His Luna Warrior

Chapter Nine: Defeated

Adam

The fair events I’d bought tickets for didn’t start until Thursday, which meant I had a few much needed days to myself. Besides finishing the bands vacation schedule, I worked on some music, got my hair trimmed and took care of some things around the house.

On Wednesday, Garret had Mrs. Lindsay stop by so the kids and I could meet her. She was a middle aged woman, retired, and did babysitting part time. She was spritely for her age. She had many of the same morals and used the same discipline techniques as I did with my own children. It made it easier on me to hand them over to her knowing she would treat them nearly the same way I did. She also didn’t mind overnight stays or being an in home nanny for a time. She was recently widowed and her children had long since flown the coop. She reassured me she didn’t have much going on and loved being around young children. I could see the joy in her expression as she interacted with my littles.

The children adored her and I could say I felt the same way. I gave her a copy of the schedule I’d made—and had confirmed with the band—telling her I would keep her up to date if anything changed.

The next day Mrs. Lindsay showed up on time and, after saying my goodbyes, I made my way to pick up the band. Tonight’s event was the destruction derby. I’d never been to one but it sounded like fun.

When the door opened, I had a mini panic attack because I did not recognize the person standing in the doorway. He was blond and was wearing some kind of cowboy getup. Jeans, button up, boots, sun glasses and a ball cap. Taking a step back, I checked the address mounted on the side of the building. It was correct. “Adam!” Garret’s voice greeted kindly.

“Garret?”

“Oh, I forgot to warn you that the band would look different. We are going incognito to these events, which means we might look a bit different than normal. We don’t really want to get recognized so easily.”

A bit different? How about drastically different? “Did you dye your hair? Or is that a wig?”

Garret’s once black hair was blond and spiked.

“Eh, I allowed Jadea to bleach me,” he shrugged. “That way she wouldn’t have to completely redo my look everyday. Just the little bit of makeup to transform my facial features slightly.”

Yeah. She had done that too. The way she’d shaded his nose and jaw made him look as if both were slimmer, smaller.

“C’mon!” He reached out, grabbing my shirt and hauled me into the house. “We are just waiting on Jadea.”

“On the contrary, I’m ready to go,” Jadea announced as she bounded down the stairs.

My heart stuttered. She’d hidden her abnormal white hair under a long haired black wig. She’d braided it to one side. Her green eyes shined with excitement. Dark, tight fitting jeans encased her long legs and she had on a Knight Necromancers T-shirt. I chuckled at the irony. No doubt she had done that on purpose.

The rest of the band shuffled out of the living room all looking drastically different. Briar and Blade even had contacts in. The ride over to the fairgrounds was short and fun. After going in through the main entrance, I led them to the events arena.

The gal gave us a brief description of where we were located. And it was exactly where I’d wanted them to be. Almost at the center of the arena, right in front. “Awesome!” Derrick’s loud voice permeated the loud noise of the crowd. He looked to me and nodded his thanks as he led Briar to the middle set of seats in the box.

“Does anyone want anything to eat or drink?” Garret asked.

Before anyone could answer, Jadea spoke up. “Just get a bit of everything and you know what we like to drink. Adam?” Her gaze turned directly on me. “Is there anything in particular you would like?”

“Just some water, please.”

Jadea nodded to the other two before looping her arm through mine and taking the front set of seats. “Ummm, maybe I should sit back there?” I mumbled.

“Why?”

“Oh Jadea, are you implying something?” Derrick interrupted, his voice animated. Before she could get another word out, he continued. “Fifty bucks says they’re thrown out of here within the first half hour!”

What on earth…?

I knew my expression looked ridiculous, but I had no idea what they were going on about and the mention of being thrown out had me uneasy.

Jadea’s gaze had stayed trained on me, her eyes shining mischievously. “One hundred says the authorities get involved,” her intense gaze moving to Derrick.

“They haven’t gotten themselves into that much trouble in a while,” Derrick mumbled thoughtfully. “You’re on!”

My stomach knotted at the implications.

Jadea’s soft laughter caught me off guard. “Don’t look so worried. Garret and Blade don’t do anything too crazy. They’re just a bit of mischief makers is all, you’ll see.”

Ugh! I definitely understood now why they were paying so much. They were all trouble makers. What had I gotten myself into?

Garret and Blade made it back with the snacks and drinks. Their arms and hands full. I was surprised there were no casualties.

After handing out the goodies, the announcer came on to say the event would be starting soon and for everyone to find their seats. Minutes later, we all stood for the national anthem and then the fun began.

Right as the demolition cars were being announced, I heard Garret ask, “Do you think we could smooth talk our way back there?” Pointing towards the lot where the demolition cars were.

Blade eyeballed it and shrugged. “Might be fun to try.”

“If you get arrested I’m leaving your asses in jail for the night,” Jadea announced, a clear warning in her sarcastic tone.

Both smirked as if a challenge had been accepted. They took off towards the lot. From where I sat, I couldn’t keep an eye on them. “Should we be worried?”

“Naw! They’ve done s**t like this before,” Derrick announced, munching on some nachos.

“Those two are the trouble makers in the group,” Briar announced.

Jadea sighed, turning to face the arena.

“Doesn’t that bother you?” I asked her softly.

She shrugged. “As long as they don’t generate too much publicity, I don’t really care.”

The three remaining band members made bets on the cars they thought would win. I couldn’t deny I was having fun listening to their rowdy banter. It reminded me so much of my younger days when I was a part of such a tight knit group and my heart ached with the loss.

Weird.

I hadn’t mourned the loss of my band in ages. But the sting of it felt just as sharp on my heart as the day I’d had to leave. “Excuse me for a moment,” I excused myself, making sure not to catch anyone’s eye.

I made my way down to the nearly deserted snack kiosk clearing and leaned up against the fence, out of sight of nearly everyone. Why was my heart aching like this? Why was this happening right now—

“Hey sexy!” A woman’s voice purred into my ear.

I snapped my gaze open and found two very beautiful woman, probably mid twenties if I had to guess.

The one who spoke rubbed a hand against my chest before leaning in closer to nibble my ear and whisper some very naughty things to me. I gulped, unsure of what to do in this situation. It had been so long since someone had approached me like this… it made me wary.

The other woman’s hands were wandering too, her lips connecting with the sensitive flesh below my other ear, her teeth nibbling down my neck. “Why-why are you doing this? Stop!” But my breathless reply wasn’t convincing.

“Why don’t you come with us?” The first whispered softly. “We know a place where no one will interrupt us and we can take care of you,” she whispered suggestively, her hand moving over the growing bulge in my pants.

There were red warning flags going off but before I could tell them no, and mean it, both had looped their arms through mine and were leading me away from the safety of the crowd. How did I get myself into this situation? And how did I get myself out without causing a scene?

“Please, ladies… Uh, th-thank you but—

They led me to a deserted little area that was hidden from view before pouncing on me. Their hands wandered to forbidden places, mouths and tongues licking and biting. I couldn’t say I wasn’t enjoying it, but something was off. Right as I was about to forcefully remove myself from the situation, they moved away, their hands full of my belongings, wallet, keys, anything and everything that had been in my pockets. I was both thankful and pissed I hadn’t brought my gun.

“You will give those back!” I growled, trying to keep the desperation out of my tone and sound as confident and in control as I could. I was hoping some intimidation might work. As I moved to take my belongings, a man appeared and pushed me back forcefully. Undeterred, I lunged, my fist on course to smash in his nose.

I’d been in a couple of brawls before. Some I’d won, some I’d lost. The thing about today, unlike the other times, is I had two children relying on me. If they took everything, I probably wouldn’t be able to protect my bank account in time before they wrung me dry and maxed out my credit cards.

I was blindsided by his fist to my face. He hit so hard I careened back into the fence and hit the ground. Stars danced before my eyes as I stared up at the three villains. There was no way I would be able to survive going up against him. The fight drained right out of me.

As I tried to regain my bearings enough to sit up, he motioned for the women to walk by him before growling, “Don’t get any ideas about following us or reporting us. Because if you do, these lovelies will say you were being lewd and had cornered them and fondled them against their will. You’ll be arrested and charged with s****l assault.”

Fuck! Once again, threats were being used against me. And I hated it. It wasn’t that I was a coward. I wanted justice. But, it was their word against me. And I was a man. No one would ever believe me.

I should know. I’d lived this situation before.

The triumphant look on his face said it all. He knew he had me, knew I wouldn’t fight.

As they turned out of sight, I slumped in defeat. Nothing in this life had ever been easy. Usually, it hadn’t bothered me. But there was only so much one person could take before it drained the life right from the soul.

In my case, right when something good had happened, and things were going to turn around, it got overshadowed by just one more unfortunate event. One I wasn’t sure I would be able to recover from financially.

I was just a walking disappointment of a man. I hadn’t been able to please my first wife. I’d had to abandon my band because of an unexpected pregnancy. I wasn’t even able to defend myself! I was a piss poor pathetic excuse. No matter what I did, no matter how hard I tried, nothing ever went my way. And nothing ever would.

As the bitter tears fell at my continued failures in life, I didn’t hear her approach.

It was only when her soft, warm hand stroked my cheek did I jerk up and see her. Kind, green eyes held mine. “I believe these belong to you,” Jadea whispered holding out everything the pickpockets took.