Page 18 of Lucky In Love

“Jeez, thanks,” I mumble as I reluctantly let him pull me through the doorway to an old abandoned warehouse where his boyfriend is DJing an underground rave tonight.

I’ve been avoiding home all day.

My phone is off and in my back pocket, so I don’t have to see his name flash on the screen every ten minutes. Anton showed me everything Ciarán would need to tell me. Besides I don’t want to be found.

I need to enjoy the last few hours of being anonymous I have.

“A few drinks and you’ll forget all about today’s problems. I promise, now come on!” Anton drags me down a dark corridor, and before I know it, the floor starts to vibrate from the music.

“Wow,” I cover my mouth when the corridor opens up to a bridge made of all glass.

The lights from the dance floor shine brightly as I look down between my feet at thousands of dancing bodies. It’s a perfect three-hundred-degree view of the Rave pulsing around us.

“Isn’t it awesome? Now come on. The music is calling us!” Anton takes my hand and I don’t resist.

We find Carlos backstage, and I stand back while he and Anton kiss like no one is watching. I sigh at how free and loving they both are.

“Babe!” Carlos calls over the music and grabs me in a tight hug.

He plants a kiss on my lips making me giggle.

“How are you,” I ask as I watch Carlos’s happy face morph into fear.

I’m about to ask what is going on but I’m pulled off my feet and thrown into a set of arms as I watch Ciarán punch Carlos and knock him out cold.

I scream and struggle to get between them but the bands of steel around my waist don’t give.

“I’m sorry miss. You need to stay with me.” Fucking Phillip.

“Stop him!” I call over my shoulder as the place erupts into a brawl the size of a WWE match.

Tables flip, chairs fly past and the music gets cut off.

I heard someone on a mic making apologies to the crowd who is booing at the news that Carlos won’t be able to perform because he’s still fucking unconscious on the floor with Anton crying over him.

“CIARÁN!” I scream as he argues with security.

“Miss Kilroy, I have instructions to take you back to the car. I’m sorry.” I’m lifted off my feet and carried out the way I came.

Phillip puts me in the back of a limo and then stands guard until my stepbrother appears minutes later. I’m fuming at his intrusion into my life.

“Is Carlos alright?” I ask as soon as the door opens.

“Worried for your boyfriend?” I slap him as hard as I can.

“You piece of shit! He’s Anton’s boyfriend, not mine! They are gay.” I slide to the opposite side of the limo and turn away from him.

“Jade,” I shake my head and hide my crying face behind my knees as I curl myself into a ball on the seat.

“Shit.” He whispers as he knocks on the window dividers signaling the driver to move.

I sniffle and close my eyes.

How did my life get so messy in such a short amount of time? Warm arms engulf me and pull me into his lap. He kisses the top of my head but doesn’t say another word.

It’s the smartest thing he’s done today.

Ciarán

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