Page 63 of Dirty Dancer

I rose, but kept my distance. Not that I needed to worry.

“Elaine has no idea, Mr. Sharpe,” Adam said in a tone that bordered on threatening. “I suggest you withdraw and mind your tone and manner when speaking to her.”

“I wasn’t speaking to you.” Flecks of spittle left his lips as he went to sidestep Adam, but Adam was having none of it and this whole scene had the riveted attention of the restaurant guests.

“You’re not speaking to her, either,” Adam cut him off and I took a step back to give Adam the room to stay between us. I wasn’t afraid of Bradley Sharpe. But I didn’t like him.

And I definitely didn’t trust him.

He pinned those pitiless, dark eyes on me. “Where is Emersyn? I know you won’t leave her alone. Where is she? What did you do?”

Honestly, I was at a loss.

“I told you,” Adam said, this time he gave Sharpe a hard shove back. “She doesn’t know. Come at her again or try to speak to her again?—”

Bradley threw a fist. Adam let him.

He. Let. Him.

Adam’s head rocked to the side. It was more of a slap than a punch, but the fist he returned knocked Bradley Sharpe down on his ass and I caught his arm before he could continue the assault.

The manager, the waiters, and even security were converging on us.

“Mr. Sharpe is clearly disturbed,” Adam said in that same superior tone. The muscles of his arm flexed under my grip, but he didn’t pull away. “Please escort him to his vehicle and away from here.”

“Of course, Mr. Reed.”

“Right away, Mr. Reed.”

Then in a matter of moments, the scene was over—Sharpe was gone, the other guests returned to their conversation and Adam turned his hand over under mine.

“Now,” he said, the calm so depthless it was eerie. “Let’s have our wine and order your food. Then if you want to tell me anything about Emersyn, we’ll take care of her.”

Tell him anything?

I swore my heart crumbled as I shook my head. “I really don’t know.”

It wasn’t until he helped me back into my seat and took his own that I saw something in his eyes that disturbed me to my soul.

It was pity, not suspicion.

That made me reopen the article.

Emersyn Sharpe was missing and my heart sank all over again.

Missing.

VICIOUS REBEL BONUS SCENES

CLASH (BONUS POV)

RAPTOR

Ididn’t say a word when I checked out where they were going to be. The next show was clear across the country. But I could make the drive in a couple of days. I’d get there the same day they did. Gas money and a few hundred dollars socked away for a rainy day. Her birthday was coming up. Well, the birthday she celebrated anyway. And I wanted to seeher.I was also being selfish as fuck.

For the first time in a long time, I didn’t care. I just—needed the break. A break from everything. I needed to see her and have a breather. Leaving a note for the guys, I told them I’d be back in a few days. It was better to slip away unseen or someone would take it upon themselves to follow me. Or just climb in the car.

Once on the highway, I exhaled a long breath. The agitation in my blood cooled. The tension in my spine unknotted. Music cranked, the cool wind blowing through the windows, and my foot on the accelerator as I left Braxton Harbor in the rearview mirror. I didn’t run away. Didn’t think I was now. Just—this damn urge to see her. I trusted my instincts. When I ignored my gut, bad shit happened.

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