Page 287 of Blackwood

“Damn,girls,” he drawls, fanning himself with a folded napkin like he’s about to pass out. “Bella, baby, how you feelin’ tonight?”

I raise a brow and shout toward the booth, “Chill it with the baby, Bestie.”

The crowd laughs. Cade huffs a quiet chuckle beside me.

Bella just rolls her eyes, grinning like a menace. “It feels great to be back down here at the Catacombs!” she shouts, voice full of power, hips cocked, that signature sass in her smile. “But tonight isn’t just any other Row party. No, tonight is a celebration.”

The room leans in.

“A celebration for us getting ready to fly out in a few days to Dallas for Nationals sure, but it’s more than that.”

She turns toward the side entrance, eyes flashing. “Javi, get the hell out here!”

Javi steps out from the shadows, hands raised like a rockstar, laughing as he makes his way to center. He’s in a dark pink button-up and tight jeans, hair slicked back, looking equal parts salsa god and frat party MVP.

Bella steps aside, letting the spotlight hit him before continuing.

“Tonight is a very special night,” she says, that grin growing wicked. “Because tonight is Coach Javi’s fortieth birthday! And we are here to party.”

People stomp, scream, and throw napkins in the air like it’s confetti.

Bella lifts a hand. “Millennial style! We’re talking throwbacks. The shit you and Rico danced to in clubs when you thought Bluetooth was peak technology. We’ve got Latin. Hip-hop. Fusion mashups. All your favorite songs, all night long. We even got a few combos we’ve been saving just for you.”

Javi’s beaming, full-on, glowy, emotional dad-vibes.

Cade leans closer to me, voice low. “Our girl’s taking her life back, Lex.”

I nod, watching her, chest full and tight all at once.

Knox grabs the mic again, hyped like he’s about to launch into orbit. “That’s right, Javi. This night’s for you. This night’s for The Legacy. This night’s for The Trifecta!”

He slams his hand down on the soundboard. “Let’s get this show on the road, ‘cause it’s about to get fucking crazy down in this bitch!”

The music slams into gear. Lights strobe—green, gold, and electric violet—flashing off the stone walls like we’re in some underground rave version of Olympus. The Catacombs are alive. Sweaty. Hyped. Ours.

Knox grabs the mic again, already laughing. “Well the truth is, we couldn’t get Mr. Worldwide to show up for your birthday, Javi. Trust me, Ellie tried.”

The crowd howls. Ellie bows dramatically, blowing kisses from her place on stage.

Knox grins. “But this? This is the next best thing.”

The beat drops, “Greenlight” by Pitbull, and the room erupts.

Bella throws her head back and lets the music pour through her like liquid fire. Ellie and Haley join her, sharp and sensual,all three of them in perfect sync like they’ve been waiting months to unleash hell.

Red lights. Green lights. Flashing with every beat like the whole damn Catacombs is pulsing in sync with the music and the girls are killing it—hip rolls, drops, and smiles that could start wars.

Buzz. Buzz.

REZ:Ready?

ME:Go.

The crowd suddenly parts.Like Moses and the goddamn sea. Out from the shadows step Rez, Chase, and DeShawn, my brothers, my Hollow Kings. They’re in black and gold, striding through the dance floor like they own the fucking underground. The girls freeze mid-routine, jaws dropping like we just called in backup from Hell.

Knox—bless his dramatic ass—kills the music. “What the actual fuck,” he yells into the mic. “Is that who I think it is?” His voice shoots through the speakers. “Lex, Bestie, are we getting crashed by your Kings?!”

Three beeps in my ear,mic is on.