The neon lights cast a vibrant glow on our faces as we made our way out of the hallway and into the club.
“It’s fine. Tonight’s about forgetting our troubles,” Evie declared, linking arms with Harper now. “Let’s dance, drink, and have fun!”
The club was packed, the music loud as it thumped through me. I had only been to a club one other time and quickly found out they weren’t for me, but with Harper and Evie, I was already having a better time. We weaved through the crowd and found a spot at the bar before ordering drinks.
“To a night of fun and forgetting,” Harper toasted, raising her glass.
I took a long sip, savoring the sweetness of the drink. It felt good to be out, to be out with girls who I could complain to or forget my problems with. To not be worrying about my dad, or his company, or even Rook. I could just be here, and that was it.
It took less than five minutes before Evie dragged us out to the dance floor. I stayed with them, dancing endlessly as themusic played on. My heart leapt at every guy that approached me, and I wondered how taken I was exactly. I knew Rook wouldn’t be happy if I danced, or did anything else, with another guy, but that didn’t exactly mean we were together exclusively.
As if the men around me could hear my thoughts, a guy came up, wrapping an arm around my waist and pulling me into the crowd more.
“Hey, there,” he said, his lips so close to my ear that I could feel the heat of his breath.
I looked over my shoulder as he held me tighter. Fear and anger coursed through me as he kept moving, dragging me towards a corner of the dance floor.
“What are you doing? Let me go!”
The stranger spun me to face him, letting me get a better look at his face. He wore slicked-back hair and a button-up shirt open at the collar. He looked like any other guy in this place, but something made him think he could grab me and drag me across the floor.
“You need to get the fuck off me,” I said, pushing at his hand.
“Or what? I didn’t see your boyfriend here tonight.”
My heart hammered in my chest, trying to think of a good way to get away.
“I don’t have a boyfriend,” I said, pushing away from him again.
“No? Did I get something wrong when I followed you here from Rook’s garage after you were kissing him goodbye? How cute, by the way. I heard you like Rook’s…bike,” he said with a grin. “Maybe I should take you on a ride on my bike.”
“Not a chance,” I said, wanting to shrink back. The fact that he knew I was ever with Rook made my blood run cold, and I realized this was more than a pushy guy hitting on me in a bar. My eyes darted around, looking for any sign of Evie or Harper, but I didn’t see either of them.
I didn’t like confrontation, even on a normal day. The way people got pushy always made me uncomfortable enough to run away, but that wasn’t who I wanted to be anymore. Icouldn’tbe that person anymore.
I needed Rook here, but I couldn’t act helpless now. I kept going to hang out with Rook and I knew what type of problems could go along with that. I could either run from them, and then run from Rook, too. Or I could handle them, even if it meant calling for help.
The guy stepped closer, wrapping an arm around my waist to pull me in. He whispered something, but the music drowned the words out.
Panic welled in my throat, and I reached for my phone. The only way to look at it, though, was to wrap my arms around the guy so I could hold it up enough to hit Rook’s name.
The FaceTime connected and Rook’s grinning face filled the screen, before he saw what was happening.
Help,I mouthed.
His face hardened. His eyes narrowed as he headed to his toolbox with me still on the phone.
I moved to my texts, sending him one fast, as the guy seemed to think we were dancing.
“My name is Victor,” he yelled, his arm tightening on me.
Regan: He knows I’m with you.
Rook: Dead.
Rook: Kick him hard and find Evie. Now.
I switched back to the FaceTime, already seeing him on the bike. He clicked it on his stand before slipping on his helmet, not disconnecting the call. The guy stopped, grabbing my wrist, and I used my other hand to slip my phone into my pocket.
