Page 5

Instead, he crosses his arms over his chest, muscles rippling beneath his fitted shirt. “You need to come with me,” he states flatly, his voice deep and unwavering.

“What? Why?” Olivia’s playful demeanor vanishes instantly. Her brows knit together in confusion.

He doesn’t answer her question but gestures for us to follow him. The air thickens with tension as I exchange worried glances with my friends.

“Who are you?” Lydia challenges boldly.

He merely tilts his head—an inscrutable expression crossing his face—as if contemplating whether or not he even needs to respond.

I swallow hard. My stomach churns as dread pools inside me. This isn’t right. It feels wrong on so many levels.

“What did we do wrong?” I ask, trying to keep my voice steady while anxiety prickles at my skin. I’m a cop for crying out loud. I deal with criminals every day. I can handle a large bouncer.

His gaze sharpens as if he’s sizing up my words alongside my resolve. “Nothing,” he replies smoothly but without warmth. “Just follow me.”

He steps back but doesn’t break eye contact. It feels like an unspoken command weighing heavily in the air between us.

I down my second drink, leaving the glass on a small table as we’re led away from the crowd. The music continues to pulse around us, but all I hear is the thunder of my own heartbeat pounding in my ears.

The bouncer leads us through a narrow corridor, and my frustration simmers just below the surface. Each step a mockery of the fun we were supposed to have. The dim lighting and plush velvet walls only heighten my sense of entrapment.

“Where are you taking us?” I demand, forcing my voice to remain steady despite the irritation beneath it.

He doesn’t respond, just continues walking, his silence stinging like a slap across my face. My friends glance at each other, unease creeping into their expressions. Lydia’s brow furrows while Olivia bites her lip, clearly sensing my agitation.

We finally arrive at a heavy door that swings open with a creak, revealing a private room bathed in shadow and soft red light. It feels too intimate for my liking—like being placed under a spotlight when I’m not even on stage.

“Sit,” he orders, motioning toward a low couch against the wall.

“What is this? Some kind of joke?” I snap, crossing my arms defensively. “We’re not criminals. We just wanted to enjoy our night.”

He remains stoic, his dark eyes scanning us as if he’s evaluating whether we’re worth his time or not. It infuriates me that he won’t give us any explanation for this ridiculous detainment.

“Are you going to say anything?” I push further, unable to mask the bite in my tone. “You can’t just throw people in here without telling them why.”

His silence deepens the tension in the room, each second stretching into eternity as I glare at him. The calmness radiating from him only fuels my anger. How dare he treat us like this?

Lydia leans closer to Olivia, whispering something I don’t catch.

“Eve,” Olivia murmurs softly, her hand brushing mine in an attempt to soothe me.

I shake off her touch and glare back at the bouncer, insulted by his indifference. “What do you want from us?”

Still nothing from him—just that damn cool demeanor that makes me feel like I’m talking to a brick wall instead of a human being.

“You can’t just keep us here.” My voice rises an octave as frustration wins the battle against my anxiety.

Ignoring me, the mountain of a man steps out, the door slamming shut with a finality that echoes through the dimly lit room. The lock clicks into place, sealing us inside like trapped animals in a cage. Panic flares in Lydia’s eyes, and Olivia’s lips thin into a worried line.

“What just happened?” Lydia asks, her voice barely above a whisper. “Are we going to be okay?”

I crack my neck and shake my hands out at my sides. “Okay? Seriously? This is outrageous.” I stride over to the door andpound my fists against it with all my might. The solid wood reverberates under my blows.

“Hey! Let us out! What’s going on?” My voice rings out sharply, echoing off the walls as I demand answers from an empty corridor outside. “This is a violation of our rights. We did nothing wrong.”

My heart races, and each shout sends adrenaline coursing through me. I glance back at Lydia and Olivia. Their faces, now pale with concern, only feeds my determination more.

“This isn’t right.” I slam my palm against the door again, feeling the sting in my skin but not caring.