Page 100 of Swan

When the car switched off, I looked to the front as Ryo and Link climbed out. They met us by the door.

Wolf waited for Ryo to end his call and tell him, “It’s clear. The other guards are holding people back until we’re in position.”

I winced, hoping all this wasn’t because of me not wanting to be seen by any of those superfans.

Drake’s hand slid to my lower back.

A thumb, four fingers, and a palm touched my skin, causing me to shiver.

“This setup is for Wolf,” Drake said as we followed the others inside. “For his protection too.”

“Oh, okay,” I said, taking in the upbeat music as we walked down a long hallway and up some stairs.

His hand hooked around my waist as he pulled me to a stop so we didn’t run into Ruin in front of us. A door opened, and the music grew louder. Ryo and Link went first, then Wolf and Ruin, before Drake ushered me out onto the second level of the club that held a balcony, which I suspected looked over the dance floor below.

I started to head over there to look downstairs when I got stopped by a short dark-haired beauty.

“Swan! Hey, hello. I’m so glad you came.” She pulled back and bounced on her feet in front of me. “We’re going to have so much fun. Do you want a drink or to dance or to sit?”

“Yeah, hi, Rommy,” Drake said with clear amusement in his tone.

Rommy rolled her eyes. “I saw you today.” She spun and took off her top in a flash, holding it against her breasts. “See. Look. Drake did that. Isn’t it cool?”

The tattoo of the quote and some flying books sat on her left shoulder. It looked stunning. “It’s amazing,” I told her.

“I know!” She re-dressed and faced me again. “How’s things at the library? Will you be working there more, or are you going home? You know, it’d be fantastic if you moved here. But I guess Jody took the job you could have had. Did you meet my friend there? Tammy.”

Drake rested a hand on Rommy’s shoulder. “How about we grab a drink and take a seat first?”

She nodded, took my hand, and pulled me forwards—away from Drake’s hand that had still been on my lower back, warming me all over.

“Rommy, don’t yank her around,” Drake called. I glanced back to see he was following with a scowl.

Rommy laughed. “Oops, sorry.” She slowed before we reached the bar where Josie, Pick, and Billy stood. I noticed Vicious and Nary were sitting in a booth that Ruin and Wolf had headed to. Ryo and Link stood talking near the balcony.

Once we greeted one another, Drake got close and asked, “What do you wanna drink?”

“Whiskey and cola,” I told him.

Rommy ordered her own drink from a different bartender than Drake’s female one who was eyeing him like she was thirsty.

It put a bad taste in my mouth.

Josie asked me how the library was going, and while I told them about it and answered Rommy’s question, I kept glancing over at the bartender who was taking her sweet time making our drinks.

Rommy bumped her hip into mine. “I’m glad you met Tammy. She told me she’d been out sick. I was worried you wouldn’t get to meet her. I like most of the ladies at the library except Petra.” She scrunched up her nose. “She’s a total witch.”

I smiled at her. “I know what you mean. She’s giving Jody hell because she wanted the manager’s position.”

“Ladies!”

We all looked over to Nary, who had yelled. She waved us over with one hand while using the other to shove at her husband to get him out of the booth. Ruin was laughing at his sister.

“Girl talk,” Rommy shouted and raced over to Nary’s table.

But I wanted to stay with Drake.

He turned with my drink in hand and held it out to me. “Sorry.”

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