Tainted

by Jamie Begley

  She could tell he was becoming angry by the harsh look on his face. So, when he nodded and R.J. left the room, Sawyer wondered what was going on to make Kaden so angry. D-mon and Sin walked over to him. She could tell they were questioning him and whatever Kaden answered had them happy.

  Noticing that Sawyer was watching, Kaden excused himself and came to her side. “R.J. just told me there’s trouble with the bus. Apparently, it can’t be fixed until tomorrow and we’re going to have to stay the night at the hotel.”

  “That’s fine. It’ll be nice to get off the bus for a while.” She knew Kaden preferred to stay on the bus because it was safer for her. However, it was making the band crazy. Both D-mon and Sin were scoping out the women in the room to share the night with;even Ax—the more conservative of the group—was looking over the available women.

  “We’ll leave in twenty. Alec is getting us some cars.”

  “Okay.”

  Kaden left her, returning to the press who were covering the concert. It was closer to thirty minutes later before they all slid into the limo. D-mon and Sin sat across from Kaden and her. Ax and R.J. rode in the other car with the women they had selected to spend the night with them. Sawyer had learned early on that R.J. would separate the band from the women to get the women to sign a privacy agreement. If they refused to sign, they didn’t make it out of the limo and into the hotel room.

  “Brings back memories, doesn’t it, Kaden?” Sin asked while staring at her.

  “There are some memories not worth repeating.”

  “You sure?” Sin asked.

  Sawyer wondered what he was questioning.

  “I’m sure.” His arm slid over her shoulders, pulling her closer to his side.

  “Shame. I was looking forward to it,” Sin remarked, his eyes going down her body.

  Sawyer stiffened against Kaden’s side. Even she understood that look.

  “Knock it off, Sin.”

  Sin grinned, shrugging his shoulders.

  It didn’t take long for them to reach the hotel where the limo pulled around back and they stayed seated until Alec opened the door.

  Kaden stepped out, taking her hand as they followed the security detail to the back elevator. R.J. had rented them two connecting suites, calling ahead to have food waiting on them.

  Feeling slightly nauseous from snacking on the finger foods at the arena, Sawyer opened one of the trays, finding a succulent chicken breast with a mushroom gravy and fingerling potatoes. She had quickly figured out the one who grabbed the trays first got the best choice. After she had become stuck with burgers and fries several times, she had learned to become more assertive.

  She had sat down at the table when Kaden came back from taking a shower, his hair still wet. Sawyer smiled up at him as he leaned down, placing a brief kiss on her lips.

  “That looks good. Anymore left?”

  “Nope. You shower, you lose,” she joked. “Ax took three.”

  “He’s a bottomless pit.” He searched through the remaining trays, ending up with a chicken Alfredo pizza. “It could be worse.”

  “Yes, it could,” she said, remembering getting stuck with oysters on the half shell.

  They ate as the others finished eating. Sin and D-mon were pumped up with energy from the concert. Even Ax had brought a woman back for the night.

  “Has the band played here often?”

  “It’s where our band formed,” Kaden answered her question with a closed look on his face.

  “Do you have family here in Michigan?” Sawyer asked, surprised none of them had made arraignments to see their families while in town.

  “Not anymore. Ax, D-mon and Sin’s families all moved to warmer climates.” Kaden got up, taking their empty trays to the trolley. Sawyer didn’t ask any more questions, sensing it was closed for discussion by Kaden’s closed expression.

  A knock sounded on the suite door, and Kaden went to answer it. Sawyer saw his back stiffen as he stepped aside, letting a woman enter the suite. Sawyer glanced around the room, seeing the same startled reaction from all the band members. Ax looked toward her before coming to stand next to her.

  Sawyer recognized the exotic woman. Her and Vida might not have had the money for CDs, but magazines were cheap. You also didn’t need to buy magazines to be able to recognize Tatiana Shepas; her famous face and body were on billboards and televisions everywhere.

  She had dated two extremely popular actors. She had even become engaged a few years ago to a well-known rock star who had been famous almost from birth. She looked at Kaden, gripping the back of the chair so she didn’t fall down. When he’d said he had walked away from the music industry for a few years, he hadn’t been lying. It was five years to be exact.

  She had always assumed he had been a part of Mouth2Mouth; it had never occurred to her that they hadn’t gone by his band’s original name. Cross was the lead singer of CrossWinds. They had dismantled and gone their separate ways when Cross’s entire family had been killed in an airplane crash.

  He had finished his concert tour then walked away. Tatiana had been interviewed constantly about his entering rehab. No one knew if it was drugs or sex addiction, which had put him there. Tatiana had remained silent through the entire ordeal.

  She reached up, brushing her lips against Kaden’s. He didn’t step away when she hugged him, either. Her liquid brown eyes that she had become famous for showed she was still in love with him.

  “Aren’t you going to say hello, Kaden?” Her sultry voice carried in the suddenly quiet room.

  “Tatiana,” Kaden said, closing the door.

  “Are you surprised? R.J. said he would help me surprise you.”

  R.J. stepped forward. “Hello, Tatiana. It’s good to see you again.”

  “R.J.” Tatiana brushed her cheek against his.

  “I take it the bus is fine?” Kaden made the statement, looking toward R.J.

  “We thought it might be better if she surprised you. It’s downstairs,” R.J. answered, revealing his deception.

  Kaden remained quiet.

  “Kaden, please don’t be angry at R.J. I jumped at the chance to see you again. I wish you had called.”

  “R.J. called you?” Kaden asked sharply.

  “Of course. I quit trying after the first two years, but I never forgot about you, Kaden. How could I?”

  Sawyer was sickened by the woman’s expression because it was the same one on her own face when she was around Kaden.

  “Please, Kaden, can we talk in private?” Tatiana’s pleading voice had Kaden’s attention. Sawyer began to feel like a fifth wheel.

  “You can use the other room.” R.J. went to the connecting door, unlocking it. “It will give you both some privacy.”

  Tatiana walked through the doorway, casting Kaden another pleading glance.

  “Give me a few minutes?” Kaden turned to Sawyer, who stared back at him numbly. She nodded her head, needing a few minutes to gather herself.

  Kaden went into the other room and closed the door behind him at the same time that the room he had just vacated became silent; the other women were giving her sympathetic looks. Sawyer didn’t need to be told what they thought. There was no comparison between herself and Tatiana.

  “Well, that was a downer. Good job, R.J.,” Ax said angrily.

  “If they can resolve their issues, maybe he will come back full-time instead of walking away again when the tour ends. Isn’t that what you want, Ax? You’re never going to have the success with Jesse that you had with Kaden.”

  “Tatiana wasn’t the reason he left and she won’t be the reason he comes back,” Sin said, standing up. “It’s bullshit you pulled this stunt, R.J. You’re never going to learn your lesson, are you?”

  R.J. paled at Sin’s words.

  “I need to get my things out of the bus,” Sawyer broke into the brewing fight. “Could you call Alec and ask him to send someone to escort me?”

  “I’ll take you,” R.J. volunteered. “I need to g

rab my own clothes.”

  Ax touched her wrist as she passed him. “You all right?”

  “I’m fine.” It hurt that Kaden had left to talk to a woman he used to be engaged to, but she had done a good job so far not letting jealousy rule her and she wasn’t going to start now.

  Sawyer followed R.J. out the door. They waited in silence for the elevator, entering it when the door slid open.

  “I didn’t mean to cause problems between you and Kaden.” He broke into the uncomfortable silence between them.

  “Yes, you did.” She had noticed that he had been constantly throwing women Kaden’s way. Whenever R.J. picked women, he made sure to include a couple of extras; some she had even begun to notice resembled her.

  R.J. didn’t say anything else after Sawyer’s comeback. They exited the elevator in strained silence where the bus was parked several feet from the back door.

  “Maybe we should call Alec? Where are they anyway?” Sawyer said nervously.

  “They’re in their rooms. They’ve had even less space in their vehicles than we do on the bus. I was trying to give them a break, but if you prefer, I can call,” he said, taking out his phone.

  “N—no. That’s o—okay. Alec usually leaves someone watching the door and bus, but I don’t see anyone.” Her eyes searched the darkened parking lot.

  R.J. shrugged as he opened the door, holding it impatiently for her. Sawyer went out, feeling suddenly nervous; however, her eyes kept surveying the parking lot, seeing nothing out of the ordinary.

  R.J. unlocked the bus and then waited for Sawyer to enter it first. She was up the first step when she knew she had made a terrible mistake leaving the hotel room. The light came on when R.J. flicked a switch.

  Sawyer turned to escape, expecting R.J. to do the same. Instead, he blocked her, forcing her up the remaining two steps.

  “Hello, Sawyer.”

  Chapter Seventeen

  Rick was sitting in the leather chair by the window with two other men she recognized from when she had been kidnapped. The two security guards were lying on the floor, unconscious with their hands and feet tied.

  Rick got to his feet, his fake charm apparent in his sleazy smile. How she had missed it when he had asked her out, she didn’t understand.

  He stepped in front of her, sliding his thumb down her cheek.

  “You’ve led me a merry chase, Sawyer, but playtime is over. Morgan, bring the car around. We don’t want Kaden showing up accidently.” The man to Rick’s left brushed by her as he went out the door.

  Rick pulled out an envelope, tossing it to R.J. as headlights shown from outside, glaring into the bus.

  “Let’s move.” Rick took her by the arm and she tried to jerk away.

  Rick shook her until her teeth almost rattled. “Do not fuck with me, Sawyer. You have been a pain in my ass for months. If your boyfriend barges in this time, I’ll kill him. Is that what you want?”

  “N—n—n—no.”

  “Then move your ass.” He threw her down the steps where Morgan caught her before she could fall. He held her tightly until Briggs slid into the backseat, pushing her in after him then sliding in himself, slamming the door closed.

  Rick opened the driver’s door, getting in behind the steering wheel. “See, Sawyer, how well things work out when you do as you’re told? It’s a lesson you need to remember.”

  Sawyer didn’t look out the window as the bus and R.J. disappeared from view.

  R.J. was a snake that had betrayed not only her, but also his friends who’d trusted him. Sawyer wasn’t surprised by his duplicity; however, she feared that as long as R.J. stayed with the band, none of them were going to be safe.

  ***

  “I think we’ve said all we need to say, Tatiana.”

  “I’ve missed you, Kaden,” Tatiana’s soft voice whispered between them. “Are you sure we can’t start over? I’ve never stopped loving you.”

  “Tatiana, I’m with someone else now.” Kaden’s voice didn’t soften

  “When has that ever stopped you?” Kaden heard the bitterness in her voice.

  “I need to get back to Sawyer. It was good to see you again. I should have called you and cleared the air a long time ago.” Regret glimmered momentarily in his eyes before they hardened once again.

  Kaden went to the door, opening it. He left her no choice other than to follow him, immediately going for the other door to show her out of the suite.

  “Goodbye, Kaden.” Tatiana paused in the doorway.

  “Goodbye, Tatiana,” he said, closing the door behind her. Ax, Sin and D-mon all stared at him, waiting for his reaction.

  “Where’s Sawyer?” he asked, searching the room for her.

  “She went to the bus twenty minutes ago to get her clothes. R.J. took her,” Ax answered as he poured himself a glass of whiskey.

  “Why not Alec?”

  “We just assumed he had men outside; he always does,” D-mon answered.

  “She should have been back by now,” Kaden said, becoming impatient.

  “She’s probably taking a few minutes to herself. She seemed pretty upset,” Ax said, downing the whiskey in one swallow.

  Reaching into his pocket, Kaden pulled out his cell phone. It began ringing before he could key in a number. He listened as R.J. yelled into the phone that Rick had been on the bus and taken Sawyer.

  “Where’s Alec?” Kaden tried to remain calm.

  “In his room.” He disconnected from R.J. quickly as he ran out the door, Sin, D-mon and Ax running out behind him.

  “What’s going on?” Sin asked.

  “Rick has Sawyer.” The elevator opened, and the men quickly filed in. Impatiently, Kaden pressed the ground floor.

  “How the hell did he get her?” Ax asked.

  “I don’t know, but I’m going to find out.” Kaden felt his heart in his throat. He hadn’t felt this way since he had heard about the airplane crash. He had to find Sawyer; anything else was not an option.

  ***

  It was two hours later before Alec came back onto the bus with information. The band was sitting around the room tensely waiting. The two security guards had been taken to the hospital and treated for concussions.

  Alec stood at the front of the bus. “Rick has her. We’re searching for her, but there isn’t a trace of her yet. I notified the FBI and they are doing what they can. It doesn’t look good, Kaden. Whoever Rick works for, they are experienced at making women disappear.”

  “What if we offer him more money?” Kaden’s voice was hoarse.

  “I don’t think it’s a matter of money. From what I understand, he wants both Sawyer and her friend as leverage against his competition, but I’ll make the call. How much do you want me to offer?”

  “Whatever it takes.”

  Alec nodded, turning to R.J. “Do you want to make the call or should I?”

  “What’s that mean? Why would I want to contact him? He’s not exactly answering my calls since this whole mess started,” R.J.’s sarcastic voice held a tinge of fear.

  “Don’t lie, R.J.” Alec pulled out his phone, tossing it to Kaden.

  He caught it in his hand, seeing a video that had been recorded. Pressing play, Kaden watched as the two guards were led up the stairs with a gun on them. Rick’s men efficiently knocking them out while he sat and watched. Kaden’s hand tightened on the phone as he watched Sawyer and R.J. enter the bus then him block her escape. When he saw Rick toss the envelope, it was everything he could do to stand and watch the rest of the tape. R.J. watching as Rick shook Sawyer was the final straw; he lost what little reason he had left to remain in control. Lunging for R.J., he struck him with his fist, knocking him to the floor. Not stopping, Kaden kept hitting him until Ax and Sin managed to get him off their tour manager.

  “I am going to kill you, R.J.,” Kaden threatened.

  Alec helped R.J. to his feet before disgustedly releasing him.

  “I had to; Rick was threatening to tell Briana how much debt we were in. Do you know how much money we’ve lost since you left? Do you even care?” R.J. yelled.

  “No, I don’t. If Mouth2Mouth couldn’t pay your bills, then you should have moved on to another band, but you couldn’t, could you, R.J.? Everyone in the industry knows you can’t keep from interfering in their lives. The only reason we’ve let it go was because we felt we owed you. After the stunt with the women at the start of the tour, you knew this was your final tour with us. Sin already told you last week. You greedy bastard. You sold Sawyer out. What kind of bastard does that?” D-mon grabbed R.J.’s shirt.

  Ax pressed his hand on D-mon’s chest, holding him back from hitting R.J.

  “Stop it; this isn’t helping to get Sawyer back.” Kaden wrapped his hand around R.J.’s throat. “You better pray we get her back, because right now, I’m about to kill you. Alec, call Rick and try to negotiate a new deal. If he doesn’t take it, try something else. I don’t give a fuck what you have to say; get her back.”

  Kaden loosened his hold enough for R.J. to breathe and then turned to the only person he felt stood a chance of finding Sawyer with his connections. “I want this sack of shit off this bus and out of our lives, but first, I want the tapes he’s held over my head for five years. Can you do that?”

  “Yes, Kaden.” Alec motioned two of his men who were waiting by the bus door to take R.J. away. “That I can do.”

  ***

  Sawyer saw the familiar scenery passing by, and her heart leapt for a second in joy until she realized there would be no happy reunion between her and Vida. She hadn’t expected them to bring her back to Queen City. Somehow, she had thought that they would have killed her off or passed her along to another client by now.

  Driving through town brought tears to her eyes. She would never have believed it possible, but she had been homesick for this city that she had tried for years to escape.

  The car pulled into a garage that she was familiar with, yet had never been inside. It was a local recording studio. The car stopped and Morgan got out taking her arm. No one was around as Briggs came to her other side and then both men ushered her inside to an elevator.

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