Chapter Twenty-Six
The crowd clapped, chanting Spectre’s name during the standing ovation.
Her tablet computer clutched in her hands, Ryane watched the video, and though she had watched it countless times in the last few hours, she somehow couldn’t stop.
The audience went wild when Upton, Spectre’s drummer, took his seat behind the drums and began pounding out a beat. Phil, the band’s bassist joined the drummer.
Yes, now she knew all the band members’ names, her life had become a crash course in all things Spectre.
She held her breath as Knight, AKA Nash Cinder, came out to the stage. Though she was watching a decade old video, she swore the second the man she loved began to play the opening to the band’s mega hit, Shadow Light, the excitement from the audience vibrated through her screen.
Her focus purely on Nash, she barely noticed when Erik, their lead singer, took center stage and began to sing the rock ballad that made them all superstars, while perfectly timed pyrotechnics highlighted the beats of the music.
She put her hand to her chest and waited. Yes, she had heard the song many times. The original played, of course, by Spectre, and many covers done by various other bands. It was a special song, one that spoke of love, loss and of saying goodbye, and tugged at her heart, especially with what she knew now and who she knew now.
The first chorus ended and she held her breath when Nash stepped forward and went into his guitar solo.
His fingers traveled over the strings creating the intricate melody that went with the song. She had felt those fingers on her and knew what they could do, dared she say they were magic?
The man was more than gorgeous as he played, his long hair hanging down around him as he coaxed the instrument to do what he wanted. The skull ring he always wore when they were together shone in the lights. No wonder he was considered one of the best guitarists of all time.
The song continued, the band working together to create a memorable and amazing version of the song their fans adored.
The song ended, and though she knew what came next, Ryane clutched the edge of her tablet. Right as the band took their final bow, the set exploded, the screams of the crowd would forever echo in her ears and the tears streamed down her face as the four men disappeared into what seemed to be a wall of fire. “Oh.”
Now she knew that the explosion killed one of the band members, left two of them badly burnt and Nash with a permanent limp. A two second search on the Internet told her everything she needed to know about her Knight. How didn’t she see any of this before? How did she miss everything? No wonder he didn’t believe her.
“Here we are.” Patrick’s voice interrupted her and she jolted her head to find they were at the cottage.
All night she tried to find one Nash Cinder, from phone calls and going by the place he listed as his apartment to no avail. From the real estate documents she had every piece of personal information on the man she loved, the man who left her, the man who didn’t believe in her. However, she couldn’t stop searching for him, if nothing else to tell him the truth. Maybe she should have gone to the clearing first, but in truth she wasn’t sure if she was ready to look, see if Knight would always be there if she needed him as he told her before.
She put the tablet aside and stared at the small cottage on the Los Padres property that now belonged to her family’s business. It seemed like only a second ago she drove by here and pictured her and Knight making a home on this exact spot.
Out of all the time she spent thinking about the man, never once had she suspected Knight already owned the sweet little space.
Patrick put the car in park. “It doesn’t look like anyone is here.”
“You don’t have to do this.” She could barely even glance at the man who only a few hours ago was ready to ask her to marry him. A true friend, he hadn’t left her side since her father walked away from her. “Seriously.”
“You know Ryane, I saw the signs, I knew there was something off, but I thought maybe that was the way it was supposed to be. Maybe I thought we would learn to be a couple, I don’t know.” Patrick shook his head. “Then I heard how you spoke about Nash, the inflection in your voice, the way you blush when you think about him, how even with everything else imploding around you that you are determined to find him, and I know we weren’t meant to be, but that doesn’t mean I don’t care for you. I want to help.”
“One day, I hope you find a girl who truly deserves you.” For the millionth time, tears clouded her eyes. “I hope she earns it.”
“Well, be that as it may, if nothing else, I hope once we find Mr. Cinder you can get me an autograph.” He opened the car door.
Her assistants, as well as a couple of her father’s assistants, gathered around and at last she got out of the car. All still in their clothes from the ball, they appeared as if they either spent the night at an amazing party or spent the night searching for one man in a sea of millions in Los Angeles.
“Is there any news?” With Nash’s walking stick clutched to her chest, Ryane glanced over at Belinda.
“We have the analytics team working on any and all possible places he may be.” Belinda gave her a hug. “There is no answer from any phone numbers connected to him.”
“Well, maybe we won’t have to look much further.” She went to the front of the cabin and knocked on the red arched door. When no one answered, she peered into one of the windows. No lights, nothing. Taking a chance, she turned the knob and to her surprise, the door opened.
Technically, Windsome Holdings wouldn’t own the property until escrow closed in a few days, but she was done with rules so she held up her hand stopping everyone from following her, and entered Knight’s cottage.
No sooner did she step inside than she felt it, felt him. He was everywhere. The air swirled with scents of leather, his clean cologne, his soap, and everything inside spoke of Knight.
With reverence, she tiptoed around, taking in the comfy couch with the afghan, perfect to cuddle up with a loved one, the little nick knacks, the magazines on the table. Little touches that said someone lived there, this was a home.
On the wall hung various pictures and artwork. A portrait of a family, a man, a woman and a young boy that was no doubt Knight. An award for a platinum record, a painting of the lake where she first met Knight. Along the fireplace mantel were more pictures of a happy family and off in one corner were several guitars on stands.
Simply standing in the cottage made the man she only knew as Knight a few hours ago and the man the world knew as Nash Cinder meld into one person. Unfortunately, he was nowhere to be found.
After peeking through the rest of the cottage, she returned to her group. “I’ll be right back, I have to check one more thing.”
Once getting her bearings, she hiked through the forest, still wearing her heels. How did he walk this with his cane? This entire time she tried to relive every moment she got to spend with Knight, she missed everything, his identity, his injury, his art. All she ever saw was him.
She reached the broken fence that no doubt Nash used and gazed out over the lake, taking in the same view as the painting hanging on the wall. From way back, their two families had been connected.
Gathering all her strength, she crawled through the opening in the fence and wound her way through the trees. Her pounding heart shook her whole body, but at last, she made her way into the clearing.
She was alone, completely alone. No gorgeous man on a rock calling to her. No table, or couch or bed met her. Not even the slight remnant that two people met here and fell in love.
Her knees gave out and she collapsed to the forest floor. Off in the distance she spied the little squirrel that always seemed to be there. “Bye, little guy.” She took the bracelet of her wrist and placed it by the rock. While she could lie to herself and say maybe Nash hadn’t gotten here yet, she knew he wasn’t coming. He wasn’t going to be here and she could never return here ever again. No more fantasies.