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I grit my teeth to keep from saying anything more, to keep from begging to let me stay there and call the guys until someone answered, and turned to leave.
And that’s when I felt it. That weight that slowly pressed down on me, making me aware of every breath I tried to take.
Someone was watching me.
If I hadn’t spent years learning to know when Kieran was in the same room with me, I might not have noticed it.
But this wasn’t the same. My heart wasn’t slowing from the overwhelming and terrifying chill that accompanied Nightshade . . . and it wasn’t steadily increasing from being in the presence of Kieran.
I struggled to keep my face impassive as I let my eyes scan the crowded bar, and stilled when I found vaguely familiar eyes locked on me and closing in.
She didn’t pause as she neared me, just grabbed my wrist and hauled me back in the direction she’d come from.
As we got closer to the corner of the building, I found two more familiar faces waiting expectantly on a plush couch.
“Oh, oh! Knew you’d come back to me, nerd,” one of the twins called out as Libby forced me to sit.
She rolled her eyes. “Don’t be an idiot, Diggs, she’s not for you.”
“You never know. The newbie might want a night of this,” the other said. “Fuck if we didn’t all see her dismiss Dare.”
“She’s not for you either. Both of you go. I’ll find you when I’m done.”
Libby’s eyes stayed focused on me, darting over me questioningly as she waited for the twins to grab their drinks and leave with groans of protests.
“You look like hell,” she said unapologetically as soon as they were a few feet from us.
“Thanks,” I said tightly.
“Thought I remembered you speaking.” Her tone was the same as it had been earlier that evening. Curious . . . something like awe driving everything she uttered to me. “Who are you? And why is it I’ve never seen you before this week, but suddenly you’re everywhere?”
I’d wondered the same thing when she’d grabbed me.
“I also remember you not answering much . . . kind of like now.” She sighed when I glanced around the bar. “He’s not here.”
I wasn’t looking for him.
Once I’d seen Libby, I’d focused in on every nerve ending. But the comforting buzz that meant Dare was near had been absent.
I was trying to gauge if there was anyone I didn’t recognize looking for me.
“What do you want me to say?” I licked my lips, my eyes darting across the people in the bar again. “You’re the one who keeps showing up where I am, but I haven’t asked why you’re here.”
Surprise crossed her face for only a second before the corner of her mouth lifted in amusement. “Trust me, sweetie, you don’t want to play that game with me. I’ll play all day long and I’ll win.”
“What game?”
“My mom owns Brooks Street, and I’ve been here with the twins ever since you went running off. Not to mention The Jack is my home away from home,” she said with a satisfied smile, lifting her hands to gesture to the building we were in. “Which means you keep showing up in my places. Not that I mind. Not that Dare minds. Speaking of, you never told me how you know my brother. The other day he led me to believe that you don’t, but I find that kind of funny because tonight it sure as hell looked like the two of you know each other really well, if you know what I mean.”
I shook my head and tried to ignore the rush that spread through me . . . tried to ignore the need to feel his lips on mine again. “I didn’t even know his name until you said it tonight.”
She studied me shamelessly, her head tilting as she did. “He’s intrigued by you, you know. And Dare doesn’t get intrigued by anyone.”
Excitement flared deep inside, and I fought to push it back.
“He’s smart and he’s cautious, but from what I’ve seen tonight, I’m worried he won’t be concerning you. Which means someone has to be for him.”
“There isn’t a need to be cautious when there’s nothing going on between us.”
