Tainted by Jamie Begley Page B

the room. How so many could sneak into the guarded room while she couldn’t slip out was working her nerves to a screaming point.
    Being constantly monitored by Kaden and Alec , plus being on the bus, was bringing back the memories of her childhood where her over-protective mother had smothered her with attention after the death of her father.
    It had been three weeks since she had begun being held prisoner by Kaden. At first, she’d tried to remain aloof from the band, but the individual band members were gradually wearing down her intentions. She was deathly afraid that they were weakening her resolve to escape.
    Ax especially was sweet toward her , with a sense of humor that never failed to get a reluctant smile from her. He drove the other band members crazy with his pranks, and Sawyer especially enjoyed it when Kaden was the victim. He had locked Kaden inside his bed compartment with the sliding door this morning, and swore he didn’t remember where he had put the key.
    She had sat at the kitchen table , smirking into her coffee as she wondered how he liked a dose of his own medicine when Alec had spoilt the fun by picking the lock and releasing a furious Kaden. He had gone for the prankster and wrestled him from one end of the bus to the other. At first she had thought that Ax would be the easy winner of the wrestling match with his larger, muscled frame, but Kaden had quickly changed her opinion. Kaden may be lean; however, he was a dirtier fighter.
    Alec’s attention was diverted by a curvy brunette, who was flirting with him, while Kaden was surrounded by at least two women. Sin had disappeared for his concert hump, and D-mon, as usual, had his own personal fan club vying for his attention.
    Sawyer nonchalantly got to her feet as if going to get a drink . Using the crowd as cover, she edged for the door. A number of women came in the door and Sawyer took the opportunity to slide through. She saw Alec’s men with their backs turned, trying to keep the large number of women back. This arena was larger than the previous ones, with more exits for the men to cover, and they were becoming overwhelmed.
    Not hesitating , she used the forward momentum of a large group of women to slip into the crowd.
    “Hey! Stop!” one of the security detail yelled.
    Frantically, knowing she had been seen, she weaved through the crowd, which she now realized had a number of men. Seeing a group of males, she smiled and edged in between them, hoping their height would hide her while she figured out which direction to go. She saw Alec and D-mon rushed past and shrunk down.
    One of the men was looking down at her curiously. Expecting him to question her, he gave her a wink and slung his arm over her shoulder. “Get to rowdy for you, sweet thing?”
    It dawned on Sawyer that they thought she was frightened of the crowd.
    “Yes ,” she mumbled, looking around.
    “Stay by me ; I’ll keep you safe,” the young man bragged, without a muscle on the arm around her shoulders to back up his boastful words.
    His friends laughed. Seeing a n exit sign, she was about to take off again when his arm tightened around her shoulder. “Where you going? Stay. We’re going to party after they leave. You can keep us company.”
    Sawyer didn’t feel afraid , not even when his hand went to her ass, bringing her up to his side.
    Sin and D-mon walked by, searching through the crowd.
    “Sounds good.” Sawyer would agree to anything to get out of the arena. She could ditch them when she managed to get outside.
    “Let her go,” Kaden’s voice sounded from behind her back.
    “Go find yourself you r own woman. Take your pick. The whole place is full of them,” he joked, making his buddies laugh.
    “The one that I want has your hand on her ass ,” Kaden said sharply. The man removed his hand from her ass, drawing his fist back. Kaden looked back at the man, daring him to make a move.
    “It’s Kaden Cross ,” she yelled, drawing attention to their