Page 16 of Twisted Redemption

I’m too afraid I’ll end up like one of my parents.

“Remember,” Jon shouts over the music. “Have fun tonight.”

“I’m planning on it,” I reply, grabbing Liling’s wrist before she accidentally spills her drink all over some stranger’s shirt.

And I really am planning on it. I’m here, surrounded by friends I don’t have any tainted memories with. Just good ones—minus all the stressing over finals we do together, of course.

I stick with Liling on the dance floor for a song or two before she loudly proclaims that she has to pee. I down the rest of my drink and go with her. A moment away from all the sweaty bodies on the floor will be nice.

I turn to let Will know where we’re going, but what I see makes my stomach drop. Blaze is standing near to the entrance, giving me a glare straight from hell.

“You good, babe?” Liling tugs on my arm, swaying slightly.

“Perfect.” I turn away before I completely wither under his gaze.

As we disappear into the women’s restroom, I let my smile fade.

Because my night of fun has just come to a screeching halt.

CHAPTER FOUR

BLAZE

“SHE’S... MY GOD. She’s beautiful,” Ryan, the new kid at Grayson Security, says.

When I follow his gaze, I find him staring straight at two small women. One of them has brown hair falling past her shoulders and a graceful way of moving around that I’d recognize anywhere. Brooke. As I watch her gulp down a drink, rage mixes with the annoyance already coursing through my veins.

First, I got stuck working a boring job in the field tonight. And then Dom made me take Ryan out so he can get some experience in the field. All of that sucks, but I can handle it. It’s just one night.

But watching Brooke down a drink that I can’t imagine is her first, surrounded by a group of people I don’t know or trust—it’s too much.

As if she can sense me, she turns and looks directly at me. Her smile falls, which pisses me off even more, before she turns and disappears through the crowd.

“If I catch you looking at her again tonight,” I say in a low voice, “I will personally make sure you’ll never get a job in security again.”

Ryan snorts. “Sure thing, boss.”

“I mean it,” I snap. “Don’t look at her. Don’t talk to her. And don’t you dare touch her. She’s not your priority tonight. Imani is.”

Ryan grumbles something under his breath before turning to watch Imani. She’s one of Brooke’s friends, so I’m not surprised when she joins the same group Brooke was just surrounded by. Great.

I stand there, fuming, surveying the room even though I already know it by heart. Plenty of our clients come here.

When Brooke and her friend finally come out of the restroom, they order more drinks. Brooke doesn’t give me so much as a glance as she takes her drink from the bartender, striking up a conversation with him and leaning against the bar.

Clenching my jaw, I tear my eyes away from her. If she seriously thinks she’s going to get away with how she’s acting tonight, she’s in for a surprise.

“She your girlfriend or something?” Ryan says from beside me.

“None of your goddamn business,” I snap, shooting him a glare. His amused look grates at my nerves, and I resist the urge to punch him in his stupid face. “Now keep your eyes on Imani. This is technically your job. I’m just here to make sure you don’t fuck it up.”

With a grunt, Ryan returns to watching our client, and I glance at Brooke to catch her laughing at the grinning bartender.

Jesus fuck.

It’s not until some guy comes up beside her, draping an arm around her shoulders, that I completely lose it. Before I know it, I’m stalking across the dance floor.

“I found the cutest guy for you, Brooke. Easy going, tall, dark hair—” The man fucking touching her shuts up when he sees me glaring at him. “Unless this guy is coming over here to not murder you. Because if so, he’s objectively hotter.”

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