Page 16 of Sinner's Vow

Just a few weeks ago,I might have been flattered and maybe even a little tempted by this. But everything is different now, and it’s just irritating.

There is almost always someone. Occasionally men, but usually women. The ones who think they’re going to seduce a band member and end up in his bed that night. This woman, though very beautiful, flirts and tries to touch. With a heavy accent, she all but offers to do anything I want tonight.

I barely have the patience to be polite. Why be polite when people act like this?

But the show goes on, and I’m somehow not surprised when she’s in the front row, still looking at me with bedroom eyes that are so off-putting, it’s laughable.

So, I’m immensely relieved when Kennedy walks out on stage. And I smile. Genuinely. And I think I feel happy inside. The burden in my chest is lighter.

But there’s something a little tight in Kennedy’s expression when she looks at me, when she smiles for the crowd and I introduce her as my wife.

Shit. I fucked something up. I’m not sure what, but it’s obvious I did.

Now all I want is for the show to be over so I can ask her what it is.

Now that my memory is coming back, now that I know the secrets we confessed to each other, I feel this…excitement. Hope.

There is a reason I decided it was a good idea to marry her after one night, and I’m beginning to see why.

So, I need to fix whatever it is I said wrong.

I hold her eyes as we hit the last note, and hope and pray she can read my desire to talk in them. But neither of us can say anything since we’re both mic’d up.

Instead of agonizing over it, I tell myself to remember why I started doing this. Why I love performing. I smile at the crowd. I sing louder, give it more energy. My screams have more power.

I haven’t been doing Sinner’s Run justice lately. And I need to fix that.

And it’s working. Tyler is actually smiling. Owen always looks like he’s having the time of his life. And Gabriel gives me this knowing smirk as he drills away on his set.

It’s one of the best sets I’ve done in a while, and it feels damn good to be proud of it.

I’m sweating like a dog when it ends and I’m huffing for air as we walk off stage. I nod to Maddy as I hand off my mic. “You seen Kennedy?”

She shakes her head. “No, apparently it’s a day to go missing.”

My brows furrow. “What do you mean?”

She lets out an annoyed huff of air. “Gina disappeared too. She was supposed to be talking to some press, and she just decided to evaporate.”

My blood goes cold at that.

Kennedy is missing. Gina is missing.

“Shit,” I breathe. And I shoulder my way past everyone, some of them calling out my name as I go, and bolt straight for the door.

I pull my cell out and hit Kennedy’s name on my favorites. Holding it to my ear, I hail a cab. When she doesn’t answer, a curse slips over my lips.

“You look like you could use some company.”

My eyes flick up just before I’m about to pull the car door closed, and find the woman from the meet and greet.

“I have been watching you all night, and I have seen you notice me,” she says as a smile pulls on her full lips.

“Not tonight,” I say with a barely suppressed sneer. “Not ever. Excuse me, I need to find my wife.”

I yank the door closed and tell the driver the name of the hotel we are staying at.

“What the hell is going on, Kennedy?” I breathe as I try calling her again.

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