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“Thanks,” Jade said.
“You’re welcome.” She smiled sweetly and walked to the kitchen again.
They dug into their food.
Jade moaned after the first bite of her burger. “This is the best burger I’ve ever had. OMG.”
Ryker laughed. “I’m glad you’re enjoying it.” He took the first bite of his steak.
“I am.” She popped a crispy fry into her mouth. “How’s your steak?”
He gave her a thumbs-up while he chewed. After he swallowed, he said, “Excellent.”
They enjoyed the rest of their meal together and got to know each other better. Before Jade even realized how much time passed, it was time to head back for soundcheck. Ryker paid for their food, tipped the waitress well, and ordered an Uber to take them back to the venue so she could prepare for that night’s show.
The day out with Ryker was the most fun she’d had in a long time. She looked forward to spending more time with him whenever she got the opportunity.
Chapter 11
Ryker
Jade rocked at being a rock star.
Before taking the job, Ryker knew that her band did well, but he hadn’t followed them. Lovely Oblivion was a punk band; Ryker was more into hard rock and metal. He regretted that. Lovely Oblivion would now be part of his permanent playlist.
Jade glowed with energy during a performance. Drumming looked like second nature for her, and she seemed to lose herself to the music. The colorful swirls of her hair under the stage lights combined with the frenzied movements from her arms made watching her play an almost hypnotizing experience.
The fans adored her for a reason.
Ryker adored her, too.
Over the past few weeks, they’d built an easy friendship.
Ryker worked out with Jade every morning — mainly running or kickboxing, sometimes including self-defense lessons — in whatever city the bus stopped that day.
Ryker escorted Jade to all the necessary tasks for the tour — the typical interviews, soundchecks, press releases, autograph signings, and so forth — but they also made time to play tourists, which always made Jade beam with excitement. Jade was a genuinely good person, even with her need to argue and tease, so being her personal bodyguard was no hardship.
At night, Ryker slept nearby, either in a bunk on the bus or on the couches in the hotel suites. Someone else from the security team always stood guard outside the hotel door as backup.
Diesel was healed and back on duty. Drake would still be out for a while because the doctor ordered physical therapy for his arm.
So far, all was quiet on the stalker front — which worried Ryker, because that meant Rosé was planning something again.
Ryker settled on the couch in the latest hotel suite. The band slept in separate rooms in the suite, with Jade’s room being closest to the common area where Ryker slept.
The blanket and pillows provided by the hotel were cozy enough, and Ryker started to drift off.
When he heard the whimpering, he thought it was a dream. Then he heard a shriek, and someone called out, “No!”
Ryker was on his feet before he even opened his eyes, grabbed his pistol from the coffee table, and took off running toward Jade’s room.
He burst through the door and flicked the light on, gun drawn and fully ready to shoot or kick someone’s ass. His heartbeat thudded wildly.
When he looked around the room he found... Jade.
She tossed and turned on the bed, whimpering and crying in her sleep. She mumbled, “No. Lyra.”
Ryker breathed a sigh of relief. It was only Jade. Only a nightmare.
