Fatal Seduction (Fatal Cross Live! Book 3)

by Theresa Hissong

  After we all agreed to have the company send another person, Hayden and Marshall worked out a plan for us. Abby sat beside me and hung on every word. The thought of someone rushing one of us was scary. The thought of a crazed fan attacking Abby at the merch booth was just another fear that made my blood run cold.

  “I won’t let anything happen to her,” Liam said as he approached me after everyone left the bus to do whatever it was that they were going to do for the rest of the day. My eyes were still on her through the window as she stopped to talk to Cash. I saw him glance up at the window, but he schooled his features and gave her a nod.

  “I don’t want her out there alone at all,” I growled. “She should have someone with her at all times.”

  “That can be done,” Liam agreed.

  “I mean it, Liam,” I reiterated one last time before turning toward my bunk while everyone else went to their rooms. I would keep to my exile on the bus, because it was safer for me here. I didn’t need to be around her unless it was necessary.

  Chapter 20

  Abby

  Two weeks had passed and Braxton was still avoiding me. My mother said she’d buy me a plane ticket to come home, but Penny encouraged me to stay. I was torn. I didn’t know what to do.

  A new guy, Lane Mathews, showed up the day of the show in Dallas, and introduced himself as the guy who’d be following me around. I didn’t like it, but I’d do it for the sake of safety, and the fact that Ace had been so nice about the entire thing. He’d explained to me that there had been some incidents with other bands in the past and people had been hurt. I didn’t want anyone to be attacked by crazed fans. So, I nodded and accepted my new bodyguard.

  “Your brother is so fucking stubborn,” I growled into the phone. We were currently in Kansas City. Taylor and Coraline were away visiting his family with Marshall as an escort, and Cash was on the bus doing business. Braxton disappeared as soon as the wheels on the bus came to a stop behind the arena. Just as he’d done at every show after our romp in the hotel room. Days off were hell, because I didn’t know where he was, and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t worried about what he was doing. I was honestly scared he’d relapse, and I prayed I was wrong.

  “As much as I hate to say this,” she began, “and for the record, it totally grosses me out to say this, but you really need to just seduce him, Abby.”

  “What?” I gasped, pacing the length of the bus. “Have you lost your mind?”

  “No,” she snickered. “I just know my brother.”

  “That makes him sound like a manwhore, Penny.” I frowned.

  “You know what I mean,” she tsked. “Wear something tight and sexy, do your hair.”

  “I can’t do that,” I scoffed. “I’m not like that.”

  “Have you ever seen Grease?” she laughed.

  “No, I’m not doing that,” I replied, heat rising to my cheeks. How embarrassing? I couldn’t just change who I was to seduce him back into my bed. Hell no!

  “Do it, Abby,” Penny ordered. “I’ll call you tomorrow to see how it went.”

  Before I could say anything, she hung up the phone, leaving me speechless and confused. There was no way I could seduce Braxton. He wouldn’t even be around me more than five or ten minutes. I slipped my phone into my pocket and climbed the stairs of the bus to find Cash typing away on his computer.

  “Hey, Abby.” Lane excused himself and left us alone, giving some excuse about checking the venue again. I’d found out that our three new members were a part of a security company that provided protection for some very big names in the music business.

  “Hey, Cash,” I greeted, pulling a water from the fridge. I slid into the seat across from him at the table and took a drink.

  “He’s okay.” Cash answered the question I was tossing around in my head.

  “Is he?” I pushed for more information.

  “Yeah, Abby, he is.” Cash sighed, closing his laptop. I waited for the handsome bassist to say something, but all he did was steeple his fingers and press them to his lips as he looked off into nothingness. “Are you okay?”

  “Me?” I squeaked, unsure of why he was asking about me and not telling me anything about Braxton.

  “Yeah, you,” he replied with a hard stare. “This cannot be easy on you.”

  “I really wish everyone would quit with the poor Abby shit,” I complained, making Cash sit up straighter from my outburst. “Sorry.”

  “No need to be sorry,” he chuckled. The corner of his lip lifted into a smile. If I didn’t love Braxton, I’d probably swoon just from that look. The bassist was very good looking, and I could see why a lot of the females gravitated toward him.

  “I’m really fine, Cash,” I promised, letting my shoulders slump. “I know you know what happened between us.”

  “Parts of it,” Cash replied, never looking away from me. He kept eye contact, and that was refreshing, because when people found out about my scars, their eyes would always bounce around like they were trying to see them. It was a morbid fascination, and one a lot of people couldn’t help, but it still bothered me. “Braxton doesn’t tell us much.”

  “I’ll tell you,” I began, but Cash held up his hand for me to pause.

  “Abby, you don’t have to tell me.”

  “You should know,” I said, then shrugged. “It’s in the past, even if Braxton can’t forget, or forgive, himself.”

  “I’ll listen, but only if you want to tell me.” Cash leaned back in the seat, relaxing his body language.

  “Braxton and I had been dating for a long time,” I began, smiling when I remembered those days. “His old band was booked on a six week tour, and I was happy for him. I really was, but when he came home, he was different. He looked different and acted like another person.”

  The day he came home was so hard on us. He didn’t want to see me, and I forced myself to go to his house, but he wasn’t there. When I finally saw him three days later, I knew something was off.

  “Go ahead,” he urged, after I had paused for several seconds.

  “God, he was so messed up. He couldn’t concentrate and his body had shrunk in size, not that he was super huge back then, anyway. It was about two months after he came home that we went out on a date. He was late by almost an hour. When we got on the highway, I noticed the needle marks in his arm. I asked him what they were, even though I knew in the back of my mind what was going on. I just didn’t want to admit it to myself. Well, we argued, and I tried to touch his arm, and that’s all I remember.”

  “The wreck?” Cash asked.

  “Yeah,” I nodded. “I woke up from a coma weeks later. Braxton had been arrested, and I was burned down the left side of my body. My mother gave me a letter he’d hand written, letting me go.”

  “Have you seen him since then?” Cash pushed, reaching out to touch my hand when I wiped away a tear. “It’s okay, Abby. You don’t have to talk about it.”

  “I saw him about a year ago, but he wouldn’t talk to me.” I shrugged. “I found out about six months ago that my bills were being paid by an anonymous person. My mother had hidden it well from me. Well, I didn’t have to wonder who it was, because I knew it was him.”

  “He harbors a lot of guilt over you,” Cash informed me.

  “He shouldn’t,” I growled, making a fist that I wanted to slam down on the table, but I didn’t. I kept my composure. “Do you know that he lives in a studio apartment in a horrible part of town?”

  “Yeah,” Cash frowned. “He always said that he didn’t need anything else since he was always on tour.”

  “It’s because he’s broke from paying my bills,” I offered, feeling my anger spike. “I have insurance, but none of it’s being used.”

  “Damn,” Cash cursed, wiping a hand over his face. “I’m so sorry, Abby. I wish I could knock some sense into him, but he has a hard fucking head.”

  “You’re so very right about that,” I giggled, feeling a little better after getting that off my chest
.

  “It’s all going to work out.” Cash smiled at me. “He’s stubborn as a mule, but he loves you. We all see it.”

  “I wish Braxton saw it,” I whispered, sliding out of the seat. “I need some time alone. I’m sorry, Cash.”

  With that, I found my way back to my bunk and climbed in, pulling the curtain tight.

  Chapter 21

  Braxton

  The crowd roared as we finished the first song. I grabbed a bottled water, downing it as quickly as possible before tossing it behind me. Liam was off the side of the stage watching us, and I frowned, because he should have been out front with Abby. I made a motion for him to come up behind my kit where he couldn’t be seen when the lights dimmed.

  “Where’s Abby?” I yelled over the crowd.

  “Out front, why?” he replied, kneeling low. I heard Taylor start the next song, and I grabbed my sticks, shaking my head at Liam.

  “She better not be alone!”

  “Lane is with her,” he promised, causing my head to pound. I liked Marshall and Hayden, but the new guy made me want to kill a motherfucker. He’d stared at Abby’s scars too long, and I’d caught him, more than once, checking out her ass.

  “Go. Check. On. Her!” I yelled.

  Liam’s eyes widened and he scurried off the stage as I started to play. I couldn’t see him after that, and the next forty-five minutes were torture. I busted my knuckle and broke more sticks than usual. I probably sounded like shit, but I really didn’t care. I was worried about her.

  As soon as the lights went down on the last song, I was off my stool and down the stairs from the stage, grabbing a towel from Coraline. I started toward the front of the building, but a small hand clamped down over my wrist.

  “You can’t go barging out there,” Caroline warned. “She’s fine. I just checked on her.”

  “She’s alone,” I replied.

  “No, she’s not,” our tour manager sighed. “Kevin is keeping her company, and Lane is close enough if things get crazy.”

  “Shit.” I collapsed on a stool and wiped my face with the towel again. I’d hidden from her for the past few days, hoping it would get her out of my mind, but all it did was make my obsession with making love to her again all that much stronger.

  We couldn’t have a relationship again. She was sent to this world as my own personal seductress. I was powerless against her, and my fucked up mind couldn’t let her go. I swear, I tried….I really tried to shake her hold on me, but she was in my veins like the drugs that almost took her life and mine.

  “Braxton,” Cash barked, leaning over to get into my face. “Outside…now!”

  “What the fuck, Cash?” I growled, standing up to push him out of my space.

  “I’ve had it with your shit, man,” he replied, his face turning red with anger. “Outside. We need to talk.”

  “Man, fuck you,” I retorted, feeling backed into a corner.

  “You have five seconds,” he continued. Taylor and Ace rushed up behind him and placed their hands on his shoulders, trying to pull him back, but my bassist wasn’t having that. He shrugged them off and took another step toward me.

  “Guys! Guys!” Coraline barked. “Not here. Get the fuck out to the bus!”

  “Coraline, get outta here,” Taylor ordered, moving so he was between me and his wife when she moved too close. I wouldn’t do anything to hurt her, and they should know that by now. As much of an asshole as I could be, the last thing I would ever do is put a female in a situation where she’d get hurt.

  Taking a deep breath, I moved away from Cash and turned on my heel, marching out the door. I heard everyone on my tail, but I didn’t say anything until we were on the bus. When the door closed, I spun around and pointed my finger at all of them.

  “Do not get in my face again,” I warned.

  “You need someone to kick your ass,” Cash cursed. “How could you treat Abby like that?”

  “You know nothing about this,” I replied, standing my ground.

  “I fucking know,” Cash spat. “I know everything. She told me today. How could you treat her like that after she already forgave you?”

  “She told you?” I replied, dropping my ass onto the couch. “Why does everyone want to talk about it? God knows I don’t want to talk about it.”

  “And let it eat you alive?” Cash continued. “That woman loves you. She’s loved you for the past three years, and all you’ve done is run from her.”

  “It’s not easy seeing her,” I exploded, returning to my feet. “Every time I look at her, I see the scars. I did that to her!”

  “No, you didn’t,” a soft voice said from the front of the bus. Everyone turned to see Abby standing there, her eyes wet with tears. “I was partially to blame, Braxton. Why can’t you accept that?”

  Abby stood there, looking like every man’s fantasy. She’d worn black leggings and a beige shirt that hung off of her undamaged shoulder. The left side was long and it covered up her scarring. It broke my heart that she had to wear certain styles of clothes so people wouldn’t stare at her. Then, it killed me because I knew she wore that so I wouldn’t have to look at them, too.

  “We will leave you two to talk,” Cash whispered as he turned away. I didn’t miss the hard glare he made over her shoulder aimed at me as he left the bus.

  “Abby…” I began, but she walked up to me and shoved my shoulder, sending my ass into the seat.

  “No, Braxton,” she growled, climbing on my lap. My cock instantly hardened at her aggressiveness. I’d never seen that before, and I liked it…a lot. “Damn it! What can I do to make you see that I don’t blame you?”

  “Nothing,” I breathed, my hands clasping onto her hips. My cock and hands had a mind of their own as I pulled her closer to my erection. “Fuck, you are a seductress.”

  “No,” she blushed, ducking her head. When those long, blonde locks of hair fell to cover her face, I used one hand to push them away and cup her cheek. “I can’t seduce you.”

  “You do it every time you are near me,” I replied.

  “No, I don’t,” she argued.

  “You don’t realize it, but your voice is like a siren’s call to me,” I admitted, taking my thumb and stroking her bottom lip. I relished in the softness. “Your scent is the most expensive perfume.”

  “Stop, Braxton,” she begged. “I don’t want to hear your confessions if you are not going to accept my love for you anymore.”

  “What I say is true,” I admitted.

  “I’m sorry,” she said, backing away. I reached out for her when she stumbled awkwardly to her feet, but she pushed my hands away. “I refuse to be pushed and pulled by your emotions. The only thing I ask is that you forgive yourself. Please?”

  “I’m trying,” I admitted, feeling my heart shatter even more.

  Chapter 22

  Abby

  I pulled on a pair of sweatpants that hung low on my hips and a long sleeved sweatshirt that barely covered my bellybutton. It was cold out, and we were heading toward to Chicago, where the road conditions were making the trek slow. We still had several hours before we were set to arrive. Their show wasn’t until the next day, and Hank, the driver, informed us that he was going to get us in place as safely as possible.

  Braxton was coming around. We were going to stop for lunch in a town that I couldn’t even remember the name. The only thing I focused on was that he’d asked me if I’d like to go have a bite to eat with him, and I said yes. We needed some time alone.

  I grabbed my bag and opened the door leading to the front sitting area of the bus. He was there, waiting on the couch. When I walked forward, he frowned. “What?”

  “You’re going to freeze out there,” he growled, standing up to remove his leather jacket. “Wear this.”

  “You know that won’t fit me,” I replied, rolling my eyes.

  “Do you have a jacket?”

  “Yes,” I sighed, returning to my bunk. I grabbed my thick hoodie and slipped it over my head
, returning to him. I held my hands out to the side and raised a brow. “Is this okay?”

  “It’ll do,” he mumbled.

  Coraline, Taylor, Ace, and Cash all emerged from the back as soon as the bus came to a stop. Our new security team was already at the front of the bus, waiting for us to make our decision. There were three restaurants within walking distance, and I eyed the small diner about the time Coraline begged for her man to take her to the steakhouse.

  “Where do you want to eat?” Braxton asked. I knew he wanted us to be alone, and from the look on his bandmates faces, I figured they already knew we wouldn’t be going with them.

  “The diner looks great,” I answered.

  “Lane can go with you to the diner,” Hayden announced, slipping his phone back into his pocket.

  “I think I can take care of Abby on my own,” Braxton growled. The sound was predatory, and the look on Lane’s face told me he knew Braxton wasn’t going to budge.

  “We will be close,” he stated, his voice clipped with frustration.

  “Watch your step folks,” our driver called out. “There’s some ice on the roads already.”

  “Cora,” Taylor growled as she bound down the stairs. “Damn it, woman! Watch where you’re going.”

  Coraline let out a curse as he picked her up, cradling her pregnant body against his chest. Cash and Ace followed, giving her an equal lashing.

  “She’s a spitfire,” I giggled.

  “That she is.” Braxton smiled. I knew he thought highly of her, and I’d even noticed how he watched over her like he did Penny.

  “Let’s go eat,” I said, changing the subject. “I’m starving.”

  “Come on,” he said, taking the lead. I followed him, smiling to myself when he held up his hand for me to take it. Hank was right. There were patches of ice on the parking lot, but mostly where the potholes had frozen over.

  Braxton didn’t release my hand until we entered the diner. A waitress sat us at a table in the back and handed over two menus, promising to be back shortly to take our order. I peeked over the top of mine and found him staring at me. I averted my eyes and tried to scan the menu, finding I couldn’t quite read the words.