ou can’t force the asshole out of hiding.”
“We’re thinking we should bait him,” Bryce added.
“Bait? Isn’t that what this party is for?”
“It’s not enough. Everyone thinks you’re hiding somewhere or locked up.”
“I am.”
Bryce said, “Come on. You know what I mean. Let’s head back to the house and have a planning session. Figure a way to draw this psycho out of hiding.”
“Sounds good to me.” Denton still had one arm around Mena’s shoulders. He started flicking her ear and she elbowed him in the side. When he did it again, she swatted at his hand instead. He kept going.
He met my gaze then and gave me a tiny grin. I could see he felt bad about what he had said at the pool. I lifted a shoulder in response. They were family.
My gaze went to Corrigan and Bryce.
Families go through hard times. It was unavoidable.
“What about Ritt?”
I frowned, not recognizing the fraternity brother that had come up to our group. He directed that question to Corrigan, and I caught up. Corrigan had signaled to him we were going. He said, “What about him?”
The brother lifted his phone up, a deep frown under his lipstick. “He’s not answering his phone.”
Corrigan cursed. “Are you serious?”
“Yeah.”
He groaned. “I told him to lay off the booze.”
Denton waved a hand, getting their attention. “If you need to stay, that’s fine. We can wait around. I’m sure,” he glanced to me, “Zorro would be A-Okay with that.”
I perked up.
“No.” Corrigan shook his head, a hard glint in his eyes. “You guys go. Start the planning. I’ll take care of this and get back as soon as possible.”
“You sure?”
I offered, “We can totally stay.” I recognized the girl who had called me a bitch on the front lawn. There was a group that I wouldn’t mind messing with, maybe ask why she was so adamant I was a bitch. “I’ve not ruffled any feathers tonight.”
“No.” Corrigan shot me a dark look. “Go. I mean it. I want you to stay safe.” He spoke over me to Bryce, “I’ll be back in a few. Take her.”
Bryce’s hand came to my arm and he pulled me toward him. “I will.” He turned, guiding me in front of him, and he said to Denton, “Can you call your driver to come get us?”
Denton nodded. As he pulled his phone out, he was guiding Mena in front of him, weaving through the crowd to the front door. My time was coming to an end. Digging my heels in, Bryce simply adjusted his hold. His arm went around my waist, and he picked me up, carrying me tucked under his arm. My hands flew back, knocking into people, and I tried to keep my feet from doing the same. Clutching to his shoulder, I gasped, “Bryce!”
He apologized to the people I hit, but kept going forward. He was bound and determined. So I pressed my lips shut and let myself be carried out. I was starting to realize whichever one was with me was going to act as a bodyguard from now on—no, a babysitter— but I couldn’t blame them. Images of Corrigan bleeding on the floor flashed in my head. The killer could hurt them, too.
“Bryce,” I said.
He was ducking around a group of girls, all tipsy and giggling. “Yeah?”
“I’m worried about Corrigan.”
He met my gaze. I bit my lip, wondering if there would be jealousy, but he only nodded. “I know. Me too, but he’ll be fine for the night. After this, none of us will go out alone again.”
“We should wait.”