Riot (Predators MC 1)

Ice glared at Griffin and Fade again. “Find out why her car is still outside, and this time, you better not fucking let me down. Jackal, find her.”

Ice pulled his cell phone from his pocket, going into the club office and slamming the door behind him. He had to get away from both men before he pulled his gun out and shot them.

He called Grace, not surprised she didn’t answer. He texted her, asking her to call him. The only thing he could do now was wait until she answered him or Jackal found her.

Ice ran his hand through his hair before losing his control and kicking his chair across the room when a knock sounded on the door. “Come in.”

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.