Page 121 of Headstrong Like Us

Charlie explains, “I passed her when I went to the bathroom.”

My blood boils, mostly concerned she’s alone. We push through the crowds, people stationary like pillars just drinking and chatting.

“Charlie! Charlie!” A girl grabs at his shirt. “Will you sign my clutch?!”

“No.” He shakes her off like she’s a pest.

For some reason, it has the opposite effect. She says a breathy, “I love you.”

Charlie barely blinks. “This way.” His fingers curl around my wrist, and he yanks me to the side emergency exit door.

Shadowed and partially hidden behind drooping beach balls, Kinney loitersalone.Gangly and five-foot-four. She tugs at the lacy black sleeves of her dress, looking lost and way out of her fucking element.

Off the cuff, I can’t remember a time where my sister wasn’tradiatingconfidence. Seeing her so small punctures my heart.

But my gaze toughens too.

Kinney sees us, and relief washes over her round face. Quickly, she tries to replace that with her blasé attitude. My sister isn’t as good at masking it this time.

“Kinney, what are you doing here?” I ask, and then I notice she’s actually not alone. Her bodyguard leans against a surfboard to her right. He’s a younger guy on SFE. A few other Epsilon bodyguards have been hovering around the bar since Eliot, Tom, Beckett and Ben still use Price’s Triple Shield Services.

I’m on fire, and usually a bodyguard wouldn’t be the target of my red-hot rage. Because they’re not babysitters to my brother and sisters. But this is different.

My parents were fuckingclearabout the girls not being allowed at this bar. I zero in on him, and Kinney sidesteps to stand between me and him.

“He’s cool, Moffy.”Fuck that.

“Hey!” I yell at the bodyguard, and I keep a hand on my sister’s bony shoulder and gesture him forward.

He takes one step off the surfboard.

“She shouldn’t be here.”

The SFE bodyguard holds up his hands in surrender. “She snuck out herself. I didn’t do anything but follow her.” He’s one of those.

Dammit.I swallow a growl that scrubs my lungs. Anyone else, and maybe I wouldn’t be riddled with frustrated anger, but Kinney likes to think she’s older than she is. She doesn’t need a bodyguard that takes a backseat.

Kinney rocks on her heels. “Satisfied?”

“No,” I say firmly. “You’re going back to the house.”

Her mouth drops, aghast. “The bouncer let me in, but my own brother won’t let me stay. Do you know how rude that is?”

Charlie looks her up and down. “You were five-seconds from crying before I found you.”

Kinney’s head whips to me. “I was not.”

“You’re a bad liar,” he says pointedly. “Don’t say it so desperately next time.”

“Don’t coach her on how to lie, man.” I have to fix this. She’s my responsibility, and if anything happens to her tonight…

Charlie pinches the cigarette, inches from his lips. “It’s not like anyone listens to me. Have you seen Audrey lately? She’s a mess.”

Kinney glares at him. “You know what we call you.”

“Kinney,” I warn.

Charlie mock smiles at my sister. “Something annoying, I presume.”