Tainted

  “You’re a survivor, Sawyer; you’ve proven that.”

  “At least those women I was with are free now.” Kaden didn’t want to upset her; however, those women were only a few among the many whose lives Digger had destroyed.

  “I have to get dressed; the concert is in a few minutes. You’re going to stay on the bus.”

  “But I want to stay with you.” Sawyer wasn’t ready to be away from him.

  “I’m done playing around with your safety, Sawyer. I’ve hired personal security to watch the bus and you while I perform. I’m not even doing promos. I’ll go in just before the concert and come back right after, but I’m not letting you off the bus. You need some sleep and there’s a doctor waiting to check you out.

  “Okay,” Sawyer gave in, seeing his worry. If staying on the bus relieved his anxiety, then she could do that.

  They dried off, returning to the bedroom where Kaden helped her into a large robe, tying it securely around her waist. She then sat on the edge of the bed as she watched him get dressed.

  “K—Kaden...” Her fingers played with the belt of the robe.

  Kaden zipped up his jeans. “We’ll talk after the show, Sawyer,” he said, putting on his shoes and t-shirt as a knock sounded on the door.

  “It’s time to go, Kaden, and the doctor is getting impatient.”

  “I’m coming.”

  Kaden came to stand in front of her. Using the lapels of the robe, he pulled her to her feet. Her head fell back as she stared up at the fire in his eyes. His mouth found hers, reassuring her that he still wanted her while at the same time being gentle enough to show her that he had missed her.

  “I’ll be back in a few.” Sawyer smiled as he left and an older woman with graying hair entered, carrying a bag.

  “Mr. Cross wants me to check you out.”

  Sawyer let the doctor exam her. The tension and adrenalin seemed to rush out of her body with Kaden leaving. She suddenly felt overwhelmingly tired and weak. She answered the doctor’s questions through a blur. Then the doctor helped her lay down, covering her with the blankets. Sawyer felt as if she couldn’t keep her eyes open. She had wanted to be waiting for Kaden when he came back after the concert. It was just another wish that wasn’t going to come true, she thought as she lost her battle for staying awake.

  She barely noticed when Kaden slipped into bed with her since she was unable to even open her eyes. After his hands circled her waist, lifting her to lie across his chest, she felt his hands running soothingly through her hair as she dozed back off. It was the first time she had been able to slip into a deep sleep in his arms.

  ***

  “I am not staying on this bus one more day, Kaden.” Sawyer crossed her arms over her chest. She had to admit that it would be more effective if she wasn’t holding a spatula, but she didn’t freaking care. Turning back to the stove, she expertly flipped the burgers she was frying.

  “You’re not leaving the bus,” Kaden replied stubbornly. Sawyer looked at the other band members for help and saw they each were in agreement with Kaden.

  Her voice lowered; however, it was just as firm. “If I have to stay locked up another day, I’ll go crazy.”

  Kaden sighed, coming up behind her and wrapping her in his arms. “Sawyer, you scared all of us disappearing like that. None of us ever felt so helpless.”

  “I know.” When she had come out of the bedroom the next day, they had all surrounded her, giving her hugs and letting her know they were glad she was back. Sawyer knew it was silly, but she was beginning to feel a part of them.

  “We can all keep an eye on her, Kaden.” Sawyer turned in surprise at Sin’s voice. She gave him bright smile.

  “She can even stand by the curtain the whole show,” D-mon added.

  “I give in, but no one is allowed into the VIP room before or after the concert.” Sawyer expected the others to protest, but they all remained silent in agreement. That was when she knew she wasn’t going to be able to leave these men without a hole in her heart for each one.

  “I don’t agree; I think she should stay on the bus. We’re off for three days before we have to head to our next concert. We could take her out for a few hours tomorrow without worrying about trying to manage the crowd.” Ax’s voice dimmed her enthusiasm.

  Kaden looked like he was about to change his mind, therefore Sawyer quickly pleaded her case before he could. “Please, Kaden. I’ll be good. I promise I’ll stay next to Alec the whole time. If you remember, I wasn’t kidnapped from the arena, it was the bus.” Sawyer gave him the same smile she had perfected to win her mother when she wanted to do something that her mother didn’t think was safe.

  “All right. Sawyer, you can go, but if anything goes wrong...” His expression left no doubt of the repercussions if she misbehaved.

  “I will.” Her happiness shone in her expression.

  She made each of the burgers for the men their own individual way she knew they liked them in reward. Except for Ax, his was a little burnt and she deliberately forgot he hated cheese.

  She was excited about getting off the bus. She couldn’t explain why, though. It basically was switching one confining space for another, yet it was the freedom to move around that she appreciated. The band had recognized that need.

  Later that day, as she dressed for the show, she went to the closet to pull out something different to wear, wanting to please Kaden. The four days she had been back, he hadn’t touched her intimately, nor had they had the talk he’d promised. She was becoming increasingly concerned that he had decided to renew his relationship with Tatiana, but she was waiting until the danger with Digger was settled before she brought it up.

  Kaden had turned R.J. over to the police for assisting in her kidnapping. She had disliked the man ever since she had first met him, but R.J. was seriously whacked in his obsession to put the band back together. Alec had even investigated Jesse’s crash and discovered that his brakes had been tampered with. Kaden believed that R.J. had caused the accident to force Kaden out of retirement.

  She pulled on a pair of expensive jeans that were just as faded as her cheap ones and a t-shirt that was smaller than she usually wore, showing the swell of her breasts. Opening several shoeboxes, she searched for what she was looking for until she found a tiny pair of filigree sandals with flowers weaved across the back. They gave her a couple of inches in height as well as giving her the feeling of being sexy when she walked. Going into the bathroom, she opened the cosmetic case, took one look and closed it, deciding to take one step at a time.

  She brushed out her hair, pulling it back at the top and sides to give it some lift. Stepping back, she took a long look at herself before opening the cosmetic case once again and pulling out a candy pink lip gloss.

  Tearing open the new lip gloss, she applied a light amount. Her face was still bruised so she applied a light concealer as well. Feeling better that Kaden wouldn’t be accused of abuse, she closed the case and went back into the bedroom. She saw that he was dressed and waiting for her with a worried frown on his forehead.

  “It will be fine, Kaden. You worry too much,” Sawyer said, coming to a standstill. “Is something wrong?” Kaden shook his head.

  “We have six more concerts to get through then we can disappear.”

  “We?” Sawyer broached the tender subject. Kaden stiffened.

  “You have other plans?”

  “I can’t just disappear without Vida, Kaden. We’ve had plans since we were little girls.” Kaden stood stiffly before going to the door, placing his hand on the knob. “King told me she’s found someone, Kaden, like I found you, but I can’t disappear without telling her first and giving her the option of joining us. I can’t lose her, too. She’s like a sister to me.”

  “You plan on her joining us?” His voice was tight.

  “Of course, unless you don’t want me anymore. I don’t want to pressure you. I know you and Tatiana talked…”

  “Sawyer, Tatiana and I were over years ago wh
en she went to help me clean my mother’s house and tried on one of my sister’s dresses. I threw her out of the house and haven’t talked to her until R.J. pulled his fucked up stunt.”

  Sawyer walked across the floor, wrapping her arms around his waist.

  A knock on the door sounded. “It’s time, Kaden.” Alec’s timing couldn’t have been worse.

  Kaden made no attempt to open the door as his arms tightened around her.

  “Let’s go. Everything will be fine. You’ll see. It’ll be boring, everything will go so well.”

  She laughed at his dubious expression. “How wild could it be in Indiana?”

  Chapter Twenty

  Sawyer stood in the shadows as she listened to Kaden’s song. The audience loved him. There were thousands of singers, but unless they had the charisma to pull the audience into the song, then the music could never reach its potential.

  Kaden was one of those vocalists who could sing anything and compel the audience into a realm he controlled with his voice, making you feel each song as if he’d written and sung it just for you.

  “He’s special, isn’t he?” Sawyer whispered to Alec.

  “Yes, he is. Last time, he let his fame control him. Now, he controls it. It’s taken a long time, but this time, I think Kaden can survive this world.”

  “You remained friends after you both left rehab?” Sawyer had wondered about his relationship with Kaden.

  “Yes. Kaden, Ax and I would spend weekends together, about once every month or two.” Sawyer studied Alec, seeing the lines around the eyes of a man much older.

  “Boys’ night out? Fishing? Gambling?” she teased.

  “We like to go to a particular club where we have a membership. It’s a private club where we can express our passions with others.” Sawyer’s attention jerked from Kaden to Alec.

  “P—p—passions?” she asked tentatively.

  “Yes, Sawyer. Passions. I have a particular passion for bondage and dominance.”

  “And K—K—Kaden?”

  “Kaden’s is dominance and submission, but you already know that, don’t you, Sawyer?” The serious expression on his face reminded her of the time he’d waited outside the shop where Kaden had taken her to buy her paddle. She swallowed hard. She wasn’t going to ask about Ax.

  “Ax’s passion is the same as mine.” Her eyes went to Ax playing the guitar. She had thought he was the easiest going of the band members.

  Sawyer decided that was where her nosiness ended. It was none of her business what Kaden, Ax and Alec had done in the past. She had known Kaden was dominant; however, the extent he lived the lifestyle was a shock, as were his friends’ involvement. It should be Kaden who decided when and what to tell her, though.

  “No questions?”

  “Nope.” Her eyes returned to the stage. “You know something, Alec? Every concert I watch Kaden dance with Alyce and whatever women he lets on the stage with him, yet I haven’t danced with him, not once.” Alyce rubbed her ass up against Kaden’s leather pants, her ass grinding back on his cock. Laughing, she twirled her head, smiling at Sawyer watching from the side of the stage.

  “I don’t care how you live your life. I don’t care that Kaden will probably be with another woman in six months. I don’t want to think of any of that tonight. Tonight, I just want to be happy that I’m off that bus, and that, when we leave here tonight, that bitch will be going to another bus. If I can survive being kidnapped by Digger twice, I can certainly handle what you’re trying to warn me about.” Sawyer reached to her side, taking his hand in hers and giving it a squeeze.

  Alec returned her tight squeeze. “Kaden’s a lucky man.”

  “I’ll tell him you said so,” Sawyer laughed.

  “I’ll tell him myself,” he said gruffly.

  The crowd parted at the front of the stage where several men dressed in similar leather jackets were working themselves forward, closer to the stage. Sawyer’s eyes studied them. They weren’t Kaden’s usual fans, being older and rougher looking. One scared her just from the scar on his face. The other man was just as large as King’s man, which was freaking huge. The closer she studied the men and the crowd, the more she saw that several were wearing motorcycle jackets. She took a step forward, trying to read the name emblazed on their jackets, but Alec pulled her back.

  “I’ve been keeping an eye on them since they came in about fifteen minutes ago.” Grimly, he put her further up against the wall so that she was hidden in the shadows.

  “They’re probably just here for the music.” It was weird, yet none of the men were watching the stage, all their attention felt trained on her.

  “Yeah, and I plan on going to mass tonight.” Alec spoke into his earpiece, telling his men to move in closer.

  Sawyer’s eyes searched the crowd until her attention was caught and held. He also wasn’t paying attention to what was going on with Kaden and the band. He pinned her in place with cold eyes that were expressionless.

  “Let’s move. Kaden said he wants you back on the bus.” Alec took her arm in a firm grip.

  “He can’t say anything; he’s on the stage.” Kaden hand signaled again and this time Sawyer caught it. She was about to follow Alec when the crowd swelled, surging forward and coming too close to the stage and overturning a barrier placed to the side. The out of control fans prevented them from exiting.

  All hell broke loose as Alec tried to move her backwards to the only other exit across the stage. The crowd had swelled and overwhelmed the security he had in place within seconds. The band stopped playing and tried to get off the stage, but were trapped. It was a flash mob that had gone out of control.

  Sawyer felt Alec’s hand on her arm go limp suddenly as one of the men hit him in the head with a small club. Two others grabbed her arms, pushing her into the crowd.

  “Kaden!” she screamed.

  Kaden and the band were desperately fighting their way toward her; however, the forward momentum of the crowd slowed them down. Sawyer fought the men who were dragging her from the stage; they were using the crowd to hide her abduction. Her efforts were useless; she was moved unrelentingly further into the crowd.

  An elbow found the face of one of her abductors, sending him careening away. Several others were peeled away as an arm went around her waist, lifting her up off the floor and holding her steady. Her other abductor disappeared into the crowd. The huge man wearing the motorcycle jacket was holding her steady, using his body as a barricade.

  Sawyer searched for Kaden and found him fighting through the crowd toward her, D-mon and Sin by his side. Ax, she saw, was helping Alec to his feet. The men in the motorcycle jackets were helping the security guards regain control, forming a line and steadily pushing the crowd backwards.

  The large man holding her up didn’t budge against the crowd. Sawyer placed her arm around his shoulder to steady herself. She blinked at him when his fist flashed out, popping one of the crowd members like in the whack-a-mole game and the aggressive fan went down. Another tried to move past him and he took them down by the same method. He grinned at her, and Sawyer saw he was enjoying himself, trying to see how many he could knock out.

  “Um, uh… I think they’re trying to get away.”

  “I know.” Sawyer stifled her laughter as he took out two more. Kaden barely was able to jerk back in time to miss being taken out.

  “Stop, he’s with me.” Sawyer tried to wiggle away from the man holding her, but his grip didn’t loosen.

  “Let her go.”

  “I think I’ll keep her a little while longer until this crowd thins out a little more.” The man refused to release her, so Kaden stepped forward.

  “Stop, Kaden.” Sawyer stopped him. She wasn’t being hurt and she didn’t want Kaden to end up in the pile at their feet.

  “You can let her go now, Max.” Sawyer twisted in the man’s arms, startled that his arm was braced under her ass. The man addressing the one holding her was the blond man who had been staring at her before
the riot.

  “What’s the hurry, Ice?” Max handed her to Kaden who held her against him, her feet still not touching the floor. Sawyer glared up at Kaden who refused to set her down.

  “Thanks for your help,” Kaden spoke up as security finally regained control, shoving the crowd out the doors. Sin, D-mon and Ax came to stand by Kaden.

  Ice didn’t seem impressed with the band staring at him threateningly.

  “No problem. Call it a favor for a mutual friend.” His cold gaze watched her reaction.

  “Who’s the friend?” Kaden asked.

  “Vida.”

  This time Sawyer succeeded in twisting free. “You know Vida?” Sawyer asked eagerly.

  “Sawyer,” Kaden said, hooking an arm around her waist and pulling her back.

  “She belongs to one of my brothers,” Ice answered

  “Is she here?” Sawyer craned her neck, trying to spot her friend.

  “Fuck, no. Colton wouldn’t let her budge her ass out of the hotel room.” This time Ice’s gaze went to Kaden’s, his tone implying that Kaden hadn’t taken Sawyer’s safety as seriously.

  “I want to see her.” Sawyer couldn’t wait to see Vida.

  “Tomorrow. Jackal will call your security chief and set up a meet,” Ice spoke to Kaden, ignoring Sawyer’s demand.

  “I want to see her tonight,” Sawyer repeated.

  “You will meet Vida when and where we say.” Ice and his men began to move away.

  Sawyer went to go after them, but was still held tightly by Kaden.

  “Sawyer.”

  “Let me go, Kaden. They have to—”

  “Sawyer.” This time the fury in his voice had her going still in his hold. “Did you pack the paddle?”