Page 83 of Lexi, Property of Rhyder

“I saw Lexi out front earlier. Thought she was here with you.”

I jump up off my seat, knocking my beer at the same time. “You what? When? Where?”

“Fuck, brother, take it easy. She was out front, waiting in line at the club next door. She—”

I don’t let him finish as I run out the bar and make my way over to the club. There’s a line out front, and I look at each woman trying to find her.

“Fuck,” I grunt when she’s nowhere to be found.

I head to the front of the line, and when the security guard sees me, he eyes my cut and stands back, letting the rope free, and I storm in. I don’t miss the eyes of the women on me as I walk through the club.

One girl, in particular, walks up and asks, “Would you like to dance?”

“No, babe,” I reply, walking past her and heading into the room where the music is playing loudly. With all these people, it’s impossible to find Lexi. I scan the crowd. There are people dancing on the dance floor, people standing by the bar yelling at the bartender to get them a drink.

There’s another level with a balcony and a ledge. People are standing there drinking and dancing. I walk over to the bar, and when the bartender sees me, she asks what I’ll have straightaway. I hear whining from the men around me, and when I look at them, they stand back and shut up.

That’s right, fucker, don’t mess with a Blood Brother.

I ask for a beer, and within a minute, the cute bartender hands it to me. She winks at me, saying, “It’s on the house.”

I wink back, then turn around with my back against the bar, scanning the room once again.

I go to take a swig of my beer and stop mid-way.

I see her.

Lexi.

Fucking perfection.

She’s dancing on the dance floor wearing some fucking short-as-fuck black number. Her hair is long, and she runs her hands through it as her body sways to the music. I’m caught in a trance. This can’t be the same girl I knew a few months ago. This girl is confident, in tune with her body, and she moves with sensuality.

She’s dancing with two other girls who I’ve seen before—they’re her close friends.

Part of me is pissed seeing her out like this as if nothing has happened to her, and that she wasn’t kidnapped just over a month ago. Here she is dodging my calls, yet she can be out having fun with her friends.

Nope, not happening.

Not on my fucking clock.

I take one last swig of my beer and slam it down on the bar.

A woman approaches me, her hand sliding up my cut and smiles. “Wanna buy me a drink?”

I don’t look at her, I see past her watching Lexi on the dance floor making sure I don’t lose contact. A guy approaches Lexi from behind and covers her eyes. She places her hands on his then turns, and when she sees him, she smiles and hugs him, obviously familiar with who he is.

Anger boils within, and I push the girl aside who’s whispering something in my ear and stride toward her. Lexi doesn’t see me coming, but her friend with the short blonde hair does. Her eyes widen, and then they turn into a smile.

I push the guy out of Lexi’s way, and I grasp the back of her neck and smash her lips to mine, taking full advantage of her mouth. She tastes of mint and vodka as I devour her, drinking in everything about her. Lexi struggles and pushes me away, but when she realizes who I am, she places her hands on the back of my neck and opens up to me. The kiss is passionate, hungry, and full of lust.

God, I want her—so bad.

I pull back and growl, “You better start explainin’ what you’re doin’ here.”

Lexi’s smile falters, and she tilts her head. “What do you mean?” she yells over the music.

This is pissing me off that it’s so crowded in here, and people are bumping into us as the song turns faster-paced, causing people to jump all over the place.

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