Damn it! I knew this trip was too good to be true.
“Any idea how I’d go about getting my suitcase back from the airline before they send it to Europe?” I grumble into the phone, but really I’m asking myself. I don’t expect an answer until it comes.
“Leave it. They’ll return it to you,” August says.
Leave it.Just leave my suitcase, full of all the new winter outfits I bought specifically for this trip. Sure, because I love throwing money away.
“Hayley?”
“Yeah?”
“You’ve got thirty minutes,” he grunts, and then the line goes dead.
Thirty minutes?I’m at the freaking airport. How the hell am I going to get all the way to the strip in thirty minutes?
The guy is insane. And he has my brother. A maniac has my little brother. Shit!
I run for the exit and hail a cab. Jumping into the back seat while struggling with my small carry-on roller bag.
“Pulse… If you can get me there in twenty, I’ll flash you my boobs,” I tell the driver. I don’t have spare cash to use as a bribe—and honestly seeing my boobs is way more worth it.
To my surprise, the cab pulls up at the front of Pulse exactly nineteen minutes later. And I’m alive, which is probably even more surprising, considering the way this dude drove like a damn madman.
Because I believe in following through on my word, I lift my top and flash the driver my boobs for five seconds. Then I throw him a twenty and jump out, dragging my bag behind me.
“Thanks!”
When I look up at the door, I see the line that wraps around the corner of the building. Yep, that is not going to work. So I walk past the crowds of people who are dressed up to the max, while I’m wearing sweatpants, a loose band tee, and a pair of Chucks. In my defense, I thought I was going on a plane.
Feeling a little self-conscious, I reach up and tug my hair out of the knot I piled up on top of my head. The long, brown, loose waves fall around my shoulders. I might look like a homeless person, but at least I look like a homeless person with nice hair.
“I need to get in there,” I tell the bouncer.
“Not like that, you’re not.” He laughs in my face.
“August is expecting me,” I say, hoping that will give him a little incentive.
“Name?” the guy asks.
“Hayley,” I reply and watch as he turns his back on me and speaks into something on his wrist. When he faces me again, he opens the red rope. “Wait here a moment.” He points to a spot just inside the door.
Flashing lights, loud music, and the stench of sweat assault me as soon as I step through. It’s not that I don’t like clubs. I just haven’t really spent too much time in them. I was already responsible for Riley when I turned twenty-one, so I didn’t get to experience all the partying that my friends were doing. Not that I minded. I was more focused on working and caring for my kid brother.
It isn’t long after that, that a guy in a very well-fitted suit approaches me. “Hayley?” he asks with a smile that would either melt your panties or burn your ovaries.
“Yeah,” I tell him. “Where is my brother?”
“Colton.” He holds out a hand to me. I look at it but don’t return the gesture. I’m not here to make friends.
“Where is my brother,Colton?” I repeat.
“Boss’s office,” he says. “You know, after this is over, you and I could get a drink. You look like you could use one.” He reaches for my carry-on bag.
I slap his hand away. “I’ve got it, and I’m good. I don’t drink with douchebags.” I smile.
“You also look like you could use a really good fuck. I’m up for that too, you know, if you change your mind. Follow me.” He shrugs and turns towards the hordes of clubgoers. And magically, just like Moses parted the Red Sea, the crowd splits off. Which makes it a hell of a lot easier to navigate my way through with this damn bag in tow.
The three flights of stairs he heads up next, not so much. But I do it, because I refuse to ask this jerk for help or owe him any favors.
