Tempted

My tongue feels heavy as I try to find the words to explain. “I’m going to excuse everything you’ve just said to me because I know you’re only looking out for Bailey. I know you care, and because of that, this is the only time I’m going to allow you to speak to me like this.” I take a deep breath, trying to calm down.

Carter means well, and he doesn’t deserve my wrath. What Bailey saw didn’t look good, and his defending her is noble.

“She ambushed me in my office. I didn’t touch her. I wouldn’t, Carter.” I run my hands down my face. “Fuck,” I yell. “I’m in love with her, Carter. I need to find her.”

There, I said it. God, I do. I’m in love with her, and this whole damn scene drives that home. I can’t lose her to a fucking misunderstanding staged by the likes of Monica.

“About damn time you admit that,” he bites. “She’s a wreck. She just walked off with Reese, man. I tried to stop her, but she wouldn’t listen to a fucking word I said. She’s going to get drunk, and then who the fuck knows what she will do. You need to find her. She’s a recovering addict. One drink is one too many . . .”

His words hang in the air, not finished and ominous. He’s right. There is no telling what she will do.

One drink will lead to two, then with her inhibitions down, it’s only a matter of time before Reese is offering her coke.

Fuck. Fuuuuck.

“Which way did they go?” I yell over my shoulder.

“They’re in the VIP room drinking.”

I turn toward the glass that separates the rooms, and I see her and Reese, shots in hand, drinking. Her gaze meets mine. Carter grabs me.

“Let go, man,” I say through gritted teeth.

“You have to calm down.” His hand drops, and I turn back to go get her, but when I do, I notice the space is empty.

“They left.”

Without another word, I run, pushing through the doors to the bar.

“Where did they go?” I bark at Monica, who is staring at me from behind the bar.

“Probably to his table to fuck,” she answers, her hand reaching across the bar to touch me. My entire body goes rigid. “Oh, come on, Drew. She’s obviously going to get high with Reese then hook up. This is pretty cliché if you ask me. You can do so much better.”

“Shut the fuck up, Monica,” I grit through my teeth.

“Let it happen, baby. I’ll take care of you.” I jump out of her grip, baring my teeth.

“I’m only going to say this one time, Monica. Get the fuck out of my club.”

“But—”

I don’t wait for her to say anything else. Instead, I push past her.

“Get her out of my club,” I tell Carter as I storm past him. I’m so keyed up that I vaguely register his nod of acknowledgment.

Why the fuck is Reese in my club after I warned him not to be, and how in the fuck did Bailey, of all people, end up with him? My biggest nightmare come to life is happening somewhere in my fucking club.

When I reach Reese’s typical room, I throw open the curtain and freeze. Bailey is lying on the floor with Reese next to her, her pale face in his lap. I fall to my knees on the other side. She’s not moving. My hands fly to her neck, checking for a pulse. It’s barely there.

“What did you give her!” I scream.

“N-Nothing,” he stammers. “I gave her nothing.” His hands are squeezing hers, “Please, chwaer, wake up. Please don’t die.” A silent sob leaves his mouth as he tries to shake her.

“Move, Reese.”

“I can’t. She can’t leave me. Chwaer, you can’t leave me.” His eyes are crazy, Lost in a memory. Lost in a horror. One that I’m all too familiar with.

I’m having déjà vu. I feel like I’m in a nightmare reliving the night Alexa died. Except this isn’t Alexa. It’s Bailey. My Bailey. The girl I’m falling for, and it’s my fault. I let this happen.

I fumble with my phone and dial 911.

“Help. I need an ambulance.” Carter takes the phone from me, and I continue to hold her.

I vaguely recall being pushed out of the way, and Bailey being torn from my arms. The paramedics whisk her out of the room, and I just sit here. I’m paralyzed to the spot. This can’t be happening. I promised I’d take care of her.

A sob breaks from my chest. I sit on the cold floor with my head in my hands and sob. I feel someone place their hand on my shoulder and give it a gentle squeeze.

“You’ve got to go to her, Drew. She needs you at the hospital.”

I look up into Carter’s sympathetic gaze. I don’t deserve his pity. “She wouldn’t want me there. I’ve failed her.”