Instantly, my body relaxes.
Home,my brain sings.Home. This is it. This is where you belong.
What’s happening?
Fraser grips me tighter. “Jesus,” he says in my ear, sounding frantic. “Are you okay? What the hell is this! Are they trying toeatyou?”
I don’t respond, my breath still shuddering, and he cups the back of my head with a big hand.
“Hey, you’re okay,” he soothes. “You’re okay. I’m here, you’re fine.”
“Get away from her,” I hear Cameron warn someone behind me. His weight presses against my back, and my eyes flutter closed.
Home,my brain insists.This is it.
I feel Cameron grasp my waist. “Is she okay?” he asks over my head.
Fraser scoffs. “Of course she’s not okay. All of these people were trying to, like, gobble her up. Baby, we’re gonna get you outta here, okay?” His rough beard scratches my cheek.
Before I can nod, there’s another voice behind me. “Summer.”
I turn to Alec. My eyes widen. He looksawful.Like, maybe he contracted a deadly disease in the last four days? He’s lost weight, and his eyes are hollow. The strobes flash over his face, cutting harsh shadows under his cheekbones.
For a few seconds, we just stare at each other, the air between us crackling. Then, like he physically can’t help himself, he’s scooping me into him. His hands are on my face. His forehead is against mine, his breath shaky against my cheek.
“Christ, sweetheart,” he says. “I am so sorry.Sosorry. Should have never let you leave. Should have never let you go. I just— You almost got hurt, and it scared the shit out of me, but it wasn’t fair. Are you okay?” His hands are roving over my back like he’s trying to make sure I’m all in one piece.
I don’t answer. My brain isn’t functioning. The men are here. They’re touching me. And Alec, who I have never seen less than perfectly in control, is stumbling over his words. I can feel his heart hammering in his chest.
“Shit,” he swears, cupping my face. His thumb comes back wet in the flashing lights. “You’re crying. They made youcry.”
That, finally, makes me laugh. “Theymade me cry?” I croak. “Youmade me cry.”
He looks like I’ve stabbed him in the stomach.
“Stop it,” Cameron growls suddenly behind me. “Stop taking pictures of her. What is wrong with you?”
I turn. It seems like half the people in the club are circling us, phones outstretched, filming us.
Shit.
Lulu waves at me, elbowing aside a wannabe rapper. “Is thatthem?” she yells over the music. “They’re fit!”
I open my mouth, but nothing comes out.
A nearby girl suddenly grabs Cameron by the arm. “Oh my God, your arms are massive!” she squeals. I think she’s a model. “Look at these biceps! Are you a fitness influencer?”
“Get off him,” I snap at her.
Cameron frowns at the girl, trying to gently bat her away, but she digs her nails into his forearm. “Let go,” he tells her. She doesn’t, shoving her phone in his face.
I storm forwards and shove her off him. “What is wrong with you?” I snarl. “You can’t just take pictures of people!”
She laughs in my face. “What do you mean? You’re being crazy.” She turns her phone on me. I stare at her, boiling with rage.
A hand appears on my back. “Can I get you out of here, honey?” Fraser says in my ear. “As much asI’dlike to see you claw her eyes out, I don’t know if it’s the best look for your branding.”
I breathe in slowly through my nose. He’s right. I have no idea what’s happening right now, but I need to get out of here.
