Page 28 of Guarding the Rock Star
Just then Mark came into the room.
“What’s going on?” he asked. “Do you need some help?”
“Can you hang out with Tasha for a bit?” I asked him. “The guys and I need to...they need to show me their new DVD player.”
Tasha made bulging eyes at me over his shoulder.
“DVD player?” Mark laughed. “Are you visiting them in 2005?”
I shot him a stern glare. “Just keep an eye on Tasha, okay?”
As we walked away, I heard Mark say, “Your cousin is hot for an older chick, but she’s too bossy.”
Tasha
It figured that I finally fell in love with someone and not only do they not like rock music, but they also actually think people still watch DVDs. Sure, Wanda was older than me, but she wasn’t eighty for cripe’s sake.
“You need a babysitter, huh?” Mark asked with a smile. Something about the way he was looking at me made me nervous.
I realized it was a weird request for Wanda to ask him to stay with me while I was in one of my private residences. We never did that, unless there was a party or some other reason for strangers to come inside. Most of the time, I preferred that no one came inside besides Chloe. And Monica.
Monica. I was still irked with her. How dare she talk to Wanda like that? When she’d started to insult my mate, I’d seen red. And I’d also called her my mate in my head, which was the exact moment I realized that I’d fallen in love with Wanda.
I’d never been in love before. I’d never even believed love existed, if I was being totally honest. And I certainly never would have thought that I’d fall in love with anyone. But there was definitely something different about Wanda. Something that called to me, attracted me, and made me the tiniest bit obsessed with her.
After that hot kiss we’d just shared, I decided that I needed to give into the inevitable. I wanted a relationship with Wanda. And when this was all over, I was going to tell her that. We could date and hopefully have sex and see where things go from there.
That was the last thought I had before everything went dark.
When I woke up again I was cold, my hands were tied behind my back, and I had a splitting headache. Pushing myself up to seated with a groan, I tried to figure out where I was. Judging by the musty odor and the tiny windows placed up high on the walls, I was in a basement somewhere. And it was nighttime.
I wiggled until my fingers touched the back pocket of my jeans. Unfortunately, the cell phone that had been in my back pocket last time I was conscious was now gone.
What the hell was going on? I heard the sound of a door opening, then a harsh fluorescent light turned on overhead. I blinked.
“Ah good, you’re finally awake. I made you some dinner.”
My mouth dropped open as I saw Monica come down the stairs carrying a tray of food, like she was delivering room service. She gave me a cheerful smile, the same way she always did when she cooked for me. At least until Wanda had come into the picture. Her demeanor had cooled significantly after that, even before she caught us making out.
“What time is it?” I asked, my voice scratchy. “What day is it?”
Monica handed me a bottle of water, then when she realized my hands were tied behind my back she put it down.
“It’s still Tuesday. You’ve been out for a few hours, I guess Mark hit you harder than he meant to.” She laughed lightly. “Sometimes my brother doesn’t know his own strength.”
“What?” I yelped. That was when I felt the throbbing bump on the side of my head. “Have you guys kidnapped me?”
“Some people might consider it kidnapping,” she said glibly.
It took everything I had to not start screaming, but I knew I probably needed to be calm.
My throat was so dry I started coughing. “Can you please untie me so I can have some water?” I asked, trying to make myself small and non-threatening.
“Okay Tasha but don’t try anything funny. Mark is just upstairs, and he won’t like it if you act out.”
She pulled a pocketknife out of the pocket of her chef’s jacket and for a second, I thought she might stab me with it, but instead she leaned behind me and cut the bindings from my wrists. I brought my hands around, shaking them to bring the circulation back to my arms.
Monica handed me the bottle of water and I was glad that the lid was still sealed so I knew it was safe. At this point I wouldn’t put it past these people to drug me.
