Seychelle pressed her forehead against his chest. When he did that, just simply and succinctly owned his mistakes, it turned her heart over. Savage never beat around the bush, he just simply told her outright what he thought was his part in what went wrong.
“Not the leather. I’m not sure about that leather strap thing yet. Clamps I love. Your hand too. Leather, um . . . not so much.”
“Your body always tells me something else.”
“I know, but I think I’m going to have a serious talk with my body. Okay. I’m not angry anymore, but please, when something big is up, let me know ahead of time. I really do have to think things through. I’m not good at this caught-off-guard thing.”
He tipped her chin up so he could look into her eyes. His eyes had gone from ice-cold blue to flames, ones that licked over her body and turned her to pure fire. “You’re good at everything, Seychelle. I love you. Just remember that and you’ll be fine. Stay with the band. Don’t step into the crowd for any reason. When we go in, you search that crowd for anyone with illnesses who could distract you or force you to help them. That’s the first thing.”
He framed her face with his hands and brushed kisses over her lips. “You can do this, baby. More than anything, you stay safe for me. Tell me you understand that’s the most important thing. You’ll sweep that room, and we’ll clear it of anyone with an illness.”
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.