Page 70 of Sugar Coated

“You’ll never know if you don’t try,” I told him. “Might as well, right? We don’t live forever.”

“I think I still have a little while, yet.” Harvey glanced at the others. “Why don’t you go have fun? From what I understand, this party’s for you.”

I finished what was left in my cup and set it down on the floor before grabbing Harvey’s hand and pulling him to his feet. “Come on.” I didn’t give him a chance to resist; I tugged him through the club, bringing him to the dance floor, right to Lola.

And Lola turned her million-dollar smile upon him and exclaimed, “Harvey! I was wondering if you were ever going to join the party. Dance with me!” She pulled him by his other arm the same moment I let him go, and she wrapped her arms around his shoulders and began to grind on him while, behind her, Maddox only rolled his eyes.

And Harvey? He had a wide-eyed look for a few seconds, and then let’s just say he got into it.

A large, strong hand was placed on my lower back, and a rather tall and intimidating presence leaned down behind me and said, “That was nice of you.”

I turned around and beamed up at Mike. “I guess I’m just a nice person.”

That got him to chuckle. “I wouldn’t go that far.” Viper had gone to the bar with the others, leaving me and Mike alone on the outskirts of the dance floor. “I’m not a dancer, but dancing with you isn’t bad.”

My eyebrows lifted. “Is that your way of asking me to dance?”

All he did was grunt, and I laughed. The laugh wasn’t even finished coming out of me before he grabbed me by the ass and hoisted me up. His mouth found mine, stifling whatever was left of the laugh as he kissed me in plain view of everyone. Though my eyes were shut, I could imagine the kiss earned us a glare from Kieran’s direction and a knowing smirk from Fang.

And then, of course, was the hooting and hollering from Lola. The loud “You get her, tiger” exclamation that came with it as she cheered Mike on.

When his mouth finally pulled off mine, I grinned. He still held me up by my ass, my body pressed against his. It wasn’t a bad place to be. “What was that for? I didn’t think you enjoyed public displays of affection.”

“I don’t,” he said. “But maybe you bring it out of me.”

Gazing into Mike’s hazel eyes, I couldn’t stop myself from grinning harder. We’d come so far from where we started, and we weren’t finished just yet.

This was my life. These men were mine. The serial killer and her boyfriends were my friends. It’d been a long, twisty road to get here, but deep down I knew this was only the beginning.

Chapter Sixteen – Tessa

Being stuck in a shitty motel instead of the home where I’d built my life these past two years was as good as torture. That girl thought she pulled one over on me—and she had, as much as I hated to admit it.

Still, I wasn’t going to go down without a fight. It was clear the tactics I’d used would only continue to fail. I needed something else. I needed more.

I needed help.

I paced the length of the room for a long time, and as the afternoon light waned and turned to darkness outside, I knew I couldn’t let this go. This was my life, yes, my mess, but there was someone who would do anything to help me, should I ask.

And, damn it, I had to ask.

I pulled out my phone and stopped pacing. A part of me thought I’d get a call from Vance, that he’d side with me over his daughter—but those damned recordings really put a damper on things.

As I found the name in my contact list, the story I’d tell to make my case came together in my head. I might’ve gone against the teachingfamily above all else, but he didn’t need to know that. No, in the story I’d tell,Kieranwould be the traitor, because he was. This was only happening because Kieran chose the girl over me.

I dialed it out, and the other line rang and rang to the point where I began to wonder if he wouldn’t answer. He’d never understood my ambitions; he’d made it clear years ago. Still, I knew if I asked, he would answer.

After the fifth ring, he picked up. “Tessa.” I hadn’t heard him say my name in a long, long time. We weren’t so much estranged as we were simply apart so I could chase my life’s goals.

“Dad,” I breathed out the word. “I need help.”

“Where are you?” I told him the motel I was staying at, and he said, “I’ll be there in the morning.” And then he hung up.

Was I proud to go to my dad for help? Of course not. I was as self-sufficient as they came, but that girl had somehow weaseled her way into Kieran’s heart and fucked everything up. Our dad would know what to do.

The game wasn’t over yet.