Fade came in, closing the door. “Her car wouldn’t start. I popped the hood, and her motor is for shit.”

“So my woman is out, walking the streets of Queen City with no ride?”

Fade licked his lips. “Yeah.”

Ice’s hand went behind his back. As he was reaching for his gun, his cell phone rang. Ice picked up his phone, answering the call.

“Ice, Vida dropped off the concert tickets for Gert…” Ice wasn’t in the mood to talk to Colton and was about to tell the brother to call back later when his words caught Ice’s attention. “And she brought back a friend of yours with her.”

“Grace?”

“Yeah, brother. She looked pissed and like she’s been crying.”

“Brother, you just saved Fade’s sorry ass. I’m on my way.”

“Too late. But I can tell you where she’s going.”

Chapter 22

Grace stood backstage, watching Mouth2Mouth perform. They were playing a benefit to raise money for a children’s charity. Kaden Cross was singing with many of the socially elite present, paying exorbitant sums of money to be given a private performance from the popular band.

Penni had given her a chair backstage with her two friends. Grace felt out of place sitting next to Vida and Kaden Cross’s wife Sawyer. Vida had introduced her to the two women right before the concert had begun.

Penni was the road manager for Mouth2Mouth. She stood behind their seats, watching the band perform, troubleshooting any problems, which needed attention. Grace had already witnessed her find an electrician when the sound didn’t come on as expected and watched her climb an extremely tall ladder to fix a hanging prop that wasn’t level. She was constantly whispering into the headset at her ear, giving orders.

Grace had felt an instant affinity for the woman. Her startling blue eyes rivaled Ice’s, but where his hid his emotions, Penni’s showed everything she felt. Her lively personality gave you a shot of adrenaline just being near her. Grace desperately needed that pick-me-up right now as she battled back the tears coming to her eyes while she listened to Kaden’s song. To write a song like he was singing, he had to have lost someone he loved. Right now, she could feel each of his words shredding an already-broken heart.

Sawyer took her hand. “It’s almost over. It won’t be much longer before you can get out of here.”

Over the sounds of the only soft song of the evening, the women heard a commotion coming from the back of the ballroom where the audience was watching.

Grace heard Penni’s raised voice behind her. “Get security to get them out.”

Thankfully, the show ended after that song, and Penni escorted them back to the VIP room.

Grace had mixed with several celebrities during her years in Paris, but never any band members. She expected them to be much wilder, yet they just looked tired and hungry.

“Have a seat, Grace. I just need to pay the local staff and we can leave,” Penni told her before a band member caught her attention. “Let me see what Ax wants first.” She rushed off.

“She keeps busy, doesn’t she?” Grace asked Sawyer.

“Yes, she does. She’s indispensable to the band. They’re all beat up, finishing up their tour before they get a break, but Penni’s still going strong. She left the energizer bunny behind three states ago,” Sawyer said, making a face.

When Kaden Cross came up behind his wife, wrapping an arm around her waist, Sawyer leaned her head back on his chest.

“Kaden, this is Grace,” Sawyer introduced the reclusive lead singer of the band.

“It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Cross.” Grace didn’t miss the flash of pain briefly crossing his face when she was introduced.

“Hello, Grace.” He paused then explained, “That was my sister’s name.”

“I’m sorry for your loss,” Grace said in sympathy. She still remembered the headlines when his entire family had been killed in an airplane crash. Their story had replaced her kidnapping reports and shifted the media’s attention to him.

“Thank you.”

Penni came up to their group as Grace was about to compliment Kaden on his performance.

“Kaden, I’m leaving now. I’ll see you next week.” Penni took Grace’s arm, acting strangely.

“Drive safe—” Sawyer began before her mouth dropped open and her eyes went over Grace’s shoulders.

Grace turned her head to see Ice, Jackal, Max, and several of his men entering the room. Vida’s husband Colton brought up the rear.

Penni dropped her arm. “I told security not to admit them,” she snapped. “Get Alec,” she said into her headset before placing herself in front of Ice.

“Get out. How did you get backstage?”

“Vida dropped off a backstage pass with Gert’s tickets. I want to talk to Grace.”

“I don’t want to talk to you!” Grace said, looking for a way out of the room without passing Ice.

“Too bad.” Ice picked Penni up by the waist and set her back down on her feet, out of his path. Penni tried to block him again, but Jackal grabbed her from behind, lifting her off her feet again.

As Ice moved forward, Kaden’s security rushed in the room. Ice’s men tried to push them back, and that’s when the men began fighting.

Grace took several steps back as the bodies went flying. Even the band members joined in, trying to break the two groups apart.

“Not the hands. Don’t touch my hands!” D'mon yelled before he sucker punched one of Ice’s men.

Ice bashed one of the security men who was trying to keep him from reaching Grace.

Both Sawyer and Vida shifted until they were standing in front of her while Kaden was trying to help Ax pull Max off one of the security guards.

Grace saw Penni struggling against Jackal, her headset falling to the ground as she kicked back viciously at his legs. She reached into her jacket pocket, pulling out her car keys and trying vainly to swing something at Jackal’s head as he attempted to hold onto her without getting hit. It reminded Grace of a game she had played at a carnival, Whack-a-Mole. Penni managed to hit him one time just below his eye before he ripped the keys from her hand.

Penni began screaming, “Fire, fire!”

“Shut her up before someone calls the police and fire department,” Ice yelled over Penni’s increasing volume.

Jackal tried to cover her mouth with his hand, but Penni kept jerking her head to the side, screaming. Finally, he turned her around in his arms and covered her mouth with his before she could dodge him.

Ice reached Grace just as a tall, blond man entered the room with even more security.

“Son of a fucking bitch!” Jackal jerked his head back, his bottom lip torn, and bleeding. His scarred face turned frightening, and Grace unconsciously stepped forward to help her new friend.

When she did, Ice had her, grabbing her in his arms and tossing her over his shoulder.

“Put me down, Ice.” She beat his back with her fists as he went through the crowded room engulfed in fighting. Grace managed to lift her head to see Jackal had Penni pressed against a wall and was saying something to her before two security officers managed to get him away from her.

Ice almost made it out the door with her before the blond security man stopped him by pulling a gun.