Chapter 92:

 

Double-Edged Sword

"Guys? What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be on stage in a few minutes?"

Xavier stood before them, his face calm, arms crossed against his massive chest. He smiled benignly, his voice oozing with concern and AJ immediately picked up on the veiled insolence.

"Yeah, we're aware of it."

Quickly donning his sunglasses, AJ hoped that Xavier had not seen the alarm, the unease his sudden appearance had caused. "What are you doing here?" he asked gruffly. "Aren't you supposed to be guarding?"

"Sam sent me to come look for you."

Xavier's smooth lie sent a sharp chill through AJ and Kevin as they saw how natural, how effortless the bodyguard's skill in deceit was.

"We were looking for Brian," divulged Howie, sensing the tension in his friends. "We can't find him."

"Well, that's my job, remember?" Xavier purred. "You should have called me." His manner was superficial, patronizing, and Howie hated it.

With an exaggerated wave of his hand, Xavier ushered the three forward, talking as they headed down the corridor. "Nope, not wise, not wise for you to be wandering off by yourselves, taking matters into your own hands. You just never know what could happen in these hallways. A crazed fan. A disgruntled employee. Someone could get hurt. Bad."

Trying hard not to stare at him, AJ shivered inwardly at Xavier's admonitions. If I didn't know better, I'd swear Xavier knows all about our secret! AJ shook his head. Impossible. If Xavier knew, why would he still be here and risk getting caught? He spotted Kevin's quick look and realized Kevin was thinking the same thing.

Irritated by Xavier's condescending attitude, AJ decided to push him a little. "So, X, how's the tour been so far for you? Up for the next half? Think you can handle it?" Ignoring Howie's dark frown, AJ reached up with his middle finger and slowly dragged his glasses down the bridge of his nose, staring calmly at Xavier.

The middle finger gesture was not lost on Xavier. He smiled slightly, amused by AJ's insolent little game. He wants games? I'll give him games.

"I'll admit it's been difficult, but not impossible. I want to thank you guys for having so much trust in me, allowing me to take matters into my own hands with Brian. I couldn't have done it with out your support. Really." Xavier held back a nasty grin as he saw a subtle twitch in their shoulders, a sudden flash of pain in their eyes. They rounded another corner and Xavier dug deeper. "No, I gotta hand it to you guys. You sure helped me out. I only hope that I'll be to repay the favor….and soon. Ahh, here they are!" Xavier motioned with a satisfied smile as he saw Nick and Brian walking towards them.

Relieved to see that Nick had found Brian, AJ hurried over to them, ill at ease with Xavier's bogus flattery.

"You all right?" he asked worriedly, looking Brian once over. "Where were you?"

"Brian's fine," pacified Nick. "He was just in the chapel room."

Xavier walked up with Kevin and Howie, nodding his head sagely. "Prayer. Always a good idea. Especially when you need something, right Brian?"

Nick turned his attention to Xavier, feeling a slow burn of anger crawling in the pit of his stomach. The very sight of the massive bodyguard repulsed him. Trying to contain his fury, Nick kept his voice low. "Xavier? I think security could use some help."

Xavier's dark eyes bore into Nick's, a small smile curling at the corner of his mouth. "Naw, they're fine." He glanced at his watch, tapping the crystal face with an impatient finger. "But I think you guys won't be if you don't hurry up. It's almost time."

Howie nodded, eager to be away from the overbearing presence of Xavier. "Let's go," he indicated with a snap of his head and all five Backstreet Boys headed for the backstage.

Quick fingers wrapped around Brian's arm and with a sudden jerk stopped Brian short, almost causing him to stumble.

"Oh. Sorry. Guess I don't know my own strength," chuckled Xavier, giving Nick, Kevin, AJ and Howie an apologetic shrug of his shoulders. "Go on, Brian will be there in a moment, I just need to tell him a few things."

"Xavier, I don't think now is the time…" began Kevin angrily but Brian cut him off, worried that his cousin's temper would get the best of him and he'd do something rash.

"It's okay. I'll just see what Xavier wants, then I'll be there." Months of practice enabled Brian to keep a composed face, not wanting the guys to see the panic he felt inside. Go, go! he screamed silently, praying that they would not accidentally reveal the secret. Kevin seemed to understand and he nodded, his face changing from one of anger to indifference.

"All right. Hurry. I don't want the show to start late again. You've caused us enough trouble already."

Brian wordlessly gave thanks, grateful for Kevin's quick thinking. He watched as the four exited the corridor and turned to find Xavier following the boys' departure, a faint expression of amusement displayed on his broad face.

Brian frowned, uneasy. "So what the hell is so important that it can't wait until after the show?"

Xavier's face lost all its glee as he faced the young singer, giving him a thorough look.

"Well, sure seems like you're doing better. Guess those painkillers are working, huh?"

Brian heard the bluntness in Xavier's voice and shrugged nonchalantly to hide his nervousness. "Yeah, well, I'm still hurting, just not as much." He hoped Xavier wouldn't ask for the pills back, not sure how he could explain their disappearance.

Hearing the faint chant of the excited crowd Brian took a step backwards, glancing for a way to escape. He didn't like the way Xavier just stood there staring at him, as if trying to figure something out. "Anything else? Any kinds words of advice you want to share before I go on?" Brian tried to keep the bitter sarcasm out of his voice but failed.

"I hear the Mexican Riveira is nice this time of year."

The comment was so out of the blue that it surprised Brian and he took another step back, leery.

"I wouldn't know," he said sharply. Waiting for a reply and receiving none, Brian shook his head and turned to hurry down the hall, not hearing as Xavier finally spoke.

"You will."

* * * * * * * * * * *

Les was trying his best to look helpful, which meant trying to do the least amount of work possible. He reached over to semi-straighten various cartons, which had been already stacked for future loading, then headed over to watch the backstage hands scurrying around. The show was in mid-swing and he adjusted his earplugs a little tighter, not to protect his hearing but to eliminate as much of the god-awful music as he could. For the hundredth time he wished he had landed the Metallica gig instead of this one. Still, one couldn't fault the groupies that followed the tour and felt more than compensated in that area.

He edged closer to peer at the stage. He noticed that that little skinny dude was sitting down, his legs swinging comically over the edge of the stage. The other guy, Nick, flopped down next to him, mimicking his friend's foot movements and they both seemed to be laughing.

Les tore his attention away from the two and scanned the front wondering if he could locate Xavier. Nope. Nowhere. The song ended and the applause and screams rose another octave. Les shook his head as he watched Nick help his friend to a standing position, remembering the look on Xavier's face when he informed the bodyguard what Nick was up to. In a way, he pitied the young singer, knowing all too well never to get on the bad side of Xavier. Which is why he agreed to….

"Hey, ow!" Les found Xavier's tight grip clamped down upon his shoulder.

"I'm assuming you're ready," hissed Xavier, pulling Les's earplug out with a nasty yank.

"Yeah, sure, of course I am," lied Les. He tried not to show his nervousness, his lack of confidence. If Xavier thought he could do it, who was he to argue? Besides how hard could it be? True, he had never done it before, but many others had, and it didn't look too difficult. And the money was more than enough incentive.

"Good, don't fuck up," hissed Xavier again and Les saw in the bodyguard's dark eyes the consequences if he did.

Les gulped. "No problem, relax. I'll be there, waiting."

With a rough shake, Xavier let go of Les's arm. "You’d better."

* * * * * * * * * *

Howie sighed in relief. This was an easy part, the crossing of the bridge back to the stage, and they all took their sweet time in order to give Brian a rest. Throughout the show he had been nervously glancing over at Brian, sure that at any minute he'd see him collapsed on the ground, unable to continue. But Brian had surprised them all, managing to find enough strength and willpower to carry on. Nick had been hovering over him, much to Howie's amusement, playing mother hen, and would gladly have carried Brian piggy-back the whole show if Brian would have let him. Finishing the song, Howie saw AJ's and Kevin's cheerful nods of encouragement and he gave a confident smile in return. They were more than halfway finished, just a few more songs, and then they'd be done, on their way, racing for the bus to take them up to Phoenix. Things were looking good. Unbelievably good. And, in just a short time Xavier would be gone, out of their lives forever. Soon. So very soon. Howie smiled at the crowd, the band, the guys; happy, ecstatic beyond belief that he wouldn't have to do what he had originally planned.

* * * * * * * * * *

Brian felt the firm grip of Nick and Kevin holding his hands as they all bowed to the cheering crowd. He felt slightly woozy as he straightened up and swayed just a little, feeling the concerned grasps tighten a little harder to keep him upright. He was exhausted, in pain, and glad it was over. He had done it. He had made it to the end. Now all he wanted to do head for the bus and sleep. Bowing once last time, Brian came up to catch the figure of Xavier standing in the front row, staring straight at him. Their eyes locked and as much as Brian wanted to break away, he couldn't. Xavier pinned him with such a forceful stare that he found himself shaking from the intensity of it.

He knows, he knows, oh God, he knows…

He wanted to shout, to scream, to let the whole world hear his fear. At the insistent tug of Kevin's hand pulling him offstage, Brian followed, his breath coming in shallow gasps. Breathe, breathe! Don't lose it! he prayed silently, feeling himself being propelled by unseen stagehands towards the bus. Brian felt Nick behind him, trying to gently hurry him along and he twisted his neck around in order to capture Nick's attention.

"Nick! Nick! Something's wrong!" he hollered over the excited voices of the crew members as they shouted instructions left and right.

"Huh? What? Wait until we get on the bus, Brian!" yelled Nick back, indicating with a point of his finger at the bus that loomed before them.

The last two to arrive, Brian and Nick quickly hopped on, Nick frowning slightly in surprise when he saw Les sitting in the driver's seat. What the hell is Les doing here? Where was their regular driver? Both he and Brian stumbled a little as Les hurriedly slammed the door shut, quickly putting the bus into high gear, the engine groaning under the unskilled hands of its inept driver. As the bus began to race away from the curb, Nick turned his attention away from Les to locate a slow, sinister chuckling that seemed to float throughout the entire length of the bus.

With wide eyes, Nick discovered the sound and the person who was producing it. He tried not to panic as he saw Xavier standing menacingly in the aisle, tried not to panic as he viewed the fearful expressions of AJ, Howie, and Kevin who sat terrified in their seats, tried not to panic when he heard the agonized moans of Brian who slumped to the floor in despair.

He did panic at what came next.

***

 

 

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