“Come on.” Wraith said.
As they walked up the path, he grabbed her hand, clasping their fingers. She tried to keep her smile at bay. Impossible. There was just something about hand-holding. It was a statement and intimately public. It was a claim over one another.I’m his, he’s mine.Maybe she was reading too much into it, or maybe, it was exactly as it seemed. She squeezed his hand, and Wraith tightened his grip.I choose to believe the latter. They walked in, and she scanned the room of wall-to-wall people.
Cleo expected him to stop at the bar, but Wraith led her through the room. Clearly absent were the core members of the club. She could’ve missed them, or they’d been upstairs or out back, but a strong sense of foreboding struck her like a ton of bricks.
Oh shit!
She tightened her hold and stopped. Wraith glanced over his shoulder and knitted his brows.
“Let’s get a drink.” Her voice hitched.
“After we talk to Ace.”
Dammit, I knew it.
“But it’s a party. Maybe we should wait until another time.”
His lips twitched, and he leaned closer. “What’s that saying?”
She nibbled on her bottom lip. She could only think of one pertaining to this situation.
“Play stupid games, win stupid prizes?”
Wraith’s lips spread into a wide grin. “I was thinking every action has its consequences. Or your favorite.” He shrugged. “Better to beg for forgiveness than ask for permission.”
Yeah, that’s one of mine.
He tugged on her arm, and she begrudgingly followed as he led her down the hall. It wasn’t a surprise most of the members were gathered in the room. She forced a smile, greeting everyone. Ace pointed to the chair across from him, and she sat.
“Heard you had some fun in Lawry?”
She grasped the edge of her seat and shrugged her shoulders to her ears. “I’m sorry.”
No, I’m not.She had so much fun hanging out with Taryn and Regina. She regretted nothing.
Ace cocked his brow, smirking. “Sorry you got caught?”
Yes!
The president snorted and glanced over her shoulder. She sensed Wraith stayed close behind her. Ace sighed and settled back in his seat.
“Look, we get your need for freedom. We all fucking get it, Cleo. But you gotta be safe.” Ace shared a look with Wraith.
“I will, I promise.”Could it be this easy?She expected a severe scolding but all she got was a fair warning.Perfect.She grabbed the arms of the chair and started to stand.
Cross cleared his throat and pointed to the seat. They weren’t done with her yet. She lowered down and drew in a breath.
“Need to talk to you about something.” Ace said.
“Okay.” She said.
“Have you heard from Reyna?”
Cleo shook her head. She’d tried to reach out several times, but all her calls had gone to voicemail at first. Then, her line was disconnected.
“Neither have we, and we are having a hard time tracking her down. We shut the motel down after your adventure to the poker house because we got some information. And it ain’t good.”
What?Cleo straightened her back and glanced over her shoulder to Wraith. He gave no reaction but she noticed the tension in his face. His jaw squared and the lines in his forehead deepened. She turned back to face Ace and Cross.
