d call. Derek's name flashed across the c

lied mockingly, "

ou asked me last night at the party

there any chance you'll be

efore turning my attention back to

by The Dove. Shirley wen

I her personal

ith her, I just...

are you maki

n danger, but I worry about

what I can

breath, rolling down my window and resting my elbo

er of personal concern. The mention of Shirley's safety added a layer of complexity to the situation, leaving me with a choice to make. I continued my drive, the city lights flickering a

, locking it behind me before heading to the club's entrance as I rolled my s

ou need to get in

I questioned, taking out my wallet and a hundred dollar bill, holding it out bet

tly taking the bill from me. "Upstairs in

s. Making it upstairs, I slowed down as I approached the isolated booth that had a glass window looking down at the bar and the rest of the crowd as they

who was beside him, he turned to me in confusion an

us for a minute?"

thing or the other, and most importantly,

o you are," Gar

shrugged, resting my elbows on my kn

about

zling from your father's comp

a beat before scof

my questions if you want to get out of this safe and sound. I don't have a hard

n his drink hastily and my eyes narrowed

confession, and by the time I stood up with all my tolerance had run ou

to me?" he asked, staring

I iced my knuckles, catching my breath. "You could have just admitted it in the first five minutes and you wouldn't be spitting blood like this.

ing lip before patting his bruised and blee

," I warned, picking the lighter from my pocket,

u do? Threaten p

red, opening and closin

he scoffed, "if this isn't your

itting at the surface on fire, chuckling in amusement as he jumped back from the sudden flames. "But you didn't do anything to me, so you w

e crowd momentarily, my head tilting to the side as I recognized Shir

tell Derek she's

odriguez. Turning to the stairs, I went back downstairs, approaching the bar but by the time I got there, she was gone,

ith the fact that she was here with her sister-in-law and

them safe. Ignoring the situation, because it most certainly was not my problem, I headed towards the exit and

r Shirley's security guard or babysitter. If he was so worried abo

my job and I would make

eneath the ground. Reaching a hand into my pocket to fish out my keys, I walked ahead, halting

down at the woman, my jaw growin

g and wheezing as she stared back at me, her

nning behind her from the same di

d going around to stand behind me, grabbing me and giv

lancing at her over my shoulder as

stabbe

ha