Page 35 of Blood and Thorns

It was safer, that detachment. It was difficult as a kid to make friends and then disappear, never to see them again.

Luckily, I much preferred fictional people to real life, so I hadn’t dwelled on the fact I was a social outcast until now, when I wanted nothing more than to just… talk to someone.

I dialled Dad’s number from memory anyway, my chest aching as the ringing droned on before the click of his voicemail. “Hi Dad, it’s me… I just… I wanted to see whether you were safe.” There was a beat of silence, and I didn’t know what to say. The disappointment of him not answering was crushing, even though I expected it. “Please take care of yourself.”

Putting the phone back, I re-entered behind the bar, moving around to take a stool. The twins stood closer, clearly not pleased with me disappearing into the back. Honestly, I was surprised they hadn’t followed.

“Did you do what you needed to?” the bartender asked, serving one of the patrons a glass of wine.

No, because I’m a loser with no friends. But of course Icouldn’t admit that out loud, so instead I simply nodded. “Thank you,” I said quietly.

“Don’t thank me yet,” she said, dropping her voice as her eyes dipped to my choker. “If anyone asks, I’ll deny it.”

My hand automatically went to the rose around my throat, the metal hard beneath my fingertips.

“People will be jealous of that,” she added. “Many of the girls have wanted to tame the big bad Beast. Even some of the men. But he’s never been caught with anyone. So watch your back.”

“That’s enough, Mia.” Twin number one came to stand on my left, close enough that his suit was pressed against my arm.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, Micah,” she lied, keeping her face perfectly composed.

“Hmm.” Micah looked down at me with a touch of impatience, while his brother seemed bored. “You need to return to the booth.”

I slipped from the stool. “Thank you, again,” I told Mia. “I appreciate it.”

“See you around.” She winked before sticking her middle finger up at the twins. Micah sniggered, but the one on my left only gestured for me to step before him.

The stares hadn’t died down, especially considering I had two men escorting me back to my seat. Luckily, I could scoot around to the far side, essentially hiding myself in the shadowed corner while the twins took their positions at each side of the ropes.

Maybe I could get them to stand in front of me? Become human buffers?

“Sir.” The twins nodded, parting once more to let Langdon through.

Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out his phone,typing something before turning it to face me.Come with me.

I handed it back as I stood, the twins’ stares cutting as Langdon escorted me to the corridors where I’d first found him. “Are they staying behind?” I asked when I realised I no longer had two large shadows.

Langdon pursed his lips then nodded, his strides longer which forced me to hurry up. Passing the lift, we reached a set of black, ominous double doors that opened as we approached.

Bloody hell.

Sebastian had a fighting ring attached to his nightclub.

The space was smaller, the edges holding the same elegant design as the club, with its personal tables and high chandeliers. But in the centre was a lip where concrete met the carpet, and a ring seemingly erupting from the surface in a grand stage surrounded by lights.

Half the crowd was cheering, screaming at the fighters who currently circled one another, while the other half were drinking and chatting, seeming genuinely unbothered by the show of violence.

Two men fought bare knuckled inside the ring, their faces so swollen and covered in blood I doubted their own mothers would recognise them.

Following Langdon, he escorted me across the floor towards the front row of chairs on the right side of the ring. Coming to a stop, he glared down at the man who sat on the one at the end.

“Fuck off, mate,” the man grunted.

Langdon smiled, leaning down. Seconds later, the man went white as a ghost before scrambling to his feet.

“All yours!” he hurried to say.

Langdon tracked the man with his gaze as he disappeared into the crowd before looking over his shoulder atme. His jacket rustled, as if he was putting something back inside, and I glanced a sheen of black metal.