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Seconds later, the room's atmosphere shifts the same way it always does when he is around. I don’t have to turn to know who’s just walked in, but I do anyway.

And when I peer over my shoulder, my gaze connects with Everest. His face is hard, and a mask of indifference is perfectly in place.

His eyes, however, turn molten, burning into me.

So much so that I feel it between my legs and my breath hitches.

Beside me, Promise makes a noise, and my head snaps toward her.

My best friend is wearing a knowing smirk.

I roll my eyes, ignoring her, and go back to my beer.

Luna lifts her hands and goes to sign, but is effectively cut off when Riggs’ lip twitches as he shakes his head. “Leave it be, Mon Tresor.”

My friends are convinced there is something between Everest and me.

I don’t see why they think that. Or maybe I do, and I’m in denial.

At this juncture, it doesn’t matter. I have too much on my plate to be worried about a man.

Everyone I care about is currently living their happily ever after.

Everyone but me. And because those people love me, they want me to find my own Prince Charming.

After the failed attempt to hound me about Everest passes, the conversation takes a lighter turn when Piper makes an appearance. “Piper, where have you been? Tell Kiwi he needs to let you up for air more often.”

“Jesus fuckin’ Christ,” Nova bitches. “I don’t need to hear that kind of shit.”

I smirk as Nova makes a face and takes his leave. Riggs matches his brother’s energy and follows suit, causing Piper to turn red and groan. “You know you’re scaring my dad for life, don’t you. I bet his ears are bleeding right about now.”

“I know.” A giggle escapes from my lips. “I like making Nova squirm, though.”

Piper hugs me and then falls on the stool beside me. “I’ve been MIA the past couple of weeks, but school is keeping me busy," she says loud enough for her dad and uncle to hear.

“When is graduation again?” I ask.

“Three months.” Piper beams. “I’m so ready.”

“Your dad and I are so proud of you.” Promise reaches across the table, squeezing Piper’s hand. There is no denying the bond that Piper and Promise share.

Over the next hour and forty-five minutes, the girls and I catch up on what’s going on.

Looking down at my watch, I note the time. “Well, ladies, I hate to cut our time short, but I have to go.”

“So soon?” Promise grumbles.

“Yeah. I have to stop by the grocery store on my way home, and I have a mountain of laundry I need to do. If I don’t, I’ll have to show up to court tomorrow in sweats and a T-shirt. I’m pretty sure that sort of thing is frowned upon.”

Promise goes to grab her purse. “Want some help? I don’t mind.”

“No!” I rush the word out, causing Promise to look at me with wide eyes.

Recovering, I wave my hand. “I mean, I’m fine. No biggie.”

“Okay.” Promise eyes me skeptically. “As long as you’re sure.”

I lean in and give her a hug. “I’m sure.” Then I turn toward Luna and Piper and sign. “I’ll catch you ladies later.”

Piper and Luna bid their goodbyes before I take my leave.

As I’m walking out of the bar, I sense familiar eyes on me. My skin tingles with awareness, only this time, I don’t look.

Pink Paradise is packed tonight, and the patrons are growing increasingly rowdy.

Or should I say, the group of guys here celebrating a bachelor party?

Bachelor parties are the worst! Meaning, for some reason, they have in their tiny pea brains that said party entitles them to behave like creeps.

On more than one occasion, Royce has had to remind them to keep their grimy paws off the girls.

Tony has a strict no-touching rule, even regarding private dances.

He also has a three-strike rule, and this group has used up two of their strikes.

I block out their insinuating gestures as I finish my last dance.

Launching myself at the pole, keeping my legs wide as I skillfully complete a full twirl before flipping my body upside down.

I wrap my legs around the pole, then thrust my chest outward as I run my hands along my breasts while my fake red hair dangles down toward the stage.

I catch a flash of movement from the corner of my eye right before one of the imbeciles from the bachelor party rushes the stage.

His buddies whoop and holler. Panic sets in, and I lose my balance.

My grip on the pole gives, and I crash to the stage.

“Fuck!” I cry out when a sharp pain shoots up my tailbone.

The next thing I know, all hell breaks loose.

Just before the lights go out, I see a large figure tackle my would-be groper. The girls working the floor scream and scatter down the hall toward the dressing room, while I’m hauled up off the stage by Royce, who picks me up with ease.

“Oh my God! What the hell just happened?” I twist in Royce’s arms to get a look at all the commotion, but all I see are chairs being thrown and people scrambling to get out of Dodge.

Once in the dressing room, Royce sets me on my feet. “Nobody leaves this room,” he booms before slamming the door shut. The girls and I stare at each other.

Journey rushes to my side. “Girl. Are you all right? That was one hell of a fall you took.”

“My ass feels like it's on fire, but other than that, I’m okay.” I walk over to my locker, pull out my jeans, and pull them over my G-string.

I don’t bother with a bra as I slip my T-shirt over my head.

There’s something too vulnerable about standing around half-naked, so I don’t waste any time getting dressed.

Plus, after what just happened, there is no way Tony won’t shut down for the rest of the evening.

The other girls follow suit and begin cleaning up and getting dressed.

Twenty minutes later, Tony barges through the door, his face red with fury. He scans the room until his eyes land on me. “You okay, sweetheart?”

“I’m good, Tony.”

“I’m fuckin’ sorry that shit went down. I should have kicked their asses out sooner. This shit is on me.”

“It’s all good, Tony. Promise.”

“Fuck no, it’s not. Nobody hurts one of my girls. He’s gonna pay.”

Before I can ask Tony what he means by that statement, he changes the subject. “Club is closed. And don’t worry about tips. I’ve got you covered. You girls get on home. Give Royce fifteen, and he’ll escort you to your cars.”

“Tony.” I stop him before he leaves. “Any news on Amara?”

Tony’s face turns grim, his lips thin, and he shakes his head. “Not yet, but I’m workin’ on it.”

I close my eyes and let out a sigh. Maybe I should try looking for her again.

“I know what you’re thinkin’, and I’m telling you right now, London, to leave this shit to me. The only thing you need to do is take your ass home. Like I said, I’ll catch you up to speed when my guy finds somethin’.”

I narrow my eyes at Tony, but my expression doesn’t faze him.

“Tell me you got me so I can go clean shit up.”

“I got you, Tony.”

Tony then turns on his heel and disappears down the hall without another word.

I sling my bag over my shoulder with no other reason to hang around.

“Wait, Lon. Are you not going to wait for Royce?” Journey calls out.

“Nah. I’m beat and have an early day tomorrow. Later,” I say with a wave as I make my way down the hall toward the back exit. Though I’d prefer the night not to end in drama, I'm thankful for the few extra hours of sleep I’ll get tonight. I’ve been running on fumes for months.

A warm breeze hits my face when I swing open the door.

As I make my way to my car, an eerie feeling washes over me, and suddenly, I wish I’d waited on Royce like Tony instructed.

He’s adamant that we girls don’t leave the club alone.

Halfway to my car, I look over my shoulder, scanning the near-empty lot, and breathe a sigh of relief when I don’t see anything.

My relief is short-lived when I twist back around and come face to face with a man I don’t know but have seen once before.

He's one of the men Journey and I saw come out of Amara’s house last week during our failed stakeout.

“Nighty, night, bitch,” he sneers right before he presses something to my neck.

Then it’s lights out.

I crack my eyes open some time later, feeling disoriented.

Blinking several times, I try to force my muscles to move.

As my vision finally clears, my eyes lock on an unfamiliar tattooed hand and a steering wheel.

My gaze flicks up, and then my memory comes flooding back.

Terror sets in when the asshole turns his head and looks at me with his chilling eyes.

Bile rises in my throat as I try to force myself to do something, anything, but for some odd and terrifying reason, my muscles are unwilling to cooperate.

In that instant, I know what real fear is.

It’s then that two things happen at once.

First, the car stops at a red light, and about ten seconds later, the driver’s side window is busted out. Broken pieces of glass go flying, causing a scream to escape my mouth.

“What the fuck,” my kidnapper spits while making a move for his gun.

The next thing I know, a beacon of hope in the form of a gaudy blue and green windbreaker is there.

Tony’s fist comes barreling down through the shattered window before slamming into the side of my kidnapper’s temple, knocking him unconscious.

I stare in shock at the man slumped over in the driver’s seat.

Moments later, the passenger door is ripped open.

“Let’s go, sweetheart. Time to make haste before the cops show.” Tony wrestles me from the car, practically taking all my weight, considering my muscles feel like mush.

“I don’t know what’s wrong with me,” I say.

“That son of bitch stun-gunned you. You’ll be all right in a few minutes.”