Page 25 of Rush of Insanity

“The supporting band had to add two songs to their set to cover your ass.”

Judd planted his feet and glared as he wove the cords attached to his ear monitors inside his shirt and retrieved them from the back of his collar. “I’m sure they’ll love the additional publicity. But just so we’re clear, my schedule isn’t your responsibility. You’re head of security. Nothing else.”

Tank smiled. Fucking smiled. “Ouch. Harper really pissed you off, didn’t she?”

“Don’t. Okay?” He continued walking through the cemented halls leading toward backstage. “Don’t mention her name again.”

“Even if she’s in the crowd?”

His feet stopped without his permission. His heart, too. “She’s what?”

“In the crowd.” Tank theatrically gasped and placed a hand to his lips. “Oh, sorry. I forgot, I’m just head of security. Not Cupid. I’ll endeavor to keep my comments to myself.”

“Don’t be a dick.” Questions were poised on the tip of his tongue, yet he refused to let them out. Once bitten and all that crap. She’d walked away from him twice. His pride couldn’t take a third hit.

Tank’s smile increased, his eyes turning spiteful. “You know you want to ask. Just spit it out.”

He shook his head. Nope. He wasn’t going to ask why or how. He was going to take the stage, do his shit, then leave for Salt Lake as soon as the performance was over. The miles between him and Harper would stretch. And his ability to get in her face and talk sense into her would vanish. Just the way it was supposed to when you’d been castrated twice by the same woman.

“You’re not going to ask, are you?” Tank taunted.

“Fuck you.”

“Back at ya, you stubborn prick.” Tank shoved at Judd’s shoulder and helped to untangle the receiver cord leading up to the ear monitors. “She asked me to drive her here.”

“Why?” Judd grated.

“She needed to clear her head, or some shit. But I kept an eye on her. I think she might have fallen asleep while hiding in the back row of the top tier. Last time I checked, she was still up there watching the show.”

He didn’t want to ask. He hated that his chest tightened the longer he refrained. “Did she say anything on the drive here?”

“She umm…” Tank pressed a hand to his own ear piece and frowned. “Shit.I’ve gotta go. There’s a fight in the crowd. I’ll catch up with you when I can.” He took off down the hall in a run. “Get your ass on stage so these fuckers don’t get bored and start more problems.”

Judd glanced over his shoulder to the sound tech who hovered a safe distance behind him. “Am I right to take the stage?”

The man gave an awkward smile and nodded. “Everyone is in place and the band is ready. All they need is you.”

Great. He had mere meters to find the energy and passion to play to thousands of fans who paid good money to hear him sing. Problem was, Harper had drained all the goodness from him. He needed to know why she was still here. If there was hope.

The constant, nauseous churn of his stomach was infuriating and nothing he did nudged it from his consciousness.

“Fuck this.” He broke into a jog, needing to get his responsibilities over and done with. Tonight would be another mass of lonely hours, but he still craved the seclusion of his tour bus and the miles of uninterrupted road. He needed to move on and cut the ties that held him hovering close to obsession for a woman who didn’t want him in return.

“Judd, wait up?”

He turned, finding Kyle behind him.

“How are you feeling?”

Like I want to bite the heads off chickens.“Perfect.”

“Forget her. At least until the end of the show.”

He wanted to scoff, as if forgetting her, even temporarily, was a possibility, but nodded instead. “Find Tank. Tell him I want him side stage as soon as he’s available.”

“Not a problem.”

He shoved the in-ear monitors in place and found a brief glimpse of peace at the muted chanting. This was it. The time to fake it like a pro. He shook out the heaviness in his arms, sucked in a deep breath to try and calm his heart rate and strode on stage.

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