The Damaged (The Insiders Trilogy 2)

Melissa was nodding. “Let’s go.”

“We know you.”

That came from someone not in our group.

The guys both stiffened.

That was my first clue.

Then a louder, “Talking to you.”

I turned around.

A couple girls were there. Biker girls, or what I assumed were biker girls, since they were in leather corsets and skintight jeans like mine. Their hair was done up and they had a solid layer of makeup on, too, heavier than Torie and Tamara. They weren’t too far from me, but the second time they spoke, Connor was there, an arm out so they couldn’t come closer.

They turned hostile eyes on him. “We just want to talk.”

“We want to know why a stuck-up bitch like her is here.” Both she and the other one turned on me at once, as if it was rehearsed. “Why you here? This is our place. These are our guys.”

Torie heard that. So did Tamara. And both were pushing their way around the table to me.

“You back off, honey.” That was from Torie. She liked using endearments when she drank, or so I’d learned that night. “We come here too, and she ain’t like that. She’s not after your men.”

“She has two guards here.”

Tamara snorted. “You’re dumb, too. She has four! Just the other two are by the door.”

Oh. That did not go over well.

The first one got red in the face.

The second just launched. Claws out, a howl, and she was over Connor’s arms, almost reaching me. Her hand grabbed my hair before Connor had her up in his arms. He turned, saw her hold, and had her hand out of my hair in the next blink of an eye. As he moved her away, Scott waded in and Grand and Row were there.

Scott moved the other “friend” along with the one Connor was carrying.

Row and Grand were ushering us out of the biker bar.

As we went, I caught sight of the other customers. Most were grinning, enjoying the show. Others didn’t give two hoots. A few guys were watching us leave, eyes locked on me as if they knew I had no business being there.

A weird sensation started in my belly. It was growing as we moved outside.

In another world, one where I never knew Peter Francis was my father, I would’ve enjoyed going to that bar. I would’ve enjoyed cutting loose as I saw a few other Hawking students doing.

Maybe in another life I could’ve been one of those students, there to have fun without four guards and without two locals recognizing me and starting a scene so I’d have to leave. Not that person.

But I am Peter Francis’s daughter, and now we were outside and being hustled to the SUV and my chest was burning because I knew I’d never be that girl again.

That was done.

I could never not be Peter’s daughter. I could never not be Kash’s girlfriend.

Life being anonymous, pushing to fight my way up, claw my way up, was done.

Connor and Scott came out, unmarred and unscarred, and climbed in.

Scott turned around, took in everyone, and paused on me. He decided for us.

“Take her to Naveah.”

* * *

Tamara didn’t need to worry about Torie wanting to work.

As soon as we got to Naveah, Torie let out a loud whoop, grabbed whoever’s hand was closest, and surged past the lines. She wasn’t done when we got inside. She kept going, all the way straight to the VIP booth. Following behind Tamara, because Torie had grabbed Melissa’s hand, I slowed, seeing who was already there.

Tony. Chester. Guy. And Fleur and Cedar.

Guy saw Torie and lit up. Chester saw Melissa and turned carnal.

Tony saw Tamara and dark interest sparked.

The girls saw me, and both of their lips curled up in disdain. Well. Too fucking bad.

Guy was already out of the booth, with his arm around Torie’s shoulders, by the time I got there. She was doing the introductions. When she got to Fleur and Cedar, both looked Melissa up and down, picked up their purses, and slid out of the booth.

Fleur was the spokesperson. “We can see where we’re not welcome.”

“No! Stay!” Melissa tried, a friendly smile there, because bless her, she wasn’t jaded like the rest of us. That made my heart ache.

Melissa shouldn’t be here. Not in this club. Not at this booth. Not with these people.

Torie and Tamara knew the score. They could handle themselves. But Melissa was bright and light and innocent. Fleur turned to her, her gaze locking on, giving Melissa another once-over. “I don’t think so. They just let anyone in here now, don’t they.”

Enough!

A switch was flipped in me, and I’d had it.

“Why do you still come around? If you’re here, you look miserable. Every time. I’ve never seen you smile.”

She flinched as if I’d slapped her.

Cedar waded in. “Maybe it’s because you joined the group.” She sent a scathing look at the guys. “And trust me, we smile plenty when you’re not around.”