Page 54 of Fierce Secrets

An hour later, we were dressed to kill – Sofia in a sleek black dress that probably cost an eye-watering amount, and me in a borrowed emerald cocktail dress that made my eyes pop. The familiar ritual of getting ready – Sofia insisting on doing my makeup, the way she used to before parties in our dorm room – felt like stepping back in time.

As we headed out into the night, Roman a discrete presence behind us, I tried to let it all fade away. The memories, the revelations, Leo's broken expression as he walked away – I pushed it all down. Tonight, I just wanted to be Meredith again, the girl who didn't know about family empires built on blood and crime.

Just for a few hours, I wanted to pretend my world hadn't shattered around me.

CHAPTER 20

MEREDITH

The bass thrummed through my body as I moved on the dance floor, the lights creating halos around everything. Sofia twirled beside me, her curls bouncing as she matched my rhythm. We'd both opted to leave our hair out for this occasion, and she'd even curled mine. With her skill with make-up and my hair, I looked like a model, not that I even cared anymore. I'd lost count of how many drinks we'd had – cosmos from the banker at the bar who tried his luck with Sofia before he left, martinis from the lawyer who couldn't take his eyes off Sofia still, shots from the group of guys celebrating a promotion who had danced with us for a bit before moving onto another group of women.

"Careful," Sofia warned as another man approached, his eyes fixed on me. She was still surprisingly alert, while I floated in a pleasant haze of alcohol and music. I needed to forget about everything right now, to feel free and away from it all.

To take a step back to a time that was easier.

"I'm fine," I laughed, accepting the drink he offered. Sofia smoothly intercepted it, moving too fast for me to pull it away.

"Sorry, hon, but she's not taking any drinks now, unless we come to the bar and watch it get made," she stated as she offered it back to him.

"Gotta be safe, I understand," he said with a nonchalant shrug before taking a mighty swig of the drink.

Earlier, she'd sent some guy packing when his hands had gotten too friendly during a dance. She was a good friend like that, willing to step in when needed. Like my own personal pitbull.

I smirked at the thought before taking the now half empty glass from him. If he was willing to drink it, then the likelihood of it being spiked was low. Besides, Roman was seated right at the bar, keeping a watchful eye like the good little soldier he was. If anything happened to me, he'd step right in, or Sof.

I was as safe as I could be here.

I didn't care about their protectiveness right now. After everything – Logan's betrayal, being shot at, the recovered memories, the whole mess with Leo – the attention felt good. Validating. These men looked at me like I was desirable, not broken or fragile or in need of protection.

Sofia rolled her eyes, but she was smiling as she moved away, finding a new dance partner as the newcomer informed me of his name, which was mostly drowned out by the music and the alcohol pumping through me.

"Are you having fun?" he all but yelled in an attempt to be heard over the music, dipping his head down to my ear.

"Sure, I need to let loose." I downed the rest of his glass – bourbon mixed with coke it seemed – before placing it on a nearby table and continuing to move to the beat. I knew my moves were no longer smooth and graceful, the alcohol had made them more jerky, but I didn't care.

Not tonight.

The guy – Jack? James? – pressed closer as the music changed to something slower. It was okay at first, how he held me and moved with me, but that turned quickly. His hands began to trail over me, too insistent, too demanding.

"Stop, I just want to dance," I stated as I caught his hand gliding down to the curve of my ass.

"I thought we were letting loose?" His warm breath washed over my ear, and I swallowed. I tried to catch Sofia's eye, but she was wrapped up with her own admirer, though I noticed she still maintained some distance between them. Lucky her.

"I should get back to my friend," I said, trying to step away. The room spun slightly, reminding me how much I'd had to drink. Maybe downing his drink wasn't as good of an idea as it had seemed at the time.

"Come on, beautiful." His grip tightened on my waist. "One more dance."

"No, I really should?—"

His mouth crashed into mine, one hand gripping my face to hold me still. The taste of bourbon on his tongue made me gag as I tried to jerk away, but his fingers dug into my cheeks.

"Stop—" I tried to speak against his mouth, panic rising as he attempted to deepen the kiss. The pleasant buzz of alcohol turned to nausea as his other hand slid lower.

"Meredith!" Sofia's voice cut through the music, but she sounded far away.

I struggled harder, tears pricking at my eyes as his grip grew painfully tight. The lights and music swirled around me as fear replaced the carefree feeling I'd been chasing all night.

So much for a night to forget.

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