Page 32 of A Hurt So Good

“Me either.”

“So that’s done. She belongs to us now,” War says in a tone screaming finality. I watch as Cale, of all fucking people, asks Arya to dance. She smiles brightly at him and nods her head, taking his extended hand and following him to the dancefloor.

“I don’t fucking like him,” War growls low in his throat. “And not just because he’s touching her.”

“Then why don’t you like him?”

“I don’t know. Just something off about the asshole,” he adds.

We pretty much stay to ourselves, drinking and watching Arya. We talk to a few people until my dad drags us off to speak to a few more. I’m becoming agitated. I don’t know the fuck why, but I am. Maybe it’s all these people or all this fucking wealth that’s getting to me, but it’s something.

We talk with my dad and his friends and force smiles when all I want to do is watch Arya. When he finally lets us pull away, I can’t find her.

“Where the fuck is she?” I ask, glancing around. The guys do the same, but no one sees her anywhere. “Fuck.”

“She’s probably in the bathroom,” Harlon chimes in. Yeah, maybe he’s right. I don’t see Tracy either.

“Let’s go,” War declares, walking toward the bathrooms. I don’t put it past War to barge in there and make sure that’s where she is. I smirk at the thought.

Once we reach the bathrooms, we stand outside the door for a few minutes, waiting for her to come out, but she never does. That’s when we see Tracy coming toward us.

“Hey guys,” she says, waving at us.

“You seen Arya?” War asks quickly.

“No. Not since earlier. She’s probably dancing with Cale.” War nods his head, and Tracy walks into the bathroom. Harlon curses under his breath before we all stalk down the hall toward the event room once more.

“There she is,” Harlon says, pointing toward the exit door, but who the hell is that with her? She wouldn’t just leave the party with anyone. We watch for a long second when we see her stumble.

“Fuck. She isn’t going willingly,” War growls when we take off. Whoever it is with her must sense we’re coming. The man turns his head and sees us before releasing his hold on Arya and running.

“I got him!” I yell as I round the corner and chase the man. He’s fast as fuck and already has a head start. I can still see him, though, as he jumps the fence behind the building. I rush behind him, doing the same and running as fast as I can. He ducks into the tree line, and that’s when I lose sight of him. Fuck where did he go? Which way did he go?

I stop and listen. The only sound I hear is my rapid breathing; otherwise, there’s silence.

“Fuck!” I roar before turning and heading back to the building. Once I’m inside, I text Har to find out where they are. He tells me they’re in an upstairs bathroom, so that’s where I go, even though the stairs are blocked off.

I take the stairs two at a time and then find the first bathroom. When I step inside everyone looks at me except her. Arya sits on the floor, her head swaying from side to side.

“You get him?” War asks. I shake my head, pissed I didn’t.

“Lost him in the trees,” I tell them.

“She’s drunk,” Harlon reports as I move closer to her. I lean down and grab her chin roughly in my hand, causing her to wince as I jerk her face toward me. Her eyes come to meet mine, and that’s when I know.

“Where’s the drink she had when we saw her?” I ask.

“Right there. She refused to leave it,” Har says, pointing to the glass sitting on the sink. I release her face and walk over, grabbing the glass in my hand. I bring it to my lips and take a small drink before spitting it in the sink.

“She was drugged,” I tell them.

“What? No fucking way,” War snaps.

“That shit is drugged. Someone fucking drugged her,” I scream before slamming my fist into the wall. Over and over, I punch the wall in anger. How did we miss that? How didn’t we see that shit happen?

“Calm the fuck down, Denz!” Warren yells at me. My nostrils flare as I slowly turn around and take deep breaths.

“Who the hell would drug her?” Harlon muses.

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