“Hey!” she exclaimed, until she realized that it was Sean.
She saw Adelina still making her way through the crowd, and with the lights flashing and the music blaring, she knew that she wouldn’t hear her.
Her brother glanced back at her. “I need to talk to you.”
She allowed him to bring her back toward the direction they came from.
“Sean, what’s going on? We should stay here so that my—”
“Boyfriends? Don’t worry. I know. I saw them with you. It’s creepy.”
“It’s not creepy. I love them and they love me.”
“Please, just step outside with me. I’ve been waiting to talk to you. Someone has been following you. I saw the police at your apartment. Did someone break in?” he asked, as they exited the back door.
They were standing outside when she stopped him from bringing her further away from the door. She was scared. She had become so reliant on Hudson and Jagger to make her feel safe, and even now, with them just inside, she was scared.
“Sean, who did you see?”
“I don’t know who the person is. But I saw them again tonight. They were watching Hudson and Jagger while they were talking at the bar.”
Her brother was rambling. He seemed genuinely upset.
She reached for his hand.
“Come back inside with me. Hudson and Jagger can help you.”
He pulled back. “They won’t be able to keep me out of jail. The detectives will bust me for that armed robbery.”
“But you said you didn’t do anything. You didn’t have the weapon and you didn’t steal, correct?” She stepped down further from the back door.
Her brother was pacing. “I don’t have any money for an attorney. They’ll hang me.”
“I told you that I would help you.” She reached out her hand. “Trust me and I’ll help you, Sean. I promise. Just take my hand.”
The back door to the club swung open. Hudson, Jagger, Jett, Flynn, and some other guys came barreling through.
“Tia Rose, what the hell is going on? We were worried.”
Sean took a few steps back, but Tia grabbed his sleeve. She looked at Hudson as he and Jagger took position beside her.
“This is my brother Sean. Sean, meet Hudson and Jagger Ross, and Jett ad Flynn Greyson.”
“Tia, please. I don’t think they can help me.”
“Tell us what’s going on. If you’re Tia’s brother and you need help, we’re here for you,” Hudson said, as he took a step toward Sean.
“You can trust them, Sean. I sure do,” she replied.
Tia began to explain about her brother’s problem, and the fact that the police thought he was involved. Sean told them all about what happened that night, and then Jett and Flynn said they could probably help.
“Let’s head inside and talk. It’s pretty dark out here,” Jett suggested.
“Yeah, and someone has been following Tia Rose. I saw them,” Sean told them.
“What? Who did you see? Did you get a good look, a description?” Jagger asked.
Tia Rose felt the pain the moment she heard the shot. She fell forward against Hudson, who caught her. Everyone ducked, but Flynn and Jett, as well as the other two men behind them. They drew their weapons as Tia placed her hand over her shoulder and chest. The pain radiated from her back to her front. She lifted her hand in what felt like slow motion, and when she looked down it was covered in blood.