Hoda gasped.
Camille couldn’t pale any more, but her hand started shaking.
The lawyer guy didn’t care. He released the papers and stepped back. “You are being sued. See you in court, Ms. Story.” He nodded to Kash and left.
Simple as that.
Matt started laughing. “Couldn’t figure out why you were waiting. Now I get it.”
Chester and Tony gave Kash appreciative looks.
Guy laughed. “Savage.”
Kash’s glare ripped into Camille Story. “You and Miss Mansour will leave the premises. Now.”
That was it, too. No other words. No chiding or threats or anything. He didn’t explain what was in those papers. Nothing. Just “You need to leave,” and the dismissal was almost as humiliating as her getting served in front of everyone. Either way, she’d been stupid to come here and she knew it.
Her face changed so it was beet red. She was steaming.
Since she didn’t move right away, Kash motioned to Connor. “I want them out. Now.”
The guards descended.
“Hey. Wait a minute…” Liam was frowning. He made a move to help them, but Kash severed him with a look.
“Miss Mansour and Miss Story have both been notified that they were banned from these premises. Both broke that order.”
“But they came because Melissa sent out a nine one one call. They were trying to help—”
Kash cut him off. “You came. Your friend came.” His eyes moved to Dax and included Shyam. “And a third showed. That was enough.”
The girls hadn’t moved. The guards hadn’t pushed it.
Kash clipped out, “Remove yourself or my guards will remove you.”
Hoda’s eyes sought mine. They were seething, and, her mouth tightening, she stormed out. Camille hesitated, her eyes sweeping over Matt, and a flicker of emotion was there. Brief. Then gone. Matt saw it, and his eyes went cold.
Some of the red had left her face. More of it left again at that flicker. Without saying a word, she followed behind Hoda. The guards moved with them, following behind until the crowd swallowed them.
Then it was just Liam, who was standing close to Melissa, and Dax and Shyam.
Suddenly, no one cared that they were there.
Matt still eyed Melissa, but he yawned and turned to me. He flashed me a grin. “I’m hanging out with you more.”
I muttered, “Great.”
He motioned to the dance floor. “Gotta go do something. Be back when it’s done.”
Guy barked out a laugh, hitting Matt’s shoulder as he passed by, heading for the stairs.
Tony, Chester, and Guy all slid back into the booth.
Guy snagged Torie’s hand, pulling her with him.
Chester motioned for Tamara to join their side of the booth.
Dax and Shyam moved in closer, both eyeing Kash warily. Liam was watching, too.
Kash didn’t care. He moved back into me, pulling me to his chest. Ignoring everyone, he dropped his head to mine and said in my ear, “You want to hang with your friends a bit?”
I didn’t. I wanted him, and I pressed against him to let him know.
He chuckled. “Right.”
Taking my hand, he said to Torie, “I’m taking her.”
Torie nodded and turned back to Guy. That was the end of it.
Kash stepped aside. It was my turn now, and I moved toward Melissa, still holding Kash’s hand.
I asked her, “You okay?”
She nodded, her eyes lowered. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean for any of this to happen. I really meant to hit a four and not a nine. I was just excited to be here, you know?”
“It’s fine. It worked out anyways.” I looked to Liam. “Can you get her home?”
His nod was short, and he was still eyeing the guys behind us in the booth. “I got her.”
Melissa gave him a small grin before saying to me, “I really am sorry.”
“It’s all fine.”
As dramatic as the night in Naveah had started, it was ending on an almost disappointing note. No big scene happened. Melissa, Liam, Dax, and Shyam left shortly after. Melissa went to say ’bye to the girls. As soon as they left, Kash didn’t waste time.
He slung an arm around my shoulders, and we left through that back door. He didn’t wait like Torie had. It opened immediately for him and we were through. He took me home and did as he had promised.
It was a good Friday night.
TWENTY-FIVE
Kash
I was leaving Phoenix Tech for lunch with Victoria when I heard my name being called.
I saw her on the sidewalk, and she was alone.
“Chrissy.”
Skimming, I also saw there were no guards with her. That wasn’t good.
“Where are your guards?”
She was giving me a stone face, then snorted at my question. “Where are yours?”
She was right. Some days I didn’t travel with them, and most days I preferred driving myself, but I had security measures in place. She did not.
“You should have guards with you.”
She jerked up a shoulder. “I wasn’t a target before. Don’t know why I would be now.”
“Who Peter spends time with in bed is always considered a target.”