Part 505
Just as Sarah was ‘high’ on their love, so was Howie. His wife was his world and ever since Calgary, their life was on track, her past for the most part was no longer an issue. Sure, Pearlman was trying to throw it up again but Howie was confident that Steve would handle everything. No, he had no problems…or so he thought.
Approaching their table, which now included the band and their bodyguards, Howie was about to get another scare.
"Where’s Sarah?" asked Raoul.
"Bathroom. The twins were doing a number on her bladder."
Kevin, AJ, Brian and Nick all laughed as Nick responded, "Oh god…not her too? Becca went through that with GT."
Raoul did a quick scan of the club and the door then asked, "She went alone?"
"Well, yeah…we’re all here except Sarah." Seeing that Raoul was concerned, Howie asked, "What’s wrong? Is there a problem with her being alone?"
"I really wish you hadn’t left her alone but I don’t think there’s a problem. When I was headed to catch a cab, I spotted Pearlman getting in a cab and leaving."
"At the hotel?" asked Brian.
"Yeah. He was leaving. It may have just been a coincidence but I let Billy know just the same. I’ve watched the crowd and the door and I haven’t seen him here. I’m probably worrying over nothing."
"No, that’s what I pay you for," said Howie.
"And NOTHING Pearlman does is ‘just coincidence’," added AJ.
"Let’s go. I told Sarah to meet us at the door."
Howie couldn’t hide the concern he was feeling over this latest development. Lou was up to something, but what?
At the door, Carlos went out to get a car for the group while the others stayed behind keeping the crowd at bay. Raoul stood near the hallway so that he could watch for Sarah while the Boys were signing autographs for the manager and some of the other patrons.
Seeing the Boys, Lou saw his chance. When he knew they were aware of his presence, he adjusted his belt and remarked, "You know, I use to pay far more for your sluts when we were in Germany but I guess a hundred dollars isn’t too bad for a pregnant slut."
Fire flew through Howie and he started after Lou but Nick grabbing the older man cut him off. "You sick bastard!"
Kevin and Eddie grabbed Nick pulling him back as Lou laughed, "My! My! So she must be doing Nick too! Brian, have you had the pleasure of Sarah’s services too?"
Fearing the worst, Howie was on the verge of tears as he said, "If you’ve laid one nasty finger on her or hurt her in ANY way, I’ll see you ROT in hell."
"What? Are you gonna have her kill me like she killed her ex? Your threats don’t scare me."
"Look, Mr. Pearlman, you can come after us all you want but leave Sarah out of this. She had NOTHING to do with what happened between you and us," said Brian coolly.
"Sarah doesn’t strike me as the type who needs the five of you defending her," remarked Lou. "Now, the lovely Mrs. Carter…she’s another story."
Nick stiffened in Kevin’s arms, "What about Becca?"
Before Lou could say anything, Kevin said, "Pearlman, the wives are off-limits to you. Stay the hell away from BOTH of them."
Laughing that same evil, sick laugh, Lou taunted them, "Or what? You’re still boys trying to play hardball in a man’s world."
As he left the five men, a single tear made it’s way down Howie’s cheek and Brian said quietly, "Go find Sarah."
"I’ll go with you," offered AJ putting his hand on the older man’s shoulder and feeling him tremble.
Together, the two headed down the hall to find Sarah passing by the restrooms as they headed to the backstage area. It wasn’t that far past the bathroom that they spotted the hundred-dollar bill and panic set in for Howie replacing the fear he’d already been feeling. His hands began to shake and it was difficult to swallow. His stomach was in knots and there was a roaring in his ears.
"I swear," choked Howie, his voice trembling, "if he hurt her…"
"Calm down, ‘D’. It’s not his style. He’s all hot air, no action."
"But where is she?"
"Probably in the bathroom. That’s where she was headed, right?"
Howie nodded his head afraid to speak.
"Knock on the door then. I expect that if she had a run in with him, she’s in there now getting sick."
"You’re probably right."
Howie knocked softly and heard what sounded like someone getting sick.
"Go on in. I’ll wait here," said AJ hearing the same thing.
Pushing the door open, Howie stepped in to find Sarah leaning against the wall trying to compose herself.
Looking up, Sarah saw Howie and he lost it. The dam of tears he’d been fighting so hard to hold back broke and he moved to her quickly.
Sarah knew Lou had said something seeing his tears and was grateful he’d come to find her. She practically melted into his arms.
"Are you okay, ‘Angel’? He didn’t hurt you, did he?"
"I’m fine, just disgusted that he was here and I let him get to me."
"If it’ll make you feel better, he got to us too. Nick went after him and Kevin and Eddie had to pull him off. What happened when you saw him?"
"He tried to threaten me so I’d get you to drop the lawsuit. He’s going after someone else though, Howie…someone other than you and me."
It was all perfectly clear to Howie. Lou had been at the hotel and he’d tried and possibly succeeded in getting to Becca. Then came here to threaten Sarah. "I expect he’s gonna go after Becca, or at least try to. He made a comment about her and Raoul saw him at the hotel earlier."
"And Becca’s alone."
"No, Billy’s there and he won’t let Lou near her."
"Nick needs to go back to the hotel, Howie."
"We’ll talk to him. Are you sure you’re okay?"
"I am now. What about you?" she asked wiping the tears from his face.
"Finding you okay is what I needed. God, I had this sick feeling he’d ‘touched’ you, especially when he adjusted his belt."
"Oh god," gasped Sarah. In a whisper as she brushed his hair back, she said, "You thought he’d raped me."
The tears began again for Howie. "Sarah, all I could think was what if he had. I honestly don’t know that I could have controlled myself."
Sarah held on to Howie as he cried, running her fingers through his hair and rubbing his back. Softly, she whispered, "I’m okay, ‘D’. He didn’t hurt me."
A knock sounded and then AJ stuck his head in. "Everything okay?"
"Yeah, Alex," answered Sarah.
"There’s a line starting to form out here."
"We’ll be out in a minute," answered Howie wiping his eyes with his sleeve. The door closed and he looked at his wife. "Go splash some cold water on your face and we’ll go."
Howie, Sarah, and AJ rejoined the others who were trying to calm Nick down. They, like Howie, had suspected the worst so when they saw Sarah and that she was okay, they were all relieved.
Nick rushed to her, taking her in his arms, and hugging her. "You’re safe. He didn’t hurt you?"
"No, Nick. He just pissed me off."
"Guys, hearing what Sarah said Lou said to her, I’ve got an idea of what Lou is up to." He looked at Sarah as Nick held her in his arms. "Lou tried to scare Sarah into getting me to drop the lawsuit."
"What did he say to you, Sarah?" asked Kevin.
"Basically that I couldn’t protect everyone close to me and he would take someone down."
"He obviously found out we were here somehow and he had to have known Sarah was performing because he approached her in the hall coming from the backstage area. He also had to know our security was here because he made sure to stay clear of us."
"What are you getting at, Howie?" asked Brian.
"Well, we know he was at the hotel," said Howie, "and he knew Becca wasn’t with us at dinner…"
Kevin caught on to what Howie was saying. "You think he’s going after Becca, don’t you?"
"Yeah, Sarah and I both do," said Howie softly watching Nick’s reaction.
Sarah looked up at Nick, "You need to go back and check on her."
"Don’t be silly. Billy’s with her and he won’t let Pearlman NEAR her," protested Nick.
"Nick, you know as well as any of us Pearlman will stop at nothing to get what he wants," said AJ.
"And he wants us to drop that lawsuit," said Howie. "He knows he can’t scare us and he’s ALWAYS seen women as the weaker sex. He’s already tried to get to Sarah."
"I’ll go back with you if you want," offered Brian.
"Nah, I’ll be okay. Thanks though."
"Call us if you need us," said Howie.
"Sure thing but I doubt I need you." Nick hugged Sarah again. "I’m glad you’re okay, sis."
"Thanks, Nicky. We’ll see you later." Sarah stood on her toes to give him a kiss on the cheek and whispered, "Don’t let him get to you, Nicky."
"I’m trying, Sarah, I really am."
They all left the Pub together and watched as Nick and Eddie caught a cab to head back to the hotel.