AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Why not?” She pointed over Dahlia’s shoulder. “You think with all those people in there anyone is gonna notice me?”
Yes! Penny had a knack for finding trouble, and if she couldn’t find it, it found her. After the other night's debacle and stealing passes, the last thing she should be doing is sneaking in friends.
“Plllllllease!” Penny’s high-pitched squealing with her palms pressed together in prayer had Dahlia twitching her lips. This girl had a gift of breaking people down and always getting her way. Tonight was no different.
“You’re gonna get me fired, aren’t you?” Dahlia said as she begrudgingly widened the door, allowing passage for Penny.
Penny leaned in, kissed her cheek, and gripped her arms. “Relax, it’ll be as if I’m not even here.”
Oh, I’m definitely getting fired.
Penny led the way with so much confidence, acting as if she was exactly where she should be, that Dahlia doubted anyone would question them. As they made their way to the end of the hall, she noticed a few men lined up against the wall. It wasn’t an uncommon sight.
Dahlia recognized the man leading the pack. Stark. She’d seen him a few times at the East clubhouse, but it had been a while. On instinct, when he looked over, she smiled. His gaze softened slightly, but he didn’t smile back. He was older, maybe in his fifties, with a fatherly quality though a stern one.
As she was about to pass, the second in line smiled and lifted his chin. “I know you.”
She wasn’t sure of his name or the others, but they clearly knew her. “Dahlia, right? I’m Sean.”
She gave a subtle nod.
He smiled, eyeing her body. “Not with East anymore, huh? Let me ask you something. Do we need to be a club in order to get our own personal whore?”
Dahlia gasped, unsure if she’d just heard him right. Penny confirmed she had when she spun around and shouted. “What the fuck did he just say?”
Dahlia grabbed Penny’s arm when she lunged forward. While she appreciated Penny trying to defend her honor, this was no way to go about staying under the radar.
“Say it again, asshole. I fucking dare you!” Penny shouted.
It was a struggle to keep Penny back until her gaze passed over Dahlia’s shoulder, and she froze. Dahlia slowly glanced at Stark’s men. They seemed tense, every man staring down at the end of the hall. A few inched back as if clearing a path. Dahlia followed their stares and flattened her lips.
If Stark’s men were scary, the four approaching were nightmarish. All of them were well-dressed, sharing the same feral glare aimed at Stark’s men.
Penny grabbed her wrist but made no move to leave. She pulled Dahlia backward, and she found herself pressed against the wall, holding her breath.
Dahlia expected them to pass through the hall, but Nash stopped directly in front of her. She peeked up, but he wasn’t looking at her. His gaze was pinned on the man who’d made the rude comment to her a minute earlier.
“How’s it going?” Sean asked.
For all the confidence he’d shown a few minutes ago, it was lagging under the intent standoff. Nash didn’t answer but continued to stare, his gaze hardening with each passing second.
The tension was so thick her breathing labored, and her heart raced. Dahlia snuck a look at the men behind Nash. She’d seen them before, once at the X-Lounge and again outside of Rogue’s office. Tall and muscular behind their expensive suits and emitting a deadly vibe. Stark’s men seemed to cower slightly in their presence.
“Say it again.” Nash’s low, graveled tone sent a shiver down her spine. “I dare you.”
Oh shit! Her gaze darted between the two men. It was official. Sean had lost all confidence. He didn’t even attempt to open his mouth, and Nash didn’t really give him a chance.
“Don’t speak to her.” Nash’s voice was low and threatening. “If you have something to say to her? You can say it to me. Or perhaps you’d like to repeat what you just said to Trey.”
Dahlia sucked in a breath, watching Sean shrink back against the wall.
Sean parted his lips, and his eyes shifted to Dahlia. “Apologies.”
“Don’t fucking look at her.” Nash’s tone seemed even more sinister. “Would you like to know what will happen if you break either of those orders?”
Sean’s face paled.
“I’m going to kill you. And I’ll enjoy every fucking minute of it.” The threat was a bit over the top. In almost all cases, the threat of death was metaphoric. However, Nash showed no signs of bluffing.
