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Seeming a little reluctant, he nonetheless continued with his story. I tried to listen. I truly did. But it became harder and harder to concentrate as my internal sensations distracted me. My stomach was churning like crazy, my mind felt all fuzzy, and I was seeing two of everything.

I’d felt like this once before, I distantly realized. I couldn’t pinpoint when or why, I only knew that this all felt a little familiar.

His next words were so muffled and tinny that I couldn’t quite make them out. I gave my head a little shake and said, “I’m sorry, what did you say?” Was it just me or did my voice sound kind of slurry?

He gave me a soft yet stern look. “Okay, you’re not fine. I think it’s safe to say that you’ve had a little too much to drink.”

Too much? No, that wasn’t right. Or was it?

He stood. “Maybe it’s best if we get you into a cab.”

I tried to tell him that it wasn’t necessary, that I truly was fine, but no words came out when I parted my lips.

He gently lifted me off the stool, set me on my feet, curled an arm around my waist, and began leading me toward the dome’s ornate doors.

I didn’t want to go with him. I didn’t like the sick feeling that slithered through my system and settled in my gut. Which I would have told him if I could have pushed out the words. At this point, it was becoming difficult to hold my head up.

Someone slid in front of us. “What in the fuck?” burst out a new voice.

My heart jumped, and relief blew through me.Kaleb.He wasn’t alone, I realized. Trace stood behind him—I could just about make him out.

“What’s wrong with her?” demanded Trace.

Flynn went very still, his muscles bunching with tension. “She’s totaled, that’s all.”

“Briar, baby, look at me.” Hands caught my face and lifted my head, and then Kaleb’s eyes were boring into mine. He bit out a harsh curse, his gaze slamming on Flynn. “You fucking drugged her.”

Flynn spluttered. “What? Th-that’s bullshit!”

Drugged.My gut rolled.

Kaleb effortlessly pulled me away from Flynn and gathered me in his arms, his hold protective. God, I hoped I didn’t vomit on him. I really couldn’t promise anything on that score.

“She’s just smashed,” Flynn insisted.

“From two Cosmos? You seriously expect me to believe that?” Trace’s voice was laced with both disbelief and disgust. “Take her to the car, Kaleb. I’ll deal with this piece of shit. Or, more to the point, Blake will.”

“We’ll wait for you outside.” Kaleb lifted me and cradled me against his chest. “It’s all right, Bri, you’re safe with me, you know that.”

I would have told him Ididknow that, but words again failed me. All I could do was go pliant against him, my head swimming, my eyes closed.

I floated in a fuzzy, half-conscious state; the occasional sensations or voices tugging at my awareness. But that awareness increasingly faded, taking me deeper and deeper down into a dark mental abyss.

Then I was out.

***

Fuck, my headhurt.Badly. There was a whole lot of throbbing and pounding going on up there, and I seriously needed to dig out some Tylenol.

The queasiness in my stomach didn’t help matters. I swallowed around a throat as bone dry as my mouth. I needed water. I just wasn’t sure I could keep it down.

I hadn’t been this hungover in … I couldn’t even remember.

I sank my head deeper into the pillow, and a frown pulled at my brow. The material was soft and luxurious. But also foreign. I didnothave satin pillow cases.

My eyelids flipped open. And I hissed, squeezing them shut again as light stabbed my eyes like blunt needles.Not fun.

I gave it a few moments and then very carefully began to open my eyes a sliver at a time, allowing them to adjust to the light little by little. As I flicked my gaze around, I was able to confirm my suspicion that I was not in my bedroom. I wasn’t even at my apartment. So where was I?

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