Page 65 of Her Ruin

Before I got a chance to answer, I heard a voice I recognized.

“Wells? Let’s move it,” Rye called from the front of the line. “Ain’t got all night for you and your party, Isla.”

Sienna grinned widely at her friend. “See, Itoldyou Isla knew people.”

Did it matter thatIslawished shedidn’tknow these people?

As we reached the front of the line, I felt my spine straighten as Rye scanned our group. There were only six of us, but it felt like he had undressed each one of us with a single glance. It wasn’t even predatory; it was simply athoroughinspection and dismissal.

The bulky hunk from the gala gave me a friendly wink as I passed, and it took the heat out of my unkind thoughts. The unjustness of the gala still simmered. Sienna and her friends were already halfway up the stairs, my pace not as lively as I willingly walked back into his territory.

I faltered when I heard Rye mutter to Hunk, “He’s going to have no focus the whole time she’s here.”

“You seen her?” Hunk said. “I’m having a hard time not turning around to watch that ass go up the stairs.”

“Straight ahead if you want to keep your eyes,” Rye grunted.

I hesitated and then hurriedly ran up the stairs to meet Sienna and the others. Elixir was buzzing. Inside, the air was thick with energy, the music vibrating under my skin, and the scent of whiskey, cologne, and something inherently sinful curled around me.

It was overwhelming and intoxicating all at once.

I kept my posture relaxed and my face unreadable as Sienna grabbed my arm. “Okay,” I shouted over the music. “Main bar, over there,” I gestured to the packed bar. “Booths and tables that way; dance floor there.” I pointed to the center of the floor. “Restrooms are there, there, and at the back there.”

Sienna pulled me towards the bar. “Drink first, dancing second,” she declared. She stopped suddenly, looking over her friends. “You got your buddy system?” They all nodded. “You’re with me suga tits.”

“Suga tits?” I laughed.

“No Isla allowed inside Elixir tonight; from now on, you’re Suga tits.”

Shaking my head at her foolishness, I let her take the lead. If this was how the night was going to start, I definitely needed a drink. I also needed to act like I wasn’t scanning the room.

Like I wasn’t looking for him. Like I wasn’t waiting for the moment Zayn found me first.

I downed my first shot of tequila. It didn’t matter that I already knew he would find me.

* * *

I tooka sip of my drink, the cold bite of tequila and lime grounding me for a split second.

“Down it! Don’t sip it, suga tits!” Sienna bellowed over the music, holding out the little salt shaker.

With a shake of my head, I licked the salt and then downed my shot. “Ugh!” I shook my head from side to side as my face scrunched up at the taste. “When does this stop and the wine start?” I demanded over the loud music.

Elixir was alive with a pulse of bodies moving under the low, flickering lights, music thrumming deep in my bones.

It was a heady, throbbing beat, and though I knew the DJ was playing a variety of songs, the bass felt like it was in rhythm with my heart. Or maybe my heart was in rhythm with the music.

Crap, was I already drunk? I turned away so Sienna wouldn’t see me and took a swig of water from the bottle the bartender had slipped me when the girls weren’t paying attention. I hadn’t asked for it, and I hadn’t questioned it.

Maybe it was what they did here? They recognized the nondrinkers or the hardly ever drinkers and slipped them water so they wouldn’t be passed out on the bathroom floor halfway through the evening.

Even as I fed myself the bullshit story, I knew who ordered the bartender to give me water. I still wasn’t looking for him. I had told myself that at least a hundred times already.

But that didn’t mean he hadn’t seen me.

Sienna was chatting with someone at the bar, laughing easily, completely at home in the chaotic energy of the club.

I, on the other hand, was tense. I watched everyone who passed me. It didn’t matter how many people filled this space or how many VIPs strode past us, sipping their champagne and pretending they weren’t desperate for attention as they sought out the exclusivity of Elixir. This place only belonged to one man. And I hadn’t seen him.

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