Rock Your Body: A BWWM Romance (28 page)

“That’s between me and you mother.”

“You do. You do love her.”

Larry was not going to argue with her, but since he hadn’t said it to Kelly he wasn’t going to reveal his feelings to her daughter.

CHAPTER 23

Colin paced the locker room which was his de facto backstage. He’d never been this nervous before a performance. His bodyguard, a man named Hector, just leaned against a set of lockers.

The place held the smell of many athletes. He’d forgotten how bad teenage boys could smell. He could hear the crowd of screaming fans in the gym.

Tamra entered the locker room and her nose wrinkled. She smelled it, too.

“Smells like boy in here.”

“Not me,” he said.

She gave him a kiss. “You never smell this bad. You aren’t a boy anymore either.”

“I hope not, but I bet I did when I was a teenager.” He laughed, then sobered. “What’s the crowd like?”

“Ready for you.”

“Any sign of anyone suspicious?”

“Not at this point. Remember. I give the sign, you go out the back door. Hector will be behind the stage.”

“I’m a little nervous.”

“Aren’t you always?”

“This isn’t stage nerves. Those I can handle,” he said. “I’m hoping I’ll be relieved at the end of this.”

“All of us are hoping that. You’re doing three songs?”

“Yes, and no encores. I know.”

He always gave an encore, but he knew this had to be different. That unsettled him also. He was feeling as if he wasn’t giving his fans a full show or their money’s worth. Hopefully at the end they’d all understand.

Tamra glanced at Hector. “You got all that?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Let Hector walk you to the stage. He’ll let you go when it’s safe,” she said.

“Someone is announcing me?”

“The principal. She wanted the honors.”

“Got it. Female voice,” Colin said.

“You going to be okay?”

“I’ll be fine once I get onstage. It’s what I do.”

She smiled at him, gave him one last kiss, then left. God, he loved her.

***

Kelly had done two laps, checking in with every one of her guys in person. She had to make sure that everyone’s radios were on the same channel. Her blood hummed with anticipation.

This event coming off successfully would be a coup. Their reputation would spread and they’d be turning away business.

And keeping Colin safe, which was the most important part of this. An energy encompassed the gym like none she’d ever felt. She’d played basketball, but this crowd was more pumped than any she’d played in front of.

The magic of a big rock star. She stopped when she saw Larry and Sophie.

“Is everything okay?” she said.

“We’re good.”

Her gaze went around the room. “All this for one person.”

“He’s got the magic,” Larry said.

“I can’t wait, Mom,” Sophie said.

“No matter what, stay with Larry,” Kelly said.

“Cross my heart.”

They had to shout to be heard.

“I’ve got it under control,” Larry said. “Where will you be after this?”

“If we catch the person, talking to cops. Take Sophie to Colin’s house. No matter what happens.”

“Got it. Good luck.”

She smiled. “Thanks.”

Nice to have someone else on her side. She wanted to connect with Tamra one more time, but the show was about to start.

The principal walked onto the stage and the crowd cheered. Probably not for her, but for who she was announcing. Kelly pushed her way through the crowd to get behind the stage. She wanted to be close to Colin.

Tamra was already back there.

“How’s he doing?”

“Nervous,” Tamra said.

“We’ll get this person. We’ve covered all the bases and made it clear you two are a couple. I’m sure that was a hardship for you. Being affectionate.”

“Someone had to take one for the team.”

Kelly laughed.

***

Colin walked to the stage with Hector. The electricity of the crowd had his blood humming.

“They are all screaming for you,” Hector said.

“Yep. Doesn’t really mean anything once I’m done.”

“Good attitude.”

“You can’t believe your press or the screaming crowd,” Colin said. “You’d go crazy.”

Colin heard his name. He glanced at Hector who indicated he could go on stage. The crowd cheered as he walked to the center mike.

He kissed the principal on the cheek before she left. There were whistles. She blushed a little, then left the stage.

“How is everyone this afternoon?”

The crowd cheered and Colin remembered why he did this. He loved the performance. He loved the energy of the crowd. The adoration didn’t hurt, but that wasn’t necessary. No, he liked being in front of people.

This was his job. He entertained and no one would take that away from him. He smiled, glanced at his small backup band and nodded.

The notes of his first song rang out and he began to sing.

The words flowed over him and the crowd responded.  They sang along with him and he wished he could spend the whole night up here onstage.

Then he heard a sound that that didn’t go with his music. It took him another line of his song to realize that it was a fire alarm. He motioned for his band to stop.

“Hey folks, I think we need to leave. Please do it calmly and safely,”

Hector was on stage behind him, tugging his arm.

“No, Hector, someone needs to keep the people calm,” Colin said.

“I have one job and that’s to get you into the car that’s idling at the back door. Tamra will cut my balls off if I don’t do that.”

Colin frowned. He felt an obligation to his fans who seemed to be fairly calm at the moment. “Okay.”

Hector took him by the arm and pushed his way through the small crowd that had gathered there. Then he shoved him into a car and the vehicle was moving before Colin could get his bearings. When he looked back, smoke was coming out of some of the doors close to the one he’d used.

“Damn.”

He had no idea where Tamra was, but she’d been close to the door at one point. He didn’t see her in the crowd.

“You have to go back.”

“My orders are to get you away from here. I’m not disobeying them.”

Colin slumped down in the seat. It might be hours before he knew what happened.

***

Larry took Sophie’s hand and led her toward one of the doors. The crowd was going in several directions, but he was a big man. He could see where they were going.

“Hold on tight, Sophie.”

“I will. Can you see my Mom?”

“No, honey. My job is to get you to safety. Never thought there’d be a fire.”

Sophie coughed.

The gym was beginning to fill with smoke. Larry suspected that this fire was not an accident.  Sophie tugged back. He looked over his shoulder.

“What’s wrong?”

“I can’t see, but someone has a hold of my hand.”

The person must have been scrunched down and tugging on her. He didn’t let go, just moved closer to Sophie.

The smoke was getting thicker and
the
crowd was panicking. The principal was giving directions from the stage, but no one was listening. Then Sophie’s hand slipped from his.

He heard her scream, but couldn’t see her in the smoke.

“Yell my name, Sophie. I’ll find you.”

He didn’t hear anything, but went in the direction of her last sound. The crowd surged against him. He couldn’t move and then was moving backwards out the door.  They’d been close. Feet away from escaping.

His eyes began to tear and he coughed. The crowd pushed him out the door and he took in a breath of fresh air. He had to go back. He had to get Sophie. She was his responsibility.

He’d been given a job. Too many people streamed out of the gym for him to get back inside.  Frustration slid through him.

He waited at the door, figuring that people would stop at some point. Before that happened a firefighter put a hand on his shoulder. “You can’t go in. The smoke is too thick.”

“I can’t find my girlfriend’s daughter.”

“She’s probably at another exit. I think everyone’s out.”

“Okay, thanks.”

He walked around the outside of the high school calling out Sophie’s name. He felt a hand on his arm and he was relieved until he turned around.

“Where’s Sophie?” Kelly said.

“I don’t know. I’m searching for her. She must be in the crowd.”

“You lost her?”

“Someone was holding onto her and she slipped from my hand. I’m sorry, Kelly.”

“We need to find her.”

“I’m doing that. I can see over the crowd, let me look for her this way.”

He had to find her. Kelly would never forgive him if something happened to Sophie.

***

Tamra coughed and then took a call from Bruce. “You got him out?”

“I did. We are safely on our way to his house. He wants to talk to you.”

“Put him on.”

Relief swept through Tamra. She hadn’t seen Colin leave, but now she knew he was okay.

“You okay, honey?” he said.

“I’m fine. Just a sore throat. As soon as I gather all of my people, we’ll reconvene at your place.”

“I’ll put the coffee on and get some food started.”

“You’re the best.”

“No, Tamra you’re the best. Let me know when you’re on your way.”

“I will.”

She hung up a smile on her face. Which was gone as soon as she saw Kelly’s frantic face.

“We can’t find Sophie.”

“Where did you last see her?”

“Larry was with her inside. He said someone pulled her away from him. Why would someone do that?”

“Is Larry looking?”

“He went around the school the other way.”

People milled about on the athletic field as Tamar joined Kelly in her search. They called Sophie’s name.

Then Tamra’s phone rang. It was Colin.

“Can I call you back?”

“I just got a phone call. From Carie’s phone, but it wasn’t her.”

“Why is that significant?” Tamra asked.

“Because whoever is my stalker has Sophie.”  Tamra grabbed Kelly’s arm to stop her. “What?”

Kelly turned back to her. “Who is that? Have they found Sophie?”

“Colin got a call. Someone has Sophie.”

“They want to trade me for Sophie,” Colin said.

“Let me gather everyone and we’ll be at your house within half an hour.”

Kelly’s eyes widened. “Someone has Sophie.”

“Let’s find Larry and our crew and get over to Colin’s house. We’ll regroup and figure out exactly what the person said,” Tamra added
.

THE FINAL CHAPTER

Colin was thankful for tasks to do. He couldn’t imagine who had Sophie and why and of course, he would trade himself for the girl’s life. She was just a kid. She was innocent in all of this.

In the wrong place at the wrong time.

Bruce stood in the doorway as if someone was going to threaten Colin while making food. The company, even though very quiet, was appreciated. The cooking was actually calming Colin down. He always liked to be in the kitchen providing meals and snacks.

And he knew he had a large crew coming with Tamra’s team, and Kelly and Larry. He was making a quick pot of chili that would feed all of them. He wished for a loaf of bread, but figured Bruce wasn’t going to run errands for him.

Docta Hop was out of town for the night, thankfully. He might mind all of these people in his space.

“Any idea the number of people on your team? Just need to know how many to set the table for,” Colin said.

“Ten guys plus Tamra and Kelly.”

“That helps, thanks.”

The first one to return was Tamra. She didn’t even kiss him. She was all business. “I need your phone. I want to track that number.”

He handed his phone to her and then went back to chopping up onions and peppers for the chili. He didn’t pay attention to what she did.

“They have location services off so we can only get a range of where the phone is. I’ve called the cops. They are on their way,” Tamra said.

“You’ll have to bring them up to speed,” Bruce said.

“No, we’re not that far from the last house that Colin stayed in, so it’s the same police department,” she said.

“Why not just do the exchange?” Colin said.

“I want to know what we are dealing with before we make that decision,” Tamra said.

She was pretty sexy when she was in bodyguard mode. That’s probably why he fell in love with her in the first place.

“I’m just putting it out there that I’m willing to do this.”

“Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that,” Bruce said.

“Let me look up Sophie’s phone. I’m assuming she had it with her,” Tamra said.

“She’s a teenager, of course she had it with her,” Colin said.

The chili would be done in twenty minutes. He put the lid on then turned down the flame underneath. He could set the table now. He had to move so he could be doing something and not thinking about the life of a teen girl. She must be terrified.

“Got it,” Tamra said. “Let me put this address into Google Earth and see what we’re dealing with.”

***

Kelly had never been so terrified in her life. What if they didn’t find her daughter? Was Sophie scared? She’d tried calling her phone, but there was no answer.

Larry reached over and squeezed her hand. “We’ll find her.”

He’d insisted that he’d drive her to Colin’s. One of her crew was driving her car. He was probably correct in that she was too upset to drive. She could be of no use to Sophie if she were in an accident.

“I’m so scared.”

“I know, honey. We’re all here to help you. Tamra’s probably got her location now.”

He parked in front of Colin’s house in the circular drive. Kelly hopped out and Larry followed her.

“We have her location,” Tamra said. “I have the place up on Google Earth so let’s plan our assault.”

Bruce and Tamra were hunched over her laptop in the kitchen. Colin was leaning on the other side of the island, a Diet Coke in hand.

“Are the cops on the way?”

“Yes, but I’m wondering if she should do this without them,” Tamra said.

“Yes,” Kelly said.

“No,” Larry said.

“Larry, we’re trained for these things,” Kelly said. “And this is my daughter. I’m not letting any yahoo do this. I want to know who is involved.”

“Then we best get to it before the cops get here. They
’ll
  frown on this,” Tamra said.

“The rest of the crew was right behind us,” Kelly said.

“Was anyone armed?” Larry said.

Tamra chuckled. “They are all armed.”

At that moment, Kelly realized that Larry didn’t know the extent of what they did. He’d figure it out soon enough.  “Looks like there are two ways in and out of that place.”

“That’s what I was thinking,” Bruce said. “We have enough to cover both exits and still swoop in and get her.”

“It’s a suburban neighborhood,” Larry noted.

“Yes, it is, and most of the people will be home, but if we wait until it’s dark we can get in and out without any problems,” Tamra said.

“Do you realize what you are doing?” Larry said.

Kelly put a hand on his arm. “We know, Larry. It’s my daughter. I wouldn’t risk her life if I thought we couldn’t do this.”

“Let everyone eat and we’ll discuss the plan.”

“What about the cops?” Larry said.

Colin cleared his throat. “I’ll take care of them.”

***

Tamra listened as Colin tap-danced around the cops and apologized for calling them. He told them he’d  over-reacted and his assistant had called and she wasn’t supposed to.

The cops left, satisfied and the crew was able to eat while talking over the plan. She hadn’t even kissed him hello when she returned. He walked to the kitchen with his plate so she followed.

“Hey,” she said.

He smiled and took her in his arms. “Hello.”

He kissed the top of her head.

“I didn’t even kiss you when I got back.”

“That makes me happy that you noticed, but I understood. You’re in business mode. You’ve never seen me on the road. I can be the same way,” Colin said.

“Thanks for understanding.”

“Not a problem. There’s a crisis.”

“Thanks for making dinner for the guys.”

“I needed to do something,” he said. “I’ve been in control of my life and career, this feeling helpless is not fun.”

“We’ll get her.”

“You’re sure?”

“I know my crew. They are good.”

“You trained them?”

“Not all of them, but most. The rest came highly trained.”

“You guys don’t mess around.”

“No, and we’ll have to get out of here soon. Can we come back here at the end?”

“Please do. I always want you to come back here.”

She smiled. “Thanks. It’s still unnerving not to have a home.”

“You have a home. Right here. Please don’t think anything else.”

She cocked her head. “You really mean that.”

“I do. Wherever I am is your home. I want you to understand that. This isn’t some fling. I am seriously in love with you.”

How could she not love him back? She did. Was she ready to say it? “We’re going to go soon. Before the madness begins I have to say something.”

“Yeah?”

“I love you, Colin.”

***

Kelly overheard what Tamra said to her Colin and her heart leaped.  Tamra had finally found someone.

Now to the business of getting her daughter back. She was past the hysterical mother phase and now she was pissed.

Someone had her daughter and she was getting her back. Her ex was on his way to Colin’s house to wait for the end of the raid. At least he was trusting her to get this done.

He could have made a stink, but he didn’t.  He knew Sophie well enough to realize just how she’d wormed her way into the concert. Now she was riding shotgun with Bruce driving, locked and loaded. . They all were.

Thankfully, Tamra was also coming because she was better at the tactical part of this raid. Tamra would be in charge. Kelly was there as another body and to get her daughter to safety.

The house was on a street that was only a block long. Bruce drove past, then parked down the street. He used a thermal imaging camera to see who was in the house. “Only two occupants.”

“The person and my daughter. Good to know.”

“We won’t use tear gas unless we need to.”

“If you have to, it’s fine. No permanent damage, but it would scare the shit out of her.”

Bruce nodded. “Everyone needs to be in position in three minutes. No one moves until we are sure that our target is here and that we know exactly where in the house she is. At this point, it looks like the living room.”

Several affirmatives were heard over the radio. Kelly was thankful to hear Tamra’s voice.

This was going to work. She would hang back until they were ready to enter the house.

“I’ve made a visual. Target is in the living room with a woman. The woman is on a couch against the front wall. The target is tied to a chair in the middle of the room,” Tamra said.

Bruce got out of the truck and so did Kelly. She followed him to the house.

“We will go in on the count of three. Bruce, you stay with Kelly in case she needs any help,” Tamra said.

“Roger,” Bruce said.

He glanced back. Kelly put a hand on his arm. “I’m here.”

“Let’s give them about thirty seconds to a minute then we’ll go in. No need to be part of the confusion,” he said.

“I’ll do whatever you say.”

Her heart raced. Her palms were sweating.  She was pissed, but she was still scared for her little girl. She never should have let her daughter be there. Even if she hadn’t initially thought it unsafe, it was.

She’d live with that regret.

“She’ll be fine,” Bruce said.

“Can you hear my thoughts?”

“No, but your emotions are rolling off of you. Deep breath.”

She did, then heard Tamra count down.

***

Tamra was tired. The job was done. Sophie was back home with Kelly. Larry was staying over as was Kelly’s ex.

Tamra was still in her black gear. Her crew was going home. She wasn’t sure where Colin was.

Then he wrapped his arms around her. “I was a little scared for you tonight.”

“We weren’t in any danger. The woman was sick. She used Carie to get to you.”

“I’ve already talked to Carie. She feels guilty.”

“She shouldn’t,” Tamra said.

“Let’s go take a bath.”             

“That was out of the blue.”

“I know, but I have it ready upstairs,” he said.

He was so sweet. When they were settled in the water, he asked, “I wanted to make sure you meant what you said before you left.”

“That I loved you? I did. And I do.”

She settled back onto his chest.

“Yeah?”

He intertwined the fingers of one hand with hers.

“Yeah. I do, Colin. You’ve thawed this frozen heart.”

He laughed. She felt it as much as heard it, her head resting on his shoulder.

“Then let’s make it permanent.”

“What do you mean?”

“Marry me, Tamra.”

The answer was obvious. She heard it in her heart. “Yes.”