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CHAPTER FOUR

SAINT

“ H ow the hell did they get so close?” I whispered, looking down at the glossy black-and-white photographs that Talia had laid out on my patio table.

“That’s what I asked just before I fired the dude from Covershield’s ass,” my manager said with a cock of her perfectly shaped eyebrow.

“I swear to fucking God, Saint, trusting somebody to just do their fucking job is like pulling teeth. I needed them to look after you for three days until the boys from SDSS flew in, but nooooo, those dicks were more interested in watchin’ TV than looking out for you.

” She took a sip of her cooler, her gaze sliding out to watch the waves rolling in from the Pacific Ocean.

“Luckily, the SDSS boys’ flight should have landed by now. ”

Ignoring the uneasy feeling in my stomach, I allowed my eyes to drift across the beach. The ocean didn’t just inspire, but it settled me too, which was good because I’d been coming out of my skin since the minute I’d heard that Jacob would be part of the security detail hired to look after us.

Talia’s voice pulled me away from my thoughts. “You okay, babe? ”

I nodded, forcing a smile. “Yeah... Just a little freaked out.”

She scanned the pictures and muttered, “Understatement. This shit’s disturbing even for me, and I’m not even the poor bitch getting papped when I’m in a state of undress.”

A cold shiver ran through me at the thought of somebody violating me in that way and in the privacy of my own bedroom.

I’d literally run out of the bathroom to grab a robe, and he’d caught me topless with a long-lens camera.

“If these get into the press, my dad will have a fucking stroke. It’s not just about my privacy being invaded; it’s about how vulnerable being photographed without my knowledge or consent makes me feel.

I can’t stop my mind racing with worst-case scenarios, like salacious tabloid headlines and the paparazzi swarming like vultures. ”

Talia’s hand covered mine comfortingly. “I won’t let that happen, babe. I’ve got the publicity team on it. You're covered.”

I smiled, and then my head turned slightly as I caught the sound of footsteps echoing from my house, along with voices and laughter. “The boys are here,” I murmured, craning my neck to look toward the back door, where Jonny J appeared, followed by Boomer and Sam.

Immediately, Jonny peeled off his tee and shucked off his jeans, his hands whipping down to cover his junk as he ran for my pool. He divebombed in with a loud whoop before surfacing and shaking the water from his black hair.

“We’re supposed to be having a meeting,” Talia yelled, her tone filled with the type of annoyance a mother would show her wayward toddler.

“I’m here, aren’t I?” Jonny shouted .

“And he’s sober,” Boomer muttered, pulling out the chair beside me and dropping into it. “Count your lucky stars.”

“You should get in, Saint,” Jonny urged. “The water’s fine.”

“I’m not wearing a bathing suit,” I told him.

He grinned. “What about you, Talia?”

She cocked an eyebrow at him disdainfully. “You just wanna see my tits.”

“You’ve seen mine,” he laughed. “And can friends really call themselves friends if they haven’t seen each other’s tits?”

Tally rolled her eyes. “Behave, Jonny. The bodyguards will be here soon. Let’s at least try to make a good first impression.”

Jonny swam to the side of the pool and hoisted himself out.

Water sluiced off his glistening muscles, and he didn’t bother covering his junk with his hand that time.

Instead, he strutted to a pool lounger and grabbed a towel that was neatly folded on it.

He dried his hair off, then wrapped it around his Adonis-belted waist before stooping to grab his clothes from the ground where he’d left them.

“Getting dressed,” he called over before disappearing inside the house.

Boomer stood from his chair. “Need a piss,” he declared, following after Jonny.

Sam glanced at the images, still spread out on the table. “You better put these away before security gets here.”

“They want to see everything,” Tally explained. “Saint’s problem is the reason we’ve called them in. Granted, you would’ve needed personal protection soon regardless, but it’s escalated because of what’s happening.”

Sam touched my hand. “I really think if they wanted to hurt you, they would’ve done it by now. My dad gets this shit all the time, has done for years, and he hasn’t been attacked yet. Sometimes, fans just get carried away. I’ve seen it all my life.”

Talia tapped the topless image of me with her finger. “That’s a violation.”

Sam’s gaze came to me, and he smiled. “I’m sorry it frightened you, babe. But it comes with the territory. We don’t belong to ourselves anymore. We belong to everybody else.”

“Why does it have to be like that?” I asked. “We give them enough of our souls with our music. Can’t we keep something for ourselves, too? I don’t want a stranger spying on me through windows and taking naked pictures of me without my consent. That’s for me, not them.”

“You’re right,” he acquiesced. “I hate the thought of you going through this. You know I’m here if you need me, and the offer to stay at my place still stands. The house is massive, and we’ve got one of the best security systems in the world. Nobody will get to you there.”

“Thank you, Sam,” I murmured, meaning it down to my heart.

“I’m good for now, but if things get worse, I’ll keep your offer in mind.

” I beamed a smile at him, suddenly grateful that we were able to get over our blip.

Back when we slept together, I was a mess.

I’d just discovered Jacob had lied to me, and I didn’t know what to do with all the emotions I felt, so I tried to drown them in tequila.

It was a big mistake and not one I had any intention of repeating.

It wasn’t that I didn’t like Sam, I loved him, but we made music together, and that shit never went well.

The true love of my life was Stevie Nicks, and if there was one thing Stevie had taught me, it was not to shit where I ate, especially when you were in a rock band .

Thinking of my night with Sam made me remember the reason it happened, and my belly gave a little leap.

Over the last few days, I’d been stressing about seeing Jacob again, though I didn’t know why. He probably didn’t even remember me.

I was embarrassed by what happened because it shouldn’t have hurt so much when I discovered his duplicity. It was one night, and I’d told myself I’d forget him over time. But something about Jacob Irons had buried deep inside, and however hard I tried, I couldn’t shake him off.

Talia’s cell buzzed again, and she plucked it from the table and checked her messages.

“They’re here,” she announced.

Stomach churning, I went to stand, but she shook her head at me. “I’ll go. I’m weirded out that somebody could be waiting with a long-lens camera, ready to pap you again.” She stood and headed toward the kitchen, her confident stride belying her tension.

Sam's reassuring hand squeeze didn’t do much to calm me down, but I sat straight, filled my lungs, and plastered a smile across my face anyway. Fuck the stalker fan and fuck Jacob. I’d drink my own piss before I let either of them see how much they’d gotten under my skin.

Chatter came from the kitchen, and I turned to see Boomer and Jonny walking out of the patio doors.

“Good timing,” I called over. “SDSS boys are here.” As the words left my mouth, I caught more movement from the kitchen, and Talia appeared, flanked by four tall, handsome men in dark suits wearing sunglasses.

My heart did a backflip.

Jacob stood out to me straight away. He looked every inch like a professional bodyguard.

Tall and built, his designer suit accentuated his broad shoulders and slim waist. His hair was shorter, and he’d lost the mohawk, but he still possessed the same edge as before.

Confidence oozed from him, and the rawness from the night we met seemed to reach out and grab me by the throat.

His gaze swept my back patio and garden, assessing every corner like a lion eyeing its territory. Then, his piercing gaze met mine, and for a moment, time seemed to stand still.

My nails dug into my palms under the table, trying to hide the sudden surge of emotion that seeing him again stoked inside me.

The memories of our night together flashed through my mind—his protectiveness and the way he effortlessly diffused the threat of the crazy fan who attacked me settled deep inside, and suddenly, for the first time in weeks, my nerves settled.

I stood to greet the guys while clearing my throat, my smile fixed and strained. “Hey!”

Jacob approached me, stretched out his hand, and rumbled, “Good to see you again, Saint.”

He grasped my fingers, and my belly shook at his touch. Squeezing my hand, he immediately dropped it, leaving me cold, before moving to one side to shake hands with Boomer and the rest of the band while allowing his team to greet me.

I sat back down, watching the SDSS guys take seats around the table. My gaze involuntarily drifted towards Jacob’s and was met with a familiar twinkle of mischief.

Time hadn’t changed him much. He looked more slick than before, but that could’ve been the suit. A faint grin tugged the corners of his mouth, and he stared at me head-on in silent challenge.

My pulse kicked up a notch .

“Thanks for coming,” Talia drawled, her gaze going from one man to the next. “We’re grateful you’re here on such short notice.”

“Wish it was under better circumstances,” Jacob murmured, and my stomach fluttered at the deep, rich rumble in his tone. “Can you fill us in?” As he said the words, his stare dipped to the table where the photographs were still strewn, and his body jerked.

Reaching down, he picked up the topless image of me, and his jaw clenched.

Suddenly, I wished the ground would swallow me up.

“How long’s it been since you got the first one?” Jacob demanded, looking up to meet my eyes.