Page 121 of Tortured Tones

She just sulked and turned away from him.

Cole straightened but his shoulders slumped. “Kids, huh?”

“She’ll be fine. You can’t let them get away with everything.” Hannah took Charlotte’s hand and led her out the door.

“Ava?” Wells’s voice filled my earpiece. “The guests have arrived for the VIP meet and greet. April and Blake have given the go-ahead. Can you and the team bring the boys, please?”

I pressed the button on my radio. “On our way.”

The band held everyone captive as they talked to the fans and had photos, signed merchandise, and made some girl’s dreams come true as they sang “Happy Birthday” to her. But no matter where Cole went around the room, his cool, charismatic charm held me hostage. Every time our gazes connected, my knees weakened, and heat touched my cheeks.

Only two and a half more weeks. I could survive that long. Then the US leg of the tour would be over. I’ve got this!

Three hours later, after the support band played, The Flintlocks hit the stage.

I stood in position beside Beckett, off to one side by a thick drape, watching the band perform. It was the prime spot to get a fix of Cole’s ripped body covered in sweat as he hammered his drums. God. I hated that he was so good. Hated that I wanted him. Hated that I couldn’t stop thinking about him.

Beckett chuckled. “You gonna focus on the job or Cole all night?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I clutched my hands behind my back and straightened my shoulders.

“Yes, you do.” His eyes glinted in the bright flashing stage lights.

“Yeah well...looking is all I can do.” I took a deep breath, let it out slowly, and gave myself a fair kick up the ass. Focus.

The crowd waved and screamed and sang along to every song the band performed. The guys played their hearts out, making everyone—including me—fall for them more and more.

The high radiating off the guys as they rushed off stage at the end of the show tingled my skin. They jumped around and hugged each other and high-fived their crew. But just as we were about to take them back to their dressing room, Hannah came running toward us. Sheer panic paled her face.

“Cole?” She charged through the gathering of people. “Charlotte. I can’t find Charlotte.”

“What do you mean?” Cole caught her arms. The fear in his eyes sent a chill down my spine.

“She’s gone.” Hannah trembled all over. “We were in your dressing room, watching TV. I’m so sorry. I drifted off. When I woke, she wasn’t with me. I’ve searched everywhere. I can’t find her.”

I radioed all venue security. “All personnel. Charlotte, Cole’s daughter, is missing.” My breath shuddered through my lungs. Had security been breached? Had Charlotte been kidnapped? Hurt? Oh God, no. Nausea flooded my gut. Visions of blood and mayhem flickered through my mind. Crap. Was this LA all over again? “We’re looking for a three-year-old. Shoulder-length, wavy blonde hair. Wearing black leggings, Burberry print dress, black puffy parka. Surveillance, scan the footage of the dressing room corridor, see who took her or which way she’s gone. Becks and Sloane, get the guys back to the dressing room and make sure they’re secure. Wyatt, get the road crew searching around the stage. Teams on the gates, restrict the exits and check every person that leaves. All eyes open, people. Stay alert.”

“Ava?” Wells’s voice crackled through my radio. “I’m leaving catering now and heading to the control room. I got this.”

“No, I have.” I didn’t draw a breath as I scanned my cell phone for an image of Charlotte Cole had sent to me. “I’m texting a picture of Charlotte to venue security. Fuck! There are thirty thousand people trying to get out of here. She could be anywhere.”

Cole caught my arm. “I’m not going back to the dressing room. I have to find her.”

“We’ll help.” Flint clutched his shoulder. “We’ll stay backstage and search.”

“The gate crew are monitoring everyone leaving,” Raymond, the head of venue security, said, vibrating my radio. “But the crowd is thick. If she’s in the middle of that, we won’t see her. She could already be gone.”

Fear swallowed the light from Cole’s eyes. “No. no. NO! Find her.”

“We will.” I placed my hand on Cole’s chest. His heartbeat thundered against my palm. “But until we know if this is a threat or if she’s just wandered off, you need to go back to the dressing room. It’s for your safety.”

“Fuck my safety. I don’t care about me. Just her.” Shock flitted across his face. Realizing that you’d do anything for your kid did that sometimes. Cole finally understood what it was like to be a parent.

“We’ll do everything we can.” I nodded. “You know that. Please, listen to me.”

“I can’t do that.” He turned and spoke to the guys. “You can go back to the room if you want, but I gotta find Char.”

“As if we wouldn’t help.” Slip stepped toward me. “The more eyes searching for her, the better.”

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