Page 24 of Wicked Games

“Of course.”

“Do I detect sarcasm, Lucien?”

“Would you expect anything less from a British man?”

It seemed like we had to travel through all nine circles of hell before we exited the club. I felt a lot better as soon as the cool air hit me. “I’m much better now.”

“Doubt it,” Lucien replied. “Will you two stay with him while I pull the car around?”

“Sure,” Ezra and Rhys said at the same time.

I missed the smell of Lucien’s cologne and his body heat the instant he passed me off to Ezra and Rhys.

“I’m sorry, Ryder,” Ezra said. “I had no idea you drank so much. I shouldn’t have left you alone.”

“S’kay.”

“No, it isn’t,” Rhys added. “We didn’t act like friends.”

I started to tell them I was fine, but my stomach chose that exact moment to revolt. I had just enough time to lurch away from Ezra and Rhys before I got sick all over the sidewalk.

“Hey!” a lady shouted. “Watch it.”

I didn’t just throw up once. I kept retching until my stomach was empty. Shame and humiliation rose up swift and hard; I wanted the ground to open up and swallow me.

“There’s Christian or Lucien or whomever,” Ezra said. “Let’s go, Ryder.”

Ezra and Rhys were considerably shorter than I was, but with one on either side of me, they easily helped get me to the curb where the Aston Martin purred. Getting down into the low-slung seat was a different story altogether, but they got me in, and Ezra buckled my seatbelt before he hovered in the open door.

“I’m sorry I ruined our night out,” I told him. “I don’t know what came over me tonight. I never drink this much.”

“You didn’t ruin anything. I should’ve paid closer attention. Will you call me later to let me know how you’re doing?”

“Sure,” I said, reaching for his hand. “I’m going to be just fine.”

“I’ll take good care of him,” Lucien assured Ezra, but there was zero warmth in his voice. “He’ll call you as soon as he sleeps some of this off and has a chance to eat.”

“Fair enough,” Ezra agreed then shut the door.

Lucien aggressively shifted the car in drive and hit the gas. I closed my eyes because the city lights flashing by made me feel queasy.

“I live at—”

“Shut up,” Lucien snarled, cutting me off before I could give him my address. “How could you be so foolish, Ryder? What the hell were you thinking?”

“I wasn’t thinking because that stirs feelings and no good ever comes from wallowing around in my emotions. I prefer not to feel anything.”

“Be honest with me right now. Do you need to go to a hospital?”

“No,” I said. “I’m already feeling tons better since I threw up. I want you to take me home so I can sleep.”

“I’m not leaving you alone tonight.”

“Lucien, I appreciate your concern, but I’ll be fine.”

“Forgive me if I don’t believe you right now, Ryder. You can either come back to my hotel room with me, or I can take you to the hospital. What’s it going to be?”

“Your place is fine.”