“I’m at Lush Lounge,” Annalise says.
I do a quick search of the place on my GPS app—it’s only ten minutes away. With my Ferrari, I could be there in no time.
“Hang tight. I’ll be there soon, Monroe.”
“Please hurrry, Maddy Bear! I’m sooo hooornyyy!” She bursts into a fit of giggles and the line disconnects.
“Everything okay?” Hannah comes up behind me and wraps her arms around my waist.
I turn to face her. “I gotta take care of something important. I’ll be back later.”
“Okay. Hurry back. I’ll be waiting.” She nibbles on my ear, and then opens the door to let me out.
I search the packed club for Annalise and spot her standing in the back by the bar, barely able to hold herself up.
Lowering my cap over my face, I weave through the crowd, praying that no one recognizes me. Normally I don’t mind entertaining my fans, but I don’t want to lose sight of Annalise. She’s drunk and alone in a bar. I don’t want anything bad to happen to her.
“Kamadooo, you maaade it!” She throws her arms around my neck, the pungent smell of liquor radiating off of her. “I can’t waaait to shooow yooou the new moooves I picked up.”
I shake my head, chuckling. “Come on, Monroe. Let’s get you outta here.” Wrapping my arms around her waist, I guide her as she stumbles out of the club.
I head to the valet stand and hand the attendant my ticket. While I’m waiting for him to bring my car around, a couple next to me erupts into a heated argument.
“I wasn’t flirting with the bartender!” a petite Asian girl with dark black hair shouts at a hefty man.
“Then why the hell was he giving you free drinks?” heshouts back. She pulls at her hair and lets out a loud groan as they continue to argue back and forth.
The valet pulls up with my car, clearly ecstatic that he could drive it even for a short period. I hand him a generous tip and help Annalise into the passenger seat.
“Woo hoo! Let’s keep this party going!” Kicking off her heels, Annalise sprints to the living room.
I spent the entire thirty-minute drive back to my house listening to her sing along to Taylor Swift. I thought she would be exhausted by now, but she is clearly full of energy.
Tsuki comes out of my room and jumps on Annalise. I expect her to growl or bare her teeth, but to my surprise, she wags her tail wildly and sticks out her tongue.
Annalise squats down to pet her. “Oh my goodness, who is this precious fluff ball?”
Tsuki covers her in kisses and Annalise lets out an excited giggle.
“Hey, Kamadooo! Where the hell is the music? I wanna dance!”
“You can dance tomorrow. You need to go to bed.” Taking her hand, I lead her toward my room.
“No! I wanna dance!” She yanks her hand free, strutting to my living room. Her smile widens the moment she spots my Echo. “Alexa! Play ‘WAP’by Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion.”
The bass booms through my surround sound as she hops up on the couch, belting out the lyrics and rolling her hips to the beat.
I can’t help but laugh and shake my head as she sings every filthy word.
Her phone buzzes against the floor where she dropped it atthe start of her impromptu solo dance party. The screen lights up with an incoming video call from Mazikeen.
Scooping it up from the floor, I swipe to answer it. Mazikeen hates my fucking guts, so I know she’s about to go ballistic when she sees my face.
“Annalise, where the hell?—”
Mazikeen’s eyes practically pop out of her skull when she sees me on the screen. “What the fuck are you doing with her?”
“Hello to you too, Mazikeen.” I smile, waving at her—which ticks her off even more. “She was drunk out of her mind at the club, so I came to rescue her. Where were you?”
