Page 24 of Bitter Lies

“You have got to be kidding me.” Annoyed, Aiden straightens and takes hold of my wrist. “Why are we always getting interrupted?”

He hits the panel, revealing a hidden door, pulling me back into the loud hallway.

Ryan is already there, ripping open every door, searching for me. The moment we step out, his gaze cuts to Aiden, then lands on me, blazing with anger.

“This is your idea of a bathroom break?” Approaching with firm steps, Ryan grabs my wrist to separate us. “Someone pulled the fire alarm. We need to get you out of here.”

Aiden’s expression darkens as his gaze drops to Ryan’s hand on my wrist. “Take your hand off her… or I’ll break it. You don’t need to touch her to keep her safe.”

To my surprise, Ryan loosens his grip, yet neither man moves, the tension between them thick.

“And you are?”

“No concern of yours.” Aiden tucks me behind him and steers us back into the chaos of the club. “Fuck.”

He raises a hand, signaling someone, then turns us back around. Looking at Ryan, he jerks his chin behind him. “Grab the rest of her party and bring them back here. We’ll exit through the back. It’s the safest way out.”

Ryan’s eyes show a glint of defiance, but he holds his tongue. He disappears into the main floor and returns moments later with Lawrence, Trinity, and my other two security personnel, Sasha and Marty.

Sasha’s eyes zero in on where Aiden is holding my wrist, quirking an eyebrow. “Mr. Drake took off with his new friend before the alarm sounded. So, we’re all here.”

That was fast, good for Quentin.

Aiden grunts and starts issuing orders. “I’ll lead the way. One of you shut the door, then fall in behind us. Move.”

Is it wrong that I’m turned on right now? Because I am.

Chapter 11

Isabel

I don’t even get a say. As soon as we’re outside the club, I’m shoved into the third row of the SUV—the one Marty ran off to get so he could pick us up at the backdoor—and my friends join me.

We take off before I’m ready. The need to look back at the man I’m burning for has me twisting in my seat.

Aiden stands at the exit, looking torn about his decision to stay behind.

“Who was that?” Lawrence draws Trinity in against his side, his protective instincts kicking in. “He looks dangerous.”

“Aiden.” I glance out the side window, at a loss for how to describe him.

“Aiden who?”

The air hums with the soft press of a kiss to Trinity’s head.

“Hey, it’s okay. Stop shaking. I’ve got you.”

“What happened in there?” my friend asks.

In the glass, I catch Trinity’s reflection as she rests her head on Lawerence’s shoulder, letting him do his best to quiet her nerves.

“One minute we were dancing, having a great time.” She shivers. “The next, the nightclub turned into complete chaos.”

“Fire alarm.” My response is curt as I watch the buildings zoom by. “Someone pulled it, I guess. Did you see smoke? Smell it?”

“No.” Trinity’s hand lands on mine, giving it a squeeze. “He came back?”

A playful smirk tugs on my lips. “Seems so.”