When she doesn’t stand up, I lock eyes with her. Cold. Everything about me is cold, hard, and angry when I say the word again. Louder this time, practically yelling at her.
“I said go!”
She jumps off my lap, backing away, taking in Giovanni’s frown before trying to disappear out of sight.
But she’ll never be out of my sight again. And even though I’m watching Giovanni, I track her through the crowded club, heading for the back hallway.
I sense Liam watching me from the corner of my eye and turn to lock eyes with him completely, accompanied by a slight nod in the direction Briar disappeared. He returns with a nearly imperceptible nod himself.
“Restroom?” I ask Giovanni.
“In the back, to the left,” he replies, gesturing in that general direction.
I rise and Liam speaks up, seizing the opportunity to pepper Giovanni with financials, distracting him.
I reach the bathroom but instead of going in, I pass right by. Heading further down the hall to where the private rooms are. Finding an empty one, I lean casually against the wall of thedarkened hallway, pulling my hat from back to front to better conceal my face, though the hallway is pretty busy. Crossing my arms, I wait, eyes peeled on the dressing room door further down the hall.
The hallway is busy enough that nobody questions it. I do my best to disappear into the shadows while I wait for Briar to reemerge.
Just as I’m contemplating busting right in, she appears. Still looking flustered, her expression tense, and she trips over her own feet in her rush down the hallway.It’s almost too easy.She’s distracted, so she doesn’t notice me standing there until it’s too late. Just as she goes to pass me, I grab her. Catching her off guard so that all she gets out is a little squeak as I redirect her with ease into the private room across from me.
Once inside, I close and lock the door, turning to set my sights on the girl I’ve only watched from a distance for weeks.
The room is small, barely six by eight, but she’s pressed herself into the far wall. Just about as far away from me as she can get. Fear shining bright in her eyes.
I smile.
“Briar Rose, what the fuck are you doing here?”
35
MINE
KOEN
Then…
I want to give her a dare I know she’ll never do. My eyes roam over her perfectly tan skin.
“I dare you to get a tattoo.”
“A tattoo?” She gapes at me.
I lean back in my seat to fully appreciate the shocked look on her face.
“Right now?”
I tilt my head in a way that says,obviously.
“But don’t you have to make an appointment? It’s the middle of the night!”
I can’t help but bark out a laugh, which earns me a glare from Rose.
“I know a guy.” Leaning forward, I start up my bike, watching and waiting to see if she’s going to climb on the back.
She eyes the bike then looks at me, chewing her bottom lip.
“Having second thoughts, love?” I grab the helmet hanging from my handlebars and hold it out to her. A silent dare in myeyes. “It’s okay to chicken out.” I shrug, folding my arms across my chest and trying not to smile when Rose’s cheeks burn pink.
