AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I guess,” he mumbles, not impressed. “The first time he was caught, he was seventeen, and I was already in the FBI. My mom called freaking out because they wanted to try him as an adult. He had stolen around ten grand worth of electronics. I helped get him out of it. Paying off the homeowner. Instead of learning a lesson, that’s when he formed his team and decided they needed to think smaller, things that were easier to steal, which led them to jewelry heists. I had heard nothing about his endeavors lately, so I was hoping he found something else to do with his time.”
“Holy shit. Did he get caught again?”
He shakes his head. “Not sure. No one’s been able to contact him for a couple weeks.”
My heart hurts for his mom. She has two sons that are on different sides of the law, but both chose paths that risk their lives daily. “I bet your mom is going out of her mind.”
Max runs his hand against his five o’clock shadow. “She is. But, you have to know my mom, she’s always making drama about something.”
I kick him under the table but quickly pull my legs back under me so he can’t grab them. “Consider who her sons are. Can you blame her?”
“Shit, I’m the good son.” He puffs his chest out, his massive shoulders squaring and he flashes a roguish grin. I’ve never seen his brother, but I can bet Max is the sexiest of the two. I bite my lip at his playfulness.
“And yet, she has probably lost more sleep worrying about you.”
“Pshh. I can handle myself.”
His cockiness irritates me. Damon had the same superhero mentality, thought nothing could hurt him. It’s like he was daring the universe. The universe proved him wrong. Not liking the direction my head is going, I scoot over into the corner, prop up a couple pillows and stretch my feet across the back cushion. I don’t think I could handle another heartbreak like that. I close my eyes over the wetness, the unfounded fear creeping up on me. I’m not even with Max.
“Hey.” His voice is soft. I open my eyes when I hear him move. He scoots to the other corner, lays his hand across the back and asks, “Why are you upset?”
I blink back the tears, rubbing my temple. My body is tired. “Nothing. My emotions are all unhinged right now with everything going on. The smallest thing can trigger them.”
He surveys me for a few minutes. “Tink, nothing will happen to you. I won’t let it.”
My brows furrow and I blow out a ragged breath. “Max, you can’t promise that. If it was meant to be, it’ll be.”
His eyes darken and his chiseled jaw tics. “That’s fucking bullshit.” His bite catches me off guard. His nostrils flare as he takes a few calming breaths.
I realize both our fears are of losing each other.
“Sorry,” I whisper, regretting my words.
He reaches out, grabs my bare foot and gently starts massaging it. I start to pull it back until he digs his thumb into my arch. Ohhh! That feels amazing. My eyes roll back and I melt into the pillows as he continues his therapeutic assault on my foot. A small moan escapes and his hands freeze. Shit. Knowing where his mind just went and afraid he’ll stop, I blurt out, “I didn’t know foot masseur was part of your resume.”
He chuckles, adjusting his shorts and position by bringing a knee up on the cushion. When his fingers move again, I refrain from throwing my hand in the air like I just won bingo. “I just want you to relax. Don’t think about anything.”
The only thing I’m thinking about is how fan-fucking-tastic your fingers feel — and not in a sexual way.
Music is no longer coming from the galley, leaving only the sound of tires pounding the road underneath us. With the sway of the bus and Max’s strong fingers taking turns on both of my feet, my body feels heavy, pulling me under.
Chapter Twenty
Sydney
“This is insane,” I squeal, peering out the window at the sea of limos. Ours moves forward only to stop again. Paparazzi lines the street to capture the perfect shot that will skyrocket their career in the land of tabloids. Earlier, when I was here for rehearsal, this place was like a ghost town compared to the zoo it is now.
I sit back against the black leather and peer at Max. He winks at me. My smile grows as I admire him in his tux. He looks downright sinful, the black jacket outlining his muscular build. The second he walked into the hotel room, my heart did cartwheels and tingles fluttered in my lower belly. After the foot massage night, Max tasked Stone with riding on the bus with me. It stung, realizing he didn’t feel the same way about me. Since then, he’s always been around, but he’s kept to the background. Interactions kept to a minimum.
Nothing has happened since someone poisoned me. I tried to convince Graham that Max scared the person off just by being here, but neither of them is letting up on my security. Especially since no one around us has disappeared, they think the person is just lying low. So, here we are.
Max escorting me to the American Music Awards.
Last week, Graham told me a country artist had to drop out last minute due to a family emergency and they asked if I’d be willing to take her spot as a performer. We were off this weekend because Preston is attending. I screamed. Really loud. Max came running into my room, ready to kill. He was less than thrilled when I told him it was a happy scream. “I’m happy for you,” he grumbled as he stomped out of the room.
Movement from the limo brings me back to the present. When it slows down, I roll the privacy window down so I can peek out the front. One, two, three… ten limos away from our destination. The red carpet. My nerves kick up a notch and I roll the window back up. “What if I fall while I’m walking down the carpet,” I moan, leaning back again. I fan my face as the nerves continue to mess with me, my forehead starting to glow. Clicking my Roger Vivier clutch open, I pull out a compact and start blotting powder across my face.
Max chuckles and I glare at him over the mirror so he stops. “I’ll be right there by your side.”
