Page 89 of Lies Like Love

She sets her glass beside mine on the counter, pursing her lips at the taste lingering on her tongue. But when she catches me staring, the smile that crosses her face is so genuine, it lances my chest.

The alcohol’s already moving through her system, and she’s feeling good about tonight—carefree.

Because she doesn’t know what I do.

Eleven years ago was only the beginning. The worst is yet to come.

27

Fel

WalkingintoIncinerateisa little like walking through the gates of hell. A flood of heat and smoke hit us the moment we step inside. A mass of gyrating bodies filling every inch of the dance floor. Recklessness and depravity bleeding from the walls.

Incinerate might sit right next door to Twisted Roses, but it’s an alternate universe of energy, throbbing to the heartbeat of the bass. One step through the doors and it’s clear why Jude sounded like he wanted to murder Echo for inviting me.

My disco ball dress puts me on display while my inexperience draws out my nerves. Somehow, even the grit and danger of downtown LA are further away in here. Stepping directly through the teeth of the beast instead, begging him to swallow me whole.

Women in pasties dance in cages. A couple fucks in a nearby booth.

Pill popping. Cash. Drugs.

What was I thinking?

I’m prepared to be dragged straight to the center of the madness, but a bouncer guides us to a staircase at the side of the club. It’s dark and narrow, smelling of sweat and weed. Jude tightens his grip on my hand with each step, zipping me tight to his side as we make our way up.

At the top, I’m met with what must be the VIP section because it’s less crowded with large booths scattered throughout. The glamor of escaping downstairs is a relief, even if my shoes stick to the floor with each step.

We’re led to a booth in the corner, where a waitress wearing a fishnet bodysuit and black lace underwear walks past me, smirking at my dress.

“Here you are.” The bouncer waves an arm out to the booth. “Happy birthday, Echo.”

He turns to her and reaches for her hand, kissing the back of it. Crew knocks past them, which pulls them apart, sliding into the booth first, and grabbing a bottle of something purple that he starts drinking like water. Echo has mentioned to me she’s dating his brother, but I can’t read whether it’s protectiveness or irritation darkening Crew’s gaze as he watches the bouncer stare at Echo’s ass as he disappears.

Echo slides down next to Crew, and she mouths something that looks like, “Slow down,” but he doesn’t listen.

Jude slides in next, pulling me onto his lap and wrapping his arms around my waist as I sink against him.

“You’re being awfully sweet tonight. It’s not like you.”

“I’m sweet.” He smirks.

Except, he’s not. Jude’s love language is being rough, controlling, demanding, sometimes even a little mean. He’s protective over things he values, which makes him anything but sweet when it comes to me.

But I let it go because even if I don’t understand it, his hard demeanor is one of the many things that draws me to him.

The rest of the group starts pouring more shots, while Jude is unusually quiet. Something is clearly on his mind tonight, but when I asked him about it on our walk over here, he refused to talk.

Steel walls covered in vines there’s no cutting through.

He plants a tattooed hand on my thigh and rubs it up and down, teasing the hem of my dress, but not pushing for more. Threats he’d do anything inappropriate to me in front of others to simply claim what’s his are just that. He forgets I know him. He likes me all to himself.

The club throbs. There’s a blue haze that slowly melts from purple to green to red. Lights strobe and the bass rattles my ribs.

“The guys really killed it with this one,” Sage shouts over the music.

Jude nods. “Sure fucking did.”

“What guys?” I face Jude.

---