Tainted by Jamie Begley Read Free Book Online Page B

allow herself to become trapped in the spell he was casting over his audience.
    The band was the perfect foil for him . Each with their own talented skills, they had the audience divided as to who was the more talented. They blended their music and voices into songs that went from heart wrenching to full on rock, and had the audience dancing and singing along.
    “He’s very good ,” Sawyer reluctantly admitted.
    “He’s more than good ,” Alec replied. “He was world famous when he gave the business up five years ago. He has the talent to become a legend.”
    Sawyer had to agree , watching him. “Why did he leave?” Doubtful that if he was as big as Alec said that he would willingly walk away.
    Alec couldn’t hide his surprise. “You really don’t know?”
    Sawyer shook her head.
    “It made all the tabloids. He went into rehab for six months , and when he came out, he never returned to the stage. His backup singer, Jesse, took over. They’ve done well performing his songs, but nothing like the crowd out there now. Only half those seats had been sold until they heard that Kaden was returning; then they sold out.”
    Kaden removed his t -shirt on the stage and Sawyer’s mouth almost dropped open. His body had several tattoos on his chest and back. She had seen the ones on his arms; those were hard to miss, but the ones that covered his chest and back rocked the sexuality of his movements on the stage up a few degrees. Even Sawyer felt her body react to his sensuality, and she’d told herself that she hated the man.
    “He doesn’t seem the type to let anything control him.” S awyer turned away from the screen, noticing Alec didn’t say anything.
    “How did you me et Kaden?” Sawyer asked, going to the table to reach for one of the sparkling waters and one of the tiny sandwiches before going to the couch and nibbling on the sandwich.
    “In rehab.”
    She had thought that he had known Kaden from before. “It doesn’t bother you being around the band drinking?” Sawyer regretted her words as soon as they left her lips. She had never been insensitive or rude before her kidnapping. She forced herself to swallow the small bite of sandwich in her mouth. “I’m sorry. That was rude of me.”
    Alec studied her several seconds before he replied , “Alcohol wasn’t my problem. Kaden made it a condition of his return that no drugs were going to be permitted on this tour.”
    “Alcohol must not have been Kaden ’s weakness either then.”
    “I don’t think Kaden has a weakness anymore ,” Alec replied.
    Sawyer picked up one of the magazine s, ignoring the screen for the rest of the concert. She only looked up when she heard Kaden’s voice blend with a female voice. She reluctantly found herself watching as Kaden sang a song with the lead singer of the backup band. Her body constantly rubbed against his as they sang. Each time, the crowd got louder and louder.
    “Did she tour with Kaden before he left?”
    “No. From my understanding, they find a new band every tour,” Alec told her as he watched the two interact on the stage.
    Sawyer turned her attention away , not wanting to watch the two together, without being sure why. She hated Kaden for not letting her contact the police or to warn Vida. Sawyer got up from the couch at the thought of her friend, becoming restless.
    “How much longer?”
    “They’re finishing up now.”
    She half-listened and half-brooded as they did two more songs before leaving the stage. When they didn’t return to the room , she looked at Alec.
    “Encore.” Just as he explained , the band returned for three more songs before finally giving their goodbyes to the applauding crowd.
    The band returned to the VIP room ; their energy bouncing off the walls. Alec took her arm, seating her in a chair, unobtrusively out of the way, as several fans were allowed in the room to take pictures with the band members.
    Sawyer saw Kaden talking to a man with a recorder as she watched