“Yeah?” I asked flatly.
“Do you need something? Because if not, I need the burner your ass is on.”
I peeked behind me and found that I had leaned against an industrial stove. “Of course.”
“Thanks,” the young man said with a strange look on his face.
I scanned the kitchen one last time before heading back out into the ballroom. I had to get back to Brielle. I had three minutes before my time was up, and I needed to get her out of there.
So, I kept a cool head while walking back across the venue before I knocked rapidly on the door.
“Brielle?” I asked as I kept knocking. “Open up, it’s me.”
The lock clicked before the door inched open, and those fearful little eyes peeked around the corner.
“Is everything okay?” she asked.
The tremble in her voice broke my heart, but I had to admit, I was relieved to see her unharmed.
“Yeah, everything’s fine. I’m going to take you back.”
She inched the door open a bit further. “Did you catch her?”
I pressed my hand against the door and opened it the rest of the way. “The guys are on it. But right now? My priority is getting you somewhere safe.”
She slid her gaze down my body. “You really think she’s gonna hurt me, don’t you?”
I found it odd that she asked such a question. “Yes.”
She still didn’t seem okay, though.
“Brielle?” I asked.
“Yeah?”
“Are you okay?”
She snickered. “Well, I’ve never been ditched after sex before. But I suppose a girl can get used to anything in a dress like this.”
She slid her hands down the silken black gown, and something felt off. The hairs on the nape of my neck stood on end. I peeked my head into the bathroom and surveyed the scene, not sure what I was searching for, but searching, nonetheless.
Until she linked her arm with mine.
“And you’re sure you’re okay. No one came by and bothered you?”
She giggled. “You’re such a worrywart. No, Dante, no one came by to pester me. I mean, a couple of women weren’t pleased that the bathroom door was locked. But, you know, that’s just sort of par for the course.”
Talkative.“Right.”
She ushered me out of the bathroom, not the other way around. “Are you okay, though? You seem… tense.”
I studied her with intention. “Just worried about you.”
“Well, I’m as okay as I can be. I’m nervous, but that’s normal.”
“I suppose so.”
“And you’re sure she’s not here?”
