I was mentally prepared when they got to the guitar solos. She put her microphone in the stand and looked down at Zaan. Ah, that was smart. She’d start the surfing with someone she knew would catch her, which made me feel a little better. The idea of a woman I loved, or any woman for that matter, throwing herself into a rowdy audience like this was a bit of a mind-fuck, so it made sense that Zaan would be right there to watch out for her. Maybe not at every show but at least this first one.
Lexi threw her hands up in the air and launched herself into the crowd. Everyone in the general vicinity moved forward, hands up, as Zaan caught her around the waist and then moved her backward toward waiting arms. She was passed from one set of hands to the next, fans still moving to the beat, Stu Killorn and Ford Malone doing some fantastic dueling-guitars thing as part of their solos.
Lexi was on the far side of the room now and I watched her wiggling to get down. A big guy I didn’t recognize set her on her feet and she made a move toward the stairs that would take her backstage. Zaan was at least twenty feet away at this point, lost in the surge of the crowd but he had probably hung back once he was confident she wouldn’t be dropped. The two bodyguards closest to the stage were focused on the musicians up there, so I was hyperaware of everything going on around Lexi. And that’s when I saw him. The nerdy-looking guy who wasn’t dancing, banging his head, or anything else. He was simply staring at Lexi and pushing his way toward her.
Fuck.
I didn’t know what he was up to, so I looked around for help as I headed in that direction, but Lennox was hidden by the masses of people and Grim had his back to me.
“Grim!” I spoke into the microphone attached to my earpiece. “Do you see Lexi? I think someone’s making a move!” I tried to yell, but it was so damn loud, I wasn’t sure anyone heard me.
I shouldered my way toward Lexi just as Nerd Boy made his move. He grabbed for her, catching her hand and tugging her against him. Lexi looked startled but not necessarily afraid as she tried to pull away. Nerd Boy had a death grip on her now, wrapping his arms around her and trying to kiss her. Lexi turned her head and pushed against his chest, and I saw red. I threw myself the last few feet in their direction, just as Nerd Boy pulled her down. Lexi lost her balance and landed on the floor, and Nerd Boy threw himself on top of her.
I got there a second later, yanking him up by the back of his shirt and yelling into my microphone that I needed help. The scrawny little shit took a swing at me, but it barely registered as Lennox appeared and swiftly lifted Lexi, pushing her toward the stage and away from the melee Nerd Boy had started.
“What the fuck?!” Grim got there a second later and took the guy from me, shoving him toward the exit. Club security arrived and there was a moment of chaos as they swiftly escorted Nerd Boy out.
“You all right?” Grim asked me as we watched club security taking over.
“I’m…good.” I nodded. My heart was hammering and my breath was a little short, but adrenaline was racing through my veins and I was practically breathless. I’d reacted on instinct, my only thought to protect Lexi, and even though it was over, I was still pumped.
“Stay vigilant,” Grim told me as he moved back toward his post. “Show’s not over and Casey’s coming on soon.”
I nodded and turned back to the stage, though I kept my eyes on the crowd. I was emotionally high as a kite and it felt pretty damn good. It was a little surprising, but I could get used to this.
The rest of the show went off without a hitch and most of us met up in the private room upstairs when it was over. Casey was already gone, whisked out a back door by Sandor and his team as soon as she’d finished playing. Though the press would undoubtedly be disappointed, it was safer this way, and she was flying back to Vegas tonight anyway, since she had a seven-week-old baby at home.
“You are my hero!” Lexi announced, coming over to me and giving me a hug.
“Just looking out for you,” I said quietly.
“Well, you were awesome.”
“I agree.” Zaan joined us and lifted his hand for a fist bump.
“Good catch with that guy,” Chains said, joining me once Zaan and Lexi had moved off. “You have excellent instincts.”
“He just wasn’t having fun like the others,” I said thoughtfully. “I’d noticed him earlier but it didn’t register until he got laser-focused on Lexi. I don’t even remember consciously moving toward him, I just did it.”
“Instinct,” Grim agreed. He’d been standing nearby and joined the conversation.
“Well, whatever it was, I’m just glad I could help.”
“Any time you want to get some training in, I’m happy to let you tag along with me on gigs like this one,” Grim said, nodding.
“Thanks.” I smiled appreciatively but my thoughts had already drifted.
There was the tiniest hint of inspiration simmering in the back of my mind as I thought about the evening’s events. It hadn’t been anything huge, and whether or not Lexi had been in any real danger still wasn’t clear, but I’d been the first one to notice something was wrong. I’d also been closest, but that was beside the point. More than anything, it gave me hope that this was something I could do, something I might even be good at. Because I suddenly really wanted to try.
Now I just had
