Page 9 of Blood and Thorns (Twisted Ever After #1)

Arabella

I was two seconds away from slapping Gabriel across the face, but that would draw even more attention to me. I was trying to ignore the stares, but they were starting to become obvious.

“Don’t worry, baby. You look fine,” Gabriel crooned, clearly ignoring my ‘don’t touch me’ vibe when he pulled me to his side.

I forced a smile, warily glancing around the interior of the notorious Thorn . It wasn’t what I expected for a nightclub, at least, it wasn’t like anywhere I’ve been before.

Fitted Savile Row suits and elegant dresses more at home on the runway than a club where the music was live, and the lights were dimmed. Crystal chandeliers adorned the high ceilings, and at the edge of the dance floor were tables and chairs with personal staff.

Gabriel vibrated beside me, his knee bouncing as he tried to gain the bartender’s attention.

It had taken us an hour to get inside, the queue surprisingly long considering I didn’t even know the place existed.

The bouncers were turning people away with no reason, only letting in those they deemed appropriate.

We were initially denied, and as Gabriel had begun to argue, one of the bouncers whispered to the other before finally lifting the velvet rope.

I don’t know how or why we passed their secretive criteria, because I didn’t belong in here, and as soon as I’d spoken to Sebastian, I was gone.

Ignoring Gabriel’s increasing frustration with being ignored by the bartender, I glanced around the room, searching for a man with eyes of midnight.

But there was no one that matched his description.

No unnecessarily large men, and definitely no masks.

I kept checking the corner, frowning at the private bar and booth that seemed hidden within the shadows and cordoned off with rope.

Standing, I took a step away, only for Gabriel to snake his fingers around my wrist. “Where do you think you’re going?” he asked, pulling me back much harsher than he needed. “We haven’t even got our drinks yet.”

“I need to find Sebastian.” I kept my tone calm, but I felt anything but. From the way the bouncers had treated Gabe, I didn’t doubt he’d lied about knowing Sebastian. Which shouldn’t come as a surprise, as Gabriel was the master at bullshit. “Isn’t that why we’re here? Not to get drinks.”

“I’m fucking working on it.” His eyes shuttered, lip lifting into a familiar snarl. “This attitude of yours will need to go once we’re married.”

I swallowed hard, pushing past the lump in my throat as he pulled me closer.

“I never agreed to marry you,” I said, my voice low but steady even as I felt my panic growing the longer we stood there doing nothing.

His eyes didn’t flinch. “So you’d rather be alone? What then when we find your dad’s body?” he challenged.

My palm prickled, heat rushing to my fingertips. I didn’t think, I just moved. But before my hand could connect, he caught my wrist mid-air.

I expected him to react, but instead his voice calmed.

“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said that.” He sounded sincere, but I knew better, and it had taken me way too long to realise it. He pressed forward, but I turned my head so he kissed my cheek instead.

My stomach recoiled at the thought that he was right, and I could end up alone.

“I need to use the bathroom,” I whispered, finding it harder to breathe amongst the stuffy air and thumping music.

His lips pursed before he finally let me go. “Fine. I’ll order you a glass of wine for when you’re back.”

“No, I–”

“You’ll take what I give you,” he warned. “Now, don’t be long. Without me, you look ridiculous. You clearly don’t fit in here, but that’s okay. That’ll change once we’re married.” His eyes dragged down my body, only emphasising the point that I was clearly underdressed.

Obviously, if I’d known the dress code, I would’ve worn something nicer.

Even though my dress was cute, it was just more summer picnic than a dance club where you were required to have a bank account with a gazillion zeros.

It would’ve been fine for a normal club because of its length, but not here. No, here I stuck out.

Crossing the room, I tried to ignore the curious and somewhat hostile stares even as the music pounded against my skull, each beat tightening my chest. I didn’t bother looking towards the dance floor, not really getting a dancer vibe from what little I knew about Sebastian Devereaux.

Looking back over my shoulder, I checked to make sure Gabriel was distracted, but I shouldn’t have worried.

He was surrounded by three different women, all giggling as he smirked and flirted in return.

Passing through an archway I found the bathrooms, the corridor dimly lit, almost intimate as I passed the doors and continued.

It was empty, but there was a click, snap, click that was drawing me further down.

The blond from dad’s garage casually leaned against the end wall, knee bent and foot flat. He didn’t react, not even looking up as I approached, just continuing to play with his lighter.

Click, snap, click.

His hair had been brushed back, the strands looking almost wet. After a moment his foot hit the carpet, and still without looking at me he turned down the corridor.

“Wait!” My breath quickened, heart pressing against my ribs. “Hello?”

Looking back, I realised I was still alone, so I did the only thing I could, and I followed. He didn’t look back at me once, walking with such assurance as he passed a mirrored wall. That wall opened as I approached, and without a pause in his stride he disappeared around the corner.

I hesitated, the inside of what must be a lift appearing opulent, golden. Each of the panels were reflective, so when the blond suddenly appeared behind me, I jumped.

“Hi, I’m looking for–”

He didn’t let me finish, shoving me just as the doors began to close. His smirk stretched between the closing gap, blowing me a kiss just as the doors sealed shut.

“Shit.” I pressed my hand to one of the panels, but there were no buttons, just my reflection repeated at me in an almost mocking way.

What kind of idiot follows a dangerous man into a secluded corridor?

Oh, that’s right. Me.

Without any instruction, the lift began to descend, coming to a halt as quickly as it had started.

It couldn’t be more than a single floor, or maybe two.

Pressing myself back, the doors opened silently to reveal solid concrete walls.

After a heartbeat, I peeked my head out, the same concrete wrapping around for as far as I could see.

Light penetrated the ominous dark, the strangely elegant sconces placed every few feet covered in thick cobwebs.

“Hello?” I said, but only my voice echoed back. “Hello?” I called louder, and this time there was a response.

“Arabella? Is that you?”

Following the sound, I almost burst into tears, dropping to my knees to try and reach through the bars. “Dad?” I couldn’t believe where he’d been kept, the cell so small he could stretch his arms out and touch both sides. It was just wide enough for the bed, and a bucket.

A foul-smelling tray sat on the floor beside the door, only crumbs remaining of the meal, and I swore something scurried across the floor when I’d approached.

There was barely any light this far down, but even in the darkness I could see how sick he looked after only a few days. There were bruises beneath his eyes, and his skin seemed sunken. Pale, with a slight sheen.

“Ara, how did you find me?” Dad wrapped his fingers around the bars, the skin broken and bleeding, as if he’d tried to claw his way out.

“Gabriel–”

“Did you find the money?” He licked along his dry lips, wincing a little when they cracked. “Please, you have to get me out of here.” His eyes darted around the room, as if searching for something in the shadows.

“What? No, I can’t find that much in such a–”

“Then why the fuck are you here? You’re just going to make everything worse!” his voice thundered, making me flinch.

“I’m trying to–”

“You need to leave. Unless…” He tried to stretch through the bars. “Yes, you’ll survive so much better than me.”

My fingers brushed along the lock, even as my stomach twisted.

“You’d do anything for me, wouldn’t you, Ara?” Dad’s eyes turned wild. “You wouldn’t leave me like Mum did, would you? You can fix this.”

“Evening, Morris. I see you’re trying to escape again.” A man stepped out from the shadows, a dark brow raised. I recognised him immediately as the other man from the garage, the brunet with the hammer.

Dad shrank back in his cell. “No… of course not.”

I stood, putting myself between Dad and the man. “I’m here to speak to Sebastian.”

The stranger nodded. “Good, because he’s waiting for you.”