tinsley that’s hurt.”

“Who. The. Fuck. Hurt. MY sister?!” Wells roars into the phone.

“Rick.”

He growls before swearing, “I’ll kill him.”

“Now, don’t go saying that where someone can hear you. He’s being arrested and booked on charges of domestic assault.”

The silence is deafening. “Wells?”