Page 101 of Knight

My nose twists at his fucked up remark. “You’re sick.”

“And you want me,” he smirks. “Is that why you came out tonight with your rainbow crew?”

“You’re so full of yourself you think I came here for you.”

He pulls me back into his arms and I hate that it feels good. Hate that I like this tension between us and hate that when I feel his bulge against me, I know he does too.

“Didn’t you?” he asks, his voice in my ear again. “Or did my plan not work? I knew Bella would have her phone and all it would take is a threat to your King to get you crawling back.”

That makes me mad. So mad. He’s not through playing games and I don’t know if he ever will be. I turn to look in those kaleidoscope eyes and I wish I hadn’t. They make me melt from the stone queen this town loves to hate. They make me want to forget everything and go back to holding up in his empty mansion. Just the two of us.

But I can’t fucking trust him. “Go away, Damien.”

I pull away and when he pulls back, one last shove gets him to loosen his grip. He takes a step forward, blocking my path. “Really? You rather be with fucking Craig Carson?” When the purple light flashes on his face he looks more menacing than ever, his fists clenched, jaw tight.

“It’s not about that!” I’m trying to yell over the music and whether he can hear me or not, it feels good to do it. “It’s about you and your twisted fucking world! You don’t pull the strings this time! I do!”

He smirks that evil smirk and I hardly hear him when he says, “Goodbye, Jo.” Turning to walk away, he leaves me standing alone on the dance floor, surrounded by strangers.

Goodbye? Why did that sound so final? How did he get to walk away before me again? My world is spinning. So is my head. I’ve had enough to drink and enough of this night. This was a bad idea and now, I want to go home.

Holding on to the rail as I climb the stairs, I’m relieved to get back to our booth. But it’s empty, both Nate and Allie gone. The only thing besides our bottle and juice is a note on a napkin sitting in the tray on the table.

Carlos needs me.

Have fun.

Tea tomorrow.

N.

Great. With a look around the room, I still don’t see Allie and I’m hoping Nate didn’t take my ride. With a glance over at Damien’s booth, only Georgina and another girl stay behind with some guys from ERA.

My brain pieces it together. If Allie’s not with Nate, she’s with … Looking over to the exit I see her headed towards the door.

Lea.

I’m out of my seat before I lose sight of them, watching as their heads lean into each other. What the fuck is going on with those two?

Pushing through the crowd, I try my best to keep my eyes on them. It looks like they’re headed to the bathroom and I try to follow but a large bald man steps in my path. “Can I see some identification?” he asks.

“What? I gotta go to the—”

“Some ID miss, now,” he demands, putting his hand out.

Fuck. My shoulders drop, and so does my head when I realize where this is heading. “I don’t have it on me?”

“Alright, I’m going to have to ask you to leave.”

Looking around, half the senior class of ERA is here, so why are they allowed to stay? My eyes land on Damien who’s taking a drink by one of the bars, leaning against it like he’s fucking James Bond.

I try my best to be convincing. “I really have to pee.”

“There’s a bathroom in the lobby. We can’t have underaged guests in this space.”

“But everyone else here gets to stay?”

“They all have an ID, so, unless you have some … ”

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