Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 62811 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 314(@200wpm)___ 251(@250wpm)___ 209(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 62811 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 314(@200wpm)___ 251(@250wpm)___ 209(@300wpm)
“Introductions,” Dash said, clearing his throat. “Everyone, meet our potential new drummer, Axel Forrester. Axel, meet my family.”
Linc stood, introducing himself and everyone else at the table by name until he came to Cassidy and nodded at Axel.
“And this is my sister, Cassidy,” he said to Dash, whose gaze was lingering on the pretty blonde.
Something Axel noticed if his scowl was any indication. “My sister,” he repeated to Dash.
Everyone at the table heard the meaning behind those words. Cassidy was off-limits to Dash. Given his reputation both in the media and in reality, Xander didn’t blame Cassidy’s brother. At all.
Cassidy treated her sibling to an elbow in his side.
“Oompf. What was that for?” Axel grumbled.
She glanced up at him and scowled but didn’t answer his question. Instead, blush on her cheeks, she pulled away from her brother and sat back down in her seat.
“Interesting,” Xander heard Sasha whisper to her friend.
“Shut up or you’ll get an elbow next,” Cassidy muttered.
The rest of the night passed much the same way. Joking, fun, relaxing, and drinking. Xander appreciated his family and knew how fortunate he was to have so many siblings who got along in their own way.
Cassidy rose from her seat. “I’m going to get going. I have a headache,” she said.
Before anyone could reply, her brother stood. “I’ll walk you downstairs. Your security is waiting, right?”
She nodded. “He’s new but seems nice.” She turned to Sasha and hugged her good-night, then said goodbye to everyone at the table.
After she’d left, Xander put an arm around Sasha’s shoulder. “You okay?”
She nodded. “Getting a little tired but I’m good.”
He leaned in and nibbled on her earlobe, ignoring the chatter surrounding them.
Laughing, she turned and whispered in his ear. “Stop that. I can’t climb onto your lap here, so cut it out.”
His dick hardened at the visual and he was ready to get the hell out of there. “Time to go,” he muttered, grasping her hand.
Her eyes gleamed with awareness as she rose to her feet. He texted Jared, who was in the car, and let him know they were on their way out.
As they were saying their goodbyes, a yell sounded from the outer room, and everyone jerked their heads to see what was wrong. Xander’s gut churned as he instinctively grabbed Sasha around the waist and held her in place.
“Call 911!” a male voice sounding like Axel shouted.
Sasha began struggling against him. “It’s Cass. I know it is. Let me go see what’s wrong!”
By now, Linc and Dash had disappeared, heading for the entrance while Xander held on to Sasha, certain this had everything to do with her stalker. He always trusted his instincts, his years in the Marines telling him everything he needed to know.
“Calm down. We’ll know something soon,” he said, running a hand over her hair.
She stopped fighting him and her muscles relaxed, but the tension vibrating through her didn’t.
Finally, Linc walked back inside, his gaze zeroing in on his pregnant wife before he met Xander’s gaze.
“What happened?” Sasha asked.
Jordan rushed over to him and he pulled her into his side. “Axel walked Cassidy to the front entrance. Her car and security were outside. She insisted she’d just rush straight to the car and he let her. He said he wasn’t as up on the situation as he should have been and assumed her security detail was just standard operating procedure for Sasha and those closest to her.” Linc shot Sasha an apologetic look before continuing. “A guy came out of the shadows. He stepped up to Cassidy and apparently shocked her with a stun gun.”
Sasha gasped and Xander tightened his grip on her, this time to keep her standing.
“Is she okay?” Sasha asked, her voice bordering on hysterics.
“She’s with Dash and Axel and an ambulance is on the way. Axel watched the guy approach, ran out at the same time he zapped her, and yelled. The asshole bolted to his car that was left running. Bastard obviously planned to grab her and go.”
Xander clenched his jaw. “Not a well-thought-out plan with her security right there.”
“He’s not in his right mind,” Linc muttered.
“All I know is what happened to her should have happened to me.” Her voice cracked. “I need to see her.”
Knowing he couldn’t keep Sasha from her friend, Xander released his hold. “Come on.” He took her hand and led her outside just as the ambulance and a cop car arrived.
Cassidy sat on the sidewalk, Axel kneeling by her side and Dash pacing around them.
“Cass!” Sasha jerked her hand out of his and ran to Cassidy’s side. “I’m so sorry,” she said, her hand shaking as she reached out to touch her friend’s shoulder.
“It’s not your fault. He’s sick. He tased me and I hit the ground. I think he said you’re not her … but I can’t be sure. I was a little out of it,” she said wryly.