The stadium roaredwith the pulse of nearly a hundred thousand crammed into Wembley Stadium. Tia rolled her neck, tired from the long flight, and let the energy of the crowd imbue her tired muscles with life. Her entire world had been shattered and then rebuilt after a conversation during the flight from Afghanistan with her friends. Only one thing was missing, and then everything would be whole.
Skye stood to her left, and Forest’s massive frame protected them from the crowd. They had landed less than an hour ago, and Forest had had the limo bring them straight to the stadium. She’d thought he’d bring them backstage, but Forest had pulled them to the mixing board set in the center of the venue facing the stage.
Forest bent down and explained. “This guy mixes all of the sounds coming from the stage. This isthebest seat in the house, and the sound is best from here. You’re also above the crowd, so no need to try to look over anyone’s head.”
She loved that Forest cared about the difficulties of looking over heads. Tall for a woman, she was still a few inches shy of six feet.Skye was much more diminutive, and his consideration probably had more to do with Skye than herself.
His deep baritone rose easily above the crowd. He picked her up from the waist and lifted her up to the platform. Skye joined her a moment later, helped up by a hand from the mixing engineer rather than her brother.
The mixing engineer welcomed them and gestured for them to stand behind him. Forest vaulted up and tugged them to the back of the platform. From their position, they had a perfect view of the stage. Stretched before them, those on the floor surged as one, riding the deep riffs peeling out from Ryker’s guitar and swaying to the beat of Bash’s drums.
Ryker stood, rock steady, with his powerful legs spread on a solid base. His head hung low, and it looked like his entire being was concentrated on the song. The bass guitar rode low on his hips, and he strummed out a bass riff, the potency of sound building toward a climax.
Out of his Air Force uniform, he blended with the others of the band, like he belonged right beside them. Ripped jeans wrapped around his legs, and a T-shirt stretched across the breadth of his chest. The low, throbbing notes of his bass riff tumbled through the air, filling every breath with the promise of what Angel Fire would soon unleash onstage.
Ash came up front and center and grabbed the mic. “Good evening, London!”
His shout rocked the speakers and brought an answering roar from the crowd. The sound intensified, rumbling through the stadium, an avalanche of anticipation that snapped all eyes forward to the stage.
“We have a surprise for you tonight!” Ash turned and gestured at Ryker, urging him forward. “I want you to meet Ryker!”
A roar shook the stadium.
Ash went on to explain Bent’s injuries and how Ryker had graciously stood in. More was said, but Tia could think of nothing but the man who owned her heart. No more dark corners. No more stolen kisses. It would take a couple of weeks to finalize her discharge, but she’d been dismissed and placed on terminal leave. For all intents and purposes, she no longer had a job. Nor did she have rules and regulations that determined whom she could love.
She closed her eyes and sucked in a breath. Tears pricked at her eyes. This time, instead of holding them back, she let them pour.
Skye hugged her. “You okay?”
“I am,” she said, returning the hug. “I didn’t think I would be, but I am. I can’t thank you enough for what you’ve done.”
“You’re doing me a favor,” Skye yelled, pitching her voice to be heard. “I wouldn’t want it any other way.”
They watched the entire concert from the mixing board, swaying with the crowd and shouting at the tops of their lungs. Ryker had no idea she was here, and she planned on surprising him after the show. Anticipating her need to see him as soon as possible, Forest escorted her and Skye backstage while the boys played the encore. With the press of the crowd, that might seem a monumental task, but people parted before the gentle giant.
The buzz from the crowd faded as they headed backstage. Forest wove through the sea of security and groupies without hesitation, his determined stride pushing aside the throngs of people. No one challenged him. As he held the door open, she and Skye ducked beneath his arm and entered the quiet of the band’s dressing room.
“They’ll be here in a bit,” he said and then left them alone, heading back into the hall.
Her heart sped up, as she was eager for a reunion with Ryker.
Skye wandered over to one of the couches and lowered herself down with a sigh. “My body is so confused.”
“What do you mean?”
“Too many time zones in too few days,” Skye said. “I’m exhausted.”
Tia glanced at Skye’s palm resting on her belly. “Are you sure that’s all?” Her gaze cut down, making an obvious assumption.
Skye’s smile slipped. “Please don’t tell anyone.”
“Does Ash know?”
“Not yet. It’s too early to be certain. Honestly, I’m afraid.”
Tia rushed to Skye’s side, excited for her friend. “What are you afraid of?”
“Losing it,” she said. “There are scars…”
