A few people stop to see the commotion, but the entire room is one big commotion, so their attention is not held by us for long. Distraction is working in the man’s favor right now, and no matter how much I try to fight him, the man is winning.
Has my past finally caught up with me?
Nick must not have paid my debt. That thought punctures my panic.
My fingers and toes are growing numb, and vertigo is setting in.
This is it. This man—
Like sharks striking out from the sea to attack their prey, come the two security guards who had been working the door. One seizes my attacker, restraining both his arms behind his back, and the other takes hold of me, pulling me against his chest in safety. I’m no longer in danger of being abducted by this strange man, but I’m still not free.
My ears ring against the heavy bass of the DJ’s performance as we are both ushered to a stairway leading to the upstairs balcony.
My eyes scan the people below in search of Sasha who still has no idea I’m not next to her dancing. My attacker is not happy one bit at being escorted by two men much larger and threatening than him. He’s forcibly shoved up the stairs, and though I’m also being led upstairs, the security guard in charge of me is being gentle.
We enter the enclosed room that is lit by a deep red light, and the first thing I see is a man I intimately know, and yet is also so much a stranger. His back is to us as he leans up against his cane, the ruby top peeking through his tightly gripped fingers.
The mixture of fear, anticipation, and the unknown makes my knees nearly buckle. I’m speechless, even though I feel like the polite thing to do is say something. I want to be sexy and alluring, but the man who tried to kidnap me has stolen the grand entrance I had imagined when facing Nick Hudson again. Instead, I’m just a scared little girl, not able to fake it until I make it.
When the door closes, and the sound of the music is muffled, Nick orders, “Sit.”
The security guards move us toward two chairs that are sitting side by side, but a few feet apart from each other. They shove my attacker into the seat but allow me to sit on my own.
Nick turns to face us. I can’t help but feel like I’ve been brought to the principal’s office for some misdeed. This isn’t how I wanted to see Nick again, but at least I get to see him face to face once more. And what an incredibly handsome face it is.
His eyes narrow on me. “Are you alright?”
I nod even though I don’t know if that’s the truth.
Nick’s eyes focus on my arm which is throbbing now that some of the shock of nearly being yanked out of the warehouse by some stranger is wearing off. “Did he do that to you?”
I look down at my arm which is red and has the marks of my attacker’s fingerprints on it. “I don’t know why he grabbed me,” I say rather than answering. “He’s lucky your men stepped in before I fought back.”
I don’t want to appear like some weak and frightened little girl who needs to be rescued—again.
Nick hits his cane hard against the concrete floor as he bares his teeth giving a false smile to my attacker. “I believe your name is Maxim, correct?” he asks.
My attacker finally speaks, “Yes.”
“Maxim,” Nick begins as he centers himself directly in front of him. There is so much tension in his jaw that I wonder if he will chip a tooth. “And you aware of the rules of Wonderland?”
“With all due respect. I came here to do a job,” Maxim says without even the slightest bit of fear in his voice. Not even a quiver or shake. “Though I wasn’t invited, I was going to sneak in and out without any disruption to your party.”
Nick nods with another forced smile. “But there was a disruption. And clearly you don’t know the rules. Rule number one. No business can be conducted in Wonderland except as part of a tea party. Rule number three. No violence.” Nick begins pacing back and forth in front of us, his eyes down toward the ground as if in deep contemplation. “You broke rule number one and rule number three, Maxim.”
“I’ve been hired by my client to bring Lyriope to them. I got the order tonight and was told to act immediately. I’m simply following orders.” Maxim’s voice is still even in tone. The man is truly skilled in showing no fear.
I’d be a squeaky blubbering mess if I had to conduct a conversation right now.