“Christ, Doug.” He rolls his eyes, keeping a firm hand locked on Dolly. “Blade’s on his way so keep your hands off. I’ll get drinks.”
Doug pouts but drops his hands. “Fine, as long as you’re getting drinks.” He fans himself.
“Let’s dance.” He grabs my hand propelling me to the center of the room as soon as Edge is at the bar.
“Don’t aggravate Edge, please, Doug. He’ll take me home and this is the first time I’ve ever been to a club.” I can’t help but feel some excitement as I watch people on the dance floor. The exhaustion from earlier disappears as he pulls me onto the lit-up floor. The music is loud and thumping up through the floor. Doug grabs me and starts to grind on me and I instantly turn.
“Behave.”
“You need alcohol, baby. Come on, let go, Eve. Let your body move to the beat.”
I glance around and watch people of all shapes and colors dance and move. Closing my eyes for a moment, I let myself feel the beat and start to move.
“That’s it. I knew you’d be a natural.” A smile tugs at my lips. We dance a few moments until I swing into Ryder’s huge arms. I almost scream, but his frown tells me I should smile instead.
“Your drink is on the table.” He takes my arm and drags me off the floor. I hear Doug yelling at Ryder that he’s no fun.
“Eve, sweetheart.” Ryder brings me to a booth in the middle where Edge is scowling at me and Dolly is hanging on him. “Here.” He hands me a drink that’s pink.
“Jason is particular with you… so until he gets here, no more dancing all right?” His kind brown eyes search my face.
“I haven’t seen you around much.” I sip the drink. “This is delicious by the way.”
“Go slow, Eve.” He looks down at his phone as the alcohol already warms me. Doug thrusts on the dance floor and laughs at himself.
“Oh yay, you’re back.” Dolly throws herself at me. “Here.” She hands me a shot.
“Yeah… I think you need some water, babe.” Edge looks at her.
“Hurray—to us!” She clanks my shot glass. I have no choice but to follow and shoot it. The sting is so strong I visualize fire coming out of my mouth.
“What was that?” I say, fanning my mouth with my hand.
“Mescal, what else?” Like I know what Mescal is.
“Um… Edge, you need to get control. I don’t want to deal with a pissed-off Blade,” Ryder snaps at him.
“Let’s dance.” I grab Dolly’s hand.
“Fucking great.” Ryder hisses behind us as we wiggle up to a happy and sweaty Doug. The music takes over and this time, when Doug grabs me from behind, I lean my head back and sway with him. The song changes and I twirl out of his arms into Dolly who reaches for me to grind on her. I look over at two miserable faces. Edge’s hands are clenched and Ryder seems to be looking downstairs.
“Hey, can I dance with you two?” A tall guy with bad hair and stupid-looking hipster clothes tries to dance with us.
“Fuck off, unless you have a death wish,” Dolly yells in his face. He backs away, shaking his head.
We both start laughing. “I need to pee. I’ll be right back.”
“I’ll be waiting.” She grabs Doug, who was dancing with another girl, and they both start putting on a show. I can’t help but giggle at poor Edge’s face. I head for the dark door that is marked women when a tattooed hand reaches for me and spins me around.
The man is tall and completely tattooed up to his neck. Instantly, I pull my arm away and decide right then that I have to get myself another knife. Jason keeps me locked up in his compound, and I refuse to be touched by anyone but him.
“You Blade’s whore?” His breath stinks of weed and alcohol and I take a step back. Hating that, I look over his shoulder for help. See, this is why I need a knife. I turn, but he grabs me again.
“Are you insane?” I hiss.
“Answer me…You’re his, aren’t you?” I wrinkle my nose at his ugly face. He’s bald and his eyes are dead. They remind me of Pauly the prick’s eyes. And suddenly I shudder because he’s not alone. Three other tattooed guys are right behind him.
“I’m going to give you a message. You tell him I want my shit. You see, he and I go way back, but business is business.” He moves closer.
“If it’s business then you should tell him yourself.” I turn again and he touches me.
“Holy shit, you are stupid. He’ll kill you. Back the fuck off,” I scream. They laugh.
“Pretty full of yourself, huh? Listen, princess, you may be gorgeous, but Blade doesn’t give two shits about any woman. In fact, since we’re in business together, he always shares his whores with me.” He trails his dirty fingernails over my throat toward my breast. Then I feel it. Heat, power, a pull. It’s him. I know same as I know this pig in front of me might die tonight.