“You leave, you’ll never play in this city again.”
It was obvious this was the lead singer, Matt mentioned. He was tall, lean, looked about seventeen or eighteen and had tattoos inked down his right arm. He wore a white T-shirt, ripped jeans, and motorcycle boots. He also had what looked like motorcycle gloves in his hand. His unruly dark hair went with his wild daunting eyes that were currently focused on me.
“Problem, asshole?” he said.
I stiffened, and Savvy’s hands resting on my back curled into my dress shirt. “Yeah, you walking out on Matt is a shit move. Don’t want to play tonight, but looks like I am.” Because I’d never leave Matt in a lurch, none of the guys would. I’d have to put a call into Crisis and Ream, and after eight hours of recording, I was betting neither wanted to drive to Avalanche and do a gig. But they would.
He came to an abrupt halt a few feet away. I saw the realization hit his eyes when he recognized me, but it only seemed to piss him off more. “I have shit that’s come up.”
“More important than your career?” I asked. Because like Savvy knew firsthand, word spread in the industry fast and another bar wouldn’t touch him if he walked out like this.
His eyes narrowed. “Yeah. My sister dyin’ in the fuckin’ hospital.”
Savvy gasped.
Matt had caught up and overheard him. “Why the hell didn’t you say anything?”
“Because it’s none of your business. It’s no one’s business, but mine.” He strode down the hall, slammed his palm into the swinging doors and was gone.
“Fuck,” Matt muttered. “He didn’t say anything. All he said was he had to go.”
“Who is he?” Savvy asked.
“Gavin Chase,” Matt replied, then headed back the way he came. “I have to announce to the bar he’s not playing tonight.”
“Let me talk to his band,” I said. Matt stopped and looked over his shoulder. “If they know any of our songs, Logan and I can play with them.” I was okay on the guitar and could play in a pinch, but the singing wasn’t my thing.
“Fuck. Thanks, Kite.” Matt jogged down the hall and disappeared into one of the rooms.
I turned, placing my hands on Savvy’s waist and squeezing. “You okay to stick around for a while. Hang with the girls?”
She nodded, but her eyes were tearing and one slipped down her cheek.
“What the fuck?” I wiped it away with the pad of my thumb.
She half smiled. “I like you.”
“And you’re crying because of that?”
“A lot,” she added. “Okay, more than a lot.”
“Savvy,” I growled, then tugged her into me. “I fuckin’ love you.” Then I kissed her again.
Tonight had been my last shift at Compass. I’d miss the girls and dancing, but I was excited about my new job. I hadn’t told Killian yet because I wanted to surprise him when he arrived back from New York.
I’d told Frankie last night and gave her my two weeks’ notice, but she’d insisted tonight be my last night so I could start my new job sooner. She also knew Killian wasn’t pleased about me working here.
I called Ali, the woman who owned the dance studio, this morning and let her know I could start right away. The salary wasn’t as good as Compass, but it didn’t matter. It was enough to live on, and once I built up a clientele, my salary would also increase.
My phone vibrated, and I took it out of my purse as I walked up the last flight of stairs to my apartment, Luke behind me.
Just landed. I’ll see you in an hour.
Can’t wait to see you.
You too, baby. Luke with you?
LOL… yes. Luke would have to be dead before allowing me to walk into this building alone.
Baby, you’re sitting on my face tonight and that pussy is mine. After I spank that sweet ass.
My sex clenched at the thought. Killian pushed me sexually, but hell, it was a good push. Freeing. He excelled with the ropes and had tied me up the other night with my legs positioned over my head and secured to my wrists, while my wrists had been secured to the bed rungs. Then he’d leaned over me and slid his cock inside. Slow. Deep. So incredibly deep that—
“Miss Grady?”
I jerked from my thoughts and realized I was standing outside my door with Luke standing beside me.
God, he’d only been gone two days. How did I survive eleven years without him?
He consumed my every waking and sleeping thought. And he didn’t make it any easier when he sent texts like the last one.
“That was Killian,” I told Luke. “They’ve landed. But I’m sure you already know that.” Killian had asked me to go with him, to New York, but I’d had the job interview, although I hadn’t told him that. I’d said I wasn’t a fan of flying.
His eyebrows knitted together as he glanced at his phone. “No. Roman hasn’t messaged me yet. But good to hear. He will be coming here?”
I smiled. “Yes, so you don’t have to wait around.”
“I’ll wait.”
I put the key in the lock and went inside. Luke waited until I turned the lock before I heard his footsteps jog down the stairs.
Flicking on the lights in the kitchen, I grabbed a bottle of water, then sipped it before pouring a little into the orchid on my windowsill. It really did need a new pot and now that I was with Killian, I was okay with parting with the cracked pink one.
The floor creaked behind me, and I spun around. I managed a half scream before a large calloused hand covered my mouth and I was quickly yanked up against a hard, unrelenting body.
I screamed again, but it came out as a muffled moan. I kicked and struggled against his arms, but I was like a ragdoll to him as he easily dragged me toward my bedroom.
Oh, God. No. Please no. I twisted against his fierce hold, but his arms were like steel and my arms were locked to my sides. I slammed my foot down onto his boot, but it was like hitting cement.
“Stop fighting, damn it,” the man growled in my ear. “He just wants to talk to you.”