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“Can I leave to pee?”
“By all means,” he gestured toward the door. I didn’t waste time leaving. I needed to plant more surveillance. No one was up here. It’s as if there was an unspoken rule that this level was off limits to guests. But as I peered around the corner and down the bannister of the stairs, I spotted a beefy looking goon that definitely looked as if he was a part of the Lamatti crew.
Pretending to be stumbling and looking for a place to go, I tried each doorknob, but all the rooms were locked. I decided to go down the stairs and tapped the goon on the shoulder. “Hey. I need a refill, but I intend on rejoining the game.” I wiggled my brows and pointed behind me. He nodded and I made my way to the kitchen. Any good bit of gossip always goes down in a kitchen. I reached up on my tippy toes, pretending to grab a roll of towels from a top the fridge and dropped my listening device. Then, I ditched my warm wine for a bottle of water. It was time to grab Tati and go while we still could.
In about twenty seconds, I was back up the stairs and entering the den of sin. I shook my head in disgust and crossed the room. Johnny carelessly left the key on the floor and was too busy getting head in a dark corner to notice me taking it and unlocking the closet. “Time’s up.” I knocked twice before opening the door.
“Can’t be…”
“Sorry, Romeo,” I reached past him, practically dragging Tati out. Her shirt was above her armpits, her bra was unhooked, but I didn’t care as I whisked her away from Le Blanc and out the door we were marched into an hour earlier.
“Wh-at? Why D? I don’t want to go.”
“Fix your clothes. We’re out.”
“I was having fun. I didn’t even get a chance to exchange numbers.”
“You exchanged plenty. Let’s go.” I didn’t slow my roll, as I dragged my protesting friend down the stairs, through the crowded room and out the front door.
I feel his searing gaze at my back and walked faster. “Hurry Tati!” I looked back over my shoulder, meeting the thunderous gaze of the man I scorned and left to burn. The dangerous heat in his laser-like gaze and purposeful gait as he moved after us promised sweet retribution.
Thinking fast, I raced around the bonfire straight into the thick smoke the wind made turn and headed back around to the other side of a crowd. Slowing to a walk, I tried to blend in as I dropped to the ground pretending the lace of my shoe was untied. I knew if I moved to the street, he’d make us.
“What the fuck, D?”
“Shut up, Tati. Just shut the fuck up and let me think,” I hissed.
I half crouched, seeing the back of Roque’s wide shoulders as he jogged toward the road, right where I left the Explorer.
Grabbing Tati’s hand, we moved to the back of the house. “Are we staying or going? Make up your mind.”
“Listen Tati. I know you don’t want to hear this, but all those guys are bad news. Dangerous criminals. Their families kill for the sport of it. We don’t want to be on their radars, trust me.”
“Seb isn’t like that.”
“Seb? I’m saving my eyeroll until after we get out of here.”
“Whatever. Maybe I’ll be the mystery girl he won’t be able to forget although something tells me that’s you, not me for someone else.”
“Le Blanc totally wanted you Tati. That was obvious.”
“Wanting is easy. It’s the keeping that’s hard.”
I didn’t reply. Johnny burst out the backdoor with his cell pressed to his ear. Rafe wasn’t far behind. The two men studied the crowd, searching.
“Shit. We really need to get out of here.”
“Hey.” Tati curled her hand over the bicep of a guy waiting to play cups.
“Hey,” he grinned down at her.
“I’m cold. Can I borrow your coat?” The dude had it off and wrapped around her in seconds. “My friend is cold, too.” His friend offered me his hoodie and I smiled sweetly as I yanked it on.
“Now what?”
“Hair. We need to cover it.”
“That cap is so cute.” She touched the bill facing backward on frat boy’s head. He takes it off and plops it on hers.