She pushed me inside, and then it was coming out of me.

  I was on my knees and vomiting, wondering how the hell all of this had happened.

  My hair was being pulled back, a clip put in it.

  Torie went to the sink.

  The water was running.

  The whole time, I kept emptying.

  Then she slid down the wall next to me, a towel in her hand. “What a night, huh?”

  She gave me a pitying smile when I was done and lifted my head, and handed over the towel.

  I took it, pressed it to my face, and settled back against the wall on the other side of the toilet. “Men really suck.”

  TWENTY-THREE

  Torie disappeared, then returned with a small bottle of mouthwash.

  I grinned. “Thank you.”

  She nodded, her eyes hooded. “Gotta warn you.” She motioned to the hallway. “Your man is out there.”

  I closed my eyes. Crap.

  She continued, “And I’m saying ‘your man’ because I’m not his employee right now. I’m your friend. This is girls’ night still, so saying all that, you want me to try to get rid of him?”

  My stomach was still uneasy, but I shook my head. Taking a shot of the mouthwash, I waited, swished it around, and spit it out. Torie handed me a bottle of water, too, and I rinsed my mouth. When everything was done, I looked at the door and sighed. “I need to talk to him, and to be fair to him, I don’t think I was sick because of what they said about Victoria.”

  “Good.” Her eyes flashed. “Because you shouldn’t be. That girl’s a bitch. No way in hell do you need to worry about Kash and her. Like, ever. Ever ever.”

  I laughed. “Thanks.”

  She grinned. “Okay. I’m going to head back out. We’ll watch your girl, too. I know Tamara is wasted, but I’m not too bad. I’ll quit drinking from here on out, since you were the sober one, and the guards are all gone.”

  “Matt’s are out there.”

  Her head popped up. “Oh. You’re right.” She pulled the door and said over her shoulder, “Give me a buzz. I don’t know how I’d do it, but if you need me, I’ll come up and help with whatever. Burying a body. Fighting zombies. Whatever. I’m here for you.”

  “Dinosaur outbreak?”

  She rolled with it, her grin spreading. “Then we better make saddles to throw on a couple of triceratops, because we’re too late to imprint on baby raptors.”

  I barked out a laugh.

  “See ya.” She gave me a wave.

  I nodded to her, waiting, because I knew my guy.

  She opened the door. He was in the hallway, leaning back against the wall opposite, his head down, his eyes on me. His hands were in his pockets, and he looked relaxed. Looks were deceiving. As soon as she cleared the way, he straightened, and the look that he swept over me was primal.

  I sucked my stomach in, waiting.

  He came in, strolling like he was stalking his prey.

  I tried to ignore the tingle that went through me, putting all my senses on high alert, but it was there, and then he was in the bathroom. The door closed and the room shrank. It was just him and me. We were sucking in all the air.

  I backed up without realizing I was doing it, until I hit the wall.

  He stopped right in front of me.

  I whispered, “Hi.”

  Those cognac-brown eyes narrowed. His head tilted.

  His cheekbones seemed even more chiseled, if that was even a possibility.

  His jawline seemed even more square, and strong, and why did I feel like I was in trouble?

  I didn’t know, but I felt it, and I flattened my hand over my stomach, feeling all the flutters there. But it was more. I’d just been puking. I should not be turned on, but I was. An ache was settling between my legs.

  That was for him, because of him.

  I let out a sigh. “Oh boy.”

  He relented then, whatever he was doing. A small grin eased some of the intensity. “You were sick?” He moved in so only two inches separated us. His hand raised. He smoothed his hand over my forehead, tucking some of my hair behind my ear. Then his hand fell to the back of my neck and he tugged me to him.

  I closed my eyes, feeling his touch become comforting.

  I grabbed his shirt, my own hand taking hold, and I melted against him. Feeling how tight his body was, the strength there, some of the ache left me, but it was there. I think it was always going to be there.

  “I feel better now.”

  “I saw the tapes. What’d Fleur say?”

  I recited it verbatim.

  Anger flashed in those eyes of his, then he damped it down so they were only smoldering. “Victoria’s family knows my grandfather. I’m following an angle to him. That’s why I asked her to lunch and why I think she’s been trying to get ahold of me. I’ll find out more tomorrow.”

  I bit out a harsh laugh. “I’d hoped it was a lie.”

  His hand curved around the back of my neck. His voice murmured next to my ear. “It’s not, I’m sorry. But it is work-related and…” His chest rose, held, and lowered again. His fingers slid through my hair, pulling, tipping my head back so I could see his gaze. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you ahead of time.”

  That sucked.

  “It’s work-related?”

  “Yes. Very much so.”

  If it was work-related …

  What could I say or do? Nothing. A whole big, fat nothing.

  It didn’t quite feel right, but I had to accept it. If that’s what Kash said, that was the truth.

  I flattened my hand against his chest, feeling how tight it was, his heat, and I felt his heart there. “Okay. I’ll deal, but it’ll suck.”

  His hand smoothed out from my hair and ran down the length of my arm. He moved more firmly against me, into me, and we both stepped back to the wall. He was right there, pressing against me. Then his hands rose, resting against the wall on each side of my head, and he was all around me. Trapping me there.

  “You going to tell me the real reason you were sick?”

  My stomach rolled.

  I lied. “That jealousy we just mentioned?”

  His eyes went flat. “Try again.”

  I frowned. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  He lowered his head. His forehead almost rested against mine. He breathed out, “I know it’s not about Victoria. What’s really going on?”

  The same sensation slid through me, the one I felt walking out of the biker bar, and other images flashed in my mind.

  Talking to the counselor they sent me to.

  Telling Kash I didn’t need to see a counselor.

  Driving to school that first day.

  Hoda accusing me of getting in the program because of Peter.

  Hoda giving that information to the blogger.

  Hoda giving another picture of us.

  Me not telling Kash about that picture.

  Just Hoda in general.

  The crowds at school.

  Knowing Camille Story did another blog post about me, about us.

  Knowing every single student at my school saw that, and read that, and I was now a walking target.

  I had four guards now. Not just two.

  All those memories and images and words assaulted me. One after another.

  But I swallowed over a lump, tried for a smile, and lied again. “I’m totally fine.”

  Kash shook his head. “You’re lying through your teeth.”

  A ball was in my stomach, and it began bouncing around. It was competing in an Olympic volleyball match, pinging all over me, racking my insides with punches and hits and bounces.

  I was lying, but I drew in a ragged breath and I closed my eyes and I rested my forehead against his chest.

  “I don’t know what it is, and I don’t want to find out, because when I do, I know I’m not ready to deal with it.”

  Kash’s body softened. The tension vanished, and he cupped the back of my head again, his head lowering so his cheek rested against the side of my temple. His voice was a whisper. “Okay. But you will have to deal eventually, and I’ll be here.”

  I grabbed ahold of him. Both hands fisted in his shirt, I tucked my head to the crook of his chest and arm and tried to burrow into him. My throat was full. I couldn’t say anything more because that “it” was right there, threatening to break open and spill out. And I knew I couldn’t handle it.

  Not yet.

  We heard a soft knock at the door.

  “Hell.” Kash lifted his head and barked, “A minute.”

  A second knock.

  He cursed under his breath but pulled away and went to the door. Opening it, he stood there. “Someone better be dead.”

  Someone said, “We got a problem. VIP.”

  “What is it?”

  There was silence.

  I lifted my head, saw Scott there. He was handing something to Kash to look at, and a second later, Kash handed it back. “Give me a minute.”

  Scott nodded.

  Kash stepped back inside. The door closed, and he turned, staring at me.

  I was waiting.

  He didn’t say anything.

  “What is it?”

  “My guess, your classmate friend called in reinforcements. The guy from your class is in a heated confrontation with Matt right now.”

  I jerked away from the wall. “Liam?”

  Kash nodded, his mouth flattening, but I swear, I couldn’t tell if he was pissed off or trying not to laugh.

  “Liam’s here?”

  “So is my very recent ex-employee, along with one Camille Story.”

  Kash waited a beat.

  I connected the dots. “That blogger?”

  He nodded.

  I frowned. “Wait. Why isn’t Hoda banned from the premises?”

  “She is.” His jaw clenched. A vein stuck out. “My guess is that’s why she brought her own reinforcements.”

  I swore. “Camille Story.”

  Another brief nod from him. “If it were me, the whole lot would be kicked out, but these are your classmates. What do you want done with them?”

  I swore again. “I want to see what this bitch looks like. That’s what I want to do. I want to go home and I want to hack the fuck out of her.”

  He stared at me. A beat. Then a smile spread. “There’s my woman.”

  I grinned back.

  He brushed his lips to mine, then we went out to deal with both of them.

  Kash was at my back.

  TWENTY-FOUR

  Liam was more having the confrontation with Matt.

  Matt was more not doing anything.

  Not quite true. He was smirking and half grinning, two hands on the table behind him, and he was half sitting, half lounging there. There was a lot of “half” with Matt, but not with Liam. He was fully in Matt’s face, fully angry, and no one could argue otherwise. As we approached, Liam’s arms had been spread wide in the air, but then he pointed a finger in Matt’s face, and that’s when the “half” of Matt ended.

  The smirk vanished. So did the half grin. A scary glare formed and his eyes narrowed as he stood slowly from the table. He was now squarely in Liam’s face, and Liam registered it. He paused, the finger still pointing in Matt’s face, but he moved back a step and swallowed. He lowered his hand, and it was the right move.

  Matt’s glare lessened, and the side of his mouth went up in a half smirk, but his eyes remained hard. Liam had messed up.

  Hoda was a few feet behind Liam, along with two of the guys from our class—Dax and Shyam. Both were looking around, nervous, shifting on their feet.

  The woman next to Hoda was not what or whom I expected Camille Story to look like. She was petite, with the fairest skin I’ve ever seen and strawberry-blonde hair that was nearly white. She almost looked albino, except her eyelashes were black. She was wearing a pale pink sweater hanging over a white top, and white slacks that were baggy and loose. There was a slit up the side of the leg, showing a full thigh. They were the type of pants that truly could be pajamas or could be mixed with a nice sweater, like she was wearing, and be classy and chic.

  The girl had fashion sense.

  She had a row of three braids that ran the length of one side of her skull, then fell down. The other side of her hair was loose and curled lightly.

  She was in the know with the trends. That was for sure.

  Before she saw Kash and me, her lips were parted. She was watching Matt like she couldn’t memorize his face fast enough. Her eyes were dark and hungry, and sharp.

  If I hadn’t already known she was smart, I would’ve known for sure then. Those eyes weren’t missing a thing—unlike Hoda, who was standing next to her, half hugging herself. Her arms were folded in front of her, but slightly loose, so she was cupping her elbows with only a couple fingers. Her gaze was wide and looking panicked.

  Melissa was off to the side. She wasn’t a part of Matt’s group. She was standing a few feet forward and away from Torie and Tamara. But Melissa was also not standing with our classmates. Her eyebrows were furrowed. She was biting her lip, and her head was bouncing from Liam to Matt and back again. Her body shifted as her head moved, too.

  Camille’s entire demeanor changed when she saw us. She was the one who saw us first. Everyone was focused on Liam and Matt, but her eyes went from sharp to panicked. She paled for a second, her mouth clamping shut, and she jutted back a step. She bumped into Hoda, who was jarred, threw her a frown, and moved aside as she reached to rub her elbow. Then Hoda clued in. She followed Camille’s gaze to us, and her reaction was a twin of the blogger’s.

  Kash didn’t move, though I felt his intensity ramp up a notch. His hand touched my hip, and he fitted me back to him. My entire back side was plastered to him.

  “Yo.” Matt noticed us, and he resumed his half-leaning stance. His eyes remained alert, but everything else about him was relaxed, and he almost looked like he was bored.

  Tony. Chester. Guy. They all remained sitting in the booth.

  Everyone quieted after Matt’s greeting.

  They were waiting for us to take over whatever this was.

  I frowned. What was this?

  Liam snapped out, impatient, “Melissa sent out a nine one one to the entire group chat: ‘Nine one one, I’m at Naveah.’”

  “What?” Melissa squeaked. “I did not.”

  “You did. Nine one one, Lissa. So we scrambled who we could, and we’re here, and this guy is all in Melissa’s space. He’s crowding her, making her uncomfortable. We show up, and I’m here demanding to know who this guy is, and not one of your staff will call the police.”

  I looked at Melissa.

  She flushed, hanging her head. “I meant to say ‘Four one one, I’m at Naveah’! In like an excited thing, not a nine one one that I need help. ’Cause I don’t, and I didn’t.” She motioned to Matt. “We were just talking, Liam.”

  Liam growled, “You were squished so far down in the booth that you were a slide away from going under the table. He was all over you, and leaning in your space.”

  I looked at Matt and raised an eyebrow. “You were hitting on my classmate?”

  Matt’s smirk turned into a rakish grin. “She’s cute and I’m single.” He shrugged. “Why not?”

  Liam’s face got beet red. “She’s cute and you’re single and why not? Why not? Why not? Who are you?”

  Matt straightened again, some of the bored look fading as he narrowed his eyes. “Bailey is my sister.”

  Liam’s eyes bulged out. His mouth closed, before falling open again.

  He knew Matt was now Matthew Francis, and then he closed his eyes. A curse left him. I couldn’t hear it, but I saw it and could read it. Regret tightened his face. He swung his gaze to me. “I didn’t know.”

  My brother equaled Peter Francis’s son. That’s who Matt was to Liam, but Liam didn’t know that Matt didn’t give two shits about our father.

  I stepped away from Kash. “It’s fine.”

  Liam rolled his eyes upward. He was gripping the back of his neck and cursing more, staring at the club’s ceiling.

  I frowned at the same time that Melissa moved to Liam’s side, touching his arm. She was saying something to him, and then that moment was done. They moved aside.

  Matt turned to me. “Your friends are interesting. We should have them out more often.”

  I threw him a dark look.

  He meant “interesting” in the way that a wolf would play with its food. Melissa, Liam, Dax, even Hoda—they weren’t on the same level as Matt and his friends. They were less jaded, more pure in their world. If they mixed with us, we’d ruin them. I knew it, and gritting my teeth, I hated it. I should’ve fought against coming to Naveah. Torie and Tamara fit in both worlds, and if we had stayed away, this wouldn’t have happened, but I saw the spark in Matt’s eyes.

  He was interested. His gaze swept back over Melissa, and I saw where his interest centered on.

  “Shit.”

  Kash moved up against me again, his hand on my side, anchoring to me.

  It was his turn.

  He spoke over my head. “Camille Story.”

  Matt’s head snapped to attention, whipping to the person Kash was talking to.

  I frowned at that. Matt had dated the blogger, but he answered my question when he stepped away from the table. “You’ve changed,” he said. His tone was confused. I couldn’t tell if he appreciated the change or not. Then his face clouded over and he growled, “Get the fuck out of here!”

  He didn’t like the change.

  At his tone, Chester, Tony, and Guy were no longer amused bystanders. All three slid out of the booth, taking Matt’s side, and all three were glowering at the girls. I’d never seen Guy without some sort of grin on his face, but I was seeing it now, and he was menacing.

  I remembered the first time I had met Tony and Chester.

  They’d been intimidating then, and that same air was moving around them again.

  Melissa and Liam both stopped talking, feeling the change and cluing back in to the next exchange happening.

  Hoda cursed, her hands darting to her mouth then falling back in front of her.