Josh knew her well enough not to ask Lux to leave before the final judging. With an inbred stubbornness, he was clear he didn’t give a shit what she thought. They were leaving as soon as he got his hands on her.
Pushing through the crowds, he approached a jubilant Lux, who chatted and smiled with her troupe. For a moment, he lost sight of her as hundreds of masqueraders milled around the waiting area some in costumes twelve feet tall.
He didn’t like it, something wasn’t right. Pushing against the crowd, he felt sweat break out on his body. Every beat of his heart told him to hurry, to find her, to get her out. He never ignored the now familiar feeling. Using brute force, he fought his way forward as his mind urged him to hurry.
His height an advantage, Josh searched the crowd. When he spotted her, he headed in her direction. Almost within touching distance, it was as though the fates were toying with him. About to call her name she again disappeared from sight.
Chapter 5
He once again located her by the side of the stage watching the next performers. Her excitement was so palpable, Josh could feel it as she laughed and clapped in time to the music. He wished the circumstances were different so that she could see the competition to its conclusion, but they didn’t have that luxury.
Taking her arm in a grip that was firmer than his intent, he pulled her into his tense body and spoke against her ear. “We need to leave, now!”
“No way! The competition is nearly over, and for the first time, I think we may have a shot at winning!” Lux shouted to be heard above the sounds of the soca beat.
Josh loved seeing her this way, but they didn’t have a choice. Their situation was about to get real, and he needed to somehow relay that to her. “I’d much rather you lived than win a dance competition,” Josh replied going for the shock tactic. It didn’t work.
“You’re full of drama; nothing is going to happen. Relax and enjoy yourself.”
From his vantage point of height, Josh saw two men who didn’t fit in with the backstage crowd. Just as he’d attracted attention all day, he immediately spotted them as out of place and they were looking straight at him.
For the moment, Josh still held the upper hand. There were so many people milling around, if the men were looking for Lux, and he was sure they were, they had yet to identify her.
Giving them a friendly smile, Josh broke eye contact. A slight turn of his body accomplished two things, it blocked Lux from their line of vision and it ensured they remained in his peripheral vision.
Aware that they were still looking around, he didn’t wait for the men to head in their direction. Tightening his hold on her arm, he spoke with conviction. “There are two men looking for you. If we don’t leave now, all hell is about to break loose. While I have no doubt I can handle them; an innocent bystander may get hurt.” When she stiffened, Josh pressed his advantage. “Do exactly what I say, can you do that?” Her nod of acquiescence satisfied him that he now had her complete attention.
About to leave the music lulled at the exact moment someone called her name. Josh sucked in a breath as Lux instinctively responded by turning towards the sound. It was one of the women from her troupe and she had the two men in tow.
Transferring his grip, Josh swept an arm around her waist and lifted her off her feet. He didn’t react to her indrawn breath at his firm grip, he didn’t have time. In protective mode, all his concentration was on getting to the steps that would lead them away from the stage area.
A wave of sweating gyrating bodies barred their path and he cut through them without a word of apology. Some brave souls appeared to want to confront him, but they thought better of it; probably due to the deadly look on his face.
Sparing their pursuers a brief glance, Josh saw they were attempting to cut them off. By his calculations, they were still too far away to reach the stairs before them. Increasing his pace, Josh rushed toward their escape route. Taking the steps two at a time, he paused only long enough to rip Lux’s headdress off and throw it to the ground.
Setting her down, Josh took her hand and spoke, as he kept moving forward. “Can you keep up with me and do exactly as I say, Lux?”
“Yes,” came the breathy reply.
Josh didn’t know if what she said was true, but time would tell. Their only hope was to get lost in the crowd, but he knew he would be the problem. He was tall enough for him to be visible from a distance. They would have to rely on speed to outdistance their chasers. On his own, he could accomplish that; with Lux along, he had his doubts.
Taking her at her word, Josh moved through the crowd with focused intent. He was at a disadvantage due to his unfamiliarity with his surroundings. Fortunately, when they arrived at the park, he’d taken the time to study the layout of the area.
Deciding on which direction to take, he grew impatient when Lux pulled against him. “This is not the time to go back on your word; we need to get to your car!” Josh pointed out through gritted teeth.