Chapter 4

A manager ran up to Gilbert and whispered in his ear. Gilbert frowned and walked toward the front desk. Kindra followed him without looking back.

Adelynn stood on the edge of the dance floor. A group of girls pushed past her, knocking her backward.

When she caught her balance, Kindra and Gilbert were gone.

Adelynn let out a breath. Her chest felt lighter. She just needed to find a corner and wait for the food.

She pressed her back against the wall and started walking. She dodged men holding glasses of amber liquid.

A hand slammed down on her shoulder.

Adelynn spun around. Her heart jumped into her throat.

Beatrice stood there. She wore a silver fringe dress and held a martini glass.

"Oh my god! I almost didn't recognize you in that dress!" Beatrice screamed over the music.

Adelynn pushed Beatrice's hand off her shoulder.

"When do we eat?"

Beatrice rolled her eyes. She grabbed Adelynn's wrist and pulled her away from the wall.

They walked through a velvet rope into a raised seating area. The couches were black leather. It was quieter here.

A man sat in the center of the largest couch. He had a dark beard and cold eyes. Jax. The owner of the club.

Beatrice pulled Adelynn forward.

"Look who I found."

Jax leaned back against the leather. His eyes started at Adelynn's feet and moved slowly up to her face. He looked at her like she was a car he was thinking about buying.

The muscles in Adelynn's neck tightened. The nausea returned. This was how Festus Callahan looked at her before deciding which business partner to sell her to.

Jax lifted his chin. "Sit down. Drinks are on me tonight."

Adelynn didn't move. She looked down at him. A bitter smile formed on her lips.

"Trading other people's liver health for your own ego. What a great business model."

The people on the couches stopped talking. The silence in the booth was heavy. Everyone stared at Adelynn.

Jax's smile vanished. His jaw clenched.

Beatrice turned pale. She grabbed the fabric of Adelynn's dress and pulled it.

"Shut up," Beatrice hissed.

Adelynn ripped her dress out of Beatrice's grip. She stared straight into Jax's eyes. She didn't blink.

Jax let out a harsh laugh. He opened his mouth to speak.

A green laser light from the second-floor balcony flashed across Jax's face.

Adelynn looked up. The second floor was enclosed in one-way glass. She couldn't see anything. But the hairs on her arms stood up. A cold shiver ran down her spine. Someone was watching her.

The feeling was suffocating. She needed to get out of this booth.

She looked at Beatrice. "I'm going to the bar to find food."

Beatrice reached for her again, but Adelynn turned around. She pushed her way past the velvet rope and walked into the crowd.

Jax stared at her back. He slammed his glass down on the table. Ice spilled over the edge.

Beatrice sat down next to him and touched his chest.

Adelynn kept walking. She headed straight for the most crowded part of the room. The bar.