Page 39 of Savagely Scarred

What if he’s here?

What if he’s been here the whole time?

Just waiting for a chance to get her alone.

What if—

The lights dim again and cheers break out, signaling the end of intermission. The band members filter back onto the stage, taking their positions and picking up their instruments. I see Ava first, standing to the right beside the black curtain.

And then, Olivia walks into view. Her slow steps carry her towards the center. Applause erupts throughout the entire venue. Guys start whistling and catcalling her and my jaw clenches.

Alex lowers the microphone stand for her and she slowly takes her place in front of it. She looks like a deer in headlights and I’m two seconds away from snatching her off the stage. Alex covers the mic and whispers something in her ear that makes her smile and nod her head. He steps away from her and grabs his guitar off the stand.

She looks down at the floor and takes a deep breath. Her head rises back up, her confidence sliding into place. It radiates off her like the first day I met her. Her posture relaxes and she wraps her fingers around the mic and steps closer.

The music starts heavy and I recognize it immediately. “Oh Lord” by In This Moment. The crowd falls silent as everyone’s attention is drawn to her—like she’s an unknown force pulling everything inward.

And then her voice cuts through the room. Low. Sultry. Controlled.

My skin pricks, vibrations forming under my skin. I shift back into my seat, unable to take my eyes off her.

As the song builds, so does she. The hesitation disappears and she starts pouring her soul into the melody. Her body moves with the beat, swaying her hips and tapping her boot. She’s no longer performing for them. She sings it like it’s her own story.

My fingers tense around my glass when she gets to the chorus. Her voice burrows into my bones, etching itself there. Her grip tightens on the mic, her dark red lips trembling as she drags a note out. My cock twitches and I shift in my seat.

Her eyes lift and snap to mine when she reaches the part about Lilith and Eve. It’s a declaration. She’s mine—not his. There’s a shift in her. It’s subtle, but I notice. Something inside fractures and breaks free.

A slow heat coils inside of me. My jaw clenches and the need to claim her consumes me. Black lines my vision and my cock grows until it’s aching.

“Told you so,” I barely hear Lorenzo mutter.

My sole focus is on her. That voice. That body.

Mine.

The music slows and at the final note, the room explodes in applause and whistles. But it’s muted, like I’m behind glass. Her chest rises and falls with each heavy breath. She smiles and drops her hands from the microphone.

The band members surround her and start taking turns hugging her. There’s no hesitation. My chair screeches, launching myself out of it.

My vision narrows with her as my target. Everyone else disappears into the background when I stride toward the stage. I completely skip the two steps to get onto the stage, my pace quickening when the drummer hugs her. My fists clench, my nails digging into my palms.

Liv looks at me and her eyes widen slightly. The guy steps back from her and holds his hands up in surrender. As I get closer to her, I don’t slow down. I stoop slightly before grabbing her thighs and throwing her over my shoulder.

“Sage!” she screams.

“Touch her again and I’ll make sure you never hold a drumstick again,” I growl.

Jumping off the stage, my palm holds her skirt to her ass so she’s not flashing everyone. Cheering continues as I barrel us back through the crowd and out the door into the muggy night air.

“William Michael Sage! Why are you acting like a caveman right now? Put me down!”

I ignore her and her futile attempts at getting out of my strong hold. I walk across the large parking lot to my Charger. It's parked at the back, facing the edge of the woods surrounding the venue. I circle around to the front and deposit her onto the hood.

She tries to push me away and I snatch her neck and squeeze slightly. I lean in until she’s only a few inches away. My breaths come out fast and harsh.

“You have no idea what that did to me,” I murmur.

Her pupils recede the blue of her irises and she whispers, “Oh.”