Chapter 4

Rebecca

“This is where you take me?” I asked, my eyes taking in the huge crowd of people—mostly women. No one was on stage yet, but they were already screaming. They were fucking crazies, that’s what they were. “To a-what’s the name of the singer again?”

Both Veronica and George looked at me like I was an alien or something, which is rich coming from George, since she literally never stepped a foot away from her house until she went to college.

“I cannot believe you have not heard of him,” Veronica huffed. “I mean, this is Tanner Lee we’re talking about here. He’s only the budding rock icon of this generation!” she exclaimed. I shrugged at her.

“I highly doubt someone so young could already be an icon. Let’s not get carried away here, Ronnie,” I replied. She gasped at my response, staring at me with a hand on her chest, and looking positively aghast.

“You,” she whispered. “Have no sense of aesthetics.”

“She’s a big fan of alternative rock bands though,” George pointed out. “I’m actually a little surprised you haven’t heard about him,” she continued.

“You said it yourself: I like rock bands. He’s a one-man show.” The crowd’s screams got even louder and shriller that I had to wince as I turned back towards the stage. Veronica and George turned as well and joined in with the screaming as the stage lights started to change color and music started to play.

I raised my eyebrows and watched as a guy started to rise up from the center of the stage, his back turned towards us. He had short black hair, and was wearing a black leather jacket paired with jeans, clutching a guitar in his hands. I tilted my head as I continued to check him out when he finally turned around.

Well, now I knew why so many of these girls were going haywire. The man was built like a Greek God. He was tall and muscular, his build uncommon for a man in his profession. The muscles on his arms were noticeable enough through his jacket, but his pecs were popping out of his white shirt, further confirming he was pretty cut.

His face was clear and all angles, his jawline sharp and pronounced. The bridge of his nose was high and complimented his thick reddish lips perfectly. But what stood out to me the most were his eyes.

The three of us were close enough to the stage due to yet another of Veronica’s connections, so I was able to look up and see how his eyes shone like emeralds glinting against the multicolored lights. The way he looked at the crowd was like he was looking at each of us individually, like the song he was performing was meant for us and us alone...

My trance was broken when I heard Veronica start to pant.

“Oh my God, he is so fucking hot,” Veronica gushed.

Couldn’t have said it better myself, to be honest. But there was no way in hell she was going to know that.

“You’re already engaged,” I told her, and she waved me off in annoyance.

“There’s no law that says I can’t admire the cake if I’m not allowed to eat it,” she reasoned.

“Guys, shut it! He’s singing!” George snapped.

I listened to Tanner sing a few bars, and nodded thoughtfully. The guy was pretty good, his velvety tone smooth and deep and original. His fingers strummed the strings of his Telecaster expertly, not missing a note as he crooned the lyrics to the microphone.

“He’s…actually really good,” I murmured, unable to keep my eyes from him. He snapped his eyes directly at me, almost like he heard what I said and I jumped in shock. He smiled as he sang and winked at me in amusement.

I scowled back in reply.

Ass.

I saw him glance at me a couple more times as he sang one song after another, until I started to feel cramped and heated. I tapped Veronica on the shoulder, and leaned down to put my mouth against her ear.

“I’m going to go out for a bit. The air is starting to feel stuffy in here,” I told her, and she nodded distractedly, her face still turned up towards Tanner. I rolled my eyes and squeezed my way out of the crowd until I reached the exit.

Man, the air was really thin in there. I took a big gulp of air as soon as I stepped out of the concert hall and into the open area. I took my phone out of my pocket, and saw a message from Chase, saying he and the boys were going to watch “It” while we have fun at the concert. I scrolled through my messages, and received another one from Spencer, who was asking me to check the car if he left his muffler there. I rolled my eyes and sent him back a text telling him he was such an idiot before walking towards one of the elevators. I pressed the button to go to the basement parking lot, leaning back and drumming my fingers at the side of my leg as Tanner’s song played in my mind.

The doors opened and I strutted out, turning left, where Jason’s Jeep was parked. I was crossing towards the slot when I heard the sound of footsteps running towards me, and I turned to look only to stumble backwards as something small collided with me. Little chubby arms wrapped around my legs, and I placed my hand on top of the kid’s shoulders in confusion.

The little girl looked up at me with a fearful look on her face, her chin brushing against my stomach, and her gorgeous emerald eyes glistening with tears. My heart melted immediately, feeling a compulsion to help this poor little girl.

She turns her head to look at something behind her, and I followed her line of sight, my jaw tightening as I see three men in suits and sunglasses chasing after her.

The little girl hid behind me, and I stood my ground, waiting for the men to reach me. I couldn’t see their eyes because of their shades, but the little cocky smirk on one of them was enough to tick me off.

The smirking one pointed at the little girl before crooking his finger in a come-hither motion.

“You,” he said sternly, as if his gesture wasn’t understandable enough. “Come here.”

I placed my hand behind me, spreading my palm to keep the child from moving. “What seems to be the problem here, gentlemen?” I asked smoothly.

“This has nothing to do with you,” he sneered, taking a step closer to us. “Let the girl go and run along before you get hurt.”

I quirked my eyebrow at him, my mind taking his threat automatically as a challenge. I looked down at the little girl, and waited until she peeked up at me with her wide-eyed gaze.

I nodded towards the big column before speaking. “Why don’t you hide over there while I take care of this mess, hmm?” She glanced at the three men before looking back at me with worry and I smiled. “It’s okay. I’ve got this, don’t worry. Now go,” I patted her back and she nodded, scampering off and hiding behind the column obediently.

I turned back towards them with a steely glare, all traces of my smile earlier wiped off in favor of a menacing frown. I cracked my knuckles against my palms as I snapped my neck from side to side to get the cricks out, and then rolling my shoulders to get the edge off. I didn’t want my shoulder getting tight after I kicked their asses, after all. These idiots looked at each other, then back at me like I was being funny. They didn’t realize I would be the one having the last laugh.

“You guys want to play?” I taunted, getting into position. I tilted my head and smirked as they raised their arms, fists at the ready. “Let’s play.”

I had already catalogued how I was going to end this fight before I even entered into my first position. The space of the parking lot was vast enough that I could take one down before the other could move between us to intervene. I calculated which one of these bozos was closer to me, and I hoped he’d make the first move.

His eagerness in fighting granted my wish.

He threw his hands out towards my neck, trying to grapple me into a chokehold, and I quickly caught him by his wrist and twisted my body so I was standing behind his back, pinning his arm awkwardly and making him yelp in pain. I applied enough pressure for a snap, and the guy screamed until he fell onto the ground out cold, his dislocated arm dangling in an off way.

One down, two to go.

The surprised looks on their faces filled me up with glee as they realized how grossly they had underestimated me. I threw a punch straight to the center of his face, breaking his nose. He reels back before rushing toward me again with his eyes closed, groping blindly. I bent my knees down and grabbed fistfuls of his shirt, and then throwing him down to the floor using his own momentum. I got back up and fixed the last man with a stare, watching the color drain from his face as he looked down on his fallen comrades then back at me.

I took a step towards him, and he hightailed it out of there without looking back.

Well, that definitely put a smile on my face.

The little girl watched the guy run away before emerging from her hiding place, a cute grin splashed on her face as she looked at me. I smiled back and called her over.

“You alright?” I asked, and she nodded, her fingers wringing the fabric of her dress. “Why were they after you?” she shook her head. “Why are you all alone out here?”

She bit her lip and looked down at her feet, not answering me.

“What about your parents?” I tried again.

Still no answer.

I frowned. Now what was I going to do? I couldn’t leave her here, could I? What if these two idiots woke up, or that guy who ran away came back with even more men? And I couldn’t exactly stay here and watch over her.

I sighed heavily. This was what I got for being too impulsive. What am I supposed to do with the kid now?

I heard a growling noise coming from the kid, and she blushed, clutching at her stomach like she could convince it to keep quiet. It growled louder instead, and her bottom lip jutted out as if she was going to cry.

My heart melted.

“Hey kid, want to go grab a milkshake?” I asked.