He’s holding her under the arms, his face screwed up as he strains to keep her in his grasp. She’s either resisting or so out of it she can’t support herself.
The woman she was dancing with tugs on Sawyer’s arm.
“No,” my girl mumbles. She pulls back, slumping against Tytus in the process.
He hisses through clenched teeth and his eyes shutter for a moment. To his credit, he doesn’t loosen his grip or let go. When he opens his eyes, they’re full of desperation.
“I can’t hold her,” he grunts, each syllable filled with a level of agony that makes my own stomach clench.
He’s still hurting. He’s suffering and struggling to heal. Because of me.
Noah closes the space between them in a single stride. “I’ve got her.” In one quick move, he scoops her up bridal style and cradles her to his chest.
I step closer, needing confirmation that she’s breathing.
Her eyes flutter open, her focus fixed on Noah.
“You’ve got me?” she croaks, the words low and vulnerable. She lifts a hand, that pale freckled skin I fantasize about nightly so close, and she cups Noah’s jaw.
Eyes closing again, she snuggles closer to his chest. “You feel so good,” she whispers. “Please tell me I can keep you.”
Noah breaks into a serene smile, though it falls quickly when he’s bumped from behind and stumbles forward. He recovers quickly, taking one big step to offset the momentum while keeping Sawyer wrapped up safely in his arms.
“Let’s go,” he says.
With a nod, I turn back the way we came, only to find that the fucker I ripped away from our girl isn’t done showing his ass.
“Who the hell do you think you are? Maybe she doesn’t want to go with you.”
Tremblay turns to the guy and scoffs, crossing his arms over his chest and widening his stance. “Get out of here, JD. You, too, Keira. You’re fucking lowlifes. We all know damn well you’re up to no good.”
The woman beside JD lifts a hand to her chest in overly dramatic outrage.
JD raises both hands, shaking his head and laughing. “Whatever you say, man. But just so we’re clear, Sawyer wanted this. She was practically humping Keira’s leg and begging me to fuck her.”
Tremblay’s body goes rigid. Before he can get himself hurt further, I step forward.
JD is clearly trying to get a rise out of him. I won’t let that happen.
“He’s not worth it,” I murmur, my tone steady and gentle but loud enough that Tremblay can hear me. I don’t want to set him off or make it worse. I just—fuck. I just want him to know I’m here. Noah, too. We’re aligned, and we’re all working toward the same outcome.
Tremblay turns, locking eyes with me, and nods once. He holds my gaze a moment longer. I don’t know what he wants me to garner from the look, but I take another step forward, positioning myself beside him and standing close enough that our arms brush.
“What’d you fucking give her?” he lobs at JD.
Fuck. Good thinking. Knowing what she took could be critical to ensuring her safety tonight and supporting her recovery in the coming days.
The asshole snickers, draping an arm around the neck of the woman at his side.
“Just one of her old faves. She took it. Willingly. Then washed it down with a little cocktail of my own creation.”
Jesus H.
“Was it MDMA? Or something else?” I ask.
JD just grins at me.
“Wouldn’t you like to know,” the woman beside him sasses, her movements slow and languid, similar to Sawyer’s.
