Page 35 of Bad Run

“I can’t believe Tristan got us on the list. I heard the pop star Callie Wright has been here,” Jenna gushes.

Today is her twenty-eighth birthday, so I went all out. I even called in a favor from my brother, who helped get our names on the list for tonight, as well as a table in the VIP section. He promised to show up later to pick us up and get us home safely.

“So I’ve been told. It’s quite the celebrity hot spot.” Not on a Wednesday. But I keep that snarky comment to myself.

“Holy shit, G, look.” She points to the floating dance floor. “It’s made of freaking glass. I bet you could see things you shouldn’t if you looked up.”

“Hard pass dancing up there,” I grumble, pulling down the blush-pink miniskirt my best friend made me put on.

In fact, my entire outfit was picked out by my bestie. A black, sheer, off-the-shoulder blouse with bell sleeves, and my knee-high black suede boots round off my outfit. As usual, I’m rocking a smoky eye and pink lips, and I tied my long, curly hair up in a high ponytail.

Jenna nudges me in the ribs with her elbow. “Don’t make that face. You look hot as hell, and you are going to have fun tonight. That’s all I want for my birthday.”

“You’re right. Today is your birthday, and you get whatever you want.” I already feel bad about making her tag along with me to work. Thankfully, the Evaders played this afternoon, leaving us plenty of time to go out for a sushi dinner before coming here to dance our asses off.

Jenna loops her arm through mine. “Damn right, I do. And what I want now are shots. Lots of them.”

Together we make our way to the roped-off elevator that takes you to the third level, where the VIP tables are. The security guards check our names and let us up.

A gorgeous-looking hostess, wearing a tight black dress and matching heels, greets us and leads us to our table, where we find a bucket of ice, a bottle of tequila, limes, salt, and a note waiting for us.

Jenna grabs the note and reads it. “Happy Birthday, J-bird. Here’s a bottle of your favorite tequila to celebrate. Try not to party too hard. Tristan. PS, tell Gwen to take the stick out of her ass and have fun.”

“Did he really say that?” I grab the card from my best friend’s hand and read it as she bursts out laughing. “You’re such a jerk. I was going to rip Tristan’s balls off the next time I saw him.”

“I’m sorry. You’re too easy to mess with sometimes.”

“Am not. Besides, that is something he would say.”

Jenna’s head falls back as she cackles. “I think I’ve actually heard him tell you that before.”

“Har-har. Not funny. Have I told you how hot you look tonight?” I ask, changing the subject. The last thing I want to talk about is my brother and how boring he thinks I am.

“Thank you. It’s the birthday glow.” Jenna twirls, showing off her new black leather skirt and metallic silver tank.

Grabbing the bottle from the bucket, I peel off the seal and uncork the alcohol. I fill four shot glasses with the expensive tequila and slide two over to the birthday girl. The cold liquid sloshes over as I lift the shot glass into the air.

“Happy birthday! Here’s to being twenty-eight.”

“Shh. We don’t need people to know I’m so close to thirty.” Jenna nervously glances around the VIP room. Her eyes go wide, and she spins around. I turn to look at what’s got her freaked out, but she grabs my wrist and stops me. “Shit-fuck. Do not turn around, G. I know you want to, but just don’t, okay?”

The urge to look is strong, but I stay still. My bestie doesn’t steer me wrong. “Okay.”

“Take the shot in your hand.”

My heart beats wildly in my chest as I do what she tells me to do. A mix of fear and excitement shoots through me as the tequila slides down my throat. I place the glass on the table, and she slides me the next.

“You’re going to need this one too.”

Without delay, I toss back the second shot of alcohol. If my bestie thinks it’s bad, then I believe her. There is no one I trust more than Jenna.

“Okay.” I shiver as the shot burns going down my esophagus. “I’m ready for you to tell me what the hell is going on.”

If she doesn’t want me to look, I know it’s bad.

“Just don’t turn around. I know you are going to want to, but just don’t. Sitting in the booth behind you is Lance, and two other Evaders guys—I think McKay and Jensen. Anyway. They are surrounded by women, and …”

My heart flips in my chest.