Page 62 of Shattered

“Lex, I’m sorry I had to bring Brian, but you know everything that’s going on.”I took another sip of my drink and waited for her to respond.

“Don’t apologize, Sara.I totally understand.At least he’s easy on the eyes.”She laughed as she glanced in his direction.“Speaking of hot men, how is the gorgeous devil himself?How are you two getting along these days?”

“Good,” I answered as I took another sip.“We have our moments, of course, but overall, I couldn’t be happier.”Losing myself in thoughts of Alek was quickly becoming my favorite pastime.

I had to force him from my mind, though.That night was about me and Alexa and us partaking in some overdue fun.

As our conversation wound down, a club mix of “Blow” from Ke$ha pumped through the speakers.The beat pushed us to give each other the look, the one which saidlet’s dance our asses off, baby.

Dancing until I couldn’t feel my feet anymore sounded like just what the doctor ordered.Alexa and I slowly walked toward the bar.We were content with our little area when all of a sudden the bartender asked us if we wanted to step up andshake it.With little hesitation on our part, we climbed onto the stools then onto our new stage.It was a bit of a feat since both of us were dressed in skirts, mine a bit shorter than I’d typically wear.

I saw Brian advance in our direction, but I was successful enough in halting him with a simple glance.He retreated toward a nearby corner, keeping his eyes intently on the both of us.

The club was filling up to capacity, making what I was doing all the more daring.Many pairs of eyes were glued to us, watching every move we made.Normally, I would’ve never done such a thing but after the weeks I’d had, I needed to let loose and not take everything so seriously.

Was it reckless?Maybe.

Was it fun?Abso-fucking-lutely.

We were three songs in when Alexa bumped my hip and pointed across the crowded floor.I had no idea who she was pointing at until I saw him weave through the throngs of people, his angry eyes locked on me as he moved toward the bar.

I should have stopped dancing.I should have gotten down from the bar.I should have made up any excuse I could think of to erase the annoyed look on his face.I didn’t want to fight with him, but I didn’t do any of those things.

Instead, I kept on dancing.

I made eye contact with him long enough to let him know I saw him, but not long enough to fuel his bad mood any further.He made his way to me within seconds, looking up at me with a familiar scowl on his beautiful face.Grabbing my ankle, he almost made me stumble.I reached for Alexa’s arm, which was thankfully near me, and kicked off his hold from my foot.

“Get down!Now!” he yelled over the music.Because I’d been dancing up and down the bar, I made it harder for him to physically latch onto me.I laughed inwardly to myself.I would’ve thought he’d have taken the hint and backed off.But deep down, I knew better.He wouldn’t stop until he accomplished what he’d set out to do, so I continued to enjoy whatever time I had left up there.

We managed to have some fun before Mr. Buzzkill showed up.I wasn’t doing anything wrong.It wasn’t as if I was stripping my clothes off as I danced.It didn’t matter, however, because according to Alek, I was putting myself in some sort of danger.

Speaking of which, where’s Brian?Searching the crowd of people, I saw him leaning against the wall, shaking his head in disapproval.

I wonder who called the big boss man?

I came crashing back to reality when someone’s hands gripped my waist.Without even noticing, Alek had shoved his way through the crowd of people below us, reached up and grabbed me, jerking me down toward him.A startled scream escaped me, even though I shouldn’t have been surprised.

I scrambled to break free once my feet were planted firmly on the ground, but no amount of resistance was allowing me to escape his hold.He gently grabbed my upper arm and practically dragged me away at a hurried pace.

Once we were in a calmer part of the club, he spun me around in front of him and stared at me, still seething. “What did you hope to accomplish with your little show, Sara?”

“I was only dancing.You’re the one who always makes it more than it is.You don’t ever want me to have any fun.” I pouted, stumbling toward him, but I quickly caught myself.

“Are you drunk?”

“No…maybe…yeah, a little bit.” I snickered, trying to step back to put some distance between us.He hated when I drank without him, and I wasn’t making much of a case for myself in my inebriated state.Oh, well.

“I’m taking you home.Now.”

“No, you’re not.I amnotleaving Alexa here, plus I’m not done having fun.”

“Do you think it’ll be fun when some drunk bastard has you pinned against the wall?”He was so dramatic.He had two sets of security watching me.Obviously too close since he was called in torescueme.“We are leaving right now.I’ll arrange for Brian to drop her off, anywhere she wants to go.”

“Braden won’t like that,” I muttered, reaching for his shoulder to steady me.The heels I was wearing were probably not the best choice.Yeah, blame the shoes.

“Who the hell is Braden?” he asked, a sour tone to his voice.

“Alexa’s boyfriend.He’s like you,” I said as I tapped his cheek three times. “He won’t want some strange, cute man dropping off his woman.”

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