Page 5 of East (The Moral Compass 3)

Regret fills me as I remember how drunk I got because I was so damn nervous. I wanted him to take my virginity. I wanted it to be so special and right but instead, I got wasted. The thought of being naked with him sent me over the edge. He’s been with supermodels and film stars, and the self-doubt that follows me around like a black shadow got the better of me.

Before I know it, he is ushered away through the doors to the backstage area.

“Hey, did you see the way he looked at you?” Chelsea cries excitedly.

“I’m not sure it was me he was looking at. There are thousands of women here,” I reply.

“Oh, East, he was looking at you. His eyes nearly fell out of their sockets. He remembers you from that night. Well, how could he forget?” She laughs.

Chelsea is my best friend, but that hurt. She laughed at the most embarrassing time of my whole life.

“Okay, thanks for that. I’m not mortified about being so trashed I puked all night or anything,” I snipe back at her.

“Sorry, Hun. I thought you’d gotten over that. I am really sorry, but if it’s any consolation, I don’t think it bothered him. Not by the look in his eyes when he saw you. Fuck, East. If he could have escaped those security guards, I’m a hundred percent sure he would have whisked you away and fucked your brains out in the nearest closet.”

“No, I don’t think he would, Chels. He looked shocked, that’s all. Maybe he thought I’d give it up as a bad job and move on to another rock star.” I laugh, but my heart is telling the truth. I’d bet that’s exactly what he was hoping.

“Come on, let’s go see if we can win some chips,” Chelsea says as she grabs my arm and leads me to the poker table.

“Chelsea. I don’t know how to play poker,” I lie loudly.

“That’s okay, sweetheart, I’ll teach you,” a creepy old guy sitting in the chair next to me whispers in my ear. Ugh. His breath stinks of cigars and whisky.

“Thanks, but I’m sure I’ll learn quickly.” I smile politely back.

Three hands later, and I’m down a thousand dollars. However, another three hands later, I’m up twenty thousand dollars and climbing.

“Oh my god, East, you’ve won again!” Chelsea screams excitedly.

“Yeah, I think we should go and look for something else to play. I don’t want to use all my luck on one table.”

As I stand, the old man reaches out and grabs the skin at the top of my thigh. “Don’t go now, sweetheart. Things are just getting interest—”

Before he could finish his sentence, my fist collided with his nose. His hand immediately releases my thigh.

“Don’t fucking touch a woman unless she asks you to. Got it, you old perv?” I growl in his face as his hands cover his now bloody nose.

“You little bitch. I will have you thrown out of here. Do you know who I am?”

“No, and I don’t give a flying fuck either. You have no idea who I am, or who I’m connected to, or you certainly wouldn’t have put your hands on me. Carry on with your threat if you wish, but just be careful. If my brother finds out what you did, you’ll be a goner.” I continue to growl in his face.

Just as I bend back up from chastising the old perv, two arms wrap around my waist, lifting my feet off the floor. I try to turn to look who it is, but I can see Chelsea half laughing and half in shock, so I don’t worry too much.

“Put me down now, you fucking oaf! That old git was trying to cop a feel, and no one gets to touch unless they have my specific permission!” I yell with my head tilted back.

The guy doesn’t put me down. So, I will have to make him. I bend forward as much as I can. When his body is doubled with mine, I swing my head back at the exact same time as I drag the heel of my shoe down his shin.

Works like a charm. The guy immediately lets go. I don’t look around, but I grab Chelsea’s hand and start to run. I can’t help but laugh as Chelsea chatters on about the guy who just tried to throw me out.

“East McGarry. Stop where you are!” a voice booms over all the other noises.

My body freezes mid-step.

Who the hell…?

Chelsea stops and turns as I stay facing the other way. I glance at Chelsea who is now grinning like she’s won the fucking lottery.

Slowly, I turn, but the person in front of me is not who I expected to see at all.

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