Guarding Hearts (Living Again #3) (25 page)

“Ellis, it’s me,” her voice broke, and she struggled to continue. “I miss you. Please, if you ever cared about me at all, call me back. Please.” She put the phone down and cradled her head in her hands. She needed to get a grip. It was the damn song. She never should’ve sang it tonight. Being back on tour just made her think of all of the days Ellis was with her, the stolen kisses, the night he made love to her, and everything in between.

“Sam?” Sean was back. She lifted her head to look at him. A sympathetic look crossed his face as he came to sit next to her. He handed her a cold bottle of water, and she drank it quickly, thirsty from her performance.

“That song was for him, wasn’t it?”

She nodded. “I know it’s ridiculous, Sean. I only knew him a few weeks. Do you believe in soul mates?”

He smiled. “Yes, I do, Sam. I think when you know, you know.”

“Do you think there’s only one soul mate out there for you?”

“That’s hard to say,” he mused. “I would like to, but there are so many people in this world. I do think that some things are meant to be, and you’re put in certain situations at certain times for a reason.”

They sat in silence for a few moments, and Sean reached over and rubbed her back.

She smiled at him. “I’m so thankful for your friendship. I’m also glad you’re staying on after your dad comes back. He’s meeting us in Oklahoma, right?”

“Yes.” Sean stood up, offering his hand for her to take. He helped her stand up. “Let’s get out of here. I’m sure you’d much rather like to rest at the hotel. Do you have all of your stuff?” He radioed into his mouthpiece that they were headed out, and he led her out of the room.

Sam allowed her mind to go back to Ellis leading her out of another backstage into the waiting paparazzi group, the night that he disappeared from her life. Sean opened the door to a group of fans and press. She kept her head down and jumped into the waiting car. Sean closed the door behind her, then got in the driver seat, after the man who had pulled the car up got out.

“Why are you driving?” Sam asked as Sean peeled out of the parking lot.

“He had to go in and take care of something,” he explained. She turned and noticed that no other cars were following them, as was normal protocol so they couldn’t be followed.

“Why are we alone?”

“You’re full of questions tonight,” Sean joked. “Everything’s okay, Sam. Just relax. I thought you’d like to spend time with your friends sooner rather than later.”

She lay her head back against the headrest. She was so tired. Closing her eyes and allowing sleep to claim her, she hoped that if she couldn’t see Ellis in real life, at least she could visit him in her dreams.

Samuel met him at the door to backstage and let him in, a small smile on his lips.

“Ellis, it’s good to see you,” he said, shaking his hand. “I owe you an apology.”

He shook his head. “No you don’t. She’s your little girl. I hope I’m the same way someday with my own kids.”

Samuel nodded. “It definitely can make you crazy. She’s in her dressing room relaxing.”

“Did Sean check the room first?” He couldn’t help it, he was back on guard duty.

“As far as I know, the whole security team has been extra vigilant. Go on in and see her. And Ellis?”

He stopped, turning back to her father. “Yes?”

“Don’t hurt her again. When you left, I didn’t think she’d ever recover from that. Everything she has done since then has been to try to get you to come back, you know that, right? The press release, the song, all of it.”

“I know, sir. If I have anything to say about it, today was the last day she will ever spend without me.”

The two men smiled at each other, then Ellis turned and hurried to the room with Sam’s signature logo on it. He didn’t see Sean, which was unusual. He had always stood outside her dressing room while she was in it. He knocked on the door. Nothing. He knocked again.

“Sam? It’s me. Ellis. Please let me in.” He heard nothing inside.

He looked around, dread settling in his stomach like a lead. Where was Sean? He tried the doorknob, but it was locked. He pounded on the door, calling her name. What if she was passed out in there? Or worse? And where the hell was everyone?

Without even thinking, he slammed his body into the door, causing the casing to splint as it swung open. He looked around wildly, but she wasn’t there. The room was empty. She had been here, because her things were gone. But she wasn’t there now.

Hitting Samuel’s number on his phone, he paced outside the room. When he finally answered, Ellis was strung tight. “Samuel! Where the hell is she? She’s not in her room! I don’t see Sean or any of the security team! Luke and Jason aren’t even around.”

“Maybe they already left to go to the hotel,” Samuel explained. “Hold on, let me radio Sean.”

Ellis continued pacing. Something didn’t feel right. She never left this soon after a show, as she always liked her time to relax, even if she didn’t have a fan gathering afterwards.

“Ellis? Sean said they are already in route to the hotel. Do you want the address?”

Ellis blew out a breath. Thank God. She was okay. “Yes, please.” Samuel rattled off the info, and Ellis repeated it to himself so he wouldn’t forget.

He ran back to the front of the arena and to his car, his stomach still a ball of nerves. He wouldn’t feel comfortable until he had his arms around her. Call him crazy, but he had this awful feeling in the pit of his stomach.

Arriving at the hotel in an amount of time he knew wasn’t safe, he jogged into the lobby and went right to the counter before he realized they would never tell him that Sam was here. Growling in frustration, he dialed her dad’s number again.

“What room is she in?” He didn’t even bother with hellos.

“Room 355. I’m in 322, right down the hall from her.”

“Thank you.” He ran for the elevator and pressed the button until it opened. He tapped his foot impatiently while he waited for it to get to the third floor. Once it opened, he ran out and down to the door to her room. He knocked loudly, but heard nothing.

“Sam!” He reached up to knock again and realized that his hand was shaking violently. He was terrified. Something was wrong. He pressed his ear against the door and heard nothing. Not waiting any longer, he ran to her parents’ room and banged on the door.

Ella answered the door immediately, and Ellis pushed past her, barely uttering a word. “Samuel,” he said, his voice gruff. Samuel stood up.

“What is it, Ellis?”

“Something’s wrong. I can feel it. She’s not in her room. No one is. Sean told you that they were on their way here, right?”

“Yes, he did. Maybe they’re in the lobby?”

“I was just there,” Ellis argued. “Where the fuck is she, Samuel?”

Samuel picked up his phone and pressed a button. After a few seconds, his eyes met Ellis’, and he saw concern mirrored there. “Sean isn’t answering. His phone goes right to voicemail.”

“Call the rest of the security team, see if any of them saw either of them. I’m calling the local police, see if there were any car accidents reported in the last fifteen minutes.”

Ella gasped at the thought, her hand on her mouth. “My baby.”

Ellis found the police number on his phone and dialed, watching as Samuel put his phone to his ear again. Ellis didn’t know any of the other security guys’ numbers, and they had switched out a few guys since he had left.

“Baton Rouge Police Department, non-emergency number. How can I help you?”

“Yes ma’am, I’m calling to see if there have been any accidents reported in the River Center area in the last fifteen minutes.”

“Hold on one moment, sir.” He could hear her typing on her computer. His hands were clammy and his mouth was dry. If anything happened to her, he would never forgive himself. “I don’t see any activity in that part of the city. I’m so sorry.”

He stared pacing the room again as Samuel took turns talking to the security team. Ella was wringing her hands, tears coursing her cheeks.

“None of the team have seen them since Sean walked her off the stage and took her to her dressing room. They said that he radioed that he was leaving, and he didn’t even wait for the diversion cars. They just left.”

“What? Why would he do that?”

Samuel shook his head. “He shouldn’t. He completely broke protocol and could’ve put her in danger. Someone could’ve followed them, leaving alone like that. Anything could’ve happened.”

Ellis picked up his phone again, calling 9-1-1. “Yes, I’d like to report a missing person. No, she hasn’t been missing twenty-four hours, but this could be life threatening. Her name is Samantha Kerrigan. Yes,
the
Samantha Kerrigan. She left the River Center arena about a half an hour ago with her bodyguard, Sean Culbertson, and neither have been seen since.” He gave the operator their hotel information.

“Sir, I’m dispatching a car to your hotel right now. What’s your name?”

“I’m Ellis Warner. I’m here with her parents, Samuel and Ella Kerrigan.”

“Sit tight. They’ll be right there.”

She opened her eyes, feeling like her eyelids weighed a hundred pounds. What was wrong with her? Turning her head, she realized she was lying in a bed, but she didn’t recognize it. Where was she?

Sam tried to think about what the last thing she remembered was, but her brain felt like it was working in slow motion. As her eyes focused, she could see she was in a large room that seemed like it was probably a master bedroom. She was lying in a big four poster bed. Decorations were country but modern. When she looked out the window, she could see trees and the beginning of a sunrise.

She was confused. The last thing she remembered was leaving the arena with Sean. It definitely didn’t seem like they were in Baton Rouge still. She remembered feeling tired and falling asleep in the car, but that was it.

The door opened and Sean walked in, a huge smile on his face. “Well, look who’s awake. Did you sleep well?” He was carrying a tray with a cup of coffee and a plate.

She struggled to sit up. “Where are we? Where is everyone?”

“Oh,” Sean said, sitting on the edge of the bed. “It’s just you and me here. We’re in the mountains. You slept the whole ride here.”

She rubbed her face, trying to shake the overwhelming feeling of exhaustion and confusion. “What are you talking about, Sean? We’re supposed to be on our way to Oklahoma this morning! What mountains are we in? Where are my parents? I need to call them.”

“No you don’t,” Sean’s voice was low, and her eyes snapped back to him. “You aren’t going anywhere, Sam. It’s just you and me now.”

“What has gotten into you, Sean? Do they even know where I am? They are going to be worried sick.”

Sean stood up and walked closer to her, then settled himself so he was almost touching her. “Oh, Samantha. You just don’t get it, do you? Tanner, he was just to throw you off.”

She narrowed her eyes at him. “What? You aren’t making any sense.”

He laughed, and the sound shot ice through her veins. “Must be the drugs I gave you to get you to fall asleep,” he mused. “You aren’t too quick this morning, my love. You liked my flowers, didn’t you? And where’s the necklace I got you? The hotel room was a nice touch too, wasn’t it? While you were whoring around with Ellis. Tanner was just a way to get all of you to think it was over. The only thing he did was go into your dressing room that night, act out that part, and just because I let him in and told him what to do. He did pretty well, taking the rap for me, huh sweetheart? I told you that we would be together, and we will be. From now on, it’s just you and me. I know that you believe we’re soul mates. You told me last night. I forgive you for sleeping with Ellis.”

No. This wasn’t happening. Sean? Brian’s son had been behind this the whole time? He had kidnapped her from the arena. That’s why they had left alone and he told her to relax. He had this planned all along.

“Thinking back on all the things you missed, aren’t you, my love? It’s okay, no one could foil me, not even the police. See, I was the police at one time before they rudely fired me. But I made enough connections. Tanner was a guy I arrested months ago. In exchange for me not locking him up, he had to agree to help me. Without him, I would’ve never gotten you here all to myself. And the great guy that he is, he’s going to stay in prison for a really long time for me too, all so I can be with you. I think we should name our first child Tanner, after all the sacrifices he made for us.”