He was already stepping back. “If anyone comes near you, keep your head down and stay quiet.” His voice hardened, edged with a challenge. “I’ll try to be quick.”
I found I was holding my breath as Ryder effortlessly slipped into the crowd, moving towards the entrance. He pretended to stumble, knocking into the guy with the impression of drunkenness. Except I was watching how his hand slipped inside the guy’s pocket so fast I would have missed it if I’d blinked.
I stood frozen, staring after him as he profusely began toapologise, picking up the clipboard that had fallen between them.
“Where’s your handler?”
The deep voice snapped me back, and I jolted, turning to find a man standing far too close to my side.
“He’ll be back in a moment,” I said quietly.
“Bitches shouldn’t speak,” he grunted, his mask a startling red. “You clearly have a problem with obedience.”
“Excuse me?” I shifted back instinctively, spine hitting the wall just as his hand lifted toward my face. “Don’t touch me,” I snapped, knocking his wrist aside before he could make contact.
His head tilted, surprise flickering beneath the mask.
“Feisty,” he mused, stepping closer and blocking my view of the room, including Ryder. “I wonder how much you’d cost me for the night.”
“There you are, my precious. I’ve been looking for you,” Aeris purred, slipping between us. “I trust she’s been on her best behaviour?”
“I want her,” the man grunted, his sleazy gaze drifting over Aeris. “And maybe you, if you’re offering.”
“Is that so?” she said sweetly, eyes glittering behind her mask. “And tell me…” Her fingers trailed upward, adjusting the knot of his bowtie with practiced ease. “Are you sure you can afford either of us? Because darling, there’s a very big difference between wanting something,”—she tightened his bow tie just enough to make him swallow—“and being allowed to touch it.”
Red mask’s bravado faltered, his eyes flicking between us.
“If you’ll excuse us,” Aeris said coolly, grabbing my hand and pulling me with her. As soon as we were out of earshot, her voice dropped. “Where the hell is Ryder?”
“He’s just… wait, where are we going?”
Aeris didn’t answer. She pushed through the crowd with growing urgency, weaving between clusters of people and heading toward the far side of the room.
“We need to leave,” she urged. “There has to be another exit.”
“Aeris,” I hissed, yanking her hand and forcing her to stop. “What’s going on?”
Her eyes flicked over my shoulder, the colour draining from her face. “This was a mistake,” she whispered. “I’m sorry. I didn’t?—”
“Miss Merrin.”
We both turned.
A man in a half-mask, the same as the guards, stood a few feet away. “If you and your pet would accompany me,” he said smoothly, “it would be greatly appreciated.”
Aeris stilled for the barest second before she straightened. “Be a good girl and go play,” she said, pushing me away slightly.
“Bothof you are to accompany me.”
Aeris glanced at me, eyes alarmed. “She’s just leaving.”
“This isn’t a request, Miss Merrin.”
Aeris’s lips tightened a fraction. “Of course. After you,” she said, far calmer than I felt, before leaning in to whisper, “When you can, run.” Then she straightened and stepped aside, leaving me no choice but to follow.
The man led us across the room, past the music and low murmur of conversations, to a narrow corridor half-hidden behind a velvet curtain. The moment we crossed into it, the noise dulled to a distant hum.
“This way,” he said without turning as more guards stepped behind us.
