Page 125 of Perfect Rhythm

“It’s fine...really.”

“No the fuck it’s not,” he snapped, eyes still locked on Mecca. “He knows I don’t play about shit like that.

Mecca forced a tight smile and raised his hands. “You know what? I’m not trying to start no more shit tonight. I’m going to be the bigger person and apologize.” He glanced at me, then back at Shade. “My bad for disrespecting your girl.”

“Oh, so that’s your girl?” Enzo said, grinning. “I thought all that couple talk was bullshit.” He looked me up and down like I was for sale. “Respect though. You pulled a bad one.”

Shade didn’t look his way.

Relief flooded me.

“So, what’s good, Nyx? You got a little sister? One just like you?”

Like a switch flipped, Shade launched forward, his fist landing with a sickening crack against Enzo’s jaw.

My heart stopped as Enzo’s guard reached for his gun. But Trace was faster, yanking it from his hand and smashing it into his face.

Within seconds, another fight broke out, and everything spiraled into chaos.

Gunshots exploded through the room, and I hit the floor, scrambling in the opposite direction of the sound.

Screams tore through the air as people scattered, shoving and stumbling just to get out alive.

All I could see were shadows and panic moving around me.

I burst into the bathroom, dove into the nearest stall, and locked the door behind me.

My whole body trembled. The gunshots echoed in my ears, overlapping with screams that I knew would haunt me forever.

I sat on the floor, my knees pressed against my chest. I didn’t know what else to do. I just wanted everything to stop.

When my phone rang, I answered without hesitation, desperation spilling from my lips before I even heard a voice. “Help me. I need?—”

“Nyx, it’s Skye. Are you okay?”

“No, there’s gunshots coming from everywhere.”

“I know. It’s all over social media. Someone went live. You need to get the fuck out of there.”

“I can’t. I’m not going back out there.”

“Where are you?”

“In the bathroom.”

“Where’s Shade?”

Another round of panic surged through me. “Oh my God, I don’t know. One minute he was right in front of me and the next?—”

“What about my cousin? Did you see her anywhere?”

“I...I don’t know.”

I pressed my hand against my ear, trying to muffle all the noise I heard in the distance.

Finally, the gunshots stopped.

“It’s okay, Nyx. I’m right here,” Skye whispered. “Just stay where you are until you feel like it’s safe to move.”