Page 29

His smile grows as he nods rapidly. “I don’t have to remember because you never stop fucking talking about it. You’ve spent two years making this girl’s life hell, and now that you actually have a good reason for being a dick to her, you aren’t. If she’s half as confused as I am, it’s no wonder she’s avoiding you.”

I let out a huff, hating that he’s right. I don’t know how to explain it, as there’s no way I’m admitting that I’ve never hated her. So I settle for some version of the truth. “For the last two years, she’s been Betrothed to that wanker, Ryan. That’s the reason I’ve made her life hell, and now she’s rid of him, that excuse has gone. Besides, she’s being targeted simply because of who her father is, and we both know that’s not fair.”

His expression shifts for a second at the mention of his father before he nods in agreement. “She doesn’t deserve to be hassled just because he’s done something wrong. Besides, I know you only asked her to be your Prize to get back at Ryan, so he can’t have her.”

I mean, he’s not wrong. That was definitely part of the reason, but there were other thoughts occupying my mind at the time—and I’m definitely not going to vocalise those.

“Exactly. She’s just got free of him; the last thing she needs is to go backwards,” I add, before taking another sip of my drink.

It’s taking every bit of my energy not to turn my head and seek her out. I want to know where she is, what she’s doing, and who she’s talking to, but I can’t. That will give too much away under my friend’s watchful gaze.

But that thought goes out the window when the sound of a commotion at the entrance to the VIP section reaches us. The voices are loud enough to capture our attention over the booming bass, and both me and Bram turn to look at what’s causing the fuss.

My eyes widen as my gaze lands on Harper, who is standing behind an enraged-looking Wren. She’s yelling at the large security guard, who is blocking their entry into the VIP area. He grabs her arm, and she slaps him away.

Harper is practically hiding behind her best friend, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment as more people turn to watch Wren argue with a man twice her size.

I didn’t even hear Bram get up from our booth, as I’m so distracted by Harper, not until he’s charging at the security guard. I mutter a string of curses as Bram drags the guy backwards, pulling him away from Wren. Without even a moment’s hesitation, he slams his fist into the guard’s face, and as blood gushes from his now broken nose, all hell breaks loose.

A couple of other guards jump in to help their colleague, and Harper tries to pull Wren back, but the crowd of people gathering behind them means they’re pushed further into the commotion.

I don’t normally get involved with Bram’s fights, as they happen far too often, and he doesn’t need my help, but this time, I stand with a groan and make my way over, much more casually than the frantic situation calls for.

As soon as I’m close enough, I pull the guards out of the way, so I can make my way into the middle of the scrimmage. My eyes catch a fist flying at my face; I narrowly avoid it and retaliate with a punch to his abdomen, winding him enough to knock him backwards.

As the next man rushes at me, I slam my fist into his nose, hearing a sickening crunch as blood spurts from what I’m absolutely certain is a fracture. He mumbles curse words as he spits blood, but all I can hear is Bram’s maniacal laughter as he takes on three men at once.

I take a quick look around, assessing the scene I now find myself in the middle of, and without thinking, I pass Bram and head straight for Harper and Wren, who are both clinging to each other in terror as they try to avoid getting hit.

Once I’m close enough, I grab hold of Harper’s arm, and her eyes widen in fear until she realises it’s me. Wren smacks my arm as she shouts something I can’t hear over all the noise, but when Harper leans in and whispers in her ear, she stops trying to hurt me.

“Follow me,” I shout, loud enough to be heard over the music and commotion.

I don’t let go of Harper’s arm, pulling her along behind me without giving her a choice. I cast a glance over my shoulder to see her dragging Wren along with us. Once we reach our booth, I push them both to sit down.

“Stay here. I’ll be back in a minute.”

Without waiting for a reply, I run back to where Bram is still fighting with some of the security guards, whilst others remain on the ground. Just as I get closer to the fight, someone grabs hold of my arm, spinning me around to face them.

I quickly take up a protective stance, ready to strike if needed, but once my gaze lands on the scowling face of Rafe Kincaid, I back down immediately. He takes a menacing step forward, his lips twisting in anger as he glares at me. “Do you want to tell me why your friend is beating the shit out of my security guards?”

I shrug my shoulders, as I’m not exactly sure. “I’m sure he has his reasons.”

“Can you stop him before I have no choice but to throw him out and ban him?”

I let out a harsh laugh. “I’d love to see you try. You and I both know Bram does whatever the hell he wants.”

“Not in my club, he doesn’t. You’re lucky I like you both, otherwise I’d have you strung up in my basement already, reminding you why you don’t mess with me or my club,” Kincaid growls, and it’s easy to see why grown Order men are so terrified of this guy.

He may only be a couple of years older than me, but the harsh expression he wears constantly makes him appear older. There’s a coldness to his icy-blue eyes that chills you to the bone when he stares at you like this. But then the suit he always wears makes him appear the same as any other professional businessman.

Then again, normal businessmen don’t have a basement they use as a fucking torture chamber.

And since I don’t want to become acquainted with said torture chamber, I need to stop Bram before he injures all of Kincaid’s men. But as soon as I take a couple of steps towards the commotion, the security guard nearest to me sees me as a threat and charges at me.

Before his fist makes contact, a loud, high-pitched whistling cuts through all the chaos, and everyone freezes in place. We all turn to where the noise came from and see Kincaid with his fingers in his mouth, glaring at us all with a murderous expression.

“Enough!” he shouts, even though we’re all completely still.