“I think she’s in danger. I didn’t want to scare her because she was finishing up exams, but I need eyes on her immediately.”
“She doesn’t have security?”
“Not on campus because it’s never been an issue before. Noelle enrolled under Mom’s maiden name so she could live like a normal girl.” I hear the air quotes in his voice. “Plus, I wantto deal with this discreetly. If Noelle is suddenly surrounded by muscle, they’ll know they got to me.”
“Yeah, but if you don’t, whoever ‘they’ are might try to get your attention.”
A pause. “That’s why I need you to go get her.”
“Have you spoken to her?” I ask.
“I have. I wanted her to fly to Singapore, but she refused.”
“What makes you think she’ll agree to come with me?”
“Then do whatever it takes to persuade her. Please, Hiro. You’re the only one I can trust.”
The bar is hot,noisy, and full of horny college students. I tip my red cup to my lips and grimace. This is what passes for bourbon in this place?
I wouldn’t be drinking at all, but the asshole at the door said no one stays without a drink. I glance around, hoping Noelle will miraculously appear, but no such luck. Instead, a young woman in a red velvet bra, trimmed in fluffy white faux fur sidles up to me, opens her full red lips and sticks a candy cane in her mouth. She swirls it around, before sliding it out of her mouth with a pop.
“Are you naughty or nice?” she asks, eying me up and down like I’m her next candy treat.
Jesus. As if all this wasn’t bad enough, the theme for the night is Home for the Holidays to celebrate the upcoming break.
It’s a nightmare sea of red and green, with elf hats and those stupid little necklaces that looks like Christmas lights. Christmas music shakes the walls and I shudder. I just want to collect Noelle and escape to my quiet cabin to wait out all the hoopla. How am I ever supposed to find Noelle in here?
Two women in tiny elf suits brush past me, pushing me closer to Naughty Mrs. Claus. I lean in, raising my voice to be heard over the piercing sounds of Run, Run, Reindeer.
“Do you know Noelle Black?”
“Who?”
Shit. That’s not her name here. “Noelle Williams. Do you know Noelle Williams?”
Naughty Mrs. Claus sucks her candy cane again, her eyes brightening. “Oh, you’re looking for Ellie?” She sweeps her gaze over me again, tongue swirling in blatant invitation. I wait it out until she rolls her eyes and gestures over her shoulder. “Yeah, she’s probably in the back where the pool tables are.”
I push my way through the crowd, past what I assume is a dance floor full of writhing bodies. Near the entrance to what I assume is the pool room, a bunch of dude bros look like they’re demonstrating a football play and one idiot bumps into me, spilling beer on my dark grey suit. I clench my jaw, reminding myself that Henry sounded scared when he called me, which makes my spine straighten in anger. My best friend shouldn’t ever have to worry about the safety of his family.
And to extend that threat to Noelle? Someone has a death wish.
I step inside, expecting a more laidback vibe, but whatever I’m expecting, this isn’t it.
A huge wheel is set-up in the corner, spinning as I watch. A shirtless guy in a red sequined top hat and green bow-tie is riling the crowd up. Next to him is a tiny girl in a Santa hat, her hands over her eyes, as she waits out the spin.
“Striptease!” The guy screams as the arrow slowly ticks to a stop. The girl throws her head back in laughter, accepting a shot glass from a tray being held by another shirtless dude, this one in red pants and black boots. A half-dressed Santa, maybe?
Someone pumps up the music, and I roll my eyes as Santa Baby comes on, the girl getting a boost up onto a nearby pool table amid cheers from the crowd. Her back is to me, as she circles her hips, before dropping into a squat, her red, cheerleader skirt flaring out over a perfectly round ass.
I start walking through the room, looking for Noelle’s auburn hair when a low wolf whistle draws my attention back to the impromptu show. The girl kicks a leg up in a dancer’s pose, running her hand over her candy cane striped thigh-highs, before gracefully lifting her arms and pulling her Santa hat off, tossing it out to the crowd. My jaw goes slack as auburn ringlets spill down the girl’s back.
I’ve seen those curls in my dreams too often not to recognize them.
No freaking way.
Fuck me.
If Henry Black knew his baby sister was gyrating on a pool table, while she slowly unbuttons her white, schoolgirl blouse in front of these slack-jawed yokels…
