Chapter Seven

“Don’t lose yourself to anyone,” my aunt Allison says to me, lying on her bed, staring up at the ceiling with a funny-smelling cigarette dangling between her fingers, “not a boy or a friend or even your family. You can’t care what anyone thinks of you, Lana, because as soon as you do, you’re lost.”

Joey leans back against the cab and eases me onto his lap. “I like you here.”

“I like me here too,” I admit, relaxing against his chest.

“How are you doing now?” he asks, his breath tickling my neck.

“Better.” I smile.

He smiles back, revealing the dimple. I lean over and kiss it. I can’t help myself. Joey turns his head and his lips barely brush across mine. Shooting stars surge through my entire body.

He hasn’t truly kissed me yet, and the anticipation is causing my pulse to beat erratically. Seriously, I need ten minutes … twenty alone with him and we’ll both be soaring. All the crazy that’s happened tonight will instantly be forgotten.

Joey presses his forehead against mine. “What do you think about starting over? You know, have tonight start right now?”

“I think I like that,” is released within a breath.

Joey caresses my cheek with his thumb, eliciting a shiver.

Out of the corner of my eye, I notice big blue eyes right next to my head. I lean back to find Allie’s face poking through the cab window, her chin resting on her hand, staring at us dreamily.

“You two are so cute.”

Tori snorts loudly. I flip her the finger.

“Here.” Allie offers me the nearly depleted bottle of liquor.

I take it from her, down a shot and pass it off. I’ve been waiting for the buzz to kick in, to mellow me out. But this night has been anything but chill. Hopefully it will finally overtake me when we get to The Point.

“You guys know that The Point parties are exclusive, right?” Joey announces to everyone in the bed of the truck. “We’re not really supposed to have access, so keep it between us. Okay?” He focuses on Vic, receiving an affirming grunt in return.

“Of course,” Tori assures him.

“We won’t say anything,” I promise. “How do people usually get on the list?”

“All I know is that everyone on the list has to be approved. I’m not sure how they request to get on it. But they have to pay crazy money for the privilege, basically ensuring their silence, or else they’re blackballed—which, in this group, is social suicide.”

“How do they find out about the parties?” I ask.

I’ve been dying to go since I first found out about The Point parties two years ago. We’ve only ever heard whispers after they’ve happened—the secrecy heightening my obsession.

“Everyone on the list receives a text with a code on it. When they sign in, the location is revealed along with a bar code that gets them in. They can pay to bring up to six of their friends.” As an afterthought, Joey adds, “Oh, phones aren’t allowed inside. You have to check them in as you enter.”

“Who came up with this? It’s insane,” I ask, impressed.

“No one knows. The organizers don’t want anyone knowing their identities so they can’t be influenced, or busted. This isn’t exactly legal,” Joey explains. “I heard they’ve expanded it to six different spots in three towns. I think they’re trying to make it a legit business.”

Tori eyes him suspiciously. “How do you know so much about it?”

Joey only shrugs with a grin that convinces me he knows someone involved.

I sink back against the side of the truck, groaning. “Wait. How much does it cost to get in? I don’t have a ton of money on me.” I can’t waste my tip money on a party, not if I want to keep our lights on.

“You’re with me tonight,” Joey says, taking hold of my hand. “Don’t worry about it.”

“You sure?” I ask, uncomfortable with him paying.

“Very.” Joey pulls me closer to him and lowers his voice, his mouth next to my ear. “But this isn’t our first date, Lana. I want to save that for another night, okay? Because I definitely want to see you again.”

It sounds like a line. I should totally blow him off like I do any other guy who tries too hard. Except it doesn’t feel like a line. Everything about him makes my heart race, causing me to do and say things I never would.

I press my lips together to hide the huge smile that wants to explode onto my face. “I want to see you again too.” I am so pathetic tonight.

We pull through the open gates of the chain-link fence a few minutes later, entering The Point—which is a collection of old brick factory buildings and warehouses in the middle of nowhere. Some of the buildings are abandoned. Others have businesses in them. It’s hard to tell the difference because they all look like they should be torn down.

The truck stops at the first building. “We’ll let you off here since we have to park out back.”

“Thanks for the ride,” Lincoln tells him as Nina gets out of the cab and shuts the door.

“Not a problem.”

“We’ll look for you inside.” Allie pops out of the open window and sits on the door. “Love you guys!” She remains hanging out of the truck when Seth pulls away, thrusting her arms in the air and screaming in excitement.

“What is she on?” Tori asks.

“Sunshine and fucking rainbows,” Nina says, grabbing the bottle away from Lincoln.

I laugh.

“Girl talk,” Tori says to Joey and Lincoln.

They nod in understanding and start walking down the alley between the first and second buildings. Vic remains behind us … somewhere. I should probably be more aware of where he is. I should also be more afraid of him than I am. But I’m not.

Tori nudges me with her shoulder to get my attention. “About earlier … I know how weird you can get about keeping your mouth shut, especially if you think it might take us down too. I won’t ask. But know you have nothing to worry about. Okay?”

“We’ve got you,” Nina pledges, passing me the bottle. “And I’ll get your bag from Gary tomorrow because you know he can’t fire me.”

I look between her and Tori. “Thanks.”

“Now what’s up with you and Joey?” Nina asks giddily.

“I’m not sure,” I answer honestly. “But whatever it is, it’s … intense. I can’t explain it.”

“Yeah. Anyone within ten feet of you two can smell the intensity.” Tori shoots me a side-eyed look loaded with judgment. She takes the bottle from me.

“Ew, Tori,” Nina says with a laugh.

“Stop. I’m not going to hook up with him. But let me have a little fun, okay?” I implore.

Tori lifts a shoulder in resignation.

“Speaking of fun”—I reach into my pocket and pull out the plastic bag—“look what I got us for tonight. It only cost me … well, nothing.”

Nina squeals. “Let me see.” She examines the bag in her palm. “There’s a little of everything in here. They sell it like this?”

“They call it, ‘party in a bag.’”

“That’s kind of a stupid and genius name at the same time,” she says, pulling the seal apart and selecting a tiny foil square labeled with a smiling mushroom sticker. “Do you trust them?”

“Can you really trust anyone with a pocketful of drugs?”

“True,” Nina replies. “Well, here goes nothing.” She chews the chocolate and swallows. “Let the party begin.”

“Don’t get lost on your trip,” Tori tells Nina, taking the bag from her. She removes the small blue pill with an X stamped on it before handing the bag back to me.

I inspect the contents, select the brown powder capsule of Molly and toss it back with a swig from the bottle, finally starting to feel the mellowing effects of the alcohol.

“This night is going to be ridiculous!” Nina exclaims, thrusting her arms in the air with an exaggerated sway of her hips.

“Now how do we get rid of Psycho?” I tip my head slightly in Vic’s direction.

“We’ll lose him inside,” Tori assures me. “But don’t go anywhere alone. I don’t trust him.”

Joey and Lincoln have stopped at the end of the next building, waiting for us.

“It’s insane how much he looks like Parker.” Nina scans Joey, eyeing him like he’s candy.

“Which is why I’m a little creeped out about you two together,” Tori says to me. “But I’ll lay off, I promise.”

Tori hands Lincoln the bottle when we reach them. The guys finish off the last of it and toss it in a dumpster across the alley.

I notice a group of people enter a blue door farther down.

“Is that where we’re going?” Nina asks.

“Yeah, that’s our entrance,” Joey tells us.

“There’s more than one?” I’m still trying to wrap my head around this setup.

“They don’t want lines outside to give away the location, so there are five entrances, and everyone’s given a block of time to show up. They also need to keep us hidden from the cops.”

“You seriously know a lot about this for someone who’s never been,” Tori notes, studying him warily.

Joey doesn’t respond.

When we reach the door, Joey takes my hand. “I don’t want to lose you.”

I give him a gentle squeeze back, not planning on being lost.

The door cracks open, revealing a hint of the broad figure behind it. Joey releases my hand long enough to pull out his phone and bring up the code. The guy scans it with another phone, and the image disappears.

“How many?”

“Five.”

“Six,” Vic corrects him.

Joey’s back stiffens. It’s the first time I’ve seen him react to Vic or any of the fucked-up-ed-ness that’s happened tonight.

Joey shakes his head in annoyance and says, “Six.”

The door opens and we’re ushered into a tight hallway. The guy locks the outside door behind us.

“Phones.” The guy holds out a black plastic bag.

Reluctantly, I drop mine inside, followed by everyone else. He hands a token to Joey, who slips it into his front pocket.

“Hands,” the doorman demands.

Joey holds out his hand, turning it over. The guy presses a stamp against the back of his wrist. I do the same, letting him brand me with ultraviolet ink.

Once he’s marked everyone, he unlocks the black door at the other end of the hallway and silently holds it open. The whole man-of-a-few-words thing he has going on is intimidating. It could also be the six-ish feet of bulging muscle. I doubt anyone’s stupid enough to mess with him. And just as the thought enters my head, Vic tries to push past us, practically knocking me over.

The doorman shoves him against the wall. “Cut the shit or you’re out.”

Joey’s hands are on my waist, steadying me. “You okay?”

I nod.

“Vic, stay the fuck away from us,” Nina threatens.

We move past him, his dark eyes following us as we enter a dimly lit stairwell. A giant pink neon arrow points up, so we do as instructed and climb the stairs. I feel the bass pounding above us before I can hear the music. On the next level, a green neon star marks a red door. As soon as Joey opens it, we’re engulfed by electronic beats and lasers cutting across the room.

We step inside. The door falls shut behind us as we stare in wordless wonder. I’ve never been to anything like this before. I can’t move for a minute, needing to take it all in. The entire space is surrounded by large screens, displaying images and colors pulsing to the music. The DJ is at the far end on an elevated stage—a bouncing silhouette between a lit booth and a wall of screens. It’s what I imagine a club in Vegas or LA would be like. And to think they set this up for one night in an abandoned building is beyond insane.

“I can’t believe I’m here,” I utter in awe.

Everywhere I look, people are dancing, even along the mezzanine that wraps around the upper level.

Joey turns to me, his eyes lit with excitement. “Ready?” He offers me his hand, eager to get lost in the crowd.

I laugh. “Yes.” Taking his outstretched hand, I let him navigate us toward the stage.

I glance over my shoulder to make sure Nina, Lincoln and Tori are behind us.

“Go!” Nina yells after me, still by the door.

When I realize they aren’t following, I pull Joey back toward them.

“We’ll find you after we go to the bar.”

“Will you hold my jacket then?” I ask her, already feeling too warm. Shrugging out of it, I toss it to Nina before they disappear in the opposite direction.

Joey clasps my hand again, and within a few feet, we’re swallowed up by the crowd of jumping, swaying and grinding bodies.

When we’re completely immersed somewhere in the middle of the madness, he turns to me and places his hands on my hips, drawing me to him. “We’ll get a drink in a little while. I’ve needed this all night.”

I drape my hands over his shoulders and lose myself to the bass, rolling with the wave of intoxication that has finally taken over. With his hands gripping my hips, Joey guides our bodies until they’re moving in unison. He’s really good at this. Maybe too good because I’m so overwhelmed by the feel of him against me that everyone else disappears. His hands glide from my hips to the small of my back, pressing me firmly against him. If we were any closer, we’d dissolve into each other.

I’ve never wanted a guy this badly before. Then again, a guy’s never made me feel like this before. My body responds to his slightest touch. My pulse quickens every time his voice rumbles low in my ear. I’m held captive by him—willingly. I could seep into his skin and lose myself.

Joey dips his head down and slides his mouth along my neck. I draw in a quick breath. When he reaches my lips, he breathes against them, continuing to tease and torment me. I close my eyes, needing to taste him, but he refuses to kiss me. I exhale slowly, unraveling.

A few songs later, a tap on the shoulder wakes me from my Joey-induced haze. Tori is standing next to us with Lincoln and Nina dancing behind her. We separate to include them. Nina hands me a bottle of water with a knowing wink, and I could kiss her. My mouth is so dry, it’s like I’ve swallowed sand.

Every so often Joey brushes his hand against mine, playfully interlacing our fingers. I know he’s trying not to give Tori a reason to throw her drink on him. But it’s too hard for us to resist. We’re overcome with a compulsion to touch. Within a song, he surrenders to the pull, moving in close behind me. I wrap my arms around his neck, and he trails his hand down my side. Our bodies ease together in a fluid, singular motion.

“I think I need a drink,” Joey murmurs in my ear before tasting the sweat on my neck.

I squeeze his hands on my hips. “Yeah, me too.” I look to Tori and Nina. “Bar?”

They nod and we cut through the crowd to the other end of the open space.

Just when the dancers start to thin out, we run into a wall of people waiting to order drinks at the glowing square bar.

“There you are!” I look back to see a hand on Joey’s shoulder. “I thought I told you to stay downstairs when you got here and I’d come give you your keys.”

I turn to find Parker Harrison standing before us.

Parker and Joey may look alike in many ways, but while Joey’s disheveled and sexy, Parker’s polished and powerful. Joey’s hair is displaced from raking his fingers through it, and Parker’s is trimmed and neatly parted to the side. Joey’s boyishly charming in an untucked button-down while Parker’s jaw-droppingly kempt in a sports jacket. He looks … important.

I find myself captivated by eyes the same shade of electric blue as the boy I’ve been grinding against for the past hour. But I don’t expect the betrayal I see reflected back in them. Whatever lecture he was about to give his brother about being here is lost.

“Lana? What are you doing here?”

“Hi, Parker.” My stomach twists when his focus darts from Joey to me in confusion.

“You know each other?” Joey asks.

“Yeah,” Parker replies, sounding distant as he pins me with a questioning stare.

I don’t say anything. There isn’t anything to say. But I don’t look away either, even though I should.

“Lana’s here with me tonight.”

I can feel the weight of Joey’s arm around my shoulder, claiming me.

Parker tears his attention away from me and gives his brother a pitying look. Then he laughs this amused, almost maniacal laugh. “Are you sure about that?”

“Hey, Parker.” Nina steps between us, stopping directly in front of him, her chest brushing against his. “Buy me a drink?”

Parker eases his hand along her waist and places a ghost of a kiss on her cheek. “Hey, gorgeous. Maybe later? I have to go take care of something.”

Nina visibly deflates but recovers quickly. “No problem.”

Lengthening her spine, she turns and walks briskly away. I almost shiver from the ice rolling off her.

I step out from under Joey’s territorial limb and follow after her. Tori comes up beside me and makes a pained face when I look at her.

“I know, right?! What the hell was that about?” I huff.

But Tori’s expression doesn’t change. Clearly she’s not listening. She runs a knuckle under her eye, indicating I should do the same.

I swipe my finger to remove the smeared makeup. “Better?”

Tori shakes her head with a grimace, like it hurts her to see me like this. “You’re a mess.”

I’m suddenly afraid to know what I look like. I glance down at the rivulets of sweat running down my chest, disappearing into my cleavage, forming dark blue wet marks under my boobs. Tori’s right. I’m a disaster.

“I’ll be right back,” I tell her, needing to disappear immediately.

She nods, hurrying me past her.

“Lana!” Joey calls after me.

“Relax. She’s just going to the bathroom,” I hear Tori tell him. “You can live without her for ten minutes.”

I spot flashing neon lights in the left corner, animating a girl dancing. There’s one of a guy fist-pumping directly across from it. They have to be the bathrooms.

I swipe my fingers under my eyes again and keep my head down, not wanting anyone to see the mascara melting down my face.

An arm wraps around my waist and I’m swept into the darkness under the stairs.

“Why are you here with my brother?”

“Holy shit, Parker!” I exclaim breathlessly, lowering the elbow that was inches from smashing his nose.

“Tell me,” he demands impatiently, remaining way too close. I attempt to take a step back, but his arm tightens around my waist. “You’ve refused to go out with me every time I’ve asked. My brother’s home for a day and you’re here with him?”

“Really?” I huff, pushing at his chest to separate us.

Parker releases me and gestures impatiently when I don’t continue.

“Lincoln asked Tori to a party tonight. And it turns out, Lincoln and Joey are friends, which I’m sure you know. We’re all here together. But it’s not like you have any claim. You know that.”

“Why do you have to be so difficult?”

Parker takes a step toward me, and I mimic it with a step back.

“You know why.” It’s a conversation we’ve had too many times over the past year, and my answer’s not going to change.

“I don’t have to see her again. You know what it’s like with her. We’re not together,” he pleads. “We use each other. That’s it.”

“And that makes it better? She’s one of my best friends. You became untouchable to me the moment you touched her. You know my rule.”

I know what the two of them have doesn’t mean anything. Nina pretty much repeats the same thing Parker just said. But they still get together, no matter how toxic whatever they have is. Respect and Confidence—like fire and an accelerant, their curses are a dangerous combination. They’re constantly tearing each other apart—when they’re not … well, tearing each other apart.

He growls in frustration. “Don’t start anything with my brother.” His words have an underlying threat to them.

“What?! You don’t have a say in that either!”

“Lana, don’t … ” Before he can finish whatever asinine thing he’s about to say, I clench my teeth to keep from screaming and stalk past him. “Lana!”

“Stay away from me, Parker!” I yell over my shoulder, hurriedly squeezing by people to increase the distance between us. My shoulder collides with a body.

“Lana?”

I slowly look up to find a guy with wavy brown hair and big dark eyes looking down at me. I scan the mold of the navy T-Shirt over his sculpted chest and the way his snug jeans fit perfectly. He’s hot. Then I meet his eyes again and realize who he is. Holy shit.

“Mr. Garner?”

I instantly want to die. I just thought my guidance counselor was hot. But, in my defense, he looks way different without the glasses and tie. Way different.

“Isaac,” he corrects quickly, looking around like we might get caught doing something wrong. “What are you doing here?” Before I can answer, he says, “Forget it. Where’s Tori?”

I tip my head toward the line at the bar. He looks in her direction and nods, even though she’s hidden within the crowd.

“I can’t believe you’re here,” he says, shaking his head. “Actually, if any of my students could get into this place, it’d be you and Tori. I swear it’ll be a miracle if you two graduate in one piece.”

I often think the same thing. “Wasn’t expecting to see you either.”

“You probably don’t know, but I grew up in Oaklawn. I went to school with a lot of people here.”

“How old are you?” I ask automatically.

I always thought he was old, like thirty or something. Maybe it’s the tie … or seeing him sitting behind a desk, surrounded by inspirational quotes. But tonight, dressed like a normal guy, he doesn’t look much older than … Parker.

“Old enough to know I shouldn’t be caught drinking with you,” he replies. “I didn’t see you tonight. And you didn’t see me.”

“I don’t even know who you are,” I say, which isn’t far from the truth.

Isaac laughs. Even thinking his first name feels wrong. “Be good, Lana. Don’t get into trouble.” Then he walks off.

Talk about weird. This night cannot get any more twisted. And just as I think it, I wish I hadn’t. The last thing I want to do is tempt Fate. We don’t have a good history.

“Hey! There you are! I thought I’d lost you. Wait. Where are the rest of your friends? Are you lost? Do you need me to help you find them?”

I remain still, staring up at the willowy girl with bright pink hair in a turquoise bandeau and matching sequined miniskirt.

“It’s Allie!”

“Umm, yeah. I remember.” Like there’s any way I could possibly forget. “They’re in line at the bar. I have to use the bathroom.”

“Me too!” she exclaims. “I found this super-secret bathroom upstairs that doesn’t have a line. Wanna come?!”

I eye the football field length line waiting to get in the girls’ bathroom. “Sure.”

Allie takes my hand and leads me up the stairs to the mezzanine level. Looking down from here, I can see how big this place truly is. It’s crazy-huge. The space is lined with black curtains, making it feel more private and … sinister. I watch a girl in a metallic dress disappear into the dark with a bottle and glasses on her tray. It takes a moment for my eyes to adjust before I see the groups of people on lush couches concealed within the shadows. I can only imagine what they’re doing back there.

“So there’s this office or something hidden up here with a bathroom in it. Another girl showed me earlier,” Allie tells me.

She pulls back a section of the heavy curtain next to a black door, casting light into the dark space. I quickly duck through the opening and she follows, concealing us behind the fabric wall.

Light shines through a window-lined office where four girls wait to use the bathroom. When we enter, the first thing I notice is an oversized ornate mirror propped on a metal desk. A girl’s leaning in close to it, lining her eyes. When I approach it, I immediately cringe at my reflection. No wonder Joey hasn’t kissed me.

I slide my headband off and let my hair down, shaking out the sweat-soaked strands. I rake my fingers through the length that extends to my lower back before sweeping it up into a large twisted bun and securing it on top of my head, sliding the crystal headband back in place. That’s a little better.

“Is your hair white?” Allie asks.

I turn with a start, unaware she was hovering.

“It’s blond. It’s just really light.”

She’s not the first to mistake my hair for being white. Although it’s usually little kids I’m correcting.

“You should totally color it white,” she says to my reflection, stepping closer to the mirror without blinking her eyes. “You would look like a frost princess. But you really do look like a princess.” She reaches out to touch me, the reflected me, running a finger along my headband. “It’s so sparkly.”

“Uh, thanks. My mother gave it to me.” I watch her curiously. She’s definitely … unique.

Allie spins around to face me, the real me, and throws her arms around my neck. “You’re so beautiful,” she says, hugging me tight. She steps back, holding me at arm’s length, and just stares at me like she’s trying to decide if I’m real. “I’m so high.”

I nod. Really? I mean, the wide, unblinking eyes pretty much gave that away. And for the first time, I recognize I’m feeling pretty floaty myself—but definitely not lost in the stratosphere like Allie.

“You gotta go?” a thin brunette in boy shorts and a bikini top asks, motioning toward the bathroom that just opened up.

“I do,” I answer. And I also need the sink to clean off the black streaks running down my face. I look like I’ve been crying mud.

I ease out of Allie’s grip and enter the bathroom.

When I come back out, Allie’s still there. I’m not sure why. Maybe she thinks we’re friends now. Except … we’re not.

I inspect the sweat marks on my top in the mirror. Pulling the fabric away from my skin, I flap it gently, hoping it’ll dry.

“Want to go outside?” Allie asks. “It’s so hot in here.” She plops down on the desk, like she’s too weak to stand. “I need some air.”

She doesn’t look so good. I’m worried she may pass out, and there’s no way I can hold her up.

“Where can we go?”

“This way,” she says, crisscrossing her long legs as she weaves toward the door. “Why am I so hot? This is so not good, my princess.”

“It’s okay,” I assure her, taking her by the elbow to steer her through the curtain so that she doesn’t grab on to it and pull it down. “Which way?”

“That way.” Allie points right.

I direct us through the black door, entering a stairwell.

“That way again.” Her finger indicates a blue door with Exit lit above it.

I push through and find a small group of people smoking on a fire escape spanning the alley between two buildings.

Allie stumbles out of my grasp and trots down a few feet before collapsing on a grated metal step. “Omigod. My skin needed this so bad.” She flops her arms over the railing in blissful relief.

“Water?” some guy asks, offering her a bottle.

“You are so super sweet,” she says, looking up at him with her big blue eyes and thousand-watt smile.

I grab the bottle from him first to make sure it’s sealed before letting her have it.

When she dumps half of it in her mouth, she releases an obnoxiously loud moan. “Best. Water. Ever.”

“Glad I could make you happy,” the guy says with a creepy, predator smile.

I turn to him, knowing he’s lingering because he thinks he has a chance with her. “Get lost.”

He scowls and goes back into the building. That’s when I notice the black boots on the steps next to my head. And, of course, I find Vic, the master scowler, doing exactly that down at me.

I let out a disgusted breath and focus on Allie, pointedly ignoring him. “How are you feeling?”

“I’m so happy,” she responds, beaming. “Here, have some.” She hands me the bottle of water before taking ahold of the railing to pull herself up.

I easily finish it and abandon the empty bottle on the step. “Thanks.”

Allie stares at me with that same doe-eyed expression she wore in the truck. “You could be a fairy, you know. You have the biggest black eyes.”

“They’re brown.”

“A little, tiny nose, kissed with stardust.”

“Or freckles.”

“And super-pointy cheekbones. Do you have pointy ears too?”

She tips her head to look, like she expects they might be.

“I don’t.”

“All you need are wings and you’d be my fairy princess.” She places her palms on my cheeks and speaks in a high-pitched voice, “I wish I could shrink you and put you in my pocket.”

I have no idea what she’s talking about. She’s delusional. I need to get her back to her boyfriend.

“Where’s Seth? Let’s go find him. I’m sure my friends are wondering where I am too.” Or at least I hope they are.

“You do have wings! They’re just hiding!” Allie declares when I turn to walk toward the door. She traces a finger along my right shoulder blade. “You are my fairy princess!”

“Yup, you’re right,” I say with a sigh.

When I glance at her over my shoulder, I realize Vic is gone—which is a good and bad thing. Good because I can’t stand to be within two feet of him. Bad because now I have no idea where he is again, and I still don’t trust him not to do something stupid.

I reach for the door at the same time it pushes open. A girl steps out and I slide by her.

“Allie!” I hear her screech in excitement right before the door clicks shut behind me.

I groan into the empty stairwell, knowing Allie’s no longer following me. I’d much rather be drinking and dancing with my friends, but I can’t leave her. She’s a disaster. I have to help her find Seth. I’m blaming the drugs for my uncharacteristic kindness.

I set my hand on the release bar. As the door cracks open, I’m forcefully yanked from behind and slammed against the wall. Pain floods my head when it collides with the concrete. I blink to clear the spots from my eyes, disoriented. Something hard pokes my ribs and a forearm presses against my chest, pinning me. I pull at the arm, then grunt when the object jabs into me. It’s a gun.

How many guns does he have? Did he get this back from Nina? Why am I thinking about this right now?

“You’re not going to say anything about what happened tonight,” Vic demands, his rank breath invading my senses.

I stab him a thousand times with my glare. When I refuse to answer, he thrusts his weight against me, crushing my chest. I grit my teeth in pain.

“Right?”

“I’m not going to say anything,” I growl. “Now get off me!”

I try to push him, but he shoves me back against the concrete, banging my head again. I cry out, overcome with blinding pain.

“If you do, I’ll hurt you,” he threatens. “I mean, really hurt you.”

“Hey! Get off my fairy princess!” Before I can react, Allie jumps on Vic’s back. “Leave her alone!”

“What the— Get off me, you psycho!” Vic bellows as she wraps an arm around his neck and pounds his back with her fist.

Vic steps back. I move to get out from under his arm, but he lunges forward, trapping me again. He whips the hand holding the gun over his shoulder and hits Allie on the side of the head.

“Ow!” she yelps, releasing him and landing with a hard thud on her feet. She staggers backward, her hand cradling her head. “That hurt.”

“You asshole!” I jam my knee between his legs.

Vic moans in pain and bends in half, cupping himself. Clasping my hands together, I swing up as hard as I can, colliding with his jaw. Vic’s head flips up with a howl. He stumbles back, slamming into Allie.

Allie pounds his arm with the sides of her fists. “You’re so mean!”

Vic reaches out and clutches Allie by the throat. She claws at his hand, making gurgling noises. As I rush toward him, he stares at me, his dark brows dipping to shadow his eyes. A malevolent, bloody smile creeps across his face, causing me to falter in my steps. If evil has a face, he’s staring at me right now. I know exactly what he’s about to do the second before he does it.

“No!”

I reach for Allie … just as Vic tosses her down the stairs.