Page 89 of Felix

“Yeah, no,” Christian says. “He’s got a target.”

Alex curses.

We all fall silent as the stranger waves Noel down. Christian’s friend approaches at a steady pace, looking uncomfortable but trying to hide it. He picks up the man’s empty glass, the two exchanging words. The guy must order another drink because Noel nods and heads back toward the bar.

“I don’t like this,” Teddy mumbles.

“If he so much as flinches, I’m getting the bat,” Alex practically growls.

“Whoa, slugger,” Niko says calmly. “Let’s cool it a little. The last thing we need is you getting arrested for battery.”

Kipp snorts. “Bat-ery. With a bat. Get it?”

“There will be no battery or getting arrested,” Dixon grumbles. “There’s nine of us—ten, including Noel—and only one of him. If this guy acts up, we’ll ask him to leave. Simple as that.”

“Ask?” Niko says, lips curling into a smile as he rubs Dixon’s arm.

“Tell,” Finn declares, to which Dixon nods his agreement. Alex gives them both a grin.

“Couldn’t we just do that now?” Kipp whines.

“Hold up,” I say, squeezing Christian’s arm. “He’s back.”

We watch as Noel sets a new drink down on the guy’s table. The man smiles, picking up the glass. And then he tips it down Noel’s front.

Christian makes to jump out of his chair, but my grip on his arm stops him. “The fuck,” he hisses.

“It’s just a drink,” I say. “It was probably an accident, right?”

Noel wipes his shirt as the guy seems to apologize. Noel shakes his head, holding out his hand in a clear I got it gesture. He sets his tray on the table before heading along the back of the club toward the hall.

“Where’s he going?” Alex asks.

“Employee room,” Christian says quietly. “To change. At least, that’s what I’m guessing.”

“Okay. So that’s not so bad,” Alex says. “Even if that was on purpose—”

“Guys,” Rowan says. “Where’d he go?”

Heads whip back toward the table. The man in the black shirt is gone.

Christian curses, looking around frantically. Alex stands on his chair.

“There,” Niko says, pointing toward the back hall as the guy disappears around the corner.

Everyone is out of their seats in a second.

I lose my grip on Christian’s arm as he all but runs toward the back hallway of the club. He deftly evades the crowd and rounds the corner before I can catch up. My pulse sprints as I hear him shout, “Hey!”

Teddy turns the corner ahead of me, surprisingly fast for such a big guy. I vaguely remember he’s a runner. When I make it into the hall, I see a flash of dark hair as Christian barrels through the slowly closing door at the back of the club, his momentum pushing it right back open again.

“Fuck,” I mutter, racing after him.

I’ve never in my life been more grateful for the men at my back.

My ears ring as I follow Teddy out into the alley behind the bar. I hear Christian yell, “Let him go!” followed by a grunt. There’s no overhead light back here, only a faint glow from the street, so it’s hard to make out what’s happening as Teddy rushes into the fray. But there appears to be a scuffle, and my stomach drops even further toward my feet.

“Hey!” Finn bellows, running past me. “I’m calling the cops.”

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