I grab my coat and follow her outside. Luckily it hasn’t snowed today, but according to the news, they’re calling for more. You’d think the winters in North Carolina would’ve prepared me for winters here. Nope. Not by a long shot. Shit ton more snow and much colder. There are days I don’t even want to get out of bed, knowing the minute I step outside, my entire body will freeze down to my bones.
I shove my hands in my jacket pockets and brace for the cold that hits me when we step outside. Seriously, there is no getting used to this shit. It’s fucking cold as hell. Freaking sucks that the degree I want isn’t offered at a college in Florida or another state that is fifty degrees warmer. We hightail it to the Uber and hop in, both releasing sighs once we feel the warm air.
“Where to, ladies?”
“Club Zemora,” Michelle tells him.
We’re almost past our building when I glance out the window and see two guys talking to a couple of girls. My heart lurches in my chest, and I press my face closer to the window as if that will help me see better. It’s dark outside, and I can barely make out their features. One guy has on a hoodie, and the other is wearing a leather jacket with patches on it. The air in my lungs seizes up.
I strain my eyes, trying to see every detail I can. Fear pumps through me over the idea of Ace sending people after me, but then I remind myself that the FBI assured me I was safe, and they would contact me otherwise. It’s been radio silent since I left, so I shouldn’t have anything to worry about, right?
The taller guy with blond hair turns his back toward me more, and the streetlight shines down on the patch. It’s not the Legion’s Fallen logo. In fact, it’s just a picture I can’t quite make out. I rest my head against the seat and close my eyes, blowing out my cheeks.
“You ok? You look a little pale.”
“Yeah, just trying to get warm,” I lie. The pieces of my heart that have been slowly repairing themselves vibrate with sadness. My chest aches, knowing that the person I want to see most in this world is hundreds of miles away from me. When I walked out of the FBI station that night, that was the last time I saw and heard from Ryu. I’ve no idea where he’s at or how he’s doing, but I like to think he made it out west and is living the life he wanted. Tears are fighting their way into my eyes, but I squeeze them shut, refusing to let them surface.
I stay quiet the rest of the car ride; Michelle thankfully doesn’t press me to explain my sudden change. The Uber driver lets us out in front of the club, and because Michelle has the hook-up, we are quickly ushered inside and over to the VIP area. The music is pumping hard, the bass vibrating the ground and my chest with every step I take. The place is decorated in all things hearts and arrows. It makes me want to rip it all down.
People are already crowding the dance floor, dancing seductively as the fog machine blows out fake smoke that slithers its way between the bodies, engulfing them, so it looks like each couple is lost in their own space, like it was made just for the two of them.
Stephanie, Kelly, and Noel are already seated on the red leather couches. Davis, Stephanie’s date, and Chance, Noel’s date, are in a deep conversation with Allen and their friend Brad when we walk up.
“Wow, you look amazing.” Kelly stands and wraps her arms around me.
“Thanks, so do you.” She’s fit with curves and a nice ass I’m totally jealous of. The silver dress she’s wearing accentuates her body in all the right places.
I make my way around the group, saying hello.
“Poppy, you remember Brad, don’t you?” Noel asks, nudging me closer to him since he’s the only one I haven’t acknowledged yet. Brad smiles at me, the dimples on either side of his face giving him a boyish look. He’s a prime example of your boy next door cute, with his cream sweater, khaki pants, and light brown tousled hair. He’s the perfect catch, which is why he’s here tonight. I’m being set up—on Valentine’s Day.
Yeah, no.
“Good to see you again.” He extends his hand, and I take it, giving him a weak shake and smile to match. When our hands touch, I don’t feel a spark of any kind.
Nothing.
Zip.
Nada.
In fact, I don’t like touching him at all. It feels wrong.
“Same. Umm, if you’ll excuse me.”
I weave through the crowd to the back corner where the bathroom is. There is only one open sink, so I head for it. I grab a few paper towels and wet them, dabbing the sweat off my forehead.
I shouldn’t have come out tonight. I’m clearly not ready to be out in large crowds and definitely not ready to be shoved into the arms of another man. I see the redness in my eyes in my reflection. My anxiety is getting the better of me. I pull my bottle of pills out of my purse and pop one of them, using tap water to wash it down.
I try to only use these when absolutely necessary. It’s just enough to take the edge off. Usually. We’ll see how well it works tonight. I finish freshening up and head back over to where my friends are. The place looks even more packed, and I’m finding it hard to push my way through the crowd.
“Jeez. Watch where you’re going,” some girl snaps at me when I get bumped into her.
“Sorry. I was shoved.” She glares at me before going back to rubbing herself all over some guy who looks like he’s three sheets to the wind already. I continue pushing my way through, and I’m almost to the VIP section when electric tingles caress my skin.
I whirl in place, my eyes scanning the crowd.
There’s only one person whose presence does that to me. My stomach flutters with butterflies as I continue to look for him. There are too many people, and I keep getting bumped and shoved.
“Poppy, what are you doing?”
Michelle turns me to face her and frowns when she looks at me. “What happened? You look like you’re about to pass out or cry.”
“I. . .” What do I say? That I’m losing my mind thinking the guy who has my heart is here somewhere in this club? He’s not here, he’s not coming for me, and the sooner I let that sink in the better. I run my hand through my hair and swallow down my misery. I can’t go on like this. I clutch my purse tighter, debating if I should take another pill before I spiral further out of control.
“Come with me. We’re getting you a drink.” Michelle grabs my hand and guides me the rest of the way and back over to our section. “Drink this.” She hands me a glass, and I eye it cautiously. “It’s vodka and tonic. Shoot it back.” Not wanting to feel this way anymore, I do as she suggests. The burn down the back of my throat has me coughing.
“Another.” I hold out my hand. I can feel everyone’s eyes on me, but I don’t care, I just want the hurt to go away. Noel places another glass in my hand and I down that one.
“Can we go dance now?” Stephanie tugs on Davis’s arm, pouting like a child.
“Yeah, let’s all go.” At Kelly’s suggestion, everyone proceeds to the dance floor. I shake my head, not wanting to go, but Michelle is not having it. She all but drags me out there but not before I snag another drink off the table.
I appear to be more interested in my drink than dancing, hoping that people will get the hint. Ten minutes of being out here, I have to remove a couple guys’ hands off my waist. Brad tries to come over and help, but I shoo him away as well. I don’t need anyone's help. The only thing I want help with is keeping the alcohol flowing because it is starting to quiet the noise in my head—a little too well.
By the time my third glass is empty, I find myself struggling to stand upright. I blink a few times, noticing my vision going fuzzy.
“Oh, wow.” I stumble, falling into Brad.
“Hey, you all right?”
I push myself off him, still not liking his touch. “I need. . .the bathroom.” My words are slurred and feel thick in my mouth.
“I’ll go with her.” Michelle reaches for me but I back away.
“No. I’ll be fine. Promise.”
I don’t wait for her response. I push my way off the dance floor in
the direction I think the bathroom is. My legs are like Jell-O but heavy at the same time, which is weird. My eyes feel as if weights are attached to them. I’ve never been drunk before, but I can see why people like to drink—I don’t give a shit about anything right now.
I find a hallway and place my hand on the wall, using it for support as I try and find the bathroom. The lights overhead bathe the hallway in an eerie red. I proceed further, noticing a group of people up ahead. One of the guys notices me and makes his way toward me.
“Looking for something, sweetness?” The red glow is at his back, making his features dark and unnerving.
“Bathroom?”
He licks his lips, and the way he does it stirs up a queasy feeling in my stomach. I take a couple steps back, but he follows.
“Where you going? How ‘bout you come with me and my friends? We’ll take good care of you.”
I take more steps back, but the alcohol coursing through my veins is in full swing. I know I need to get away from him, and I’m trying, but my body is not cooperating. I trip over my feet and fully expect to fall on my ass, but strong arms wrap around my waist.
“I got you.”
The words whispered next to my ear has the dam holding back my emotions split wide open. That voice, that scent—it sounds and smells so real, but I know it’s just another figment of my imagination the alcohol is drumming up.
He’s not here.
He’s not coming for me.
This isn’t real.
No longer able to hold anything in, I let the tears free. For months I’ve been burying my guilt and sorrow, and all it took was a few drinks to send me tumbling into an emotional breakdown. I’m scooped up and held tight against a warm chest. I look up to see who's carrying me, and through the haze of tears I swear the guy looks just like Ryu.
“Ryu?” I whisper between sobs. I get no answer back as I’m carried through the club. I want to tell him to put me down, but I don’t have the strength to speak. I should be scrambling out of this guy’s arms, but my body isn’t rejecting his touch and I don’t have the energy to fight it. Whoever he is saved me.
Cold air blasts me, sending a shiver through my entire body. I bury my face into the man’s chest, only relaxing when my skin no longer feels like needles are pricking it.
I hear a door shut and then another. I peek around, trying to focus on my surroundings. It looks like I’m in a car, but the exhaustion coupled with the alcohol is gripping me tight, my eyes flutter closed and no matter how much I want to fight it, it’s a losing battle. Hushed words are exchanged, but I can’t make out anything that's said.
I glance up at the man who still holding on to me. Everything about him screams Ryu, but how can that be possible?
“Is it really you?” I reach up and trail my fingers down his face. Fresh tears spill. If this isn’t really Ryu, then this is a sick joke.
“I told you to stay out of trouble.”
It’s him.
From deep within my chest, sobs build until they swallow me whole. I grip him around his neck as tight as I can, never wanting to let go. He whispers in my ear that everything is ok, but I know that’s a lie. Even drunk, I know that when I wake up tomorrow, he’ll be gone and I probably won’t remember any of this.
“I love you,” I confess. I need him to know how I feel, even if he doesn’t feel the same.
He tilts my chin up and peers down at me, sadness in the cognac eyes that I’ve missed so much. He places a feather-light kiss on my lips. I do my best to remember this moment and the way his lips feel against mine.
“Sleep.”
I close my eyes, and as I drift off into the deepest, darkest depths of my dreams, I swear I hear, “I love you beyond the moon and stars,” whispered in my ear.
To be continued. . .
Authors’ Note
Thank you so much for reading this story. The idea for this story popped into my head over a year ago and I have been slowly bringing it to life. But along the way, Poppy and Ryu decided they wanted you to know more of their back story. This book was never supposed to exist, but I went where the characters took me.
If you have made it this far, I’ll share a little something with you. All of the guys in Poppy’s harem were introduced in this book. *insert shock face emoji* And don’t worry, I’ve already started working on book 2.
So, thank you again for taking this ride with me. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did writing it. Love you guys!
Acknowledgments
First, and foremost, thank you to all the amazing readers who have taken this journey with me and my characters. From the bottom of my heart, I appreciate each and every one of you.
I want to give a shout out to my alpha readers Krystal, Laura, and L.E. Bross. Thank you for your guidance. You’ve no idea how much it means to me.
Brandy, what more can I say about you? You are my brain cleaner. You make my word vomit pretty. YOU ARE AWESOME! And I love ya.
About the Author
Brooke Warren lives in Florida with her husband and three dogs. When she is not writing, you can find her with her face stuck in a book reading, playing online video games (World of Warcraft and Fallout are her favs), or getting lost for hours on YouTube. Her love for books and over active imagination has inspired her to share the stories stuck in her head.
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Also by the Author
Alpha and Betas Series
The Chase Is On
Bonded By Fate
(Final Book Coming Soon!)
Dragon's Burn Page 21