Guarding Hearts (Living Again #3) (19 page)

The crowd screamed for them as they stood and joined her in the front of the stage, each of them taking a turn twirling her in a circle and then bowing together. With that, the stage went black and she ran backstage, Luke and Jason right behind her.

“That was fabulous! I think that was the best show of this tour,” Jason said, grinning.

“I agree,” Luke said. “You were on
fire
tonight!”

Sam caught Ellis’ eye, who was waiting right where he always was, and she couldn’t stop the giggle that came out of her mouth at his expression. He looked like the cat that ate the canary.

Sam took a picture with the last fan, trying hard to keep the smile on her face. She was exhausted. Ellis and Sean were standing right next to the person taking the picture, as they had been all night. She hadn’t been more than two feet away from them since the show ended. She was grateful, because with a hundred fans at her after party, anything could’ve happened. She had entertained them with a private concert backstage, followed by drinks and appetizers. She had signed countless t-shirts, programs, ticket stubs, and even body parts.

No matter how fun it was to interact with them, her heart was heavy. Her tour was over, and with that she felt so was her relationship with Ellis. She doubted he would be able to come to Nashville with her. The security team escorted the last fan out of the backstage area, leaving her alone with just Ellis and Sean.

“Whew,” she breathed. “I’m so glad that’s over. I’m so tired. I was on edge all night, wondering if he was here.”

“You and me both,” Ellis muttered. “I need a drink or two after all of that.”

Sean nodded his agreement. “Let’s get ready to get out of here and head to the hotel. Your parents left already, Sam.”

“Any news from your dad tonight?” Sam asked. “My mom said that they were doing the brain testing on Amelia earlier.”

“No, I haven’t had time to talk to him,” Sean answered. “I’ll see if I can call him on the way to the hotel. There’s a ton of paparazzi out there tonight, way more than normal. We’re going to have to be extra careful with diversion tonight.”

Sam sighed. She didn’t want to deal with the flashing lights and shouted questions from them tonight. “Let me go grab my things from my dressing room. Everything is clear back here?”

Sean talked into his mic, then nodded. “All clear.”

“Okay,” she said. “I’ll be right back.” She walked down the hall to her dressing room and pushed open the door. Before she could even react, a hand reached around and covered her mouth. She started thrashing, but it was no use. Oh my god. There was someone in her room.

“I told you that we belonged together,” the voice said into her ear. She knew it was male, but she couldn’t pick out anything about him except he was strong and holding her tightly. His hand still covered her mouth, but she knew she had to do something or she may not make it out of here alive. “Where’s pretty boy now, huh, ‘Sammi’? He’s not going to save you because he doesn’t love you the way I love you. We’re going to be together forever, you and I. You’ll see how I can make you so much happier than he could ever make you.” Using his free hand, he touched her breasts and made his way downward, stroking her on the outside.

She started wriggling, making noise behind his hand. “Oh, you like that don’t you, Sam. I’m going to give you a lot more where that came from. Feel what you do to me?” With that, he pressed up against her behind, and she almost gagged at the feeling of his erection against her. She had to do something, and now. Where was Ellis? There was no way that he would think she’d take this long to grab her things. He would be here soon. Unless something happened to him, too, but what about Sean? Had someone done something to both of them? Did he have an accomplice?

“I’m going to take my hand off your mouth, but you have to be really quiet. Do you understand?” Sam nodded her head, knowing she was going to scream the second he released her. Ellis was just down the hallway. “Oh, and before you think that you’ll scream and try to get your boyfriend’s attention, I’d think again. See, I would much rather show you pleasure than pain, but I do have some insurance.” He reached behind him and pulled a sharp blade out of his pocket, holding it against her side. She whimpered. Could she scream in time, or would he stab her first?

“Here we go,” he said, loosening his grip on her mouth. “You scream and I’ll gut you right in front of your boy toy there. I’m sure it’ll only be a matter of time before he realizes that you aren’t back yet. But, very soon he’s going to have problems of his own to deal with.”

Sam closed her eyes, the room spinning. What was he going to do to Ellis? She was so thankful that her parents had already left, or she would have had to worry about them walking in and getting hurt, too.

He released his hand and turned her, and she got her first full look at him. He was somewhere in his mid to late twenties, decent looking with dark hair and dark eyes. It was his eyes that made her terrified. They were empty and menacing, like he really couldn’t care less whether he was with her forever or killed her right here.

“Why are you doing this?”

He laughed. “We’re destined to be together, Sam, and you’ve been cheating on me, whoring yourself out with that scumbag out there. I saw the video.”

“Video?”

“The video that’s gone viral, of you two humping each other back here earlier tonight. Boy Toy wanted to make sure you got off before performing, huh? That would’ve been even hotter if it would’ve been me making you come, then pounding the hell out of you against the wall before letting you go. I would’ve finished the job that he couldn’t.”

Tears coursed down her cheeks. There was a
video
of her in here with Ellis before the show? She looked up at the ceiling, wondering how in the hell that had happened. “Wondering how that happened, huh, sweetheart? Technology is wonderful these days. Amazing what you can plant a camera into.” He tapped the mirror of her dressing table, then grinned. “It was perfect for watching you get off. Damn, that made me horny. But I know you’ll take care of me later, and I’ll be sure to do better than he did. First, we have to get out of here.”

He handed her the cell phone that had been in her purse. “Call him. Tell him that you want him to go home, that you’re done with him.”

She shook her head. “N-no. I can’t do that.”

He showed her the blade. “You what?”

She backed away, holding up her hands. “B-but what about Sean?”

“You take care of Ellis,” he demanded. “I’ll take care of the other one.”

“Don’t hurt either of them,” she pleaded. “I’ll do whatever you want.”

He licked his lips. “You got that right, you sure will, and many times over. Call him.”

She took the phone from him with a shaky hand and dialed Ellis’ number.

“Sam! I was just about to come get you. What are you doing in there?”

“I-Ellis…” Her voice broke, and the man stepped toward her, the blade out.

His voice changed. “Sam? What’s going on? Are you okay? I’m coming in there.” She should’ve known that he would hear it in her voice. She heard him calling for Sean and she closed her eyes. He would be here any second…

The door burst open before the man could even realize that she wasn’t saying what he wanted her to say. Ellis, wielding a gun, rushed into the room, followed by Sean and three more security guys, all with guns drawn. The second she saw them, she ran towards Ellis, narrowly missing the blade as the man swiped it at her.

Once she was next to him, Ellis charged. “Put down the knife you piece of shit, or I’ll shoot you like the animal you are. How the fuck did you get in here? You’re done, asshole.”

“I’m not the only one done,” the man cackled. He looked at an imaginary watch. “Should be just about now.”

Sean moved around next to Ellis, as did the other guys. One was radioing into his headset for police. She knew they were stationed outside anyway, so it would only be a few moments.

Ellis signaled to Sean, who stepped forward and kicked the blade out of the man’s hand. Ellis tackled him, successfully pinning his hands behind his back just as three police officers burst into the room, guns drawn.

“I’ve got him,” Ellis announced. The officers moved in, cuffing him and reading him his rights.

Ellis turned to her, pulling her into his arms. “Sammi,” he breathed. “Oh my god. I’m so sorry. I should’ve never let you come back here yourself. Are you okay?”

“H-he was saying all these things, Ellis. If you wouldn’t have come in here…”

“I knew right away when you called me that you weren’t okay,” Ellis said, rubbing her back gently. “I had wanted to come in before to check on you, but Sean said to give you a minute, maybe you needed time to decompress.”

“I’m sorry, Sam,” Sean came up. “If anything would’ve happened to you…”

Sam hugged Sean quickly, then turned and allowed Ellis to envelop her. “Thank you, both of you.”

“We’re going to need you to come to the station and give your statement,” Officer Burke said as the other two officers escorted him out.

“Yes,” Ellis agreed. “Can we give her a few minutes?”

He nodded his agreement, handing Ellis a card with the station address on it. “We’ll get him processed and be waiting for you.”

“I’ll call her parents,” Sean said, heading for the door as well. “I’ll wait for you in the hallway. I’ll also figure out how we’re going to get out of here now without being followed. They are vultures out there tonight.”

Closing the door, Ellis wrapped his arms around her, trying to calm her shaking body. “Baby,” he whispered into her hair. “I’m so sorry. I wasn’t here. I left you alone.”

She gripped his shirt, tears wracking her body. She couldn’t even talk, and she was shaking so bad her teeth were chattering. Ellis walked her to the couch and pulled her onto his lap, holding her while she sobbed. He was whispering, but she didn’t know what he was saying.

She had no idea how much time passed before it felt like she was all cried out. Looking up at Ellis, she knew she must look horrible. All of the makeup she had to wear for the stage was probably dripping down her face. “Ellis?”

He smoothed her hair back and she wanted to close her eyes at the sensation, but she was too terrified. “Sammi.”

“H-he said something about a video, of us.”

Ellis stiffened. “What?”

“He said he had a camera in my mirror over there and recorded everything that happened with us earlier. He knew—details—that he wouldn’t have known if he wasn’t either here or watching it.”

His eyes widened, and she saw the panic take over. “T-that’s not all.” She sat back so she could look at him in the eyes. “He said that it ‘went viral’.”

Ellis stood up and started pacing the room. “Viral? What the hell? How in the world? What do we…”

“I don’t know if that’s true, or he was just a sick idiot rambling on and on, but there was a video, or he wouldn’t have known details.”

Just then, Ellis’ phone started ringing. “It’s your dad.” Looking at her for a moment, he put the phone up to his ear. “Warner.”

Sam could hear her dad’s angry voice from there. “Where is my daughter and
what the hell is going on?”

“She’s okay,” Ellis answered, watching Sam. His mind was reeling from what she had just said. A video? Went viral? That word, to him, meant it was sent everywhere, was all over the place. He felt sick. “We’re leaving to go to the police station soon.”

“You aren’t leaving to do a goddamn thing,” Samuel’s voice was angry. “Have you
seen
the news?”

His stomach dropped to his feet. Sam watched him, her eyes puffy and her face streaked with makeup. She was still the most beautiful woman he had ever known. “Well no, sir, it was rather crazy around here. What’s going on?”

“I trusted you,” he seethed. “You took advantage of my daughter and now her character is being defamed all over television! There’s a
video, Ellis!
”

The breath left his lungs with a whoosh, and he felt lightheaded. “A-a video?”

Sam shot up off the couch. “Put him on speaker.” He hit the button for speaker. “Dad, what video is out there?”