Page 55 of Beneath the Starlight and Storms

Without looking at me, Hook takes the drink from my hand and brings it to his nose, taking a sniff.

“Hook?” I ask. But he ignores me, narrowing his eyes on something behind me as he passes the drink to one of the men that appears beside us.

“Cash.” Hook grits out his name and something moves behind me. I ignore it to focus on Hook and his strange behavior.

“What’s going on?” I ask him again.

Hook finally glances down at me. His eyes scan every inch of me before he looks me straight in the eyes. “How much did you drink?”

I frown. “Just a sip. Why?”

Cash comes up beside us and throws something heavy against the bar. When I glance over, I realize it’s Ben. He’s splayed out against the counter, his eyes wide and full of fear. There’s blood running down his nose and a red gash on his forehead.

“What are you doing?!” I go to move toward him, to help him, when Hook stops me.

“Don’t waste your breath. He’s nothing but scum,” Hook growls as he dips his head to Cash.

“I’ve got it, Boss.” Cash walks toward Ben as Hook grabs my arm and pulls me through the dispersing crowd.

I glance back over at Cash to find him dragging Ben off in the opposite direction. When I turn back to Hook, I find that we’ve already made our way to another hall. But it’s completely empty. Hook has probably scared everyone off with this strange mood.

“Hook.” I try to yank my arm out of his hold, but he doesn’t release me. We keep moving until we’re at the end of a hall that forks in two.

“Hook!” I shout. “Where are we going?”

“We’re leaving before I burn this damn place down.”

CHAPTER15

I glancearound at the hall Hook is taking me through.Is this the way we came in?I shake my head and try to stop getting distracted.

“Let me go!” He doesn’t. “You’re hurting me.” I lie, but he drops my arm immediately, turning to look at me.

“Show me.” He reaches for my arm when I step back from him.

Rubbing a hand down his face, he takes a step back before releasing a harsh breath.

“What happened back there? Ben was a nice guy, he—”

Hook’s eyes whip to me, a look of pure rage alight in them. “Ben?Ben is not aniceguy. He’s a vile piece of trash that should never exist.”

“You’re not making any sense.” I don’t understand. Ben didn’t do anything wrong.

“Do you have any idea what could have happened to you back there?” Fear flashes across his face before it disappears behind a feral look of fury.

I frown. “He was just being nice. We were going to—”

“Nice?” Hook chuckles, but there’s no humor to it. “Thatthingback there wanted to…” Hook stops himself while shaking his head and clenching his fists.

“He would’ve done a lot more than just benice,” he hisses.

“What are you talking about? He was just going to help me get back to the office. But now after seeing whatever mood you’re in, I should have probably just stayed there and enjoyed myself.” Maybe not with Ben but I could have found a group of human girls to get to know. Most of them looked friendly enough.

“That piece of scum wouldn’t have taken you back to any office,” he seethes, the anger blazing to life in his eyes once more.

“And if you wanted to enjoy yourself. All you had to do was ask. Not run off—”

My harsh chuckle cuts him off. “I didn’trunoff. I stepped outside. It’s not my fault there was a damn portal where a door should be,” I snap, angry that he continues to assume I'm running away despite our agreement.

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