Page 15 of The Royal Flame
I want to talk to her more about it, but the sound of glass shattering captures my undivided attention. I’m not even sure where it came from, but panic lashes through me.
“I don’t like this. I feel like Will’s crew is watching us.” My fingers hover near my pocket as I peer around at the club, the busy bar beside it, and then at the alleyway between the two buildings. Across the street are vacant, boarded up brick buildings, and a few people are loitering on the sidewalks, kicking bottles, so maybe the shattering glass noise from that. “What did Will say to convince you to come here?” I ask Lily.
“Not much. Wren and I were at this party. We were drinking and Will was there. I knew he was from north side, and I’ll admit, I was intrigued by it. We talked and flirted for a bit, and then he convinced me to come with him. He said we could dance and drink and have some fun… I just got into the car with him without asking any questions.” She groans. “I’m so stupid.”
“Lily,” I scold. “Seriously?”
“I’m sorry. Eli was at the party, and I had too much to drink.” Tears well in her eyes. “Plus, this guy I like broke up with me.
I might’ve continued to lecture her if I hadn’t spotted movement in my peripheral vision. I turn just in time to see five guys walking out of the shadows of the alleyway.
“Dammit, we need to go,” I hiss at Lily, shoving her toward the street corner.
Then I grab the nearest guy’s shirt, which happens to be Noah.
His head snaps in my direction as he trips over his feet. “What the hell, Maddy?”
“We need to go. Now.” I point at the group of guys stalking toward us.
“Shit,” Noah mutters under his breath as he reaches for Finn’s jacket sleeve.
Finn is reaming out Will with his fists clenched at his side, like he’s about to take a swing.
“We need to go!” Noah shouts over Finn’s yelling as he yanks on Finn’s sleeve.
Finn shuffles backward, his sneakers scuffing against the concrete. “What the hell is your problem?” He scowls at Noah but then notices the group of guys, and his expression falls.
River tracks Finn’s gaze and backs up, stiffening as he lets out a string of curses.
Will smirks as he retrieves a knife from his pocket and flips open the blade. “You’re in big trouble now, royal dumbasses.”
The five of us silently agree to take off running, spinning around and barreling toward the corner where the parking garage is looming in the distance. Lily is slow in her heels, and Will and his group are right behind us. This won’t end well if we don’t devise another plan.
“Keep going,” I shout to River as we near the corner. “I’ll distract them.”
He gapes at me. “Are you crazy? I’m not letting you do that.”
“Oh, River, I think I already established you can’t make me do anything.” I retrieve my Taser from my pocket and zap it a few times, the buzzing causing him to jolt. “I’ll be okay. I know my way around here.” I offer him a cheeky, very-forced smile before I grind to a stop and reel around.
Will and his crew are confused and slow down, uncertain what to do next.
“What’re you doing, Maddy?” Will calls out as he stops just short of me. “Trying to be the hero?”
“Nah, I’m not selfless enough to be a hero.” I smirk at him with my fingers curled around the taser. “But I’ll give you some incentive to chase after me.”
Most of Will’s crew has stopped behind him, but one guy chases after Finn, Noah, River, and Lily.
“Why would I do that?” Will questions with a tilt of his head. “I can just go after these rich pricks and get some cash.”
“Is that what this is about?” I tap my finger against my chin. “You think you can what? Lure their sister down here and blackmail them with ransom to get her back?”
He lifts a shoulder. “Sounds like the perfect plan to me.”
I smile sweetly at him. “Too bad it didn’t work.”
“Didn’t it??” His lips peel back into a malicious grin. “You’re outnumbered, and I’m not letting you go until I get some money.” His gaze roves over my shoulder at something.
I peer behind me, thinking one of his guys has snuck up. But it’s River.
