Page 70 of Blackwood

The heat between us is electric. Dangerous.

I ride the beat like I was forged in Miami fire, shaped by its heat and its scars. It’s not just showmanship. It’s release. It’s rage in rhythm.

The crowd sees a girl dancing like she owns the night. They think it’s because I’m from Miami. They think that’s why I always dance to the parts of the song where Pit talks about the 305.

They don’t know I bled there. They don’t know I burned there. They don’t know I’m exorcising demons with every fucking step.

Javi and Knox made that plan for me when Zeke died. They made me the Miami focus on every Pitbull routine. To dance out my grief, my rage. To face it and not hide.

Josh’s hands never stop moving, one sliding up my spine, the other slipping under the curve of my ass. Guiding. Tempting. Feeding off the fire I never asked for but learned how to wield.

The crowd loses it as The Trifecta snaps back in. All six of us hit the next beat like they never left to finish out the song.

Knox’s voice blasts through the speakers, breathless and laughing. “Fuck that was hot.” He drags a hand through his hair like he needs to cool down just watching. “Okay, okay, let’s get the rest of this show on the road.”

He grins and steps forward, voice booming.

“Welcome to The Row.My name’s Knox. Those are my girls, The Trifecta, and it’sCinco de fucking Mayo.”

He throws his arms up.

“Now let’s get this party started!”

Music cranks. Lights flash. And the whole damn mansion feels like it’s about to ignite.

♥♥♥

Cal and August stroll up like royalty. High-fiving, fist bumping and winking at every girl they pass. Cal’s got that shit-eating grin on full display, tray of tequila shots balanced in one hand like a pro.

“Here’s to The Trifecta,” Cal says, pausing for dramatic effect. “And to The Order officially having the hottest dancers in Wexley history.”

Ellie twirls a blonde curl. “As if there was ever any doubt.”

“And,” August adds with a smug grin, “here’s to Cal and me kicking off our senior year. Football gods. Order royalty. Living legends in the making.”

“You’re insufferable,” Ellie fires back, grinning as she takes her shot glass.

“But charming,” August winks.

“That’s debatable, Augie,” Haley mutters, grabbing hers.

I lift mine. “To The Trifecta.”

“To The Row,” Cal adds, winking at me as he tilts his glass.

“To senior year,” August says with a hand on his chest like he’s just been knighted.

We clink. We shoot. The tequila burns like hell, but it’s the kind of hell we all welcome.

Ellie coughs once and laughs. “Okay. That one had evil in it.”

“Or flavor,” August counters. “Same difference.”

My phone buzzes in my hand and instinct kicks before reason. I glance down.

@LucaWasHere

Tell Josh to not to cling too tight,