Page 100 of Dance of Ruin

I laugh as I show the bouncer my ID and step into the club.

Inside, the place is packed. Neon spills from the ceiling in tangled beams as bodies sway on the dance floor, the smell of liquor, perfume, and sweat thick in the air.

I find the girls in a roped-off VIP booth near the back. Brooklyn’s lounging with a drink in hand, wearing a periwinkle-blue dress, blonde hair piled on top of her head, eyes sweeping the crowd like she’s hunting someone. Milena is perched beside her all in black, perfectly put together as always, legs crossed and eyes passing casual judgment on everyone who walks by.

And Evelina?—

I grin.

I swear, the girl is sunshine in human form.

“YAY!” she squeals as I step into the lounge area, springing from her seat and bolting over to hug me.

She’s not in pink for once, instead wearing a champagne-colored slip dress that makes her look like she floated in on a soft breeze from a fairy princess castle somewhere in the clouds.

Brooklyn whistles when she turns to see me. “Well, fuck. Look at you.”

“Damn, lady,” Milena adds, brows arching. “You lookhot!”

I groan, rolling my eyes as I plop down next to them. Evelina sits down beside me and reaches for a flute of champagne, which Milena deftly pushes out of her reach.

“Hey!” Evelina pouts. “What the hell?”

“You’ll thank me tomorrow,” Milena smirks. “Somebodyneeds to pace you.”

Eveline sticks her tongue out and makes a face before she turns back to me. “Okay, seriously, you look incredible. Thatdress…” She clucks her tongue against her cheeks. “Fabulous. I love it all.”

Brooklyn eyes me, a faint grin on her lips as her gaze slides over my collarbone and neck. I squirm a little, suddenly hoping toGodI used enough concealer to hide the evidence of my newly minted non-virgin status at Nico’s hands.

And tongue.

And cock.

Milena smiles curiously as she sips her cocktail and runs her eyes over me. “Hang on. You’re glowing.”

I stiffen. “Am not.”

“You…kind of are.”

I shrug, trying not to smile too hard or make a big deal. “I’ve just been… busy.”

“Right,” Brooklyn says slowly. “Busy.”

“Oh, I was totally going to ask,” Evie blurts. “How’s it been at your place, with that crazy accident up there?”

I blink. “What?”

“That five-car pileup that’s been all over the news,” Milena says, sipping her drink. “It was like a block from your place.”

I force a nod. “Oh. Right. I think I…saw some of that.”

I didn’t. Because I’ve been at Nico’s place.

In his bed.

Writhing and losing all sense of reality as his pliant littlefucktoy.

They stare at me, and I swallow the heat on my face awkwardly as I lift my glass. “Anyway! What are we drinking to?—”

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