Karin was shaking. He just does not get it. She was going to have his child if she had to tie him up and ride him like a stallion to get pregnant. She was not going to give up. He had come over to talk to her. That was good. He had never done that before. If only she had been able to get rid of the bitch last night. Well, she would watch for another chance.
She had dumped the van she’d stolen from a shopping mall on Long Island out in Queens after wiping her fingerprints off the steering wheel. There was no way that she could be connected to what had happened last night. All she had to do was continue to deny her involvement. Eventually she would prevail. She had to. Failure was not an option.
* * * *
Logan was striding back toward the loft with Billie in his wake. “Well, that went well.”
“You had to try, man. I don’t know what else to say, though. She definitely woke up on the wrong side of life. That chick is nuts.”
“You’ve got that right. I really do not need this right now, and Melodie certainly doesn’t deserve it.”
Chapter Eight
30 Rockefeller Plaza between West 48th and 51st Streets and Fifth and Sixth Avenues, New York, New York, Wednesday midafternoon, December 2, 2015—Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony
Logan smiled. Melodie was helping the band set up for their part in the concert accompanying the eightieth annual tree-lighting ceremony in Rockefeller Plaza that evening. That mostly included getting coffee and hot chocolate for the guys, although she was usually more help than underfoot now. They were busy attending to sound checks, testing amps and mics, and making sure all their instruments were present and accounted for. The annual televised event was a New York City favorite. About two hundred fifty thousand spectators were expected to crowd the sidewalks around the Plaza, and eleven million viewers would watch the live broadcast on televisions, computers, iPads and cell phones. The lights on the seventy-five-foot Norway spruce—wrapped in five miles of wire, thirty-eight thousand bulbs and topped with a twenty-five-thousand-crystal Swarovski star—would be turned on for the first time. Being included in the Christmas at Rockefeller Center live broadcast was a huge honor. The hit single from their album had made the crossover and was climbing the music charts. Everything was looking really good for their tour beginning in mid-January.
Logan had planned for the band to play one Christmas number and two of the songs from their album. He might need to expand their program since he had heard that one of the expected stars had cancelled at the last minute, and another’s promised video was not going to be ready in time. That was show business. Performers had to be ready to roll with the punches and step up to the plate—mixed metaphors, but what the heck.
“Hey, babe? Would you mind running out to get us some sandwiches? Keep it simple, roast beef hoagies all-the-way, all around. Here’s some cash.”
“Okay, but any complaints will be severely dealt with.” She put on her Sherpa jacket, put the bills in her jeans pocket with her cell phone, and went toward the stage door entrance.
“Do you have your pass so you can get back in? Backstage security is pretty tight.”
“Got it around my neck. See you in a few.”
* * * *
Once she was outside, Melodie pulled out her cell phone to check directions for the nearest deli and headed off down Sixth Avenue toward Forty-Ninth Street. She turned onto Forty-Ninth and was looking for the deli when she felt the pressure of something sharp against her back through her fleece-lined jacket.
“Keep walking and shut up or I’ll cut you. If you want to live, you’ll do what I say.” The voice was a scary whisper, but it sounded like…a woman? Did women do this kind of stuff?
“I’ve got some cash in my pocket. I’ll give it to you. You don’t have to hurt me.”
“Shut up and keep walking like I said.”
Melodie kept walking, but she was terrified. This couldn’t be happening again. The thought of a knife at her back made her legs weak. What would the person do if she just crumbled to the ground? Stab her? Cut up her face again? She didn’t think she could handle that a second time. She kept walking, but her mind was whirling a mile a minute. What the hell? Was she going down like a victim, or was she going down fighting? If she had to go down, she would rather it was fighting. She’d had as much of this crap as she was going to take. She wouldn’t be a victim again.
She whirled around, and with a stiff left arm, she shoved her attacker and then knocked the knife out of her hand with her cocked right elbow. It looked like those self-defense classes she’d taken after the attack were paying off. The woman was startled as the knife went skittering across the sidewalk and bounced into the gutter. The traffic was moving fast through the green light. It would have been suicide to try to retrieve it. Melodie got a good look at her attacker. It was Karin Sanders.
“This isn’t over, bitch,” Karin said as she spun away and ran.
Melodie watched as Karin turned into an alley and disappeared. She collapsed to her knees and began to shake. The pedestrian traffic split around her as though she was an island in the stream, and she guessed she was. This was New York. Finally, an older woman with her arms full of shopping bags stopped. “Are you all right, dear? Can I call someone for you?”
“Yes, I’m fine. No, actually, I’m not. Could you just stay here with me for a few minutes while I call my boyfriend?” Melodie was shivering now as much from reaction to this newest attack as from the cold December wind that whipped down the street between the canyons of tall buildings, carrying a few snow flurries.
“Of course, dear. Do you want to stand up and get out of the flow of traffic?”
“Yes. Thank you.” The woman helped her stand and move over to lean against a glass storefront. She pulled her phone out of her pocket, and the bills Logan had given her dropped to the ground. She automatically bent to pick them up as she hit his number on speed dial. “Logan? I’m out on Forty-Ninth. Karin tried to…I don’t know what she tried to do. She had knife…”
“I’ll be right there. Are you hurt? Are you in a safe place?”
“I knocked the knife out of her hand, and she ran away. There’s a nice lady here with me now.”
“I’ll call the police. Don’t move. If you have to, can you go inside a store?”
“I’m okay. Just hurry.” She was breathing hard and trying not to cry. She wasn’t going to ball her eyes out on the street like a six-year-old that had gotten separated from her mommy. She just wasn’t. She was a damn New Yorker. She was tough. She had just disarmed a knife-wielding attacker. Geez, I just disarmed a knife-wielding attacker. Holy shit!
* * * *
Logan looked around for Billie. “Hey, man. Something just happened to Melodie. I think Karin attacked her out on the street. Melodie said she had a knife. I’m going to go get her. I may have to talk to the police. If I’m not back in time, you’re going to have to be lead. I’ll do my best to get back, but I have to take care of Melodie.”
“Sure, man. I’ll handle it. But I hope you get back. This is big for us, and I want you here.”
“I’ll do my best.” He grabbed his phone and his security pass and ran out the stage door entrance while dialing 9-1-1.
By the time he found Melodie standing on the street, he was beside himself. The older woman had put her packages down and had her arms around Melodie. When he came running up, she calmly gave Melodie a quick hug, picked up her packages and went on her way. This was New York, after all. He pulled Melodie into his arms. “Oh, baby. I never should have let you go out alone. What the fuck was I thinking?”
“That I’m an adult capable of going out for some sandwiches? Don’t be ridiculous, Logan. This wasn’t your fault.” She burrowed into his chest, and then the tears started to fall. Soon, they were a cascade down her cheeks. He could see that reaction to the extreme fear was starting to set in. She’d held up great, up until now.
Two police cruisers pulled to the curb and four uniformed officers got out. They were fol
lowed by an unmarked car and two detectives. Security around the Plaza was heavy because of the huge expected crowds. The iconic event had the possibility of provoking a terrorist attack, and the police were on high alert. An attempted stabbing of someone involved in the tree lighting event outside the Plaza got a big response. The knife was retrieved and bagged for evidence.
“So, you’re with the show, sir? What band?”
“That’s right. I’m with Dark Place, and we’re opening the show at seven. Melodie is freezing. Can we go back inside and answer any more questions there?”
The female detective looked interested. “I love that band. Sure, we can take this inside. The Mayor would have our asses if we caused a delay in the show.”
They returned via the backstage entrance where the detectives flashed their badges. As soon as they were back inside, Melodie was mobbed by the guys.
Of course, Billie had to be a wise-ass. “So, where’s my sandwich, girlie?” She just gave him the fisheye, and he burst out laughing. “I’m glad you’re okay. So you disarmed a knife attacker? Good job.”
Logan said, “You know, in all the excitement, that little fact got right by me. You did good, Melodie. You might make a New Yorker yet.”
“I am a damn New Yorker, and don’t forget it, buddy!”
The detectives questioned Melodie and took her statement. Logan added what he knew about Karin Sanders.
“She’s got to be losing it to do something like this. I’ve felt that she was dangerous all along, but I didn’t think she would attack Melodie. I figured she’d come after me. I was pretty sure she was the one on the highway, but neither of us could see her or get a license plate.”
“We’ll get an APB out on her. We’ll pull the reports of the incident on the West Side Highway and see if they ever found the van or anything.” Finally, after calling in the all-points bulletin, the detectives left.
Logan didn’t want to let go of Melodie. Finally, she struggled out of his arms. “I’m fine, Logan. You guys should do what you have to do. You have a show in an hour. I am afraid to say you’ll have to call out for sandwiches. I’m not going back out there again.” Billie just grinned.
* * * *
Logan stood out on stage, looking over the crowd. This had been way too close of a call. He could have lost Melodie forever today. If she hadn’t had her wits about her, she could have been killed. Who knew what Karin had in mind?
He bowed his head and gave thanks for a moment before he signaled the first sharp chord and the show began. No one but his brothers in the band knew what had happened and how close they had come to losing someone they all cared for. He had to think about this. Karin was still on the loose, and Melodie might still be in danger.
He started the show with Jingle Bell Rock and then I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus before he went into three songs from the album. They exited the stage to thunderous applause as the next act took their place. They gave a short backstage interview to the Entertainment Tonight crew, and then Logan just wanted to get home.
Nothing was said about Melodie’s attack out on Forty-Ninth Street, but Logan refused to let go of her, and she was front-and-center with the band during the entire interview.
The anchor turned to Melodie. “So, are you and Logan Hawk an item? I’m sure the band’s female fans will want us to get the scoop for them.” It was a measure of how upset she still was that she made no attempt to adjust her hair over her scar.
Before she could state a denial, Logan said, “We are. Very much so. If I don’t finalize the deal soon, one of these guys will try to steal her from me.” He leaned down and brushed a kiss over the scar at her temple.
* * * *
When they were back at the loft, the instruments and equipment had been unloaded and stowed, and the guys had left, Melodie turned to Logan. “I could really use a hot shower. I haven’t been able to warm up. I don’t know if it’s cold or nerves. And then I just want to relax in bed. I’d like to watch the lighting ceremony on the late news and then maybe catch the Entertainment Tonight interview. What do you say?”
“Anything you want, baby. Anything at all.” She could see that Logan was still way off his stride. He said, “Are you hungry? How about if we just call out for pizza?”
“That’s fine. I’ll open a bottle of wine and let it breathe while we take our shower.”
“Good idea.” He looked relieved but still wary.
Melodie opened a bottle of Chianti while Logan placed the pizza order. When he was done he walked over to the kitchen island, and he took the opener from her hand. He gently began to unbutton her shirt, flipped open the front closure of her bra, and lowered her jeans. When she had kicked off her boots and socks, he steadied her while she stepped out of her jeans and panties. He quickly stripped and, pulling her behind him, he headed toward the bathroom. When he had adjusted the water temperature, they stepped inside the glass enclosure that was rapidly filling with steam. They stood under the hot, pounding water for a few moments before he pulled her close and kissed her like he’d never stop.
“Oh, baby. I don’t know what I would have done if something had happened to you today. You make all of this worthwhile. You have no idea how important you are to me.”
He plundered her mouth a second time before he finally let her up for air long enough to pick her up again as she wrapped her legs around his waist. He surged into her tight sheath as lightning rocked through her system, and he roughly nuzzled her neck. They both struggled to breathe in the steam-heavy air. He seated his hard cock in her hot pussy.
She felt the first shudder of ecstasy roll through her, and she lost herself in the sensations of his mouth on her breasts and his dark stubble rasping over her sensitive skin. He braced her up against the shower wall and drove into her over and over with a pounding rhythm until they both lost reason and were ready to explode. Finally, they soared over the edge into exquisite pleasure. When his cock had stopped pulsing in her pussy, he withdrew to let her stand on her own legs. He laid his head in the crook of her shoulder, and she held him as their heartbeats returned to normal.
“Are you okay?”
“I couldn’t be any more okay. If I was, I don’t think I could stand up,” she murmured in his ear. He took the sea sponge, lathered it with his spicy shower gel and washed her body, turning her around to soap her back. She returned the favor, and they just stood and let the hot water pound down on them.
* * * *
Melodie woke during night and missed the warm feeling of Logan’s broad, hard chest against her back. Where was he? She listened, but didn’t hear him in the apartment, and then she heard the sound of a piano from the loft outside the apartment door. The sound was magical. She felt as though she had left her body and was floating over the bed. The sweet but sultry music invaded her soul.
She got up, pulled his shirt on, and walked out into the loft. She saw him across the wide expanse of open space in a cone of light shining down from the industrial ceiling onto the baby grand piano. His long, straight black hair was spread over his naked shoulders. All he wore was a pair of faded jeans. She stood quietly in the shadows and just listened. She had never heard him play the piano by himself. The sound of the solo piece he was playing was mesmerizing. His fingers flew over the keyboard with a mystical touch. She’d had no idea of what a fine jazz pianist he actually was. He had talked about wanting to be a piano man when the band’s popularity had crested and they began to wind down, but she’d had no idea.
She walked over to the piano, sat down on the bench beside him and just listened to the ethereal sound coming from the majestic instrument through his beautiful, long-fingered hands. He must have inherited this amazing talent from his mother.
When he finished and the piano went silent, she asked, “What song is that? I don’t recognize it.”
“It’s one of mine. I wrote it for you. It’s called Melodie’s Song. I was saving it for a special occasion.” He turned to her and ran his long, talented fingers thro
ugh the hair at her temple, brushing it back and exposing the scar she no longer hid from him.
“I love you, baby. If Karin had hurt you today, I don’t know what I would have done, how I could have gone on.” He paused and took a deep breath. “I can’t lose you now. It took too long for me to find you.” He pulled her into his arms for a soul-deep kiss. When he released her mouth, he continued. “But I think maybe it’s too dangerous for us to be together right now. Maybe you should go visit your parents in Phoenix for a while.”
“No way, Logan. You’ve made me come alive again. I can’t give that up, go back to the half-life I was living before you came to me. I won’t allow a crazy woman to steal what we have. You know, I’m much stronger now than I’ve ever been. Your love has given me that.” She smiled tentatively at him. “I love my song. This is the first time I’ve heard you play jazz piano.”
“You know, Mel, I think I fell in love with you that day when I had your pulse under my hands. That’s what I feel when I play this piece—your life force in my hands.”
“Oh, Logan. You can’t know what that means to me.”
“If you won’t go to Phoenix, I’m calling Jack Brown in the morning to see if we can go down to Florida early. I know the hotel hasn’t actually opened yet, but maybe we can get out of town and just leave this all behind. The band doesn’t have any commitments until the tour in January. We’ll see. Let’s go back to bed.”
“Okay. I woke up when I missed feeling your warmth.”
* * * *
When they were back in the big, brass bed, Melodie sighed as Logan pulled her into the cradle of his arms. His strong, muscular chest was up against her back. She reveled in it—his strength, his heat. She felt his cock stir against her bottom, and she wiggled back against him in invitation. He raised her leg, and she felt his hand slip down to explore the wetness between her thighs. It felt amazing.
Melodie's Song [The Black Dahlia Hotel 3] (Siren Publishing Everlasting Classic) Page 8