“Oh, our night has just begun,” her scheming smile is back.
“What are you up to?” I ask, but she just laughs and goes back to twerking.
We dance for hours, through three set changes, until my feet threaten to join the picket line if I don’t give them a break.
Tapping Shay on the shoulder, I whisper, “My feet hate me and refuse to hold me up any longer. I’m going to sit down.”
“Perfect timing,” she says, looking past me. I scrunch my face in confusion, then turn in time to be scooped up into the arms of Karl.
I snap my head toward the self-satisfied grin on Shay’s face.
Karl clasps his fingers on my cheeks, turning my face back to him until the soft gray of my eyes stare into the deep brown of his.
“Angel, did you think your birthday could pass without us knowing?” he croons, angling my head until the ghost of a kiss crosses my lips before biting them.
“Stop hogging her, you selfish twat. Give my Riri here,” August grumbles, pulling me out of Karl’s embrace.
Cupping my ass, he lifts me off the ground. Making me shriek and wrap my legs around his waist as he squeezes me against the hard plane of his chest. When my head pops up, he licks a line up my throat to my mouth and kisses me.
A throat clears, reminding me we’re in the middle of a damn dance floor. Unwinding my legs, I hop out of August’s arms.
“What are you guys doing here?” I ask, trying to hide my embarrassment.
“We answered that already, Love. There’s no way we were missing an opportunity to celebrate you,” August declares.
“Thank you,” I say sincerely.
“Okay, let’s head back to the table and sing my girl happy birthday, and then she’s all yours.”
My gaze meets Shay’s for what feels like the third time in minutes.
“Excuse me, run that one by me again.”
“You heard her, Riri. You eat your cake. Then we eat your cake off of you,” August says, huskily.
I nearly choke on air at that statement but don’t have time to argue. I’m hoisted off the ground and carried bridal style back to our table.
When we reach the table, there’s a large box wrapped with a giant purple bow. I look around to see which one of them brought this.
“You guys didn’t have to do this,” I say, pulling at the ribbon.
“We didn’t. Our gift for you is in the car,” Karl replies.
Popping the box open, I jump back and scream, “What the absolute fuck?”
Thomas and three men converge on the table, snatching up the box and its contents. I’m scooped back into August’s arms as Karl pulls Shay back.
She yells, “What was it?”
“Not what, who. Who was it? And I’m not sure all that was in the box was someone’s heart and eyes. The heart had a dagger going through it,” I eke out.
Thomas strides over, “It’s time to go. Whatever plans you had for Miss Bishop tonight will have to wait,” he states.
“Of course, let’s get out of here. Riri, we’re riding with you,” August says, holding my hand as we make our way out of the building.
Instead of heading through the front, we go out a side door, where our car is waiting.
Thomas steps out, shielding me, but the minute I step outside, I hear the shot ring as my body is thrown to the ground, the concrete scraping off the skin of my legs. August throws his body over me, and the guards take up their positions.
“Keep still. Don’t move until we’re sure it’s safe,” August growls.
“Someone’s been hit,” I hear a guard shout. My mind immediately goes to Shay, and I tense.
“Wh-where’s Sh-Shay?” I choke out.
“She’s still inside. Karl has her,” August calmly states.
The tight set of my shoulders ease for a millisecond when I remember who was outside before me, and I start to fight.
“Where’s T, August?” He doesn’t answer me.
“August, where the fuck is Thomas?” I growl, thrashing wildly, trying to get free. I pray to whoever might be listening that Thomas isn’t hurt.
“Stop! Stop moving. They’re checking the scene. Once it’s clear, we’ll see where Thomas is,” he says as he tries to settle me.
I hear movement all around as the cold seeps into my now ruined dress. August’s body provides some warmth but small shivers rack my body. Either from fear or shock, I’m not entirely sure at the moment.
“I wish I could let you off the ground, Love, but it’s just not safe,” August whispers in my ear. His voice soothing but I’m too worried to feel any semblance of calm. My nerves are frantic and I won’t know peace until I know Thomas is safe.
Voices continue to sound around me. Directives are given to check the scene. Instructions to help whoever’s been shot. It feels like hours have passed before I hear, “Clear.”
As soon as August begins lifting off me, I shoot up, twisting until I see what I’m looking for.
Someone’s shrill cry sounds like cats whining. It’s then I register that the person making the noise is me. On the ground, not five feet in front of me is Thomas, his form too still.
“No, no, no, no,” I kick off my heels and run, kneeling once I reach him and check for a pulse. I feel nothing.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.