I’ve never been one to follow the rules—not when I was the VP’s daughter and certainly not now—so I shrug dismissively.
As we approach the bar, the volume of the music seems to be a little quieter.
Bella dips her head nearer. “You’re not worried?”
“I couldn’t care less,” I retort. “Now, who’s for shots?”
Bella rolls her eyes but grins, and Red rubs her hands together. “Abso-fucking-lutely.”
She leans over the bar to get the barman’s attention, and as he approaches, she says, “Three fireballs, please.”
I laugh. “This shit’s about to get messy.”
We’ve been dancing for what feels like hours and my feet are beginning to ache, so I slide my heels off and plop myself in one of the booths by the bar. I lie back across the bench seat, my arms sprawled over my face. The room is spinning, and my stomach is churning, making me regret the vodka.
“Come on, lightweight,” Red groans, leaning over to grab my arms.
She tries to pull me to stand, but in her intoxicated state, she topples, landing on top of me in a fit of giggles.
After a few seconds, she pushes to her feet and glances over her shoulder. Her entire expression changes, and her body stiffens like she’s suddenly on high alert. I slowly push to sit, a ball of dread circling in the pit of my stomach.
Before I can register the fact that she’s face-to-face with one of the Steel Delinquents, she’s already closing the small gap between them, squaring her shoulders like she’s about to fight.
Shit.I jump up, making a grab for her arm, but she shrugs me away.
“Who the fuck do you think you are?” she seethes, her nostrils flaring and her fists balled tightly by her sides. He towers over her, but she doesn’t seem to care. She places her hands on her hips, and I know she’s about to start yelling.
“Well . . . well . . . well. Look who we have here.” His lips curl into an unfriendly smile.
“Fuck you,” Red spits.
I glance at Bella, whose eyes are wide in panic. Her eyes meet mine, and she mouths the word,‘Fuck’.
“You can’t just grab a woman’s arse,” Red screeches, jabbing her finger into his chest.
He glances down at it, the smirk spreading over his face.
“Oh, darlin’, you have no idea, do you?”
I grab hold of her arm again, this time a little more forcefully, and her head snaps to look at me.
“What?” she hisses.
“It’s time to go,” I demand, my eyes silently pleading with her.
She drags her eyes back to him. “You’re fucking lucky.”
He throws his head back in a laugh that’s loud enough to send a shiver down my spine. It’s not friendly—it’s anger laced with disbelief.
“Bye, darlin’,” he hisses, waving as I drag her away, closely followed by Bella.
“Are you fucking mad?” I hiss through gritted teeth.
Her eyes widen in disbelief. “He touched my arse.”
“He’s a fucking Steel Delinquent,” I yell.
I pull out my phone and dial Drifter. He picks up on the second ring.
