Page 56 of Pretty Heartache

“We need to get out of here,” I tell Adeline.

“What? No.”

“Can you just trust me?” I ask desperately.

Secrets. I’m tired of keeping fucking secrets. But I need to get Adeline out of here. Right now.

“Give me one good reason why I should trust you?”

“Because…” I swallow, eyeing the men stepping closer to the dance floor. I swing my gaze back to Adeline’s. “I just need you to.”

Groaning with frustration, Adeline pushes me back. I don’t go far, considering we’re squashed in the crowd like a can of sardines.

“Go home, Micah. Go home and figure out how to get over whatever secrets you’re hiding and battles you’re struggling with. Leave me out of it.” She shoulders past me, heading in the direction of Ember’s VIP booth.

The men haven’t spotted me, but I can’t take any chances. Flashes and memories of Archer curled into the fetal position on the floor, with blood spilling from his mouth as Soren hunched over him, vowing retribution if he didn’t pay up are all I see

I curl my hands into tight fists and follow Adeline. She’s more than ten feet in front of me, and I’m unable to keep up. When I reach the three steps leading back up to the VIP section, Adeline leans over and whispers into Ember’s ear. Ember nods and gives her a soft smile before Adeline swipes her clutch from the table. She gives everyone a quick wave goodbye before turning on her heel and heading toward the front of the club.

I don’t bother wasting my time looking over my shoulder to see if Soren’s men have spotted her or me.

I just know I need to get Adeline out of here.

I don’t know where she thinks she’s headed, but I’ll be damned if she leaves with anyone other than me. Not when the threat of Soren and his men is so close.

I don’t catch up to Adeline until we’re both in the pitch-black tunneled hallway leading to the front door.

People pass us, but it isn’t as difficult to navigate as it was back in the club. I jog the rest of the tunnel, catching Adeline before she pushes through the large glass doors. My fingers wrap around her wrist, pulling her to a stop. Her back falls against the wall, and I pin her with my hips.

Tipping her chin, she pins with a sharpened glare. “What the fuck, Micah?”

“Where are you going?”

“Nowhere.” She presses her lips into a tight line, her nostrils flaring. “It’s none of your business.”

“It is my business.”

“You aren’t mine,” she points out. “And I’m not yours.”

My dick twitches, and jealousy settles into my bones. I want to make her mine. “You aren’t leaving here with anyone but me.”

She laughs with an unamused smile. “For someone who claims to be wiser because they’re twelve years older than me, you sure are acting childish, making demands when it isn’t your place.”

My heart hammers in my chest, and my nerves are still on high alert. I don’t know what Soren’s men planned on doing with Adeline, but something tells me if I didn’t show up when I did, she wouldn’t be standing here with me now.

“I’m leaving,” Adeline says. “But I’m not leaving here with you.” She crosses her arms over her chest, planting her heeled feet to the marbled floor.

I stare into her eyes, and my heart flutters. With a tilted smile, a laugh escapes my throat. “We’ll see about that.”

I bend down and quickly wrap one arm around her waist and the other around the back of her thighs, then I hoist her over my shoulder as a loud yelp shoots from her pretty little mouth.

“Micah, stop it.” She grunts, kicking her feet. “People will think you’re kidnapping me.”

“Let them.” I push through the door with my free hand and head toward the curb where the valet parked my car.

“Wait,” Adeline says, catching the attention of Hank the security guard.

Hank gives both of us a wave, and I give him a smile. “Have a great night, Hank.”

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