"That’s it." Arpad pivots, hooks his leg around mine, tugs at the same time he shoves at my shoulder. The world tilts. The next moment, my back hits the ground. Pain shudders through me. "Fuck," I swear.
"Get up," Arpad growls from above me.
I spring up, shake my head to clear it, then charge him. I head butt him; he grunts, grabs me in a headlock. We struggle, evenly matched, break apart, then circle each other.
"Haven’t seen you this upset in a long time," Arpad bares his teeth.
"I’m not the one carrying a torch."
"No, you’re simply too scared to grab what’s right in front of you."
"Fuck you," I growl.
"No, thank you," he shoots back.
"Shit," I straighten, "this is pointless."
Arpad rolls his shoulders, "It’s bloody confounding, is what it is." He drags his fingers through his hair.
"I need a drink," I mutter.
"So do I." He holds out a hand.
"Don’t push your luck, man," I growl.
"What happened here?" Amelie glances between us.
"What?" I frown.
"What?" Arpad dusts off the front of his jacket.
"And I thought women were temperamental?" Summer heaves a sigh.
"Just as things were beginning to get interesting, too," Victoria cries.
Saint wraps his arm around her. "Come on, darlin’. You shouldn’t get stressed in your condition."
"I’m pregnant, not sick," she protests, but allows Saint to lead her away.
"What now?" I frown.
Arpad glances past me, "If I were you, I’d definitely get out."
"What the fuck do you mean?"
The back of my neck prickles and all of my senses pop.What the hell? Is she here?
"Damian, you motherfucker! You stupid-ass, good-for-nothing loser of a Rockstar." A voice that could only belong to the one woman I’d been trying to get away from rings out.
Silence descends on the crowd. I draw in a breath.
"Turn around and face me, you coward."
Julia’s voice sounds closer. Guess there’s no rest for the wicked huh?
I turn, just as she plants her fist in my side.
21