Page 42 of Ride or Die

Her trembling hands grip the front of my shirt as I help her away, not without hearing the telltale murmurs from the guys behind me. I glance back over my shoulder, making eye contact with Austin, then Wyatt and Brady, all three of them looking at me with matching expressions that ask me what the fuck I’m even doing, and hell, I don’t fuckin’ know. All I know is that this woman needs help right now, and I wanna be the one to help her.

CHAPTER 15

CLARA

The world around me, or the club at least, is a blur. Tunnel vision of darkness, sliced with blinding lights and the thrum of heavy base that hammers through my body. I can’t seem to catch a breath, my knees are shaking so bad I barely manage to take a few steps without staggering, almost collapsing onto the floor like I’m made of wet papier-mâché. The strong arm around me holds me up, steadies me, and I cling to it like it’s all I’ve got tethering me to the world so I don’t slip away.

“Everybody get the fuck out.”

I blink hard from the sudden glare of the lights, searching the dressing room as a few girls file out, hurrying as they pass.

“Is she okay?” someone asks, clearly worried.

“She’s fine,” the deep voice of the body pressed up against me from behind grits out.

A door slams, and suddenly, I’m being lifted off my feet, the world around me tilting off-center as I’m carried to the sofa in the corner of the room.

“Hey, you’re okay,” a deep, low voice whispers. “It’s just you and me. Breathe, Clara.”

I blink tight a few times, breathing hard yet fast, forcing myself out of the pixelated haze, only to find a set of ocean blue eyes staring deep into mine.

“Cole,” I say on a breath.

“You’re okay, darlin’,” he says again, his big hand cupping my cheek, calloused thumb stroking my heated skin.

As I stare into his eyes, at the uncharacteristic softness in his gaze, my breathing slows and I feel my racing heart begin to ebb to a slightly less concerning rate. And when I realize exactly what just happened, I gasp, sitting up and collecting my wits as best as I can.

“Oh my god,” I mutter, wiping my damp cheeks and looking around frantically. “I’m so sorry, I-I don’t know what?—”

“Clara,” Cole interjects.

“Bruce is going to kill me!” I push up from the sofa, tugging down the hem of my tank top.

“Clara!” Cole says louder this time, standing and stepping right up in front of me. His hands grab my shoulders, firm yet tender, and he forces me to look up at him. “Stop.”

I lick my lips, rolling them together as I search his eyes.

“It’s okay,” he assures me. “I’ll deal with fuckin’ Bruce, just…” He trails off, his gaze roving my face before zeroing in on my cheek, eyebrows knitting together as his thumb returns, wiping my skin again.

“I’m a mess, aren’t I?”

Without waiting for his confirmation, I walk over to one of the dressing tables, taking a look at myself in the mirror to see that, yes, I am a mess. Huffing, I take a seat and pluck one of the makeup wipes from the packet, cleaning what I can of the mascara tracks staining my cheeks.

“Wanna talk to me about what just happened?” Cole asks, tentatively resting against the edge of the table I’m at, his gaze heavy as his eyes bore down on me.

I avoid his intense stare, focusing on cleaning up my face, sniffling back the heavy emotion that lingers.

“Austin’s my boss. He’s a good guy,” Cole says. “I promise he would never hurt you, or anyone.”

I glance up then to find Cole gazing off into the distance questioningly.

“Let me rephrase that,” he continues with a slight quirk to his lips. “Austin would never hurt anyone who didn’t deserve it. I promise you.”

A thick swallow works its way down my throat. “I just…It was i-instinct. When I saw him jump up from the corner of my eye… Most times that would usually end with a hand or a fist connecting to the side of my face.” The thought causes a shudder to roll through me.

“Fuck,” Cole mutters softly, his rough hand touching my shoulder and giving me a gentle squeeze.

“I feel so stupid.” I wince, cowering in on myself.