3. Chapter Three
3
Mia
When I get into my room, another vivid image of my night with Evan pops into my head.
After talking with him for hours, I couldn’t help but allow Evan to take me away from the large crowd gathered around us in the club.
“I’ve been hoping you’d let me whisk you away, Summer,” he rasps into my ear as he leads us through the exit and toward a blacked out Audi sitting in front of the club.
When I couldn’t find Kenzie, who likely disappeared with her next conquest, I had to reluctantly make my way back to the bar where Evan was still sitting. He had mentioned not knowing my name, again, so I gave him one that would ease his curiosity.
Instead of telling him my real name, Mia, I gave him a shorter version of my last name – Summers.
I’d feel bad about it if I thought I would ever see him again but, by the confident way he approached me, I’m willing to bet nights like this are a common occurrence for him.
I eye the vehicle, noting the freshly waxed shine coating the paint, and glance at him with a raised brow. “Your ride?”
He shrugs, then opens the passenger for me and I slide into it with no hesitation – that’s what happens when you’ve had three fruity drinks and you allow him to take you onto the dance floor. I’m surprised when the engine purrs to life and, right before he turns into traffic, his hand falls onto my thigh.
Almost like it’s normal between the two of us.
It doesn’t surprise me that my pussy throbs in response to his fingers digging into the apex of my thigh, leaving their invisible mark on me while he coasts slowly down the busy street.
The ride is silent, only the honking surrounding us to cut through the growing tension, and he finally makes a right turn into a garage before pulling into an empty parking space. He turns the engine off, but doesn’t make a move to get out of the car.
Instead, he glances at me, his green eyes searching mine for any sign of hesitation, but it’s not something I can give. If the alcohol I’ve consumed wasn’t giving me the courage I’ve got now, this would be an entirely different moment.
I dart my gaze from his to his full lips, which have been catching my attention most of the night. I’ve been wondering what they feel like, imaging their softness, and now I can finally see if I was right.
When I look back up into his eyes, there’s a darker hue swirling in his irises and his hand moves from my thigh to my hip. The short dress I’m wearing is already ridden up, thanks to it being entirely too small for my body – Kenzie swore this would get me the attention I deserve – and that seems to catch his attention for a brief moment.
My breath stalls in my throat when he slowly leans forward, eyes closing, and I stay frozen in place in front of him. I’ve never been the type to have one night stands, but Kenzie told me this was the best way to get over the stress of my life and I listened to her.
Instead of feeling like this will be a one night stand, I’ve found myself wanting to listen to Evan’s deep voice all night as he spills his life story to me.
That’s not something I can let him know, though – this would be over before I could blink.
His lips brush against mine, soft at first, but before I can get my breathing under control he’s taking over my entire body. His lips feel like heaven, tongue piercing through my parted lips like he can’t get enough of me, and I invite him in with open arms.
“Mm,” Evan hums against my mouth, then pulls away.
My chest rises and falls rapidly with my ragged breaths, but I can’t seem to take my eyes off him.
He grabs hold of my hand, pressing his lips against my knuckles in a way that throws me off – is that normal one night stand behavior? Hell if I know. I take a deep breath, trying to calm my racing heart as he drops my hand and climbs out of the car.
I’m really doing this.
My eyes sting with tears, and I shake my head. The last thing I want to remember is the night that changed my entire life. I’ve got to focus on the job I was sent here to do rather than the part of my past I’m not sure will stay hidden forever.
***
It’s been a few weeks since we were at the club and, thankfully, Evan hasn’t been eager to go out again. I’m just getting off my nightly call with Liam when there’s a soft knock on my door, and I quickly hang up before hurrying across the room.
When I pull the door open, Carmen is standing there with a friendly smile. “Hi, Mia, I just wanted to make sure you had everything situated. The guys are ready to head out.”
Their world tour starts tomorrow, which means we’re hitting the road tonight and the thought sends a pang to my chest – I don’t know when I’ll be able to find the time, or privacy, to have another phone call with Liam while we’re away.
In the grand scheme of things, it would be much easier if Evan knew about the child we have together – or it could be harder, which is a reason I still haven’t spilled the secret. If he wanted to further what we built six years ago, Evan would’ve made it a point to get in contact with me and he chose not to. I’ve never been one to ignore a hint.
I nod curtly to Carmen, then walk over to my two suitcases and wheel them behind me slowly. She eyes them, but doesn’t say anything as she leads the way down our long hallway. The guys are rubbing their eyes by the front door, leaning tiredly against the wall, and each one looks up when we get into the room.
Unfortunately, Evan’s green gaze immediately finds mine and an image of our son pops into my head. Their resemblance is uncanny – the large green orbs that seem to see right through you, bright hair that rivals my dark locks, and even the smirk that Evan gives me is the same crooked grin Liam sucks me in with when he wants something.
The emotions start to build up inside of me, but I quickly push them away for fear that Evan will be able to see them – that’s the last thing I need when I’m about to be much closer to him than I have been.
Carmen comes to a stop in front of the men and claps her hands, smiling brightly like she’s been up for hours. “You guys ready?”
Each of them groans, even Julia who’s leaning against Brent’s large frame, and they nod their heads before pulling open the front door.
Do these guys have any sense of safety?
I roll my eyes, huffing in annoyance as I push my way past them, and hold my hand up to stall their movements. No one says anything, which is a good thing because now is not the time for them to complain about my job.
The door clicks shut behind me, I place my hand at my hip where my gun is located, and I start my slow trek around the property. There’s a smaller house located about a mile away from their living quarters, which I remember being told by Carmen that it was their staff housing, and I squint into the night as I search for any possible threats.
It takes about ten minutes to circle the entire house, but my mind is at ease as I open the door and give everyone a nod that they’re good to go. Evan grumbles something under his breath as he walks past, reminding more of Liam, but I don’t pay the words any attention.
He’ll thank me when his life depends on it.
Carmen is the last to walk out and I wait for her to hurry behind the guys before pulling the door shut and making sure it’s locked. I know that the guys have staff who will come here throughout the week, making sure things are tidy and everything, but they've all got their own key to the house.
When I got told that information I thought it was crazy that people other than the band had a key to their home, but it’s not my place to pass judgment.
The tour bus is quiet when I step onto it, aside from Evan’s form leaning back on a small couch, and he glances up at me with questions in his eyes.
Does he finally remember who I am?
***
He didn’t remember who I was, only got curious about me since we’re going to be working so closely together for the foreseeable future – as long as I can help it, we won’t be together for too much longer.
I’m more than ready to get deeper into this threat situation, make everything, so I can get back to Liam.
Tonight is the first show of the tour, which is ending on its fifth encore – honestly, I’ve no clue how these guys can handle the heat from the lights under those black clothes. The thought alone makes me itch under my black attire and I’m standing in a darkened corner, keeping an eye on the audience in the front row.
When I’m confident the show is coming to an end, I take in my surroundings to make sure there’s no one lingering backstage – I remember something similar happening to Evan back when Ryker was still in the band – then carefully make my way toward their dressing rooms.
I arch a brow when I notice that Evan’s door is cracked, remembering that he had shut it completely before heading on stage, and I hear the guys booming voices echoing behind me. Evan is about to step in front of me, but I grip his arm and yank him back.
“What the?”
“Your dressing room is open. Do not move,” I demand before placing a hand at my hip and slowly making my way into the darkened room.
Although there’s other security that attends the concerts, I can’t help but feel that this is all on me. No one should’ve been able to get past me, yet they did. I was so consumed in watching the way Evan strummed the chords of his guitar, how he seemed to lose himself in the notes with each passing song, that I didn’t keep an eye out.
This will not happen again.
There doesn’t seem to be any trip wires or anything in the doorway, so I carefully place my foot through the space and flip the light switch on. A funky smell comes from the room that would have most people cowering back, but I’ve lived through much worse in the army and I inch further into the room.
Right on the vanity, where his hair products are lined up, there’s a dead fish with a knife sticking out of and a note beneath it.
You KILLED it.
See you very soon.
Immediately, I use my senses to make sure the room is clear of anyone else, then I grab the walkie talkie hanging on my hip and demand for security to get to Evan’s dressing room.
“Who the hell did this?”
I turn to Evan, glaring at him. “I told you not to come in, that’s a risk to your safety.”
Before he can respond, security pushes through the door breathlessly and I angle my head toward the present left for Evan. “Get me all the security footage you can get your hands on. No one should’ve been allowed in this room except for me, and Evan himself.”
While one of the guards pulls his phone out, likely to call authorities since this was essentially a breaking and entering, I eye Evan who can’t stop staring at the dead fish.
Looks like the threat is much more real than either of us thought.
The worst part about all of it is that he could’ve been in real danger, and I would’ve never known until it was too late. Part of me wants to walk over and wrap Evan in my arms, comfort him, but the logical side of me knows that those thoughts are exactly what got us into this situation.
I need to keep myself under control.