Chapter Fifteen

Reaching the revolving doors we all squeezed in and shuffled  through, immediately as I embarked on the sidewalk the press were surrounding us, I was possibly a metre from the car, but with the pushing and shoving and the camera's flashing, it was proving a far harder task than I thought. Dave cried out in pain as a photographer pulled him by the arm practically dislocating his shoulder trying to get a picture of me. The manager was being pulled in all directions but he stood firm and linked his arm with Tico and Richie to enforce the protection.

All I could see were flashes, but I kept my head down and just kept pushing forward,  and then my name, being called with questions over and over.

"Jon, over here, was the affair worth it?"
"Jon have you seen your baby yet?"
"Jon, why did you cheat?"
"Jon what does your wife say?"
"Jon five minutes..."
then flash, flash, when at last we broke through to the car door Tico wrenched it open for me to climb inside, quickly followed by Dave, Tico and Richie. with the door now pulled closed and locked I ordered Barry to take us to the airport.

The waiting press and fans then surrounded the car, and although the windows were blacked out at the back still the camera's were being flashed,  no angle to the shots, just camera's pressed to the glass and aimless shots being taken. the fans banging on the glass trying to break through to get to me, I looked at a couple then decided it was best to keep my head down, until Barry was able to drive through the rabble and hit the road.

It seemed like forever until we finally managed to break through and hit the open road, although I was not out of the woods as some of the press had taken to tailing my car to the airport.

Barry drove fast but safe and drove us to the  entrance to departures, now I was facing another inquisition I had to get through check in and security un hounded, pulling my glasses down we walked at a fast pace to the VIP check in desk, we had just checked in the last person when we heard the press running across the concourse of the airport shouting my name.
Like vultures circling there prey in seconds I was surrounded, microphones were placed at my mouth, camera's were pointed and shots taken, I was grateful to Richie who moved in between and grabbed my arm and marched me forward, they continued their pursuit until I arrived to go through security, but although they could not follow they still stood shouting my name and taking their random pictures, emptying my pockets of lose change and metal I walked through the detector, praying it did not bleep and I had to stand and endure the scanner being run over my body, some luck was going my way and I was soon on the other side away from prying eye's and the press.

I stood just to the left of the security area and could just see through the cracks of the room the press start to leave, all of them happy in that their quest was successful they had their pictures of me, although none had a story as such.

Richie joined me first, "You ok?"
"Yeah, fine, nothing I won't live through anyway, you?"
"yeah I'm fine, think Dave's in some pain though."
we stood waiting, Teek joined us next, and Dave came through last. "You ok Dave?"
"Yeah, think so, arm hurts a bit, but I'll live"
I had to thank Dave, well all the guys really,
"thanks Man, I really appreciate your help"
Dave smiled and said, "its fine long as you do the same for me someday?"
"I nodded and patted his arm which immediately caused him to wince., and then lead to me apologising.
Teek and Rich, were laughing, and both concluded right now I could not do right for wrong.
I had to admit it was nice having my brothers with me and we all walked laughing down to the departure gate ready to board our flight to Cleveland, despite the trauma all of our spirits were high.

Arriving at the departure gate, we walked along the galley tunnel and boarded the Jovi jet, Captain Preece Mulholland greeted us and welcomed us all aboard, he asked for us all to take our seats and get buckled up as he wanted to taxi so not to miss his slot.

With the hand baggage stowed we all sat, Diane walked past on route to her seat and handed me the papers from that morning, sure enough there plastered all across the front page of the Manhattan Echo was the story about me and the affairs and having a baby daughter.

Who the fuck had given these stories? I knew the answer to one, but no idea about who had told about the baby, anger was swelling in my gut again, and the sooner I met my lawyer, I figured the sooner I could end this shit, folding the paper having read enough of the trash; I threw it on to the table and with my head back and belt fastened I shut my eye's and prepared for take off.