Page 40 of Crave: A Reverse Harem Romance

“Can we just get your phone number and address?”

I nodded and gave it to them, trying to hide my fear as I did. I was scared that if I seemed too nervous, it’d come off as dishonesty.

“Can we speak to you alone now?” one of the cops asked Diesel.

“Of course,” Diesel answered, giving me a sideways glance that expressed some disappointment.

Well, he could be disappointed all he wanted. I had probably just kept him out of jail.

I went and sat at the bar as I nervously waited for Diesel to finish up with them. A bartender walked up to me with a smile.

“What can I get for you?” he asked.

“Oh… nothing,” I said softly. “Maybe a water?”

“Water it is,” he said politely as he scooped some ice into a glass.

I hadn't realized until this moment just how thirsty I was. So much had happened in so little time. I had hooked up with Ryker, I was almost kidnapped by some rapist freak, I met Diesel—well, officially met him, I guess—and then I made out with him and had let him go down on me in his car. And after all of that, this was how the night was going to end? It really was crazy to think that this was my life now.

It seemed like every night I spent at Crave was a whirlwind. What was it about this place? It was like an action-packed, thrilling romance novel all on its own.

I had to admit, as insane as this night had been, I was already thinking about the next scene in my book. Maybe the love interest would save the heroine in a dramatic fight where he also offered to take the blame with the police.

Maybe in the book, I’d actually allow him to take the blame.

I watched as Diesel nodded to the cops and then made his way over to me. I downed the rest of my water, trying to keep calm.

“What did they say?” I asked.

“Not much, they seem to think it’s a pretty clear-cut case of self-defense. They just wanted to hear my version of events and they took down my contact info. Looks like we’re both in the clear.”

I breathed a sigh of relief.

“I really would have taken the blame for you, you know.”

“I know. I could see that. But I just don’t understand why.”

He was about to answer me when I heard a familiar voice come up from behind me.

“What the hell happened?” It was Axel. So I guess he was here at the club tonight, after all. Maybe he had arrived after my near-kidnapping incident.

I turned around to see Ryker was with him, both making their way to us. Each of them changed facial expressions when they saw me, though I couldn’t really read them.

“It’s a long story,” Diesel said.

“Did you seriously crack a dude’s skull?” Axel asked. “That’s what the security team is saying.”

“Actually, I did,” I spoke up. All three men had their eyes on me.

Diesel continued to explain. “Some creep tried to take her. He grabbed her arm and started pulling her out of the club.”

I saw instant rage across both of their faces. Now, that was an expression that was not hard to read in the slightest.

“What the fuck?” Ryker slammed his hand down on the bar. I was surprised, I hadn’t seen him as anything but coolheaded before this. Even on the night my drink had been spiked, he had seemed pretty relaxed. You definitely couldn’t describe him as relaxed right now.

“I saw them, though,” Diesel continued, “and I punched the guy. He let go of her, and she was able to get inside.”

“So how did his skull end up cracked, then?” Axel asked. This time, it wasn’t in the same accusatory way he had first questioned Diesel. Now it seemed like more of a curiosity.

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