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Chapter Twenty-Two
Max
“How much longer?” Stone asks, staring at me from across the table, weaving a pencil between his fingers. We’re having our pre-concert meeting in my hotel suite. The word forever is on the tip of my tongue, but if I say it, he’ll probably launch the pencil at my head.
Instead, I glare back at him, irritated he asked. Although, I get it. I shouldn’t be using most of my resources for this one case. If this was a typical case, I’d have one person working it. But this is Sydney. I need all hands on deck. Typically, these types of people don’t hide for long. They feel justified for doing what they do and won’t stop until they are satisfied. I don’t think they’re satisfied.
I sigh out of frustration and relent. “If nothing happens this week, you guys can go home.”
Stone rubs his temples. He’s been frustrated with me over my feelings about Sydney ever since she was engaged to Damon. And now here I am, following her around the country, using her security as an excuse. I could pass this off to another team I trust, but fuck that.
I’m not leaving.
“If you want me to stay, I will,” Kase states, sitting forward in his chair. Stone jerks his head toward Kase, the pencil gripped in his fist. Kase looks at Stone and shrugs. It’s not that Stone doesn’t want to complete a job, he just hates seeing the emotional warfare I’m putting myself through. If he had a say, he’d rather me leave and they stay. But since he’s not the boss, he doesn’t.
What can I say? I’m a glutton for punishment. I wish I couldn’t read past the lies that came out of her mouth. Her truths flash bright in her eyes and body language. That’s even before last weekend’s drunk Sydney came out to play. She wants me as bad as I do her. But we’ve made our own hell. Or maybe I’m causing the hell we surround ourselves in because I can’t stay away.
Aiden called me this week after seeing the tabloids with her in my arms making sure I was okay. Even though he’d rather see us together, he knows how I feel. Which is crazy because I don’t even know how I feel from one minute to the next. I thought I could handle being around her. But the first night on the bus, it took every bit of restraint I had to walk out of that room and sleep five feet from her.
I glance at Kase and send an appreciative nod. “I’ll decide what we’re doing after the show. For now, we keep doing what we’ve been doing. Stone, have you found Rex?” I clip, still pissed this hasn’t been resolved. Three weeks since I talked to my mom, and no one has yet to hear from him.
“No. He’s dead or off the grid.”
“Fuck.” I hang my head, the strain gripping my insides. “There is no way in hell I could ever tell Susie her son is dead.” My mom would lose her shit. “Have you checked all five homes?” A shimmer of hope that the bastard broke into one of my houses and is hiding out.
Stone shakes his head. “There’s been no trip in the security alarms. And I checked the surveillance footage just in case he got around that somehow.”
He’d never get around Stone’s security, so the latter part was only for my peace of mind. I pinch the bridge of my nose. “I fucking don’t have time for this.” Thinking he was on vacation somewhere or just lying low, I didn’t give it much attention before. “That fucker got himself into this, he can get himself out.” My mom’s voice ricochets in my mind, the guilt already creating a knot.
“Want me to get Cody to go check out the team?” Stone asks, knowing I can’t let this go. Since I’m not leaving Sydney’s side, the next best option is to send one of the guys. I shoot him a quick nod.
There, I did my part.
Sydney shines in her element. Her body moves without thought, dances with reckless abandon. She’s so fucking sexy. Watching her is like being in a cage with a tiger. The adrenaline inside me wants to tame her, make her mine, but the voice in my head is telling me I’ll get eaten alive. The power she holds over me is a vice to my existence. I can’t seem to break away. And since she hopped her hot body on top of mine, I haven’t been able to get her out of my head.
“We’re all clear up here.” A voice rings in my ear. I shake out of the trance I’m caught in.
I take a deep breath. Keep your shit together.
“Clear down…” I stop mid-sentence, staring across the stage. Brett, the stage manager, is standing behind a speaker, his eyes pinned on Sydney. I glance around and while most people are watching her too, they are looking at her in awe. Brett’s intense stare sends warning bells inside of me.
Son of a bitch. It better not be someone this close and we missed it.
“We need to look more into Brett McDonald.” I ran background checks on the entire staff, but no one jumped out at us.
“Got it, boss,” Stone replies in my ear.
“Nixon, I need your eyes on him. Something’s up with this guy.”
“Found ‘em.”
When Sydney’s song ends, the lights go dark to [change floor]. I keep my eyes trained on him as he works. When the lights shine back on, the crowd goes wild. I turn my attention back to Syd so he doesn’t suspect anything, but I watch him out of the corner of my eyes. His gaze stays glued on her the rest of her time on stage.
After her set is over, she runs to the side stage I’m standing on. Her black tank shows her gorgeous boobs off, her chest glistening with sweat. She wraps her hair up in a bun showing off her long neck. My mouth waters thinking how salty she would taste right now. She bounces on her toes as the endorphins rush through her body. I know that rush; I crave it.
“That crowd is insane,” she boasts.
I peek out at the audience, the cheers and roars, I can see why she’s so hyped up. Brett stares in our direction. Fucker keeps watching. I slide my arm around her small waist and pull her into me, my lips slamming against hers elicit a surprised expression. The second I taste her, I know this was a bad idea.
