"Relax," she said and took a sip. "He'll see you in that dress and be like putty in your hands."
"Hardly. More like he'll have me kicked out of the place."
"You're crazy," she replied, but she didn't sound so sure.
We turned to watch the dance floor, which was cramped with dozens of dancers pressed together, writhing to the music.
I finished the rest of my drink and took in a deep breath.
"Wish me luck," I said and put my empty glass down. "I have to go and face the music."
"Do you want me to come?" she asked, being the helpful friend she always was.
"No, you stay here." I squeezed her arm. "I have to do this alone."
I left her at the bar and walked over to the back of the club where Hunter was sitting. As soon as I got within ten feet of the dais, two big burly men approached me and stopped me from getting any closer.
"Can I help you?" one of them asked, his arms crossed. The two of them standing there was like a wall had suddenly materialized between me and Hunter.
Big Bodyguard Number One was dressed in a tight-fitting grey suit that strained at his huge muscles. His hair was buzzed short and he looked like a military guy stuffed into a suit. He even had a microphone in his ear, the coil reaching back behind his ear and down his neck beneath his jacket. The other bodyguard was similarly dressed but had a shaved head and glasses.
Did Hunter need bodyguards?
"I want to speak with Hunter," I said. "I'm an old friend."
The man checked me out, his eyes roving up and down my body from my feet to my chest and back.
"Hunter has a lot of lady friends," the man said dryly. "In fact, he's with one right now. I need a name or you're not going anywhere except out of the club."
"Tell him it's Celia," I said. "He’ll know me."
The man turned to the other man. "Do you know of any Celia?"
The other man shook his head.
Bodyguard One turned back to me. "You'll have to do better than that. I've never heard Mr. Saint mention anyone named Celia."
"He wouldn't, but we go back a long way. Tell him Celia's here and needs to speak with him about her brother. Like I say, he'll know who I am."
The man finally nodded and turned back to the dais. The other bodyguard stepped in front where he had stood and blocked my view of Hunter and his guests. I peered around his massive frame and watched while Bodyguard One went up to the dais and bent down to speak with Hunter.
Immediately, Hunter turned to where we stood and frowned. He saw me. I know he did. Then, he turned away.
Just like I knew he would.
He said something and Mr. Bodyguard One turned back and returned to where I stood again.
"Mr. Saint's busy at the moment," he said officiously. "You can contact his personal assistant Amanda at the gym if you have any business to discuss."
I sighed. "Please tell Mr. Saint that it's not about me. It's about my brother. Tell him we need his help."
Mr. Bodyguard Number Two crossed his arms so I had two of them standing in front of me.
"In case you didn’t understand," he said, his voice low and menacing. "Mr. Saint is not interested in what you have to say. Please leave or we'll have to escort you out of the facility."
I skipped around them both before they could respond, and practically ran up to the dais.
"Hunter!" I called out, but before I could reach the stairs, Mr. Bodyguard One had me in a bear hug.