She nodded. “I can do that.”
That earned her a kiss. His kisses robbed her of all ability to think. If he wanted a thinking person in the bar, he couldn’t kiss her. Not only did her brain turn to mush, but her body went into meltdown. One hand slipped into her hair, crushing it into his fist at the nape of her neck, holding her head in place while fire flared between them.
He lifted his head when she gripped his jacket hard and fought for control. “We’ve got this, baby. You and me. We can do this. You’ll be safe as long as you do just what I tell you.”
Seychelle realized he really didn’t want her there. Whatever this was, for some reason, the club felt they needed her. That settled her when nothing else could have. She wanted to be important to him—a partner, not a burden. She wasn’t just a distraction. The club was counting on her.
“What do you want me to do when I’m singing, Savage?” She searched his eyes. The blue flames had quickly faded back to that flat, cold, deadly look he sometimes got that made her shiver. His features had settled into his expressionless mask.
“I’ll go into the back room. Czar and some of the others will already be in there. I want you to sit at the bar and talk to Anya right before you take the stage. I’ll step out of the room, and you give me a sign whether or not you can read us and how tense we are, the mood in the room. I think you’ll be able to. If you can’t, we’ll try to find a way to make it work so you will. When the Diamondbacks come in, zero in on the ones coming into the back. Keep tuned to them. This is very important, Seychelle. If they start to get upset, try to counter it. Signal the band and let them know. Work out something to play ahead of time, various songs to counter whatever emotions you might meet.”
She nodded.
“There will be Diamondbacks scattered around the bar as well. You’ll have to keep a read on them. I know it’s a lot to ask, baby, but it’s damned important.”
“I can do it. I do it all the time,” she assured him.
He brushed her lips with his again and wrapped his arm around her waist possessively, walking her across the parking lot. Savage stopped at the bottom of the stairs leading to the bar to introduce her to a club member.
“Seychelle, this is Fatei. He’s a good man, a good brother. If there’s trouble, he’ll get to you. He’ll be inside the bar as well, looking out for you.”
Seychelle smiled at him. “Good to know. I’ll be the one singing with the band.”
Fatei sent her a faint answering grin that didn’t quite light up his face. He didn’t seem quite as intimidating to her as the other club members, but he looked like a man who could handle himself.
Music poured out of the building, as if it were impossible for the walls to contain the sound. Already, Seychelle was caught by the rhythm and perfect notes as the instruments welded together into a musical phenomenon that sent her spirits soaring. She loved this band and the way they played. Fatei opened the door and Savage walked her in, keeping her body clamped to his side. Fatei took her other side, so that when they moved through the crowd—and there was a huge, packed crowd—no one so much as brushed up against her.
Anya worked one side of the bar and Preacher worked the other. Seychelle did her best to block out everything but the crowd and the way each person felt to her. It was difficult with the way her body responded to the music and the level of excitement emanating from the various occupants who had come to have a good time.
There were several parties of women. She recognized the two women fixated on Savage. Clearly, they hadn’t given up. They were with three other women, one of whom looked a little older, and the moment Savage had entered the room, all of them had riveted their attention on him. Shari’s eyes were hot with greed and her emotions were by turns lustful, filled with hatred toward Seychelle, and needy and determined. She danced and swayed seductively on the edge of the dance floor, making a path to intercept Savage so she could brush against his body.
“How the fuck did she get in here? I had her banned,” Savage snarled in a low voice to Fatei.
“I’ll look into it, Savage,” Fatei promised. “Do you want me to throw her out?”
“Don’t,” Seychelle said. “Just let it go tonight, Savage.” She knew there were too many other things riding on her singing tonight. Savage couldn’t be distracted because of past issues she’d had. She didn’t have them so much anymore.