Chapter 5 Chaos at the Club

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In the bar

"I'm sorry guys but you're going to have to come with me because I don't plan on listening to your advice this time."

I granted them a playful wink before allowing my best friends to pull me right out of the room and down the stairs.

We were inside the throng in no time, each of us grinning wide at each other as the smell of sweat, sex and alcohol melded in a mix of euphoric smoke that was released into the air occasionally, creating the perfect atmosphere for the wild abandon all around us.

This is just like college. It's so fucking perfect.

We stayed close to each other, just like we did back in college, each of us watching each other's back as we danced to the music and let it wade over us. It was reassuring to know that we had Luke and William watching out for us, the two of them not too close but not too far either. They were ready for anything.

I raised my hands, dancing to the club banger flowing through the speakers as my best friends huddled around me and did the same. The moment was euphoric, the energy of the crowd fueling my excitement all the more. This was why I loved music so much. This was one of the many reasons why I was so passionate about creating it.

The tempo of the music shifted the sound of one of our favourite songs eliciting excited squeals from each of us as we shared a knowing look. The famous girl group's song had never failed to push us into action, each of us preparing to perform the dance we knew all too well and had spent our college years perfecting.

No matter the place or the people around, an unspoken pact had been created between us to ensure we always danced to the song.

Even now, with the partygoers excitedly dancing around us, we still found the space to begin the familiar choreography which earned us stares and loud cheers as we moved to the beat of the club banger.

The moves came easily, fluid as we moved around each other and sang along to the song. I let the loud cheers and screams engulf me as I moved, grinning as I noticed the space that had been cleared to allow us to dance our hearts out with some people familiar with the song joining in at the last part of the chorus.

Loud whoops and shouts engulfed us once the song came to an end, my breathless, tipsy friends and I huddled together as we murmured thank you's to the people cheering around us.

We had garnered lots of attention, most especially male as handsome men approached us in an effort to request a dance no doubt. I could tell some of them were trying to recall where they had seen Calli and I from despite their drunken fog and the girls seemed to notice too as they began to retreat.

"Yeah, we should probably return to the VIP area. Before we get mobbed."

Yara declared loudly, earning nods from the rest of us as we searched around for Luke and William amidst the growing drunk men that had started to surround us. I tried to keep my anxiety at bay as I kept my head down. It was an ingrained reaction; one I had learnt to embrace over the years not only because of my music career but my familial relations.

"Come on, pretty ladies! Just one dance! You seemed to be asking for it!"

A particularly drunk man shouted over the music, reaching forward to grab my arm which he squeezed tight enough to make me wince as all the bad memories came flooding back with a vengeance.

It's okay, Harper...You're safe and with your friends...You need to remember everything you've learnt and the steel cage you've built around your heart. You've got this!

"Hey, you need to back the fuck off before I drop you, asshole!"

Yara demanded, pushing the guy off just as I violently pulled away from him, levelling the stunned, drunken man with a glare I was sure would make him question his actions. His drunken friends seemed to take stock of the situation, each of them approaching just as the four of us huddled together even closer.

"What the fuck did you say to my friend, bitch?"

One of the men said, seemingly getting agitated as he approached us. His harsh words snapped me out of my dark thoughts and back to the present where a clear threat was coming towards my friends and me. I knew well enough that the girls could take care of themselves. We'd been in enough scuffles in college to learn a thing or two about defending ourselves, but this was not the place to do it.

But we will probably have to at this rate...Despite the fact that my reputation needs to be squeaky clean with the album launch coming soon...

"Are you deaf? She said to back the fuck off!"

The strength in my voice and the adrenaline coursing through my veins pushed me forward, prompting me to face off with the agitated man with Yara standing beside me, supportive as ever. Ani hung back, as always, shielding Calli from any sort of threats. She was the more sensitive one among us and particularly averse to conflict. Brought out her anxiety.

I hated that she had been put in this position and it angered me enough to fearlessly glare at the enraged man before me who now had four of his friends beside him, including the touchy asshole. I didn't care about anything else, only that my friends were safe- my reputation be damned.

"You fucking whore..."

Touchy asshole declared angrily, his agitated form putting Yara and I on high alert, but we didn't need to because a voice I hadn't heard in quite some time spoke up just as William and Luke finally emerged from the gathered crowd and stood in front of us protectively as well as a tall, dark and extremely handsome man who stood beside my older brother.

"I suggest you mind your tongue before I cut it out of your mouth and shove it up your ass."

Dante Antonio Romano's voice was dark and threatening, the silent anger lacing it sending a chill through my body.

I knew that veiled-angry scowl all too well.

I had heard it on occasion growing up when he stood up for me against all the snobby, asshole brats who were stupid enough to try and bully me. Everyone knew I was off limits, and that was mainly because of my big brother who was now glaring at the clearly scared men who had a look I was all too familiar with.

They just realized how much of a stupid mistake they just made...Like all the bullies and corporate rivals that faced off with my big brother...

"I'm sorry, Miss Romano. There was a crowd surge during your dance, and we lost you momentarily in the excitement..."

William profusely apologized, prompting a small smile to grace my lips as I shook my head in response, granting him a reassuring smile as did the rest of the girls.

"It's okay, William. We're okay so that's all that matters."

Yara reassured him, her gaze fixated on my brother as mine was.

I knew his anger well enough to know that this could go south really quickly, especially when his and the stranger's gazes fixated on my wrists before they turned to glare at the culprits who were still somewhat confused by the incredible mistake they just made with half-hearted apologies.

"Your apologies are useless. I am going to wreck your life. You will be nothing when I'm done with you..."

His fists clenched, a deranged smile on his lips despite the calm delivery of his words. He was about to go postal and in the worst possible way.

Dante never made empty threats.

Luke and William shared a look, each of them just as worried as I and the drunk assholes were. It was almost as if they could sense the world of hurt they were about to be in.

"Please, brother. Let it go. They're just a bunch of drunk assholes. Not worth our time. Let's go continue our night. Celebrate the fact that you're here!"

I stepped in front of my brother, ensuring that I somehow obscured his view from the men. We were already garnering a lot of attention and it was about to be worse if we didn't stop him.

We would make the morning news at this rate.

Dante seemed to pause momentarily; his glare fixated on the men, some of whom seemed to be holding their breaths as I was. We didn't have to wait for too long, though, as Dario's hand wrapped around mine reassuringly, his softened gaze holding my own.

"You're right, sorellina. They are a waste of time."

Dante murmured, calmer now than before as he turned us to leave and ignore the men, some of whom seemed relieved by our retreat. Touchy asshole was, however, not as smart as his friends who seemed to be failing at getting him to back off.

"Yes, walk away with your band of whores! Your empty threats are meaningless when they were the ones slutting themselves out to us by dressing in those skimpy outfits and dancing like that!"

Neither one of us had a chance to react to his words and boy did we want to react. The handsome bastard beat us to the punch, quite literally. His fist slammed right into the man's nose, effectively breaking it and sending the man sprawling to the ground.

We were all stunned to silence, including the drunken crowd around us that seemed to gather, forgetting all about the music and other partygoers unaware of the scandal brewing. The incredibly handsome stranger towered over the bleeding man, rolling up his sleeves as he stared down at the scared man with the deadest gaze I have ever seen on anyone, including my brother.

"Are you so foolish as to not realize that you escaped unscathed because of the mercy she proffered you? But no matter. I am going to show you why you should have kept your fucking mouth shut rather than hurled insults and dared to touch her."

His words were dark, anger simmering beneath as he leaned down and prepared to land a number of blows on the man who seemed genuinely scared by whatever he saw in his eyes.

"Raiden, that's enough. He's not worth it."

Dante spoke up, holding his friend's hand to stop him from landing yet another punch on the bleeding man who was apologizing profusely not only to us but to my brother and his companion I now knew as Raiden. The two men glanced around, noting the growing crowd and the few who were sober enough to pull out their phones and take videos.

Oh no, that is bad...Jonah is going to kill me...

Luke and William seemed to share the same thought as they huddled us away from the crowd and back towards the VIP area whilst the rest of the crowd was distracted by the two hulking bouncers who had just appeared and were proceeding to drag the entire band of assholes out of the crowd at Raiden and Dario's order.

"Holy crap. Did that just happen? I mean, I was ready to throw hands but I never thought those two would be here, let alone get involved."

Yara seemed genuinely stunned by how everything had turned out now that we could process everything within the safe confines of the now deserted VIP area.

"Yeah, most especially Raiden. Who would have thought he would say anything? The man is famous for keeping his personal life as private as possible and has an incredibly low profile. To think he would assault a man, let alone do it in such a public setting. I mean, that guy totally deserved it- also, that was so freaking hot."

Aniyah proclaimed, earning nods from all around whereas I was genuinely stumped by their shared knowledge of my brother's companion. Calli seemed to notice my confusion as she released a small chuckle, shaking her head at my expense.

"Only you wouldn't know who Raiden Hattori is."

She commented, smiling at my other friends who gasped at the news- genuinely stunned by my lack of knowledge on who the man who just defended our honour was.

"Girl, you are hopeless."

Yara groaned, earning a nod of agreement from Aniyah as I shrugged in response.

"I'm sorry. Between my busy schedule and non-existent social life apart from our hangouts, I really don't know a lot about other celebrities."

"Celebrity? Babe, Raiden Hattori is so much more than that. He is the CEO of a Billion Dollar Corporation that mainly deals in the Private Security and Military Contracts sector. Hattori Enterprises owns so much more, though, and have ventured recently into investing in the Real Estate and Entertainment business. Case and point, I believe he's part owner of Cross. His family is very private, which is why seeing him go off today was unexpected."

Aniyah expounded, educating me on the man of the hour who walked into the room beside my older brother, the two seemingly concluding their silent conversation at the sight of us.

"I guess my friend doesn't need an introduction. However, I believe I should introduce my sister and her closest friends. Raiden, this is Harper Romano- the reason behind our little surprise party- and these are her friends- Calliope Castellanos, Aniyah Serrano and Yara Demir. It's good to see you, ladies. I had hoped the surprise would be under different circumstances but, alas, here we are."

Dante commented, earning silent chuckles from my friends- well, all but Yara who busied herself with her phone instead. She and my brother had Never gotten along and their arguments were always pretty epic. I just hoped they would be civil tonight, especially after all the excitement that had been.

"It's nice to meet you all. I apologize for the unpleasant experience that you just had. I assure you that the men responsible will be dealt with. In the meantime, please enjoy everything that Cross has to offer- all on the house."

My friends cheered and thanked the handsome man, including Yara who seemed to perk up at the news, much to my brother's annoyance. I chuckled silently at the sight, watching as the waiters brought in some drinks for us.

"I didn't think I'd see you until I came back to New York but I'm so glad you came. I missed you."

I muttered over to my brother once he sat down beside me, earning one of his rare but dazzling smiles that was straight from the heart and not forced by circumstance.

"I missed you more. I'm sorry I couldn't come to the earlier concerts and I'm sorry the night started out so roughly but I promise, we are going to have fun tonight and celebrate the end of your world tour. I'm so proud of you, sorellina."

My brother granted me a side hug, his words meaning more to me than he would ever know. The mere fact that he was here, with me tonight was enough, everything else be damned. I was happy to simply share a drink with him and my friends- and Raiden Hattori who hasn't stopped glancing over at me.

There was a mysterious quality to the man, one that seemed to charge the energy around us. We had yet to speak beyond a silent greeting but something within me knew that there was a shift. That he was a man to avoid- and yet I couldn't help but long to be in his presence and uncover the mystery that surrounded him.

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