Wow can't believe this is the final chapter of The Beginning, The Middle and The End. And the series finale for Decisions, The Verdict, Forgiveness is For You, and The Tour. This chapter is long. Believe me when I say, your reviews and PMs encouraged me to keep writing this series. This is just as much your story as it is mine. It has truly been an honor to be followed by so many readers. I am humbled by those who have chosen to add one or more of my stories to their favorites list. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I hope you enjoy the final chapter.
Chapter 14
Help Comes From An Unexpected Person
The tour buses pull into the back parking lot of MK, everyone cheers, they are finally back in Los Angeles. "The final concert is tonight. There is no excuse for being late for sound check at five." Jake says.
Just then, Eddie, Loren, Melissa, Ian, Max and Nora receive a group text from Phil that read "Adrianna is in labor." They pile into the back of the Escalade and tell the driver to get to the hospital quick.
Nora, Loren and Melissa jump out the Escalade the minute it stops in front of the hospital, they rush inside and go to the front desk, asking for Adrianna Sander's room. The three rush into Adrianna's room right when she has a contraction. Phil is standing by her side holding her hand and looking scared.
Nora walks over to the bed and takes Adrianna hand, "breathe and relax, honey, it will be over in a second." Nora continues to talk calmly to Adrianna until the contraction is over.
"Where is Lisa?" Loren asks.
"I've been calling her but she isn't answering." Phil replies
"What about dad, did you call him?" Melissa asks.
"Yep, same thing, no answer."
Just then another contraction hits and Adrianna is yelling at Phil to get out of her face, Phil quickly slips out of the room and goes to look for the guys. He finds them in the waiting room. "How is she?" Eddie asks when Phil walks in.
"She's screaming at me saying it's my fault and she kicked me out the room." Phil says sitting in a chair looking exhausted.
Max slaps Phil on his shoulders, "that's what they all say when a contraction hit. Katy was the same way when she had Eddie," Max laughs, "for ten hours she blamed me because it hurt, she blamed me because she wasn't fully dilated, she blamed me because she gained forty pounds, and she even blamed me because she was missing her favorite television shows."
"What did you do?" Phil asks.
"I apologized and asked for forgiveness, because when your wife is in labor, you have no choice but to take the blame for everything."
For the next three hours, Nora, Loren and Melissa stay in the room with Adrianna while the guys take turns sitting with Adrianna until a contraction hits. One contraction lasted for two minutes while Ian is in the room; Aid blames him saying his nephew-in-law can't stand to hear his accent and she kicks him out the room. When Lisa and Gus finally arrive they are kicked out the room because they created Phil.
Phil is sleeping in the waiting room when Nora, Loren and Melissa come rushing in, "Phil you better get back in there, the doctor says Aid is fully dilated and ready to push," Melissa says.
"Good luck bro," Ian says and Phil runs back to the labor and delivery room.
Thirty minutes later Phil comes out with tears on his cheeks, everyone stands up, "seven pounds, ten ounces, nineteen inches long, ten fingers, ten toes, Philip Donald Sanders," Phil says before fainting.
Jake's Office
Jake has been in his office since they got back to Los Angeles. He checks his messages and returns phone calls. He is finishing up his phone call with the record label when Kelly walks in, "that's great, I will meet with them this afternoon and let you know what they say," Jake says then hangs up the phone, he stares at her.
"Hi," Kelly says breaking the silence.
Jake lifts one eyebrow in response.
"Jake, I'm sorry; I know I should have been up front with you about my relationship with Rick. I was going to tell you once the tour was over." Kelly says.
"You could have told me when we confirmed your pregnancy."
"Traci had no right to tell you; she's just trying to get back at me for betraying her. I love you Jake, let's not throw our relationship away."
"Traci wasn't the one who told me about you and Rick."
Kelly looks confused, "if Traci didn't tell you then who did?"
"Rick called me right before I walked into the suite; he's working with a new artist who's looking for a manager. I told him I had my hands full with Eddie and other things. He asked if you might be interested. I told him you are five months pregnant and might not want to take on a new client right now. That's when he told me about his involvement with you. Why didn't you tell him about the baby?"
"If Traci didn't tell you about Rick, why didn't you push the issue about her signing the divorce papers?"
"That's no longer your business. Look Kelly, I will give you a hefty severance package, buy out your contract with Loren, if the baby you're carrying is mine, I will take care of her, but after the concert, you need to find another place of employment."
MK Club
Jeremy lets himself into the MK club through the back door in the storage room. The club is empty. He hides small packages throughout the club. While he's stashing the packages, he sings the lyrics to "Eddie's Girl."
Once he's satisfied with his work, he leaves out the club through the back door in the storage room; he forgets to lock the door from the outside. His second mistake.
Eddie and Loren's House
"We have enough time to take a three hour nap before we have to be at MK for sound check," Loren says.
"I'm so tired, I can sleep here on the couch," Melissa says falling onto the couch.
"Do you want me to carry you upstairs?" Ian asks.
"No, just leave me here until it's time to go," Melissa says falling asleep. Ian shrugs his shoulders and cuddles with his wife on the couch. Loren and Eddie look at each other then they cuddle on the other end of the couch, too tired to walk up stairs to their bedroom.
Max and Nora's House
"Joe, I can't believe that no one has seen or heard from Jeremy since being spotted in Wisconsin." Max pauses to listen to Joe's response. "I still want extra security tonight at the club."
"Do you really think Jeremy will try something tonight?" Nora asks when Max ends his call with Joe.
"He's been too quiet, and this is the last concert, I feel it in my gut, he's going to try something tonight, Joe is sending one more person."
MK Club
At five o'clock everyone arrives for sound check, the place is swarming with crew and performers. Tyler is there helping Grace at the bar. "Hey Ty, thanks for helping out tonight, it's the last concert of the tour and we're expecting a sold out crowd," Max says.
"It's the only way I can see the concert for free, those tickets are really expensive," Tyler says laughing.
At seven thirty the doors open and the audience goes through security check before entering the club. Jeremy uses the VIP pass he stole from Kim's room to enter the club through the front doors, security is stationed at all entrances and exits. Inside the club, Jeremy makes his way over to one of the packages he stashed earlier to retrieve his gun.
Max, Nora, Jake and Kelly are sitting in the VIP area of the club while Ian is taking photos of crowd and Melissa is videotaping. Cody and Brittany are backstage keeping an eye on Eddie and Loren.
At eight thirty the concert begins, the lights in the club dim as 4 Count take the stage. Jeremy makes his way over to another package he stashed earlier to retrieve a device. The crowd is loud and really into the group's songs. Even Jeremy found himself bobbing his head to the beats. After 4 Count finishes their three song set, there is a ten minute intermission while the crew set up for Loren's set. Jeremy goes over to the bar and orders a drink.
Loren finishes her five song set and Eddie takes the stage. Jeremy gets angry just looking at him, he makes his way to the front of the stage. "Look at him up there on stage making these women fall in love with him. He knew what he was doing when Lia fell in love with him, it's because of him I had to kill my wife," Jeremy thinks to himself. It's now that part of Eddie's set when he and Loren sing "One Day At A Time," when Loren joins Eddie on stage, that's Jeremy's cue, he pushes a button on the device, there's a small explosion backstage. The band stops playing and Eddie and Loren stop singing. Someone yells fire causing a panic in the club, everyone starts scattering for the exits.
Eddie grabs Loren's hand and heads towards Brittany and Cody waiting in the wings. Jeremy jumps on stage and puts his gun to Eddie's back "not that way pretty boy, head towards the storage room." Jeremy whispers in Eddie's ear.
Loren turns around and looks into the eyes of Jeremy Hawk, the man who attacked her, the man who chloroformed her and tried to kidnap her in Vegas. "Don't even think about trying anything Loren, I have a gun in Eddie's back, do as I say and he won't get hurt." Loren nods her head, "now head towards the storage room."
Brittany and Cody are trying to make their way over to Eddie and Loren but can't because the audience scattering in different directions. Tyler sees the look on Eddie's face and tries to get to him but is knocked down and trampled. Grace rushes over and drags him towards the exit.
Max and Jake get Nora and Kelly safely out of the club and try to go back in to find Loren and Eddie, just as they are reentering the club, another explosion goes off back stage and the ceiling starts to collapse. Max and Jake are pushed back outside by the people running out the exit.
"Is there another way in?" Jake asks Max.
"Yes follow me." Max and Jake run to the side of the building, Max goes to use his key to the door and notices that something is jammed in the lock.
In the second explosion, Brittany, Cody and the guys from 4 Count are trapped, they watch helplessly as Jeremy leads Eddie and Loren to the other side of the club. "We can't take a shot at him because there are too many people." Brittany says lowering her weapon. They head to the nearest exit with a plan to come back in a different way.
Ian watched as Melissa got thrown to the floor near the exit to the dressing rooms when the second explosion hit. He is desperately trying to make his way over to his wife. She isn't moving.
Loren, Eddie and Jeremy make it to the storage room, "get inside," Jeremy tells them. Loren opens the door to the storage room and screams.
"Nora where are you going?" Kelly asks when Nora starts making her way toward the club's entrance.
"My kids are still in there!" Nora yells. By then the police show up and is not allowing anyone to enter the club. The fire department and paramedics set up a triage station in the street in front of the club. The police is directing people away from the club.
"Mam, you cannot go inside. The bomb squad is on their way," an office says holding Nora back.
"My kids are still in there. I'm part owner of the club and you cannot stop me from going in there," Nora struggles against the officer.
Max and Jake run over to the officer holding Nora back, just then Ian comes running out of the club with an unconscious Melissa in his arms, "help, my wife is unconscious," Ian yells with tears running down his cheeks. Max and Jake rush over to him and help Ian carry Melissa to one an ambulance parked in front of the club.
"Hello baby," Lia says, "surprised to see me alive and breathing?" Lia is sitting on a crate smiling at her husband.
"You are dead; I killed you in your hospital bed in Las Vegas." Jeremy says loosening his hold on Eddie.
"You thought you killed me dear husband, but you didn't," Lia say with a smirk on her face.
Jeremy turns the gun on Lia, "you flat lined; you were dead."
The smirk leaves Lia's face the minute Jeremy points the gun at her. "I'm not dead Jeremy. I'm alive. Stop pointing that gun at me and I will tell you where you made your first mistake." Jeremy lower's the gun.
Lia's Flashback
"You're a little early," Lia hears the police guard say outside the door, "but that's cool, I really have to use the bathroom anyway." Lia pretends to be asleep as the replacement police guard comes in to check on her.
"What is the guard doing," she thinks to herself, "why is he messing with the trash can near the sink?" Lia feels someone's lips on her and opens her eyes and is surprised to see Jeremy.
"Jeremy what are," she begins but Jeremy cuts her off placing the trash bag over her mouth and nose. He smiles at the look of fear in her eyes. Lia struggles; her hands are handcuffed to the bed so she can't fight him off.
"Yes bitch, you think you can fall in love with Eddie Duran and I'll be okay with it?" Jeremy says, the heart monitor is beeping fast indicating the increase in Lia's heart rate, if she doesn't do something quick she's dead. Without noticing, Lia maneuvers the device on my finger that is attached to the heart monitor until she gets it off. Lia then calms her body and the monitor flat lines. "I loved you Lia; you made me do this to you." Jeremy says removing the plastic bag from her face, and then leaves out the door. Lia take a deep breath.
When detective Conlee comes in the room Lia tells him what happened. "We're going to let everyone believe you're dead," he says before rushing out the room.
End of Flashback
When Lia is recalling that night in the hospital, his grip on Eddie completely loosened Eddie signals to Loren to move out behind him, which she slowly does. "You see my dear husband, if you had physically checked my pulse; you would have known that I was still alive." Just as Jeremy was about to raise the gun to Lia again, Eddie grabbed his hand and elbows him in the ribs. The gun goes off.
"Shots fired, inside the club," an officer reported over the police radio. "Stand down until the bomb squad gets here," another officer commands over the police radio, "the swat team has been deployed."
"I'm going in there," Max demands, "my kids are in there and you cannot stop me!" Max charges for the front entrance; it takes four police officers to wrestle Max to the ground, they handcuff him and place him in the back of a squad car.
"Mr. Duran, this is for your own safety," the police captain tells him.
Eddie manages to knock the gun out of Jeremy's hand as Jeremy punches Eddie in the nose. Eddie punches Jeremy in the eye. The gun falls between Lia and Loren as Eddie and Jeremy trade punches. Lia makes a move to pick up the gun but Loren sidekicks her causing Lia to crash into boxes of liquor. Loren grabs the gun and points it at Jeremy and yells "STOP!" backing up until she feels a door knob in the small of her back.
Jeremy stands up, blood is coming from his mouth and nose, there is a deep cut above his eye and by morning, both eyes will be black and blue. Eddie moves to stand near Loren, his nose is bleeding and he has a cut on his lip.
"I hope you know how to use that," Jeremy says to Loren who is pointing to the gun at him.
Loren fires a warning shot near Jeremy's head, "my dad showed me how to use a gun," Loren says with serious look on her face. Loren is referring to Max.
"Did your dad teach you how to survive a bomb blast?" Jeremy asks lifting a crate to show the bomb inside counting down with four minutes, thirty seconds left on the clock.
"Give me the gun or we all die," Jeremy demands, holding up the device, "this device stops the count down, give me the gun and I'll stop the clock."
Loren turns to look at Eddie with tears falling down her cheeks, "I love you with all my heart, and you have made me the happiest woman alive. It's because of you, I've learned to trust and open myself to love. Thank you for being my first, my last, my husband."
"I love you with all my heart; you have made me the happiest man alive. It's because of you I learned to open my heart again to trust again. Thank you for being my soul mate, my last, my wife." Eddie says kissing Loren.
"Press the button Jeremy or don't press the button," Eddie says looking at him with anger and defiance in his eyes, "my wife isn't handing over the gun."
"Jeremy, why are you doing this?" Lia asks
"You fell in love with him Lia, you took our little charade too far, and you fell in love with him." Jeremy says. "Did you really think I was okay with my wife falling in love with Eddie Duran?"
"Jeremy I was never in love with Eddie, I told you before, it was all an act," Lia says.
"You're not that good of an actress Lia,"
"I had you thinking I was dead," Lia says, "look, let's just get out of here. You and me. Once this building blows up they will think you and I died along with Eddie and Loren. We can start over somewhere else."
While Jeremy and Lia are talking, Katy Duran appears in front of Eddie and Loren. Loren looks at Eddie. Eddie looks at Loren. They both turn back and look at Katy Duran in front of them. "The door is unlocked, you only have two minutes left to get out of here, I will do all I can to distract them, but you have to get away quickly." Katy tells them, "I love you guys so much, after this is all over, you guys have to tell Max and Nora that you two got married in Las Vegas." Eddie and Loren nod their heads in agreement. Eddie reaches for the door knob as Loren steps away from the door.
Jeremy turns his attention back to Eddie and Loren when he hears the creek of the door opening, and makes a move towards them. Out of nowhere, Jeremy watches as box of liquor flies across the room crashing at his feet. Jeremy drops the device as another box come flying at him, "Go now kids, I love you, get as far away from this building as possible," Katy says as she throws another box at Jeremy. Loren and Eddie quickly slip out the door and run for the parking lot. The entire building explodes behind them. Eddie and Loren are knocked to the ground. Eddie covers Loren with his body and debris fall around them.
Everyone out front watch in horror as the entire building explodes. "NOOOOO," Max yells from the back of the squad car.
Nora collapses in Jake's arms.
And there you have it, the series finale. ~jm~