Thank you Celibacy For Jealousy and luvtaread for their help editing.
Two months later, Brett could not help but feel he had made a huge mistake in pushing Kim like he had. That kind of pressure, so soon after the death of her father may be disastrous to their relationship. On the other hand, a part of him felt it had to be done. Otherwise they ran the risk of the relationship folding when more responsibility and people were involved. What Brett feared most was a messy, public divorce, possibly with kids involved.
So he had pushed, and two months of silence was the result. He had even heard rumors of Kelsey Rhodes with some European lovers while she was on tour. Whether this was simply publicity or the real thing Brett had no way of knowing. He had to accept it, as all of this was his fault. He told her to find herself, and maybe that was how she was doing it.
Despite the extra stress she had often caused, Brett definitely missed having Kim in his life,(,)even if only by phone. In hindsight, he had to admit that talking to her had provided more comfort than he thought. Just knowing someone cared about
his
day, no matter their reason, was something he missed. Besides, hearing about the complexity of her life often made him better appreciate the simplicity of his own.
"Well at least it's my birthday tomorrow," he thought to himself as he pulled up to his building. He knew what present he wanted most, but there seemed little chance of that. While his mind was on the next day, he quickly called his friends to remind them about going out tomorrow. Brett made his made to his apartment he talked called Chris. As they talked Brett unlocked his door and opened it.
As Brett opened the door he found himself staring at man with a gun.
"Throw down the phone," the man said in a calm, deep voice.
"Got to go Chris," Brett said quickly, hoping Chris's had heard the intruder as well. Then, as instructed, Brett tossed the phone away, but without hanging up. As he was led away all he could think of was to somehow by Chris time. The phone was still on Chris could hear everything he just needed time.
Brett was then led into the bedroom where, tied to a chair and gagged, was Kim. Brett was placed tied in a chair next to her by an unknown accomplice as the man held the gun. As Brett tried to figure out what was going on, the unknown helper revealed herself.
Brett stared in awe as Kim's stand-in, Tracy, giddily strode up to the man holding the gun and attached herself to his right side.
"Brett, so nice of you to join us. We've been waiting for you," Tracy said, doing her best impression of Kelsey Rhodes. Had the real thing not been tied to a chair next to him, he might have believed the ruse.
Well, that and the fact that the Kelsey in front of him was clearly the air headed slut that drew publicity at the clubs. Tracy was definitely dressed for that role as she wore a tight, pink, shimmery dress that barely concealed her panties, if she was wearing any. The dress also displayed her ample chest so much that Brett was surprised her tits didn't just pop out.
Tracy looked up at the man holding the gun and said, "Buck, you can lower that now baby. I don't think either one of them is going anywhere." Buck shrugged and lowered the weapon.
Brett was surprised he needed it at all. Buck nearly matched Brett's 6'7" height and had far more muscle. Brett had to admit that outside of this situation, he would have found the mix of the ultra serious muscular Buck and slutty giggly Tracy quite the comical pair. However, given that he and the woman he loved were tied to chairs and were being held hostage, he really did not feel like laughing.
"If you are wondering why Buck and I are here Brett, it's simple really," Tracy explained. "We wanted to have some fun, and you two are in our way." She paused and said, "Well, I want to have fun. Buck here just wants the money."
Not liking the sound of things, Brett began testing his ropes. It became instantly apparent that although she could imitate pop stars well, Tracy sucked at tying knots. As he began working the knots binding his wrist behind the chair, he thought of ways to buy time. Seeing Tracy's attire, he had a thought.
Retuning to what Tracy was saying, he heard, "I really should thank you Brett. All we had to do was threaten you and she gave us all we wanted. Silly girl, what we wanted was her life and money. Of course, thanks to all of her efforts, we'll get what we wanted. Too bad we will have to hurt you to do it. I just wanted her to see you die. You can kill him now Buck."
"Wait!" Brett shouted in desperation. He was relieved to see Buck pause. "Now think about this. Kim and I are worth more to you alive than dead. If you kill her, the fame train ends. After all, we all know you can't sing or you'd be on your own by now."
"Who cares?" Buck asked. "We'll be rich. It won't matter." Brett smiled to himself and exchanged a knowing look with Kim as Tracy got angry at Buck. They both knew that while Tracy was hooked on many drugs, fame was by far the biggest and baddest addiction she had. Clearly she had not thought out the repercussions of killing Kim. As a heated argument broke out between the two partners, Brett took the opportunity to further loosen his bindings.
"Besides," he said, adding fuel to the fire while he struggled, "How long do you think it will take our families and friends to figure out what happened and trace the money to you?"
Apparently fed up with Brett's meddling, Buck leveled the gun at him and said, "Okay know-it-all, how about this: I get my money or you die."
Brett smiled and said, "You won't do that Buck, because you need Kim or Tracy to get you the money, and if you kill me I guarantee you won't see a dime."
"How do you figure?" Buck asked confusedly, still pointing the gun at Brett.
Brett then tried to explain, but unfortunately it was hard to form a logical thought and it ended up only confusing Buck.
"Shut up!" the irritated man said, Then turning to Tracy he asked, "Any of that make sense to you?" Tracy shrugged her shoulders clearly showing she too was confused. Buck turned back to Brett and said, "You know what I think I think you are full of it and trying to out smart me and I hate that. So any last words?"
Brett gulped and knew Buck meant business and an attempt to talk his way out of this was gone. Just as he was sure it was over, there was a loud banging at the door. Buck cursed and waited for it to die down.
"Brett, it's Chris is everything okay?" Chris asked from the other side of the door. "I know you're in there Brett, open up."
Buck looked at Brett and Brett said, "That's the friend I was on the phone with, he knows something is going on, if I don't go he'll probably call the police." Before thinking to himself, "I hope he has already."
Buck reluctantly untied Brett while Tracy held the gun on him to ensure he did not do anything. Brett felt his hand get lose just as there was a loud crash and although Brett could not see what had happened it sounded like Chris had kicked open the door. That Brett remembered had never been relocked.
The crash was enough to distract Tracy, Brett suddenly flung his head back connecting with Buck's and stunning him slightly. Brett then drove toward Kim's chair knocking it and her over. Once on the floor Brett moved his body to cover hers the best he could as Chris and his partner stormed the room with guns drawn.
