Page 115 of Nails
She didn’t expect to feel so connected to a group of guys she barely knew before this op started.But now?It felt like they were hers.Her team.Her people.And Nails...Nails was something else entirely.
She pressed her lips together, letting the water wash away the stray tear she hadn’t meant to shed.She hadn’t just gotten close to him.She had fallen for him, hard.And when this was done, he would be back in Virginia, and she would be back in North Carolina.
Swallowing the ache in her throat, she turned off the water and stepped out, grabbing a towel.
She slipped into a clean, soft black tank top, comfy jogger-style pants, and her favorite pair of worn flip-flops.She twisted her long, damp hair into a messy bun on top of her head and tugged a hoodie around her shoulders.For the first time all night, she felt like herself again, and not the fake hostess with a practiced smile.
She tossed her dirty clothes into her bag, threw it over her shoulder, and exited the changing room.Her flip-flops slapped softly against the floor as she walked through the now-empty halls of the club.The lights were dimmed, and the usual buzz of music and chatter had gone silent.She just wanted to get outside, grab her cab, and breathe real air.
But as she approached the front, her stomach dropped.Adam and Chen were standing by the front doors like twin demons guarding the gates of hell.
Shit.
She angled her body, trying to walk past without drawing attention.It didn’t work.
“Riley,” Adam’s sharp voice called.
She stopped, turned, and forced her most neutral expression onto her face.“Hey.”
Adam took a step forward, his hand sliding possessively around her waist like it belonged there now.Like that one kiss gave him some sort of ownership.
“You heading out?”he asked.
“Yeah,” she said with a quick nod.“Long night.I just want to get home and crash.”
His eyes swept over her like a physical touch.“You look cute like this.All soft and natural.”
Her skin crawled, but she gave a small smile.“Thanks.”
Chen tilted his head slightly, his dark eyes raking over her without shame.“It was very nice meeting you, Riley,” he said slowly, his accent thick and sharp.“I have a feeling I’ll be seeing you again very soon.”
Her heart thudded against her ribs.What the hell did that mean?
She held his gaze and smiled politely.“Maybe so.”
Adam gave a low chuckle and looked at Chen.“She’s already turning heads.”
“Careful,” Chen murmured, half-joking.“You might have some competition.”
Adam’s grin didn’t falter, but his grip on her tightened just enough to send a warning.“And they’d be stupid,” Adam replied.He then looked at Riley.“I was going to offer to take you home, but there’s some business I need to finish up.”
Riley wanted to scream.Instead, she cleared her throat.“No worries.I figured you’d be busy, so I already called a cab.It should be here any minute.”
Then, without warning, he leaned in and kissed her again, right there, in front of Chen.It was calculated, possessive, and revolting.
“Be safe getting home,” Adam said, brushing his thumb against her jaw before releasing her.
She forced a smile, nodded, and turned.
She could feel both of their eyes on her as she walked to the door.
Her fingers trembled slightly as she pushed it open, stepping into the cool Hong Kong night.
But inside, beneath the nerves and the nausea, a fire was burning.
The taxi was sitting at the curb.She opened the door and slid into the back seat.A sudden feeling washed over her.She needed some time alone before she went back to the house.
“Take me to the park by the dock, please,” she told the driver.
