Tainted

Chapter Six

Sawyer stood backstage in the VIP room. Kaden had let her out of the bus to watch the concert they were to perform. She didn’t even know which city they were in, since she the bus’s movements had lulled her to sleep last night.

The large room was filled with the band members as they waited to be called to the stage, Sawyer presumed. She had expected them to change their clothes for their performances, but they hadn’t, staying in their casual jeans and t-shirts instead.

The room was filled with different bottles of liquor, water and sodas, while food trays sat around as they each took their turn snacking on the vast array available to them. Sawyer, having worked in several restaurants that catered, knew the money that went into fixing the table with their smorgasbord of luxury items.

“Hungry?” Ax asked. Sawyer shook her head in response. He was the friendliest of the men. He was constantly trying to talk to her and give her reassurance that everything would be fine. She thought it was his own recent journey into Rick’s world that had him so sensitive to her situation.

Kaden, she had noticed, had taken a seat away from the others, getting up every so often to move around the room without talking to any of the other men.

“He goes into his own head right before a performance,” Ax said, taking a beer from the ice bucket. Sawyer’s eyes went to the television screen in the room where they could see the stage. A group was out there amping up the atmosphere until Mouth2Mouth was to take the stage.

“They’re pretty good. They’re new, but they’ll make it eventually, especially if they keep writing the songs the way their fans like.”

Sawyer nodded her head, listening to the soulful voice of the woman singing on the stage. She commanded the stage with her vitality and voice, drawing the crowd into a round of applause when her song ended.

“It’s time,” R.J. said from the doorway.

“Hell, yeah! Let’s do this,” Ax yelled, and Sawyer felt her lips twitch in a smile for the first time since Rick had kidnapped her.

The men filed out of the room, slapping each other on the back.

Kaden stopped in front of her. “Behave, Sawyer.” He didn’t wait for her to tell him to fuck off again. He simply left her with an infectious grin that she was hard-pressed not to return.

She was now the only one left in the room except for Alec, who remained by the door. “Relax, Sawyer. Enjoy the show.”

Frustrated, Sawyer took a seat on the expensive couch, watching as all of the men ran onto the stage, except for Kaden. Her eyes searched, but she didn’t see him. She did hear his voice, though. Soft, yet strong, he sang the words as the stage lights gradually lifted, finding him sitting on the corner of the stage with a guitar. His voice immediately drew her in and didn’t let go. He moved around the stage, commanding the audience’s attention as he played the guitar.

Sawyer swallowed. Jeez, the man had sex appeal in spades. You could actually feel the sexually suggestive song in your bones as if he was singing it just to her. Sawyer tried to draw herself out of the music, but couldn’t. Only when the song ended did she move her eyes away from the screen. He wasn’t finished, going from one song to the next flawlessly, but she didn’t allow herself to become trapped in the spell he was casting over his audience.

The band was the perfect foil for him. Each with their own talented skills, they had the audience divided as to who was the more talented. They blended their music and voices into songs that went from heart wrenching to full on rock, and had the audience dancing and singing along.

“He’s very good,” Sawyer reluctantly admitted.

“He’s more than good,” Alec replied. “He was world famous when he gave the business up five years ago. He has the talent to become a legend.”

Sawyer had to agree, watching him. “Why did he leave?” Doubtful that if he was as big as Alec said that he would willingly walk away.

Alec couldn’t hide his surprise. “You really don’t know?”

Sawyer shook her head.

“It made all the tabloids. He went into rehab for six months, and when he came out, he never returned to the stage. His backup singer, Jesse, took over. They’ve done well performing his songs, but nothing like the crowd out there now. Only half those seats had been sold until they heard that Kaden was returning; then they sold out.”

Kaden removed his t-shirt on the stage and Sawyer’s mouth almost dropped open. His body had several tattoos on his chest and back. She had seen the ones on his arms; those were hard to miss, but the ones that covered his chest and back rocked the sexuality of his movements on the stage up a few degrees. Even Sawyer felt her body react to his sensuality, and she’d told herself that she hated the man.

“He doesn’t seem the type to let anything control him.” Sawyer turned away from the screen, noticing Alec didn’t say anything.

“How did you meet Kaden?” Sawyer asked, going to the table to reach for one of the sparkling waters and one of the tiny sandwiches before going to the couch and nibbling on the sandwich.

“In rehab.”

She had thought that he had known Kaden from before. “It doesn’t bother you being around the band drinking?” Sawyer regretted her words as soon as they left her lips. She had never been insensitive or rude before her kidnapping. She forced herself to swallow the small bite of sandwich in her mouth. “I’m sorry. That was rude of me.”

Alec studied her several seconds before he replied, “Alcohol wasn’t my problem. Kaden made it a condition of his return that no drugs were going to be permitted on this tour.”

“Alcohol must not have been Kaden’s weakness either then.”

“I don’t think Kaden has a weakness anymore,” Alec replied.

Sawyer picked up one of the magazines, ignoring the screen for the rest of the concert. She only looked up when she heard Kaden’s voice blend with a female voice. She reluctantly found herself watching as Kaden sang a song with the lead singer of the backup band. Her body constantly rubbed against his as they sang. Each time, the crowd got louder and louder.

“Did she tour with Kaden before he left?”

“No. From my understanding, they find a new band every tour,” Alec told her as he watched the two interact on the stage.

Sawyer turned her attention away, not wanting to watch the two together, without being sure why. She hated Kaden for not letting her contact the police or to warn Vida. Sawyer got up from the couch at the thought of her friend, becoming restless.

“How much longer?”

“They’re finishing up now.”

She half-listened and half-brooded as they did two more songs before leaving the stage. When they didn’t return to the room, she looked at Alec.

“Encore.” Just as he explained, the band returned for three more songs before finally giving their goodbyes to the applauding crowd.

The band returned to the VIP room; their energy bouncing off the walls. Alec took her arm, seating her in a chair, unobtrusively out of the way, as several fans were allowed in the room to take pictures with the band members.

Sawyer saw Kaden talking to a man with a recorder as she watched everyone in the room. Slowly realizing that it was the press, she started to rise out of her chair.

A hard hand on her shoulder pressed her back down into her seat. “Don’t, Sawyer. I’ll pack you out of here to the bus before you can say anything and Kaden will just tell everyone that you were overwhelmed coming so close to him.”

Sawyer bit her lip, debating her chance of success. She didn’t want to be trapped in the bus during the concerts they performed. She couldn’t escape from the secure bus. Her only chance was during these concerts. She was going to have to play it smart and lull them into a false sense of security. They had two more concerts this week; a better chance would surely become available.

When Kaden went to the table, grabbing a bottled water, Sawyer watched as he drank the bottle. He still hadn’t put his shirt back on. The lead singer from the other band came into the room with her band following, each of them laughing and talking familiarly with Kaden’s band.

The woman singer went to Kaden, who was still standing at the table. Her arm circling his waist as she pressed herself against him, whispering into his ear. Sawyer tore her eyes away, not having to guess what the woman was saying to him. When she had worked at the restaurant, she’d served at the bar. She had seen women letting men know when they were available numerous times, and that was exactly what the woman was doing.

Feeling Alec watching her, she moved her attention toward the others. Sin was talking to one of the women who had a backstage pass. His dark hair was tumbled, but his face was lit up with excitement. All the men had the same expression on their faces; however, Ax and D-mon were both antsy, roaming the room. Sawyer thought the excitement of the show, stoking the audience, had left them feeling a rush; it was probably hard to come down from.

People came and went as the band took turns signing autographs and taking pictures. Becoming bored, Sawyer stood up.

“It’s almost over; another ten minutes and we’ll go back to the bus,” Alec informed her. Going back to the confining space of the bus was nothing to look forward to, she thought.

“I need to go to the restroom.”

“Through that door.” Alec pointed to the doorway at the back of the room, but he didn’t make a move to follow her toward the restroom. Disappointed, Sawyer came to the conclusion that there must not be a way for her to sneak out.

Going through the doorway, she saw the restroom door to the left. Opening the door, she came to a stop. Sin had a woman pressed up against the wall, her lower body bared and her skirt pulled to her waist as he fucked her. Both of them turned toward her, hearing her gasp. Hastily, her face flaming in embarrassment, she stepped back out, closing the door quickly. Rushing back out into the crowded room, she resumed her seat, feeling several curious eyes on her.

“That was quick,” Alec said, returning to her side.

“It was occupied.” His eyes narrowed on her before an amused smile played across his lips. His eyes searched the room before coming back to hers.

“I take it Sin was getting better acquainted with one of the locals?”

Sawyer gave a brief nod, twisting her hands together, and then looked away at his amusement and found her eyes caught by Kaden’s. The woman was still hanging onto him, but her smile appeared more forced.

“Let’s go,” Alec said, taking her arm. Sawyer didn’t argue, wanting to get away from the embarrassing situation and Kaden’s watchful eyes.

The hallway was busy with fans and workers moving around. Alec led her to a series of heavy doors before coming to a set of double steel doors where she recognized two of his men who opened them. Hurriedly, he maneuvered her through the crowd with determination, not letting any of the fans jostle her. Sawyer thought of jerking away and making a run for it, but almost as if he read her mind, his hand tightened on her arm, propelling her forward. Before she could come up with another plan, she found herself back on the bus.

“Do you want to sit in here or go back into the bedroom?”

At least he gave me a choice, she thought sarcastically, but not wanting to face Sin so soon after getting a bird’s eye view of his cock, she was ready to go back into the bedroom.

Without answering him, she moved toward the back of the bus, going inside the room. She heard the lock behind her when the door closed. Regretting not being able to think of a way to escape, she felt like a failure letting Vida down.

Hearing the door unlock then open later, she looked toward it, seeing Kaden come into the bedroom.

“The other shower is busy,” he explained his presence.

“Help yourself,” Sawyer said, waving her hand toward the bathroom.

His lips quirked at her giving him permission to use his own bathroom. She watched as he went to the closet and pulled out his bag, removing clothing before going into the bathroom. Sawyer then turned on the television to drown out the sound of him in the shower. Her imagination saw him removing his clothes and stepping into the surprisingly large shower.

Twining a lock of her hair around her finger, she forced herself to choose a program as she felt the bus begin to move. She didn’t ask where they were going next, because she knew it was taking her further and further away from Vida.

Sawyer’s eyes grew heavy and she lay down on her side, curling comfortably into the mattress. It was sometime later, when the bathroom door opened, that she was jerked awake.

“Do you need anything?”

“You could stop the bus and let me off,” she said, sitting up.

His lips tightened. “I was talking about something to eat or drink.”

“I know what you meant,” Sawyer snapped. “How long are you going to do this, Kaden? You’re holding me prisoner against my will. Eventually you’ll have to let me go, and then you and your entire band are going to go to jail,” she said angrily.

“I don’t think it’s too smart telling me that, do you?” Kaden crossed his arms over his chest, watching her reaction.

Sawyer forced herself not to let his attitude intimidate her. “Let me go, Kaden, and I won’t say a thing to the police. I promise.” Sawyer meant it; she just wanted her freedom. She would tell the police about the other women, but she would keep Kaden and his band out of it if he would let her go.

“Somehow, I just don’t believe you, Sawyer.” When she opened her mouth to explain, he cut her off. “Sawyer, I told you what Redman said. I’m keeping you for you and your friend’s safety.”

“I don’t need your help.” At his look of disbelief, she corrected herself. “I just want to get Vida and disappear.”

“How? You said you worked as a waitress; how are you just going to disappear from a group of men involved in a sex ring who want you dead?”

Sawyer winced at his blunt words.

“V—Vida and I have been saving. We have almost five thousand dollars...” She turned red. She was aware five thousand wasn’t a large sum of money to him, but it was a fortune to her and Vida.

“Five thousand isn’t going to be enough to hide you from men like Redman. They’ll have you in a week. This time, they’ll have your friend, Vida, also. It will take weeks, if not months, for the police to build a case. As soon as you tried to get a job when your money ran out, they would have you.”

She hadn’t thought of that, assuming that the police would make an immediate arrest. She had heard that it took time to gather evidence and prosecute criminals; however, she hadn’t thought about it in regards to her and Vida’s safety. She was going to have to start thinking smarter if they stood any chance of surviving.