Chapter Thirty three

The gig went well, but I wasn't giving all of me, I knew that, but what I had in me I gave was one hundred percent. It was just that my mind was still floundered by events from earlier in the day, and not just Antonia's mom, but everything with rich. It was obvious he was still pretty pissed with me too, we mingled on songs as normal but after he was back on his on side, there was no brothers in arms like normal.
Something else I had to square. Thankfully none of the audience knew about the issues, to them everything was normal, to the rest of the band that knew us, it showed, no one asked though, everyone kept their own corner. Dave gave me a look once or twice and I through him a stink eye, he shrugged his shoulders and carried on with playing.
I had to talk to Rich, I could not cope knowing that we were at war as well as dealing with this other shit too. I made a mental plan to see Rich after the show.

Back stage and in my dressing room, I towelled my hair before grabbing a sweater and heading out into the chill of the cold air, the comedown after a show was always a try, ringing in my ears for best part of three hours, it was like walking round with a wall of deafness, nothing could penetrate the silent noise. If you are struggling to get what I mean, try talking after a live gig to your mate, you'll see what I mean.

Climbing into the blackout windows of the waiting SUV, I took my seat, immediately behind me Rich climbed in too. He paused as he entered. "oh, thought this was for me and you had already gone. I'll slip into the next one with Tic and Dave."
He went to back out of the vehicle. "Look Rich, stay, eh? we need to talk..."
"thought you made yourself clear enough earlier today Jon?, so I miss a chord or something?"
"No, look Rich, please , there's stuff we need to sort ok?, we cant have cold atmosphere on stage between us."
"It's fine, after this tour Jon, I'm leaving the band." he went to exit as I grabbed his arm. "Please Rich?"
His eyes softened as he relented and sat down next to me.
I slid the door closed and gave directions for the driver to drive around for a while. Rich looked out of the window, and stayed silent, as the SUV moved I spoke, "Rich earlier, I was out of line, I'm sorry, but you gotta see it from my point of view, I've been to hell and back so many times in the last few months, I just cant make sense of anything anymore." he spoke and halted my flow... "yeah Jon, I know I've been with ya and supported ya all the way...man I would never have compromised D's safety, but you had the balls of a mouse man, we still be there if I had not acted..."
I nodded, "Yeah I know, but can you understand why I feel lost and as you say like a mouse with no balls?"  he laughed, "What?" "I said you had mouse balls not no balls..." I smiled too, "See? my brain is fucked Rich.. this whole shit...I dunno" he put his arm around my shoulders, "look, just ease up on yourself, ok, then you'll see clear." I nodded, "thing is that's easier said than done, when I'm faced with Antonia's mom, or her, I feel my heart Starr to pound, my palms go clammy, my chest feels tight and the cocky self assured Jon takes flight, it's like I just can't function anymore." "that's anxiety man, and it's natural, given the stress, maybe see the doc get some stress relief pills?" I nodded again, "maybe, or as you say grow some balls" rich smiled at me, "rich," he looked me un the eye, "thanks Bro, thanks so much for telling Matty"  "What?" "thanks for telling matt about what happened and getting him to D" rich held a what the fuck are you talking about expression, " I didn't tell him" "it's ok, really I'm not angry, I'm just thanking you?" " Jon, I get that but I never told matt" "What? Well who the fuck did"

 

"Wtf Rich, man I need to get to the hospital," "Jon, ease up man, your freaking out again, Matts your brother, he's cool, I'm sure there's a rational explanation."
"Why he lie though eh? why?"
"I dunno, but screaming and shouting and stressing D aint gonna help anyone, skip the hospital for now, sleep on it and talk to him when your calm."
"Sleep on it, Rich I aint gonna sleep, since this all began I don't know who I can trust anymore."
"Even your own family.."
I stayed silent, which gave my answer, "Man that's deep...you need to get everyone together and talk through this shot bro, before it eats you up..."
I looked at Richie, "but why did he lie?" "I dunno Jon, but I bet its with good reason, but no this, Matt hasn't got a bad bone in his whole body, so don't go assuming...."
"Mmmm ok, " Rich spoke to the driver and asked him to drop me at my hotel, as we stopped outside, He grabbed me and we had a bro embrace, "Call me if you need me ok?" I nodded as I got out of the car, I high fived rich as they drove away, then walked into my hotel and across to the elevator which was all uneventful. I got as far as my room too and managed to get the card into the slot with no incident, I was relieved and looking forward to a hot shower and a night cap, Rich was right, I needed to talk to Matt calmly tomorrow.

Entering my room, the first thing I noticed was a package sitting on the table, plus a bouquet of flowers, I walked over and looked at the card, "thanks for everything D"
It struck me as strange that my wife was sending me flowers, she had never done that our entire married life, the uneasy feeling started again in my stomach as I then looked at the package sat waiting. It looked innocent, but I was taking no chances, I phoned the Detective and asked him to come over, especially after talking to front desk who had no re collection of the delivery or package. Something was definitely not right.

I paced while waiting for the Detective to arrive, I rang Rich too and he was making his way over, he made a joke about how he should share a room with me as we were like a married couple. it made me smile for a millisecond and broke the monotony of the daily shit I was coping with, badly.

Restlessly, I sat, then got up and paced again, walking over to the bar, I got myself a drink, opening the shot I didn't bother with a glass and held it to my lips and drank it straight back, then closing my eye's I let the warm liquid warm my tired throat.
When I opened my eye's there stood before me was Antonia. "good evening Jon welcome home."

Chapter thirty two

My visit with D at the hospital was strained, naturally she was anxious about the growing incidents, she was concerned for my wellbeing as well as her own. I was pleased Matt waited and he helped me trying to reassure her she would be fine. We think we had it covered when the Doc called in to see her.
"Good evening Dorethea how are you feeling today?"
he examined her wound and re dressed it while he was talking to her, Matt decided to wait outside by the door.
"how's it looking Doc?"
"It's looking good Mr Bongiovi, so good in fact I'm thinking of giving Mrs Bongiovi her discharge..."
D looked at us, a worried expression on her face, "But what about the threats Jon, I don't think I'm strong enough to deal with this added stress just yet?"
"look that is being taken care of, and you could always go stay with your mom and pop until I get this completely sewn up?"
"You think?, I'm not sure that this will be ever sorted out, if she has her brother, mother involved who else? when will this end?" turning her head away from me, she sighed. The Doc finished writing on the chart and left the room, and Matt came back in.
"Sorry I could not help over hear what the Doc said, look, Jon, you don't need both me and our tony to run with you on the tour right? so why don't I stay with D at her mom's I can keep her safe, I promise you nothing will happen, what ya say?"
Looking at D I asked " what ya think babe?"
She looked at Matt, "You sure Matt?, these people are hell bent on getting your brother, they have no concern for me or our kids?, you think you could cope?"
"D relax I've got it covered, trust me, I have my contacts, you will be safe..."
Matt placed his hand on my shoulder, "well bro?"
"hey its fine by me, D?"
she nodded her head, slapping Matt on his back I thanked him. "Your the best, ya know that?"
"right well, I'm gonna get gone and have a bite to eat, but I'll be back before you leave ok?"
this time I nodded, "Sure"
"how long I got?"
"hour at most as I gotta get to the gig."
"right, back in a few"
Matt left the room, moving to D's bedside I sat on the chair, "how bout that eh?, Matt has come good eh?, my baby bro has grown up."
"He's been grown up a long time, you have just never let him."
"Hey unfair D?"
" Big brothers are s'pose to look out for their younger siblings..... its a given..."
"mmm yeah, but not smother them"
"Smother? how have I smothered Matt?"
"Oh please really?, well how about when he wanted to buy that corvette?, it had been triple A checked, but you still wanted to see it and drive it..."
"that was being cautious, buying your first motor is, well its gotta be right. so don't count?"
"ok, well what about when Matt had a camp out in your back yard?, you sat up all night watching out the window to check he was ok?"
"Yeah, cause he was 14, and my parents had gone away for the weekend and left me in charge. D, I don't wanna argue, ok?, time is precious right now and fighting over petty things is lame."
"Lame is it?"
"Look I get it that your scared, anxious and nervous, but everything will be fine... ok?, I promise you."
"Damn"
"What?"
"The time.... Baby I have to go......"
"Please stay Jon, don't leave me?"
"Baby I gotta, its my job... I can't let everyone down last minute..."
"why? eh, why cant you be more like Richie and put family first..."
"I not fighting anymore D, but to answer you, rich don't have a payroll, or my name, Rich aint me."
kissing her on the forehead I headed to the door, "Ill be back after the show... I promise... get some rest ok..."
she looked across to me, with tears in her eye's, I was shocked for the first time in forever D had shown a side of really being needy. something I had never had to deal with and it unnerved me to the pit of my stomach.

out in the hallway I took a minute to collect my thoughts as Matt walked round the corner whistling low but just audible to be heard.

"You can't whistle..."
he smiled and laughed and added, "I can't sing either... so you off?"
"Yeah, its near show time, look D is real shook with this bro, you will look after her till I get back won't ya?"
"Course, stop worrying..."
"k, right well see ya later..."
"Have a good show.."
"thanks"
with no more time I made my way out of the hospital and hailed a cab and took a ride to the venue. The whole time my mind was thinking on the change that was happening to D, sure, this whole stalker thing had me.....un nerved, and I am not bothered by stuff like that, I have always been able to handle things, but this time, it was different, everything was just way to close to home, people I thought I knew real well, were part of the plan to harm me and my family,  maybe now I needed to look at everyone in my employ,..... maybe now was the time to make it more of a family thing..... my families safety was not part of a compromise, my priority was to my kids and D.

Chapter Thirty One

I heard a scream, then realised it was coming from me. I looked at Richie, "what the fuck have you done?"
He looked back un perturbed by his actions, "Relax bro its a bluff."
"Oh you know that do you?, so you got some fucking crystal ball huh? well what if your wrong smartass?"
Rich walked round to the other side of the booth and sat down right next to Antonia's mom, leaving her squashed in by both of us. Grabbing the cell phone from her hand, he scrolled through the last dialled numbers.
"Just relax man.. everything's cool..."
Then giving me a stink eye, and shaking his head, he pressed the number and held the phone to his ear, "Tony its Richie, shocked eh?, I'm here with your mom, did she give you an order." she did?, well before you act on it buddy, think on this, the cops are on their way, and your mom is looking to go away for a long time, do you wanna join her?, I thought not, lets keep it that way shall we." he looked at me the whole time he was talking, then placing his hand over the mouthpiece he whispered in a low voice "for the love of god Jon 911, eh?"
Still in shock and shaking a little I pulled my cell from my pocket and pressed the three digits. In a minute the call was made and the cops were on there way.
Antonia's mom sat unable to move, but she listened while the stress and argument reigned between Rich and me.
"Rich you can be a dumbass sometimes?"
"Oh that's rich coming from you, a man who lets himself get caught in the shower naked."
"I didn't get caught, only nearly, and your outta line Rich, I'm still the boss remember?"
"Boss, man your head is so fucked with this shit, you aint been focused for weeks. I think a modicum of gratitude is needed right now, cause I've just saved your ass again buddy." he pressed end on the call to Tony and slammed the phone onto the table,  and spat another in audible response in my direction, before turning his head away from me. Only looking back once to drink his shot. 

I was real pissed with Rich, for two reasons, sure, some of what he said was true, but I'd defy anyone to not lose  concentration and focus after having to deal with what I had, but it wasn't his job to tell me, and second, he had not only risked my life but that of my wife, and that was unforgiveable, no matter how it panned out.

My anger still raging I carried on the pouring fuel to the fire and yep, I overstepped the line, but it was outta my mouth before I could stop it.

"Gratitude? for you being a fucking dumbass, or a fucking retard? you choose and I'll happily lay it on for you?"
Rich looked at me with his brown eye's fixed in a glare, "Jon you piece of fucking shit, no what, you can just go fuck yourself, when the cops get here, I'm gone, so, fuck you and fuck the tour "
Still pressed against Antonia's mom he turned his back to me. I did the same, I ignored the chuckle coming from the witch next to me, with my leg resting on my knee I sat waiting, the gun resting in my hand, in the gap between my thighs, and with Rich and I not speaking nothing could stop the tension and atmosphere rising,  and the longer we waited the stronger the intensity.

Looking to the doorway, I noticed the crowd that had gathered had all but gone, just two or three people remained.

Finally after what felt like forever the cops arrived, brought to the table by the hotel manager.
Cutting it short and going for the chase, an explanation was given and a time was booked for a Detective to call and meet me later to take my and Riches statement,  relief sweeping over me as Antonia's mom was led away in cuffs.

Rich and I stood, both of us staring at each other, but still not speaking.  In silence he turned from me and headed out of the bar, with a big sigh I did the same.

Walking through I saw him stood at the elevator waiting for it to arrive, he blanked me as I went past, I just tug my hands in my pockets and did the same, turning once to give him the stink eye, but he had already got onto the elevator.

Out of the hotel I breathed in the fresh air, and walked around the building to the main street, on the side walk I hailed a cab, getting in I gave the driver instructions to take me to St Jerome's Hospital then  sat back thinking on everything that had happened.

I was hurt, I'd given Rich so many chances in the band, he'd let us all down on more times than I wanted to remember, but I always supported him, this is the first time that I had ever really called on him for help, and now I had....I was shocked he behaved the way he did, why? how could he do that to me?  before I could carry on reasoning with myself to make sense of it all, my train of thought was interrupted when Matt rang to say he had arrived at the hospital with the cops and Tony had been arrested, and he reassured me D was fine too.
Perplexed as to how he knew what had gone on I asked him,
"Who told you?"
"Rich called said you'd had a fucked up afternoon?, what's the blow?"
"He did?, when he call?"
"Bout twenty minutes ago I guess, I dunno I wasn't looking at the time, you ok?"
"Yeah i'm fine now."
"So what gives then?"
"Nothing,
"Nothing, so why's Tony been arrested then?"
"Look, leave it Matt, ok, just for now please?"
"Ok, for now, but I wanna know bro, and I aint leaving it."
"Ok, ok, I'll explain when I get there, now quit it.?"
"Alright, don't stress out at me, I'm a good guy remember?"
Smiling I answered, "Ok, sorry, just been a shit day, ill see ya in a few, you will wait till I get there?" there was a short pause before Matts cheerful voice answered,
"Sure, no worries, rest easy bro, I'm here and going no where ok?"
"Thanks Matt."
" look Docs here, I better go, Ill see ya soon."
he ended the call and left me sitting in the cab, in mid town traffic again for the second time that day, this time I was not bothered and was happy to have some tranquillity and thinking time. I found myself smiling to myself thinking of Rich calling Matt, he did care then after all.

Chapter Thirty

 

Antonia's mom was talking, her mouth moving a million times a second, but I was not listening, I couldn't, I brought my knee up to my chest and sat looking at her out of the corner of my eye, while biting my thumb anxiously..... praying the whole time someone would come into the bar and give me an excuse to try to leave, and get away from this women.

 

Although she had put the gun back into her purse, her hand was inside the purse resting her hand on the gun, and no doubt the trigger,  given the close proximity if she pulled the trigger I'd be history in no time.

 

"Jon are you listening to me?" I double blinked, trying to remain calm and in control I answered,

"What?, er no sorry my mind is else where, I have a gig tonight." I gave a false smile...

"You really are some piece of work, you know if my daughter has this to look forward to, I don't know if I want you in my family."

"What?, what are you talking about?"

"Well maybe if you had listened and not zoned out, you would understand and know what it is I have been saying, clearly you are not taking me or my daughter seriously, maybe I need to show you what's in my purse again, so I can hold your attention, was I premature in putting it away?," answering her self she pulled the gun from her purse again, " and sweetheart, please don't think I won't use this..."

my eyes drawn to her purse, I watched as the metal shimmered in the dimly lit room. in a split second the gun was pressed into my side again, this time harder than before.

"Now I'll go over the details one last time and this time pay attention.... or else."

"Antonia wants one night with you, that you know right?" this time I listened and nodded.

"Good, and you will give her that one night Jon, cause you know that your wife is dead if you don't, Tony my son knows what to do..."

 

I was still shocked Tony her son who had worked for me for years was the leak, my head could not comprehend why? and honestly I never would have doubted his loyalty ever, had I not been told, and what was worse I had left him looking after Dot's security at the hospital, when he was the imminent danger to her life.

I was being put in a total no compromise situation and right now I could do nothing but agree to the outrageous demands being made.

All I could do was try to stall for time, until Richie or someone came into the bar...

"So when is this one night of lust to happen, I guess I don't have a say in the matter?" I was sarcastic in my response, for which she dug the gun harder in to my side which made me flinch. 

Sinisterly she smiled at me, "Oh of course you do, I want this to be a night my daughter will remember, maybe you could take her for a meal on a date first, seduce her, you know..."

"are you for real?, you are making me do something I have no interest in doing and you want me to play your stupid games?"

I regretted saying those words the moment they left my mouth, " Ok, well, if you don't want to play, there's nothing else for it, I heard the pull back of the lever of the gun..."

"Goodbye Mr Bongiovi..."

"Jon, I'm sorry bud, I was held up..." Rich sat down right next to me, he had not noticed the gun or Antonia's mom, calling over the bar tender he gave his order then focused on me and my unwanted guest.

"What she doing here?"

"Mr Sambora, she is the cat's mother, now when you called to my house I gave you courtesy please honour me with the same courtesy?"

"What do you want lady?, " smiling at me Rich carried on, still oblivious to the situation... "Look who I'm calling lady?"

"Are you going to tell him Jon, or shall I, before I pull the trigger...."

Riches eye's widened in shock, "Trigger what trigger?"

I looked at him and answered, "The gun in my side" my eye's moving to show him where, his eye's followed the direction.... "Oh that trigger..."

"Yes Mr Sambora that trigger...you see, you have missed so much..."

Rich looked for her to me, "Jon, what the fuck?"

Fifteen minutes later Rich was brought up to speed and knew everything... "Shit man this is getting more fucked up by the minute... so what are ya gonna do?"

"What else can I do Rich?"

"Mmm nothing I guess...."Richie's eye's flashed a dangerous glint direct to Antonia's mom, still with no respect for her he, looked at me as he spoke "Sorry bro, I can't just let this happen" he stood from the booth directly in front and  then started on calling her out, rising his voice as he did... my heart hammering in my chest the whole time, praying the gun would not be fired. "Rich please." he raised his hand in acknowledgement but carried on...

"Alrighty then, so biatch you have my man here by the balls and are gonna shoot him if he don't have sex with your fucked up deranged daughter right?"

I wasn't sure, but I thought I felt her hand tremble as Richie kept rising the volume in his voice, nervously she looked around the bar and saw the small gathering crowd that had started to form at the doorway. Richie turned to face them, "You guy's over there will all be witnesses right?, this women is threatening to shoot my bud if he don't have sex with her daughter...."

The crowd mumbled a response. "Sit down Richie, I'm not kidding, I don't care who see's it, I'll do it... I'm warning you..."

Now I was sure, her hand was shaking and Rich had managed to call her bluff and unnerve her, taking my lead from him, I lifted my own hand and took the gun away from her. she slumped down in her seat defeated, tears started to fall from her eye's.

"Please stop with the crocodile tears, no ones buying it."

She reached into her purse and pulled out a tissue, then her cell phone.  in the next second things swung and changed again, with her cell to her ear, she spoke to the caller on the other end of the phone.

"Tony, do it."