Page 72 of Unravelling The Beast

Izzy places her hand on Savannah's shoulder and pushes her back while we exchange heated stares, the tension is clearly rising. Savannah suddenly glances over my shoulder, a wide smile now on her face, and she talks with fake enthusiasm.

"Arlo!”

When I feel him place his warm palm on the small of my back, I smile and look down at the drink in my hands. She lunges over me, nudging me out of the way, and I side-eye her as she gives him an unwanted kiss on his cheek.

When she withdraws, he leans in and speaks into my ear.

"Come with me."

He sounds and smells so fucking sexy that I wish I could pounce on him right now and have my way with him, but I simply follow his lead.

Keeping his hand on my lower back the entire time he guides me away from the girls, and I can feel Savannah's envious stare searing into us from behind.

All eyes are on us as we move across the dance floor, people moving out of our way without hesitation and when I reach the bottom of the stairs, he motions with his hand that I take them first.

I gather my long dress into my hand as I climb them and when I reach the top, I notice a small group of men all staring at me with unsettling expressions.

Cash catches my attention as he walks toward me with a big grin on his face.

"Wren, sweetheart!"

He closes the distance between us and gives me an embrace that I don't want, but I hug him back regardless before he speaks.

"Come take a seat."

I stroll over to the red lounge chairs and make a slight nod to the men who are slouched back, sipping whisky from crystal glasses, and puffing on cigars, but none return the gesture.

My attention is drawn to an older man who stares at me so intently that I imagine it's Arlo looking at me the way he does at times, which sends a shudder crawling up my spine.

Their demeanours are intimidating and suffocating, while they just burrow their dark stares into me and do nothing else. I take a cautious seat, and Arlo sits alongside me on one side while Cash sits on the other.

As Savannah and Izzy make it to the top stairs and enter, I sip my Martini, feeling slightly uneasy and Savannah naturally takes the seat next to Arlo, and Izzy sits beside Cash.

After a long stretch of silence, I start to sense I am unwanted here until I feel Arlo relax his arm back on the chair behind me and gently slide his thumb up and down my shoulder, attempting to put me at ease.

When a waitress in nothing but black lingerie appears with a large tray of shots and alcoholic beverages, Cash raises his voice.

"Now it's time to fucking party!"

After a few drinks, everyone begins to unwind, and conversations seem to flow more freely, but Arlo remains silent as he watches ahead and doesn’t engage at all.

I can feel the alcohol seeping through my veins at a rapid pace, making me feel all warm inside and I start to wonder whether I drank too much already due to nerves, but I don't care; I’m feeling much calmer.

I glance down at the dancefloor, which is now ram-packed with people dancing away to the loud music, and it makes me want to do the same.

Izzy must have heard my thoughts because she called over to me.

"Wren, let's go dance!"

I give her an upbeat smile as I sit forward.

"Sure!"

I reach over and set my empty glass on the table in front of us before taking a peek over to Savannah, who has been trying to talk with Arlo for the majority of the night, but of course, as usual, he has completely blanked her entire existence.

She is resting back in her seat, her cocktail on her lips, staring ahead, clearly furious since she isn't getting her way.

Before I stand, I slide my palm down Arlo's hard thigh and give it a squeeze. When Izzy and I descend the stairs, I glance back at him to see that his eyes are already following me as always, and I smile.

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