The windows were rolled down as I headed for the opera house. The smooth Chicago air was looming with a scent of urgency. The only thing going through my mind was making sure Joanna was okay. I was excited to hear her sing again, but I was worried. There had been almost twenty four hours between that note on my door and this performance, and I had no way of tracking her down to find her beforehand.

I knew Slate was after her. I could feel it in my bones. Another well-placed donation to the Civic Opera House would easily get me backstage, but at what cost? If Joanna had already been taken or harmed, my money wouldn’t do a damn thing.

Not when it came to retribution.

I parked the car and made my way into the opera house. The auditorium was packed and my box seat was waiting for me. Memories of our night spent together came flooding back. Memories of her curvy frame and her soft sounds and her gasps of surprise. So innocent, with no understanding as to what I had thrust her in.

No idea as to what my selfish actions had cast upon her.

I struggled to push our last encounter to the back of my mind. I could feel my cock pressing against my pants. My eyes scanned the audience for any sign of Slate. Any sign of his presence anywhere in the auditorium.

But the Maestro taking the stage silenced everyone and turned my attention back to the stage.

“Ladies and gentlemen, it has been an honor to tour and an even greater honor to make Chicago our final destination. Unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances, Miss Leone will not be taking the stage today. Her understudy, Lacey Bardot, will be playing the part of Liu for the evening.”

The crowd murmured with discontent as my form bristled. Not taking the stage? What the fuck did that man mean Joanna wasn’t taking the stage? Where was she? What was wrong with her? What ‘unforeseen circumstances’ was he talking about? Murmurs started to trickle among the anxious crowd and I shot up from my chair. My blood was boiling with anger as I buttoned up my suit coat.

I had to get backstage.

I had to see Joanna with my own two eyes.

I made my way from the box seat and traveled downstairs. I took the dark hallway to the left and made my way backstage, sticking to the shadows. I came upon a door guarded by a very heavy-set man. A punitive resource when it came to a man like Slate.

“Sir. The performance is about to start.”

“I need to see Miss Leone,” I said.

“Miss Leone will not be performing tonight,” the security guard said.

“I need to see her. Now.”

“Do you have a backstage pass?”

“No,” I said.

“Do you personally know Miss Leone?”

“In a way,” I said.

“Is she expecting your arrival?”

I was getting tired of this asshole’s questions. I tried to shove past the man, but he grabbed my arm and whipped it around my body. I circled out of the motion and threw my elbow into his stomach before I reared up to knee his nose. The man grabbed my leg and picked me up over his shoulder, trying to walk me away from the fucking door.

Until I slammed my fist into his lower back and caved him to his knees.

“Sir, you need to take your seat,” the security guard said with a gasp.

“While I appreciate your spunk, I need to make sure Miss Leone is all right,” I said.

But before I could make my way for the door, another man came out of nowhere and took me to the ground.

I grappled with the security guards as a commotion began to grow behind us. The door opened and I heard someone yelling. I felt an arm around my neck as a man tried to subdue me. I broke his connection and punched him across the jaw, causing people to fall back and start yelling out for more help.

Then a beautiful sound rose above the commotion.

“Robert?”

I whipped my eyes down the hallway and saw her standing there Joanna. With her flowing blonde hair and her bright blue eyes. The fighting around me ceased and the guards scrambled from their positions on the floor. I could see the faintest of grins on her face as I started for her form.

But a hand came down onto my wrist, stopping me in my tracks.

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” I said to the security guard.

“I think you might want to listen,” Joanna said.

There was a hint of a giggle in her voice and it filled my chest with pride.

The man let go of me and I straightened out my suit. I ran my hand through my hair, trying to piece myself back together. Joanna was upright and talking, which meant she was immediately all right. But as I walked over the men on the floor and made my way to her, I could tell she wasn’t feeling well.

Her beautiful blue eyes were bloodshot and the bags underneath them were puffy. Her skin was paler than I remembered and there was exhaustion behind her eyes.

She was alive, but she wasn’t okay.

“I have to say, I never expected to see you again,” Joanna said.

“A trip to Chicago seemed to call to me. Now I realize that was merely your voice.”

“I see that charm comes with the territory,” she said with a grin.

“Is this your dressing room?” I asked.

“It was, until the decision was made for Lacey to go on in replace of me. Now, it’s her dressing room and I’m merely relaxing in it.”

“You don’t look very relaxed.”

“I don’t feel very relaxed, but what can I do?”

“Have you seen a doctor?”

“I have.”

“What did the doctor say?”

I watched her face grow somber as her eyes fell to my chest. I clasped my hands behind my back, trying to stay as patient as I could. So many things were flying around in my head. Maybe Slate wasn’t taking the easy way out. Maybe he had poisoned her. Slipped something in her drink or her food. Maybe Joanna had been spooked by something and she wasn’t sleeping well. Something that would alert me to Slate’s presence in her life.

But instead of answering me, Joanna stepped to the side.

“Would you like to come in?” she asked.

“Are you okay, Joanna?”

Her eyes lifted to mine and I saw something akin to fear in them. Something had happened to her. Something that made her fearful and second-guess herself.

I was going to ring that bastard’s neck.

“I think you might want to come in and sit,” she said.