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About half the people are dressed in costumes, whereas the other half just opted to dress up in some kind of Halloween-themedoutfit. We pass by a group of guys in weird neon masks before grabbing ourselves some drinks.
“Has anyone figured out who put this on?” I ask over the music.
Angie shakes her head, and some of her bright pink hair falls from her messy bun. “I’m just rolling with it. This is a blast—I hope they do it again next year.”
After that, Angie quickly gets distracted by a couple friends, and Haven and I are left alone again. She’s gulped down half her drink in under a minute, and her light cheeks are tinged pink.
“Are you—” I cut myself off when I realize what—orwho—she’s staring at.
Colton fucking Heverly.
Haven is frozen with her cup halfway to her lips. She’s not even blinking.
When I glance back, Colton is making his way toward us, his mouth curved upward in a predatory smile.
“We’re getting the hell out of here.” Grabbing Haven’s arm, I drag her out of the kitchen and back down the hallway we came through.
I only risk one glance back, and it’s to see one of those guys—the one with the neon mask that glows red—stepping in front of Colton and knocking him off balance. His expression turns lethal, and I pull Haven through the crowd faster.
“I don’t want to leave,” she says once we get outside.
I stop and turn to face her. “You’re not going to be able to enjoy yourself.”
“I can.” She takes a deep, shuddering breath. “He’s not ruining this for me. I’m so tired of men controlling my life, Thelia.”
Dammit.I get where she’s coming from, but being in such close proximity to Colton and his buddies isn’t something she can usually handle. Fuck, and that painting already threw her off.
“I’ll be fine. I promise.” She finishes her drink before grabbing mine and downing it in a few large sips.
“Hey—that’s mine! Jesus Christ, Haven, slow down.”
She shakes her head and wipes at her mouth. Her black lipstick doesn’t even smudge. “I need the courage.” Squaring her shoulders, she gives me a half-convincing grin. “Okay, let’s go. I have a plan.”
Before I can stop her, she darts back into the house. I have to run to keep up with her as she heads back to the kitchen where Colton is glaring at the three masked guys. Xander and Lucas are behind him now, eyes crossed.
That doesn’t stop Haven, though. She marches right up to Colton and slaps him across the face. He was so focused on the other guys that he didn’t even see it coming.
Unfortunately, he has quick reflexes. Haven tries to run away, but he grabs her hair and yanks her back. As she stumbles into him, she cries out. She’s only stunned for a second before she tries to claw at his face. Xander grabs her hands and pins them behind her back.
Colton leans down and whispers something in her ear that makes her fight harder.
It takes me a moment to realize the masked guys aren’t planning on helping her.Motherfuckers.I lunge forward, kicking Xander as hard as I can in the shins. It shocks him enough that Haven is able to break free from his loosened grip, and she slaps Colton again.
He just grins and yanks her closer to him—so close their lips are almost touching.
“Fuck you,” Haven seethes. “You vile, disgusting,worthlesspiece of shit. Let go of me.”
Colton’s smile widens, and his eyes glint with something dark. “That’s the best you got?”
I hit his arm. “Let go, Colton.” When he ignores me, I hit him again. “Let. her. go.”
Colton glances at Lucas. “Deal with her.”
Before Lucas even moves, all three masked men step in front of me. I try to break through to get to Haven, but they push me back.
“Hey!” I try to squeeze through two of them. “If you’re not going to help her, then at least let me.”
“Enough.” The voice comes from one of the masked guys—the same one who stepped in front of Colton the first time. His voice sounds distorted, like he has some sort of filter on it.
