Page 81 of (Un)Expected

I held out my hand, helping her to her feet. She stumbled, probably due to both the alcohol and the five-inch heels. Weaving through the crowd, I started to lead her to the front door when she stopped inher tracks. “Nooo, can’t go out there. Those damn paparazzi will get a picture of me like this. I cannot afford to have another negative article about my drinking. Theo’s already threatening to send me to rehab if I don’t get my shit together.”

“Theo works for you, too?” I asked, not sure if I knew that information.

“Yup,” she hiccuped. “He’s been my agent for almost as long as Adam. He’s a total asshole, but he gets stuff done. He’s the whole reason I’m even in this movie.”

“Then that’s a point for him,” I said. “Because otherwise, I never would have gotten to know you.”

“That’s true!” she squealed, pulling me into another tight hug. “Gah, you’re the sweetest little nugget. Adam better not fuck with you, or I’ll kick his ass.”

I shook my head as she pointed toward the back of the venue. It was much darker back there, and I had to squint to make out the hallway in front of us. Glancing over my shoulder, I searched for Cole in the crowd. He was nowhere to be found.

This wasfine.I wasfine. Nate was banned from every inch of this club, so I’d be fine.

As Everly pushed the back door open, letting the crisp breeze bust through the humidity inside, my stomach turned slightly. There was no one else out here, the only lights the ones flickering above the door.

“Where’s your car, Everly?” I asked, my blood running colder with each passing second.

She pulled her lip through her teeth, lifting herself onto her toes to get a better look. Just as my heart felt like it was going to implode in my chest, she broke out into a wide grin. “There he is!”

The town car pulled up in front of us, the driver coming around to open the door for Everly. After he shut it, she rolled the window down, pouting. “You wanna come with? We can have a girls' night and binge eat terrible food in my hotel room.”

“I’d love to,” I laughed. “But I can’t leave Adam to fend for himself. I should get back in there.”

She smiled. “He’s lucky to have you.”

“I’m the lucky one.”

With that, she closed the window, and I watched as the car took off down the alley, turning onto the city streets. Letting out one last breath of relief, I turned back to the door, pulling on the handle.

Nothing.

I tried it again, andagain, nothing budged. I tried to ram my fist against the metal—still nothing. After a few minutes with no answer, I gave up. Muttering a slew of curses under my breath, I started to turn toward the alley, hoping I’d be able to get in the front entrance without Adam at my side.

When I took the first step, my eyes met someone else’s: the same dark silver eyes that haunted my dreams, waking me in a pool of cold sweat. My head screamed out to run, to dosomething, but my body didn’t obey.

When I finally started to scream, it was too late. Nate’s hand was clasped around my mouth, blocking my airway.

“Nice to see you again, Alexandria. I think it’s time we had a little chat, just the two of us.”

THIRTY-SIX

“Fuck.”

The word slipped from my lips as I scanned the club, trying to find Alex in the crowd. Every moment I didn’t have eyes on her, the more panicked I got. So many things could happen in a moment. I’d learned that lesson too many times to count.

I’d been gone for less than a minute, needing to take a leak after sipping on seltzer all night. Alex and Everly were wrapped up in their conversation. It should have been fine.

Fuck. Where the hell could she have gone? As Theo passed me by, I grabbed him by the arm. “Have you seen Alex?”

He shook his head. “Maybe ten minutes ago? Everly was heading out for the night, and she was helping her to the car.”

She should have been back by now.

Realistically, I knew there were too many variables to even count. Her driver could be late, they could be talking outside. Hell, Alex might have decided to go back to the hotel with her.

No way. She would have texted me if she was leaving.

No matter how many excuses I gave myself, I knew something was wrong. Call it intuition, call it my gut, call it whatever the fuckyou want—whatever it was, it had me bolting toward the door without a second thought.

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