Page 295 of Blackwood

“Big, bad fucking mistake,” I mutter.

“Shots”by Lil Jon hits like a brick wall. The lights flicker red. The first round goes down like liquid fire and the crowd screams: “ONE!”

The girls grind up against their football players like this is foreplay and the shots are the warm-up. Bella’s got her back to Callum’s chest, dancing to the beat, her head tilted, laughing. He leans down to say something in her ear, and I swear to God I see red. Haley’s practically straddling Jalen now. Ellie’s got August eating out of her hand, literally.

The second shot hits. “TWO!”

I’m gripping my cup so tight it might snap. Cade puts a hand on my shoulder.

“She’s just having fun,” he says gently, but his eyes are on Callum too.

By the third shot, Bella drops to her knees in front of him when the song talks about sucking cocks. The crowd goes nuclear as Callum pours a shot straight into her mouth and then throws his head back to down his own.

“THREE!”

“Three,” I mutter. “Fucking three.”

Cade barely glances at me, already reading the tension in my jaw.

“How many more until we hit Hamptons level?” I ask, voice low and sharp.

He lifts a brow. “Four, maybe five. Depends if that’s bourbon or tequila in those shot glasses.”

I glare across the room as Callum grabs another. “Cool,” I grit. “Guess I’ll start digging Cal’s grave now.”

Rez appears beside me. “Man, seems like everyone in this damn place wants a piece of Bella’s ass.”

“I’ll fucking kill them all,” I growl.

Rez laughs. “Relax. She’s yours. Look at her damn tits, Lex… She’s yours.”

“SHOTS,”cheers erupt from the crowd singing along to the song.

Shot four. The girls are grinding again, sweaty, wild, untouchable.

The floor pulses, “FOUR!”

Cade exhales hard. “Four.”

I nod once. “One more and we’re pulling her off the damn table.”

He smirks, but there’s zero humor in it. “You or me?”

I crack my neck. “We’ll flip a coin.”

Cade laughs and shakes his head. “Hope Cal’s wearing a cup.”

Bella’s legs are around Callum’s waist as he lifts her in the air, spinning her like a prize. Ellie’s laughing, her head thrown back in August’s arms. Haley’s got Jalen by the jaw and is whispering something I’m sure is insanely filthy.

“FIVE!”

Cade mutters, “We’ve officially entered Hamptons level.”

“If she takes that top off, I’m throwing hands. And then a table. And then Cal off the roof.”

I’m about to rip the floor up, but then Bella’s eyes flick to me just for a second and she smiles. And I swear, it’s like everything else disappears. All the noise, the bodies, the chaos. She sees me. Only me. The tension in my chest eases.

Yeah, this party’s out of control. Yeah, I want to body check Callum through the fucking wall. But our girl? She’s taking her life back. And fuck… she’s never looked hotter.