She was venturing into all-out lies at this point, but her career was on the line. Embellishing might make her story more believable, but Colonel Vane appeared to be a smart man. He would segregate her from Ryker, question him, and if their stories didn’t align, more questions would follow. She would have to leave the story of why he had been adjusting his uniform to Ryker.
“Explain why the two of you headed to a location of extreme privacy. You wouldn’t be the first set of lovers to find solace in the dark.”
“Sir,” she said, “he just finished an amazing performance with his rock idols. He needed to celebrate, blow off steam, and act a fool, as it were. He couldn’t dance around like a groupie in front of the band you’re expecting him to stand side by side with for the next few weeks. He needed a moment.”
“A moment?”
“Yes, sir,” she affirmed. “He needed a moment.”
“And how does that explain the dirt on your knees?”
She glanced down and noticed the dark stains for the first time. With her entire body trembling, she forced one more lie out into the open. “There’s dirt everywhere, Colonel. Just because I got down on the ground doesn’t mean anything more than that.”
THIRTY-THREE
Safe
RYKER
Ryker strutted back onstage—ortried to. He had intended to go last, taking his position as temporary guest, but Ash shoved him to the front of the stage. While Bash lay down a recurrent drumbeat, supported by Noodles’s haunting melody on the keys, Ash spoke to the crowd about honor, bravery, and his humble thanks for everything the troops did for their country.
Ryker waved to the crowd as Ash introduced him and retold the story of the convoy running over a landmine, Bent’s injuries, and how Ryker had stepped in to fill the gap, so the tour could continue. With a handshake turned into a grip held high over their heads, Ash whipped the crowd into a frenzy. Meanwhile, Spike’s guitar joined the other instruments, turning soulful notes into a breathtaking line of spine-tingling emotion.
Ryker backed up to where the bass guitar waited on a stand. He lifted the strap over his head and settled the bass low on his hips. Bash led them into the pounding opening of “Heart’s Insanity,” and Ash lifted his voice with the power of song. All the while, Ryker glanced at the front row, expecting Tia up front and center. Forestwas there along with Skye but no Tia. He didn’t think much of it until they were several songs into the playlist.
Still, no Tia.
When he scanned the crowd, unfamiliar faces stared back at him. Bagram wasn’t his duty station, and with the exception of a few people from the medical center, these were strangers, but he did catch his team. Warren pumped his fist, eyes alight and expression full of excitement. Beside him, Collins, Drummond, and Marks moved with the rhythm of the band and swayed with the energy of the crowd. It shouldn’t surprise him that they’d come. Their team was tight and unbreakable, which left him with regret about taking this gig.
A gig?
He snorted with that thought. The decision to play really hadn’t been left to him. Strong-armed by Forest and Vane, it had been impossible to refuse. He felt crappy, leaving his team in a lurch, but Forest had assured him the replacement personnel had been handpicked by Collins.
Still, no sign of Tia. Halfway through with the set, and she was nowhere to be found.
Spike met him center stage. They faced each other. Spike took lead while Ryker laid down the foundation of the song, building the buzzing scaffolding that supported everything else. Up front, Ash’s voice belted out power and sex to those surging back and forth. A powerful drug, the music lifted him up. He never wanted to leave. He didn’t want to stay. Caught between opposing thoughts, he sank into the music and let it carry him away.
The concert ended. He joined Ash and the others at the back of the stage.
“Dude,” Ash said, clapping him on the shoulder, “you totally rocked it.”
“Thanks.” He should have been more excited, but a tingle settled at the base of his neck. Something felt off.
Forest and Skye came back to join the band.
Forest’s loud voice echoed over the general din of the hangar. “You guys gonna stand here and scratch your balls or head out there to greet the troops?”
Ash gave a grin, but his eyes cut to Skye. “I can think of better things to do.”
“Keep it in your pants, lover boy,” Forest said. “I don’t need that image in my head.”
“What image?” Ash’s crooked smile and hooded eyes made no secret of what thoughts tumbled in his mind. If anyone couldn’t figure it out, the deep scarlet coloring Skye’s cheeks gave it away.
Forest wrapped an arm around Ash’s neck. With a tug, he pulled Ash away from Skye and marched him toward the front of the hangar. The others followed, but Ryker hung back.
“Aren’t you going to join them?” Skye asked with her sweet voice.
“That’s not for me,” he said. “The fans aren’t interested in a stand-in.”
