Rye

Vegas is as awful as I remember. The SUVs take us from the airport to the hotel. I've been instructed to meet everyone in the lobby so we can attend an event together in the hotel. It's the last thing I want to be doing right now, but for as awful as this city is, it's also endless. People walk shoulder to shoulder down the strip, and the hotels are overcrowded with tourists and workers. Finding Launi here would be impossible.

I get cleaned up and dressed, hoping that Launi will be at the event with the band, but feeling increasingly helpless as the time ticks by without a word from her. If I could just explain about Tinsley and apologize for her getting dragged into our stupid agreement I'd feel relief. I want to know she's ok and I want her happy whether that's with me, or not.

Security is in full force as I step out of the elevator and up to the group. When Justin finally arrives, he doesn't look any better than he did on the plane. Even his attitude is different. He's usually jovial and joking around, trying to hype up the other members to have fun and push boundaries. Right now he looks like he's struggling to keep up and if he showered, it did nothing to clear the sweat from his head.

"Are you ok?" I ask as we walk towards the venue.

"Yes," he says, "you got to be tough if you're going to play hard. I'll rest when I'm dead."

Something about those words doesn't sit right with me but there's no time to question him further. Security ushers us into a side door and suddenly we are on our way to a premium section in the theater. The seats are wide and there's a ledge for our drinks. People have already filled the theater and there is a buzz of anticipation from the audience. It's nice to finally be part of the crowd and not a performer. The large screens are playing clips of fights throughout UFC history, pulling cheers and yells from people as they watch.

Our seats separate us from the rest of the crowd, but we can watch them from where we are. I'm not a big fan of the UFC, but I've seen some fights. I couldn't name any of the fighters, but I know there are clearly some favorites because everyone cheers louder when they are on the screen. I'm handed a whiskey, and I slowly sip it as I watch the large monitor showing the undercard and main fight.

"Well, I'll be damned," Jack says from beside me. "He looks so different."

The fighter on the screen is huge. He's 6'3" with a crazy arm reach and two sleeves of tattoos. He looks familiar somehow, but I can't place him. His beard is scruffy, not in the way an entertainer would shape it, but in a way you can tell he doesn't care about his appearance and has been focused on training and not his look. "You know him?" I ask Jack, taking another sip of whisky.

"It's Jagger," he says, and I nod because I had already read his name.

"He a fan or something?' I ask. Jack has been known to be friendly with fans to the point of making them friends.

"It's Jagger," he says again. "Justin's boy."

At this moment the highlight reel of his amateur fights is playing and I watch intently, studying the face that I used to see every summer, but that has changed so much with age he's almost unrecognizable. It makes sense now why we scheduled this stop on the tour and why we had to fly instead of coming here slowly on the bus. Below us three figures are standing, taking pictures of the big screen with their phones. I notice Sean first, he turns up to our security and gives them a nod. Our head of security nods back and holds up a few fingers to communicate what channel the team is using on the walkie talkies.

Launi is beside him, and on his other side is another girl. When she turns around to look up at the top of the arena, I recognize her as Launi's childhood friend all grown up. Both women are wearing tight dresses and look stunning. It kills me that Launi isn't sitting with the band. I hate that she's down there in the crowd and unattached in a way that might leave her vulnerable.

"Hey Rye," Tinsley says. She's just arrived and makes her way to the seat next to mine. "Have you had a chance to talk to her yet?" she asks as she watches me watching Launi.

"No," I tell her. "She has me blocked."

Tinsley nods. "I emailed her, but I don't think she's checking her phone. She hasn't responded to any of the messages going back and forth.

As the lights dim and the crowd gets to its feet to cheer the start of the program, Launi taps Sean's shoulder and motions towards what can only be the bathroom. He nods and tells Parker something and the three of them make their way down a few stairs and in the direction of the restrooms.

"I'll go try to talk to her," Tinsley tells me. Her personal security follows her as she leaves our area.

The first fight starts and is finished before Tinsley makes her way. As the winner is announced and his team celebrate, I can finally see her coming up the steps.

"I talked to her," she says.

The next fight is her brother. I can't believe my old friend is in the octagon. I look at Justin and his hands are wrapped around the seat in front of him, his knuckles white from the intensity. His wide eyes are staring down into the fenced off stage holding his son and the possibility of something terrible happening. I watch for Launi and just before the fighters touch gloves, her and Parker emerge from the cove the stairs are in and race to their seats. Her eyes never leave her brother. Sean and Parker are at her side. The first few punches are thrown, but when one connects hard to Jagger's face, Launi's arms fly up and cover her mouth. Sean puts a hand on her back, comforting her. She turns into him, hiding her face quickly before losing the battle and turning to watch again.

Seeing him with her makes me angry. I want to climb over these seats and trample the people in front of us if necessary to go down there and get her. In fact, I start to push my way past Eric and Jack not caring if there will be consequences. When I get to her father, the final man in the way, he grabs me by both arms. His eyes are wide, his face is red as his teeth are clenched. Will he hit me? I brace for it just in case, but then he makes a guttural sound and falls forward. I barely catch him as he slides into the space in front of his luxury chair.

"Security!" I call to the man posted at the corner, but they are already on their way. There's so much commotion from the fight, no one notices as the men surround Justin and drag him to an open space to check his vitals. He's nonresponsive. The crowd cheers on Jagger who is straddling his opponent and punching him over and over. I lose sight of Launi as I help security try to feel a pulse.

"Justin!" I scream, staring down at his face, frozen in a grimace.

"Get back," an EMT yells as he pushes his way to Justin's side and begins compressions.

I stand helpless, watching as the people around us barely notice the man on the ground in the premier section. When the shock starts to wear off, I know I have to get to Launi. I try to make my way down, but our security is blocking off the area and clearing a way for a medical team to transport him out of here. There's no way past.

Jagger wins his fight and as the crew works on his father, he is held up on the shoulders of his crew. It's surreal to be watching both things happen simultaneously. Launi and Parker cheer, but Sean is on the radio, his focus locked in on what he's being told. I open my phone and send a text I'm not sure will ever be delivered.

Me: Launi, your dad's in trouble. I think he had a heart attack.

I watch her, praying she pulls her phone out, but instead her and Parker take off down the stairs, breaking free from Sean who is momentarily distracted by the emergency. He looks to where the girls are going, but he doesn't follow. He's getting his orders from our camp and instead of trailing the girls, he heads in our direction.

We are rushed out of the section, and through the lobby of the hotel into the SUVs. We watch as Justin is loaded into an ambulance. I look down at my phone, the feeling of helplessness swelling inside me until it's almost unbearable. The small text below my message suddenly appears.

Delivered.