Total pages in book: 11
Estimated words: 10569 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 53(@200wpm)___ 42(@250wpm)___ 35(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 10569 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 53(@200wpm)___ 42(@250wpm)___ 35(@300wpm)
I take my eyes off the crowd for a few minutes and look at the woman that is singing life into the room. She’s beautiful anyway, but on stage, in her element, she is a sight to see. She’s rocking her hips side to side, pumping her arm in the air as she sings about love, loss, and picking yourself back up.
The band as a whole are phenomenal, but it’s Melody that everyone relates to. She has a way that makes you feel as if you’re the only person in the whole damn room and she’s singing every word to you. Transfixed, I can’t look away, and I know I’m not the only one.
Reluctantly, I force my gaze back to the crowd. After five years of doing this, I can easily point out the men that I’m going to forcibly remove from the premises before the set ends. The guys that are here to appreciate the music are fine. It’s the ones that get ideas in their head that they can touch Melody that are the problem. I’ve managed to keep her safe all this time, and I’m not letting up now.
I walk out from the side of the stage to the front of the pit area, putting myself between the crowd and Melody. While everyone is looking up at her, I’m watching the crowd in front of me. I know the instant there’s a problem when a man starts making his way through the crowd. He’s completely focused on Melody, and he doesn’t see me preparing for whatever stupid move he’s about to make. I watch as he looks at the barricade holding him back, and it’s like I can read his mind; he thinks he can jump it. Just as he climbs up, I come out from the shadows of the stage and grab him by the throat and help him over. His eyes are huge in his face, and I’m not sure if it’s the shock of me with my hands on him or that he’s cut off from oxygen with my hand at his throat.
Regardless, I pull him to the side of the stage where I meet Zeke, another guard, and hand the drunk asshole over. I keep it short and sweet. “Search him, get his info, and put him on the list.”
As soon as I see Zeke’s got him, I go back to my post against the stage but not before catching Melody’s eye. She’s looking down at me with wide eyes, and I give her a reassuring smile. Her cheeks bloom a pretty pink, and I’m not sure if it’s because of the heat of the room or what, but I love when she blushes. I almost stumble on my feet with her eyes on me. She’s so fuckin’ beautiful, and it’s getting harder and harder every day to keep my feelings to myself. I need to be professional because her safety is at stake.
She keeps singing, not missing a beat with her long brown ponytail swinging side to side, and I take my spot in front of her by the stage. I keep scanning the crowd, staying alert even though I’m exhausted from last night. One way to tell if it was a good show is the way the freaks come out on social media. As Melody’s personal bodyguard, it’s my job to keep her safe, and that includes from all cyber stalkers, from the men that DM her, send her flowers and post comments online about what they want to do with her or to her. I was up most the night, scrubbing Melody’s and Velvet Vibe’s social media.
She already exited the stage once and came back for an encore, so I know this is it. As Melody starts to sing her last song, I’m double-checking everything and making sure the exit to backstage is clear. Besides Zeke, there are three other women on the detail, and they’re good guards, all with military background. I trust them all with Melody, but I hardly ever let her out of my sight.
The crowd is going wild, and as she gets to the last note, I’ve made my way to the exit. I watch her walk toward me, and she’s sweaty, her eyes are glowing like she’s on some kind of high even though she never touches drugs, and she’s practically floating toward me. I love seeing her like this.
As soon as she reaches me, I put my hand on her lower back and walk with her to the dressing room. I already had all the flowers removed and the perimeter checked and double-checked. I know she’s safe in there, but I have Kayla, another guard, go in with her while she gets changed.
I’m standing outside her door with Samantha, my second in command, going over the itinerary for the next day when Melody comes out of the door.