Page 7 of Nash

The sound of the newlyweds’ steps, leaving his law office, fills the air. The happy couple exits through the back entrance, as we will. It’s private and secure, but still, I stand guard, surveying the window again, scanning for that black Mercedes.

I trust my instincts. I’ve earned them.Shit’s about to go south. It makes me want to cancel tonight.

Alena’s throwing a party where she’ll announce her engagement. She thinks she’s surprising me, but I’m always well aware.

Like now …something’s wrong.

The charming street below, with its oak trees draped in Spanish moss, bustles with innocent tourists taking leisurely strolls to dinner. They’re none the wiser about Charleston, South Carolina, ironically called “The Holy City.” They don’t know who or what evil hides in this sultry southern town by the sea.

It’s more like … what evil we control. Or stop. Or end.

“Nash.” Axel breaks my concentration.

I turn, staring him down. I stare down decades devoted to my best friend and his family. I’d die for Axel. But he can’t have my daughter.

He can’t have his custom, either.

His glacial eyes bore into mine disguised behind fake glasses, my glare refusing, while his silently demands:

Claim your queen.

CHAPTER TWO

VALE

“Here it comes,”Alena warns as I hold her long, tawny waves and she kneels, retching into the toilet, andnope.

Puke is my poison.

I lean over and hurl into the tub beside her.

“What were we thinking?” I sputter, turning on the water with my free hand, washing our stupidity away. “Red velvet cupcakes and spicy margaritas don’t mix.”

“But we’re celebrating.” Alena’s happy voice echoes in the porcelain bowl, even as she flushes, “I’m getting married!”

“We should be tossing confetti tonight.” I kneel beside her. “Not tossing our cookies.”

“Cupcakes,” she corrects with a laugh, plopping beside me.

We lean against the tub, her head resting on my shoulder. It’s a familiar pose. Yeah, I have my twin, who I’m naturally close to, but Alena is my chosen family.

Hurt her, and I’ll bludgeon you to death with a giant dildo.

“I think I failed the maid of honor test,” I say, nudging my Mary Jane against her high heel. “I’m pretty sure I’m not supposed to let you barf at your engagement party.”

“I’m fine.” She wedges into me. “When I’m sick, I only want you or my dad.”

Alena’s warmth is my rock, too. She lost her mom, and so did I. It’s one of the hundreds of tears we’ve shared that’s made us best friends since middle school.

And her dad?

Well … I try not to think about Mr. Allen.

And it’s a colossal failure.

Nash Allen is wired into my erotic system in ways I’ll never confess. My nerves get tingly. My skin flushed. Heat blooms everywhere when I’m around him, even though he acts so cold to me now. I don’t know what happened.

He’s giving Antarctic vibes while my heart is serving aWhat-The-Fuck?

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