Page 29 of Taken Online

Asher:I’m outside.

Blake:Come in. Door should be unlocked.

Great.

So this was happening.

The moment I stepped inside, I was hit with the scent of expensive cologne and wine. There were a lot of people. Not exactly a house party, more like an adult mixer.

Everyone was dressed up. Cocktail dresses. Button-downs. Chandelier ceilings.

Little hors d'oeuvres spread around the room like we were at a damn art gallery.

And then I saw him.

Blake.

Tall, poised, perfect. He was speaking to her again, the woman from the office.

She looked even better now. Red dress. Hair curled at the tips. A radiant fucking smile.

God, I was leaving.

I turned, but bumped into someone.

Older man. Mid-thirties. Attractive.

“Hey, sorry. Didn’t see you,” he said, eyes sweeping over me. Not subtle.

I wasn’t dressed for this.

My clothes were worn. Ripped black jeans. Crisp white shirt and a tie, thesameoutfit I’d worn in that stream for Kaleb.

They didn’t know that, obviously. But still.

“Hi,” I said. Timid. Weird for me.

But I didn’t like being here. Didn’t likewhyI was here.

The guy grinned. “Didn’t know my brother knew someone this young. College?”

“I’m 27.”

His eyes widened slightly. “Ah. Still young, but at least not nineteen. Thank God. Thought my brother was robbing the cradle.”

He offered me his drink.

I took it, grateful to have something to hold.

“How do you know Blake? You don’t look like his usual crowd.”

I downed the drink too quickly. It burned. Hard.

Not his usual crowd.

Yeah. I knew what that meant.

“Thanks,” was all I said.

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