Chapter Sixteen
Carter
My arm was slung over Harley’ shoulders, pulling her into my side as we walked through the throng of people that were going about their work in the halls of the backstage.
Our positions weren’t exactly screaming professional distance, but I couldn’t give a fuck about appearances.
I couldn’t keep my hands off Harley even if I wanted to.
Besides, each step we took felt like we were going deeper into a dungeon.
We were back in the swing of things. It was the first date of the tour since she was back.
My gut screamed at me that this was the wrong move, and I couldn't help but watch every person suspiciously, but it was what Harley had wanted. She was itching to go back onto the stage, to go back to her fans.
The determination that shined in her eyes when she talked about going back and not letting anyone take away her life ever again, crumbled my resolve completely, and I backed her play wholeheartedly.
How could I not?
She was a force of nature. After everything she’s been through, she was determined not to back down. With each breath she’s shown her bravery, shown that you couldn’t let fear dictate your life. Not like I used to.
Still, that didn’t mean that coming back was a mistake. I was on edge. Ready to snatch her up and run back to safety with her in my arms at the drop of a hat.
As if she felt my growing unease the deeper into the venue we went, Harley ducked her head and pushed the side of her face into my shoulder and her arm around my waist pulsed reminding me she could do this. No one would take her away from me, as long as we stuck together and followed the plan.
I glanced down at her, “We still have time. We can turn around, get the hell out of here and back up the mountain.”
“Even though that sounds like heaven, I don’t think the label or my fans would look too favorably on me ditching the tour just so we could close ourselves in the cabin, hide from the world and have sex,” She tipped her head up, her mouth twitching.
“Hey, it’s not my fault that your pussy is like a sweet nectar and so addictive. I’m going to have to fight a hard on the whole day, and end up with blue balls.”
Her eyebrows hit her hairline, “You got off less than two hours ago in the shower.”
Fuck, the shower.
Just thinking about Harley sitting on the shower bench, her left arm raised above her head, palm flat on the tile.
Her legs spread as she caressed and teased her pussy, obeying my every command.
She was a panting, and mewling mess by the time I allowed her to rub her clit and lower her left arm so she could fuck herself with her fingers until she came.
I shifted, and pulled her into my body, “Just the image of your pussy weeping for my cock, and your tits bouncing with every ragged breath you took, while you screamed my name over and over is enough to have me hard in a second.”
Harley chuckled, “Should I apologize for that? It was your idea to watch me coming apart just at the sound of your voice while you stood in the corner of the shower jerking off all by yourself.”
“You should never apologize for something like that. In fact, I think we need to go back and do it all over again.”
Her pupils dilated, her breaths became shallow, and her pulse throbbed in her neck.
The look of her like that had me feral for her even more. I couldn’t believe that was possible, but I couldn’t help it, I glanced around to try and find the dark corner where I could fuck.
“As much as I love the idea that’s written all over your face, we don’t have time,” she pouted.
“Later then,” I promised.
She chuckled, “Look at me, for once I’m finally living up to the rockstar image. Planning to let get fucked in a dark corner.”
God, she was going to be the death of me.
How the fuck was I able to resist her for so long?
I leaned down and took her mouth.
Her taste and smell consumed all my senses. I never wanted to stop, not even to take a single breath.
“Get a room,” Finn catcalled.
I broke the kiss and glared at him.
Fucker.
“Like you didn’t do worse than this in these halls,” Harley muttered, redness blooming on her cheeks.
“Well, yeah I did,” Finn grinned like a lunatic following after us as we started walking to her room.
I pulled Harley into her dressing room and closed the door in Finn’s face.
The moment we were alone, my mood shifted.
“Tell me your schedule for today.”
She frowned, searching my eyes, “I have a sound check in a half an hour. Then meet and greet with the fans, which Cassie will be with me at. And then I have to get ready for the show.”
“You won’t leave the venue?” I pressed.
“No, I won’t. Unless you want me to sneak out and make you chase me to the hotel.”
“Please, don’t joke about slipping past your security. I’m on edge enough that I won’t be here today.”
Early this morning, the label called me into a meeting. I didn’t want to go, didn’t want to leave Harley’s side, but maybe they had a lead on who was after her. For that possibility alone, I couldn’t miss it.
Harley got up on her toes and kissed the underside of my jaw, “I’ll be fine. You put an army around me to keep me safe.”
I dropped my forehead to hers for a moment, needing that physical touch before forcing myself to take a step back, “I’ll be back as soon as I can. Don’t go anywhere alone, and keep your eyes open.”
She just shook her head and smiled, “Go. I’ll be here.”
I sent one last look her way.
God, she was beautiful.
I turned and walked out of the room.
Matt was already standing on the other side of the door, making sure that no one could walk in who didn’t have access to her.
“Keep her safe,” I said looking straight ahead.
Matt grunted, “You know I have her.”
That was the thing, I knew Matt. I knew what he was capable of, and knew that he would lay down his life to keep Harley safe, especially now that she was mine. But still, the fear bubbled just under the surface of my skin. I didn’t trust anyone completely. Not when it came to Harley’s safety.
I didn’t say anything else before I strode down the hall.
I pushed the door open, slid the shades on my face and got behind the well of the car.
“You ready?” Max muttered from the passenger's seat.
“Not in the slightest,” I grumbled but still fired up the car.
“Let’s just get it over with, and you can go back to your girl.”
Yeah.
Frank, the same man who tried to keep Harley on the tour a month ago, slid the papers over the tabletop in front of me, “See here’s the thing. We called you in today because we got some disturbing information.”
I looked around the conference table. Nine men in suits who looked like a carbon copy of each other were sitting around it, with Tim and Sloane coming to each end of it.
My gut churned as I reached over and took hold of the papers, “What information?”
Frank smiled an oily smile, a glint in his eye. “Two weeks ago, one of Harley’s tracks was leaked. And the trace leads to one of your devices.”
I scowled, my eyes going over the papers, “That’s impossible.”
“Now, Mr. Ryan," Frank chided. “We had put a lot of resources into trying to figure out who cost us money. And we don’t mess around when it comes to leaked music here. I can assure you we used the best there is. And it all points to you.”
Tim frowned, “But what would Carter possibly gain with leaking Harley's music? He was the one that twisted all our arms into stopping the tour in the first place.”
“Money, control,” Frank shrugged, something ugly swimming in his eyes. “He already has her under his thumb. A few more strokes and our Harley would be under his total control. It really doesn't matter, what's important is that we think about Harley, about what's best for her.”
My jaw locked, I had trouble pushing the words out, “And what would that be?”
“For her to continue her tour. To get back to work. There are a lot of people waiting for her to deliver what was promised. And that means that we need to eliminate distractions.”
“But-” Tim started but I held my palm up.
I pinned Frank with my stare, “You know damn well that leak didn't come from me or any man from my team.”
“Oh, yes, yes,” he waved his hand in dismissal.
“We're fully aware this is false. We hired an IT company to comb through our systems. It was an internal issue. But, someone did leak that song, and they tried to frame you. Which means you’re compromised. Your entire team is. And we can’t have that.
We need Harley safe. Focused on what really matters. ”
“Oh for fuck sake,” Sloan exploded. “Enough of these badly veiled accusations. Here's the thing, Mr. Ryan.”
I turned to look at her, “We would like to thank you for keeping Harley safe, but we won't need your services anymore.”
My muscles locked, “She’s not safe. Whoever is after her is still at large.”
“Oh, not to worry, we hired another protection team, they come highly recommended. It's just your services that are not needed anymore.”
Bile clawed its way to my throat, burning me from inside.
They basically laid out his plan for Harley.
Frank Gunn was on a mission to gain complete control of Harley’s life.
He wanted her scared. Doubtful of every person who came near her.
He wanted her isolated, preferably in a room somewhere where she could push song after song, making him stacks of money.
And I was an obstacle to that goal. Especially now.
I knew that fighting with them was useless. They wouldn’t change their minds, and I had a few pieces on the board they didn’t know about. I was not about to show them all my cards.
“Who did you get?”
Sloan scoffed, “I don't think that's an information that you are entitled to.”
“Humor me,” I muttered.
“Terra Security.”
The vice around my lungs loosened.
I pushed back and stood from the table itching to get back to Harley.
I grabbed the door handle when Frank's voice stopped me in my tracks, “Mr. Ryan”
I turned my head.
“You won't be allowed to enter the venues or her hotels, so it's probably best if you don't even try.”
I had a hard time staying still, and not leaping over the conference table to tear him limb from limb.
Without another word I opened the door and got the fuck out of there.
***
“What the fuck is going on?” Max demanded the moment I slid behind the wheel. “I got Matt's frantic call that some gorilla escorted him out of the venue.”
My morals ground together, “They removed us from Harley’s security team.”
Furry hit me from the left, “What?”
“They’re trying to isolate her. They don't care if she's safe. All they care about is her ability to make them money.”
“Fuck,” Max hissed. “Tell me you have a plan.”
I smiled darkly at the windshield, “They don't know about the five men team that's posing as fans, reporters and paparazzi.”
“So you still have access to her.”
I nodded, “And a way to keep her safe.”
We drove in silence for two minutes.
My heart thumped painfully in my chest, “If something happens to her… I'll burn their whole world down.”
“And you'll have backup.”
Max reached out and grabbed me behind the neck, “Nothing's going to happen to her.”
“Promise me you'll keep an eye,” I demanded.
Max scoffed, “I'll pretend you didn't ask me that.”
He muttered under his breath, “The audacity to doubt me.”
“I can't lose her,” I whispered.
“Where will you be?”
“Where do you think?” I chuckled. “Right by her side.”
“Who they hired?”
“Terra security,” I muttered, hitting the gas.
“Call him,” Max said.
I didn't want to. He was trying to get out of the game.
After what he's been through, then joining the SEALS in hopes that it would somehow soothe his demons enough for him to function normally, then opening up his own firm trying to keep people safe, to help them. To somehow prevent the ugliness of what happened to repeat itself. He gave years of his life chasing the peace that was unreachable for people like us, but he didn’t want to give up.
It all came to head a year ago, and he pulled back, staying on as a silent partner but giving up the field.
He was trying to live a normal life. And I was about to pull him back into the nightmare.
However, this was Harley. There was nothing I wouldn’t do for her.
Without another moment's hesitation, I pressed the button on the wheel.
He answered on the second ring, “Yeah?”
“Please don't tell me I woke you up.”
“You always do, fucker.” He mumbled.
“Trevor,” I swallowed. “I'm so fucking sorry brother, but I need you.”