Sweet Possession (Sweet #5)(65)

She pulled the mug away and held it on her lap. She pursed her lips a moment trying to formulate her thoughts. This was new territory for her. For so long she’d relied on others around her, her management team, her record label, her security, her handlers, to make decisions for her. Her motto was show up, do what she needed to do and then move on to the next show and do it all over again.

Firing Paul had been huge for her. She doubted even Connor knew just what a momentous step it was. It had been a much-needed slap in the face. A wake-up call that her life was out of control because she’d allowed it to be so.

“I’m ready to make some changes.” She swallowed. It took all her courage to say the next. “I’m a little afraid. I would like your help.”

Connor’s hand stilled on her back, then slid up to her nape and squeezed reassuringly.

“Okay,” Kane said.

“I don’t want my label to hire a new security firm.”

Kane frowned. She turned slightly to see the same frown on Connor’s face.

“What I mean is that I don’t want Phillip to choose. He means well. I have no doubt that he has my best interests and my safety in mind. He’ll hire competent people. But I think I should be the one who decides who holds my safety in their hands.”

She sucked in another deep breath, gripped the mug a little tighter and then glanced up at Kane. “Would your firm be willing to take over my security while I’m on the road?”

Kane didn’t respond right away. He glanced at Connor, then back at Lyric.

“I understand if you’re not set up to travel. It’s just that I . . .” She wrinkled her nose. “I trust your team more than some random firm that Phillip hires. I don’t know them. I know you . . . now.”

“I’m sure something could be worked out,” Kane said slowly. “But you need to consider whether this is going to cause you trouble with your label.”

“I’m going to tell Phillip that from now on I’m going to have a more active part in my career. To be honest, I think he’ll be relieved and more than willing for me to take the reins.”

Connor’s thumb tightened at her neck. He ran his other hand over her arm and squeezed lightly in approval.

Kane’s eyes glinted and then he smiled. “I think I may have misjudged you, Ms. Jones.”

“Oh please, call me Lyric. Ms. Jones sounds so stuffy.”

“All right, Lyric. The problem is that I can’t assemble a team as soon as two weeks. Less than two weeks now. I’ll need to handpick men for the detail and I’ll want to oversee the operation for the first little while until I’m satisfied that everything is progressing well. If you want the best, it’ll take time.”

“I don’t go back on tour right away. I’ll be in the studio recording for a bit. I also have a few appearances but they could be cancelled. My tour picks up in six weeks. Runs for two months and then I have a break at which time I’ll finish recording the next album. Would that give you enough time?”

“I think you need to decide if you can afford me first,” Kane said.

She laughed. “If I want the best, I have to be prepared to pay for it, right?”

“Then the first thing you need to do is ask for a bid. You’ll want to know everything I can do for you and you’ll want to know how much it’ll cost you. I’ll want complete control over picking the men for the detail, and each one will be screened personally by me.”

She nodded. “How soon can you get that to me?”

Kane smiled. “Now we’re talking. You catch on quick.”

She turned to Connor and slipped her hand into his. “I know I probably shouldn’t ask this. But again, I’m a little nervous. I don’t think it will be a problem. But . . .”

“Just ask, baby,” he said softly.

“I want to fire R.J. and Trent. Buy them out. Whatever. The problems are that I’m not sure what, if any, out I have in the contract, and they’re supposed to come in for the rodeo performance. They aren’t going to take it well. I’ve allowed them far too much latitude in their job. My fault, but there you have it.”

He put a finger to her mouth. “I’ll take care of it.”

She breathed out a sigh of relief.

“Any other earth-shattering changes you’re contemplating?”

She pressed her lips together and scrunched her brows. “I want to go whole hog. I’ve surrounded myself with people I don’t trust, who don’t care about me, have no investment in me beyond the paycheck I provide them. I know it sounds hypocritical. They don’t owe me anything other than to do the job they’re paid to do just like I don’t owe them anything beyond that paycheck. But I don’t want it to be that way. I want . . . I need a change. I don’t like my life very much.”

“Then do it,” Connor said. “If anyone can turn things around, it’s you. I don’t think there’s a person in the world who can run over you unless you let them.”

A smile twitched at her lips. “Yeah, I am a good bitch on wheels when given the right motivation.”

Kane chuckled and she turned quickly back to glare at him. “You are not to agree with that statement.”

He held up his hands in surrender. “For what it’s worth, I think you’re doing the right thing. It’s never too late to regain control over your career. And your life.”