Together, we made our way to the Omnia Nightclub. By the time we reached the front doors, a few more bodyguards in suits had joined us. Flashbulbs popped as the paparazzi took an endless amount of photos of the costume-clad guests entering the club.
One particularly aggressive photographer continued to yell Jax’s name until he zeroed in on me. “Hey, pretty girl! Let me get your picture! Look at me, gorgeous!” He pushed forward, shoving his camera closer to my face. Before he could get a good shot, Luca stepped in front of me, taunting him.
“Are you sayingIdon’t look pretty? I’m offended.” I heard him say as Cash and Antoni swooped their arms around me, guiding me inside. Jax and the rest of the guys were still stuck in the throngs of photographers while Brady played defense, fending off the crowd.
“Are you okay?” Derek asked after he’d broken free of the mob of photographers. “Those guys can be assholes sometimes.”
“I am.” I smiled gratefully at Luca as he approached. “Thanks to this guy.”
“Those guys piss me off. You good?” He put an arm around me. “You’re shaking, babe.”
I hadn’t even realized my hands were trembling. It’s not like I didn’t know this type of thing happened, but I’d never experienced it before now. If that’s what happens when I’m just a nobody on the arm of a rockstar, what would it be like if I actuallybecamea rockstar?
“I’m okay.” I forced a smile as Jax and Dallas filed inside with Brady and the rest of security rounding up the rear. Jax squeezed through the crowd until he was by my side, lacing his fingers with mine.
We stopped by the bar before Antoni led us onto the dance floor, the sequins on his tux a sparkling beacon for us to follow. The occasional flashbulb went off as a couple of chosen photographers, who likely paid an obscene amount to be there, took pictures of guests.
Jax took me by the hand and spun me around, pulling me back to him. Scantily clad waitstaff expertly wove their way through the crowd, passing out champagne. We danced together for a while until everyone started going their own way. Luca disappeared into the crowd while Derek and Dallas joined the guy I recognized to be Sam Corbyn, their opening act on the tour, at his table. Cash had migrated to the bar, no doubt talking business with someone. I glanced around the dance floor and spotted Antoni shaking his hips with a nice-looking guy dressed as a firefighter, who wore his jacket open to reveal a set of washboard abs.Go, Antoni!
Even though the song playing was upbeat, Jax pulled me into his arms, slowly moving me around the dance floor. He leaned in, pressing a kiss to my cheek as a flashbulb went off beside us. I flinched, startled by the streak of light in my face. Before we could see who the flash belonged to, they’d already disappeared into the crowd. I could feel Jax’s body stiffen as he glared out into the sea of people.
“It’s okay,” I reassured him, feeling that same unease from earlier set in. “I’ve got a mask on anyway. It’s alright.”
“I know.” He sighed. “I just want to make sure you’re protected. I don’t want your identity getting out there before you’re ready.” He wrapped his arms around my waist, leaning in so his mouth hovered at my ear. “I know we haven’t been here long, but all I want is to be alone with you. We could go back to the suite. I bet there are some pajamas there with your name on them, or you don’t have to wear anything at all.” He flashed me a seductive grin, and my knees went weak.
“Yeah, let’s get out of here.” I beamed up at him. “But we should probably let the guys know we’re leaving, and I really need to find a restroom.”
“I’ll ask Brady to escort us back to be safe, and I’ll find Cash and tell him we’re leaving. You go find the bathroom. I’ll meet you at the entrance where we came in.” I pecked him on the cheek and set off into the club.
I was winding my way through the throngs of people, picking up my dress as I went, when I felt a gentle hand grab my wrist. “I love your dress,” a dainty voice said.
I turned to see who the voice belonged to, and I blinked hard, certain my eyes were playing tricks on me. The girl lookedexactlylike Jessica Rabbit, aka Shelby Kirkland, dressed as a flapper or a shimmery chandelier. I wasn’t sure which.
Wait… could that really be her?Shit.
“Uh, thank you so much.” I looked up to see Benton Wyatt walking straight toward me, carrying two martini glasses.What the hell is he doing here? We’re not in Nashville anymore.Of course, he wasn’t wearing a costume. He took himself far too seriously for things like that. I withdrew my wrist from Jessica Rabbit’s grasp and pressed forward. If she knew who I was, she didn’t let on.
Shit. Shit. Shit.I kept my face neutral as Ben’s eyes connected with mine. A flicker of something passed across his face as he looked at me. Recognition? Approval? Dare I say, attraction? I wasn’t sure what it was, but he walked right past me without incident. I kept walking and never looked back.
I finally found the bathroom and ducked inside for a moment, grateful to not be sandwiched between a sea of sweaty bodies. It was hard to believe it had only been a month since I saw that photo of Ben with Jessica Rabbit and felt all the hurt come rushing back. But now? I felt grateful. If all of that hadn’t happened, I never would have met Jaxon Slade. I hadn’t wanted Ben to recognize me because I truly had nothing left to say to him. Except perhaps, thank you for ending a relationship I should have ended a long time ago. I couldn’t wait to get back to Jax, so I started my trek back through the club to get to the entrance.
As I shouldered through the horde of people, I caught a glimpse of Luca’s deep-green tux. He was off to the side, alone, standing by a small circular table with some sort of mixed drink in front of him. Though he was looking in my direction, he didn’t seem to see me. When I approached, I saw him reach inside his jacket pocket and pull out what looked to be some sort of small bottle. He popped the top off and poured more than a couple of pills into his hand before knocking it back with whatever concoction was in his glass.
“Luca?” I touched him lightly on the arm. For a moment, it was as though he was looking right through me. When his eyes finally focused, I could see they were hazy and bloodshot, even through the mask. “Are you alright?”
“Yeah, I’m good.” His words came a little slow and slurred. “Just letting off some steam.” He took another drink, draining the glass in one last pull.
“Are you sure you’re feeling okay? I thought I saw you taking something on my way over here. Are you sick?”
He shrugged me off. “Had a little headache is all.”
I held up his now empty glass. “Maybe lay off of this for the rest of the night. Whatever was in this little glass certainly won’t help that headache. You want me to get you some water? I can run over to the bar for you.”
“Nah, I’m good.” He shook his head and turned his attention to a beautiful blonde a few feet away, wearing something lacy and see-through who seemed to have set her sights on him. She beckoned him over with the curve of her finger, and Luca practically salivated. “And I think I’m about to be even better.” He turned to me with a wink before grabbing my hand and placing a kiss on top of it. “You really do look gorgeous tonight, Liv.”
Before I could say another word, I watched him stumble in the direction of the blonde and whisper something in her ear. She grinned slyly before letting him escort her away. I stared after him a moment, unsure what exactly I’d witnessed. Something felt off, though I had no reason to believe Luca would lie to me either. I was probably just being paranoid.
I sighed and set out for the entrance where Jax and Brady were already waiting for me.
