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19
ALINA
By the time Friday evening rolls around, I’m exhausted and more than a little frustrated. I barely made it back to our house and into my room without anyone seeing what Kaden had done to my shirt. I had to keep my arms crossed over my chest the entire way, and pray that my brothers wouldn’t stop me when I walked through the door. And that damn psycho hasn’t let up since. Every day, he finds some new way to torment me.
It’s annoying as hell. Especially when my logical mind and my treacherous body also seem to react in two completely different ways to the torture that Kaden subjects me too. But I can handle it. I can endure a lot more than most people assume. And besides, it’s only temporary anyway. Sooner or later, I’m going to get what I need. And then I’m going to fucking ruin him.
My phone vibrates on my nightstand.
Setting down the hairbrush I was running through my wet hair, I walk over to check it. My pulse flutters nervously as I wonder whether it’s going to be from Kaden or if I’m safe for the night.
A bright smile spreads across my face when I unlock my phone to find a text from Carla. She and the other girls from her house, along with some other women from our class, are going out tonight, and she’s asking if I want to come too. I quickly reply that I’d love to. She tells me that they’ll be picking me up in half an hour, so I hurry back into my bathroom and start blow drying my hair.
After changing into a short dark blue dress and putting on some makeup, I rush down the stairs.
Anton must have heard my rapid footsteps on the stairs, because he appears in the doorway to the living room before I can even grab my shoes.
“Wait,” he says, sounding a bit confused. “I thought you said you were going to take a shower and then relax in bed. Where are you going now?”
“Out,” I reply, putting on a pair of high heels that I never get to wear on campus.
Mikhail materializes next to Anton. Crossing his arms, he fixes me with a stern look. “Out? Where? With who?”
“Carla and the other girls,” I reply, stifling an annoyed sigh and an eye roll. “We’re going into the city to dance.”
“And drink,” he says. It’s not a question.
“Possibly,” I admit. It looks like he’s about to open his mouth to tell me that I can’t go, so I quickly charge on. “There is literally nothing to worry about. I’m going out with like ten other girls. We’re just going to dance and have some fun.”
Anton glances over at Mikhail questioningly. Our older brother draws his pale brows down in a show of disapproval, but he hasn’t flat out told me no either.
Outside on the street, a car honks cheerfully a couple of times.
“They’re here,” I say, and grab my purse from the coat hook before slinging the thin black strap over my shoulder. “I’ll be back before six.”
Mikhail jerks back in surprise and blinks at me. “Six? Six in the morning?”
But I’ve already thrown the front door open and hurried outside. Spinning around, I smile and give my scowling brother a little wave.
“Call us if you need anything,” Anton calls after me as I jog down the small path towards the street.
Carla twists around in the passenger seat and gives me a brilliant glittering grin when I slide into the backseat next to the other two. Our designated driver for the night winks at me in the rearview mirror.
“Ready?” Carla asks.
I grin back at her. “Ready.”
Loud music pulses through the massive nightclub and strobing lights illuminate the sea of jumping and dancing people that fill the high-ceilinged room. I lost Carla and most of the others somewhere in the crowd about half an hour ago, but I’m too drunk and happy to care.
This is exactly what I needed.
After spending weeks constantly on edge in case Kaden shows up to torment me, while also fending off Jane and Leslie’s verbal blows every single day, I needed a night to just let loose and have fun.
I down my fourth shot for the night, feeling the alcohol burn its way down my throat, and then put the small glass back on the counter. Fuzzy warmth already buzzes inside my head, and I giggle at the sensation. Behind the bar, the bartender lets out a soft chuckle while pouring another drink for someone else. I flash him a grin before spinning around and heading back to the dance floor.
My steps are unsteady and my feet ache from hours of dancing in these heels, but the more I drink, the less I feel it.
People jump and dance around me as I’m swallowed by the rippling sea of drunk people. I spot one of the girls I arrived with a short distance away, and raise my hand to wave at her. She waves back, but the crowd is too thick to get through so I stay where I am.
