Danger’s in London and I desperately want to see him. I know he has some stuff to do tonight and then he’s free, but Annie and Aston had a fight at the party. So I’m sort of on Annie watch, making sure she doesn’t do anything stupid. Knowing Danger is only an hour and half away is doing my head in as I sit in the lounge room with Annie painting my nails. I’d much rather be on my way to London to meet up with Danger, but I don’t see how that’s going to be possible now.

“Let’s go out,” Annie bursts out of nowhere.

Looking at her, I raise my eyebrow. “What, now?” I ask as she smiles like she’s getting excited. “Well, where do you want to go?” I question thinking she’ll want to go to the movies or something as I blow on my wet nails.

“I don’t know to a club or something?”

“Really? Okay. What will we tell Mum?”

“That we’re having a girl’s night at the movies or something?” Annie kneeling on the lounge in excitement.

“Perfect, let’s get dressed then.”

We both race upstairs to our rooms to get prepared. I pull out my phone and quickly send a text to Danger telling him we’re driving into London to go to a club, and if he has time he should swing by and find me. I grab some dresses from my closet and try them on, I’m not sure if I’ll be seeing Danger tonight so I want to look my best just in case.

Annie rushes into my room as I pick up a black lacy number and hold it up against my body.

“C’mon Ella, that one will do.”

“I was thinking the black one too,” I say and pull it over my head. I slip into some flats and we flurry downstairs to a waiting Mum in the lounge room, who’s settled herself in for a night of movies and popcorn.

“Hey girls, I thought we could have a movie night,” she says and then looks back at us all dressed up. “But I think you’re overdressed.”

“We thought we’d have a movie night. Go out and see that new slasher flick,” I lie and Mum nods.

“Okay, well, I’ll just go and get dressed and I’ll take us out—”

“Actually Mum, me and Ella just want some sister bonding time if that’s okay?” Annie says and Mum frowns.

“Yep, no worries, I’ll just sit here all on my lonesome and watch something with the dogs on my lap…no biggie,” she says and I smile.

“Thanks, Mum.”

We grab our coats.

“Have fun girls, don’t be home too late. Call me if anyone recognises you and I’ll have security with you as soon as possible,” Mum calls out as we grab the car keys and race out the front door.

“I’m driving,” I say and Annie laughs closing the door behind her.

“Sure, means I can drink.”

“Don’t drink too much, okay?”

She rolls her eyes. “Yes, Mum.”

I shake my head as we get in the car and head to London. After the hour and a half drive, we find a small club on the outskirts of the city. Parking the car, we move toward the lineup. We start to queue, but the bouncer waves at us.

“You ladies can go through, head on up to VIP. I’ll radio ahead and let them know you’re coming,” he says and we smile at each other as I squeal slightly. We walk into the club, head up the stairs and the bouncer lets us in.

“Good evening, Miss Slade times two,” he says and we both smile. It is nice being known sometimes.

“Let’s get a drink,” I yell to Annie and she nods.

We walk to the bar and Annie’s looking out across the bar, clearly checking out her target for the evening. I roll my eyes and look back at the bar ordering our drinks.

Three shots of tequila later, and I’m dancing by myself on the edge of the dancefloor while Annie continues to drink at the bar. A tingle shoots all over my arms as I let the music flow through me. I’m feeling a little intoxicated, but I know this feeling someone is near me, someone I like. I’m just not sure who.

A hand on my waist sends a flash of warmth right through my soul and I turn to see Danger smiling right at me. I scream loudly and jump wrapping my arms around him. I feel like I’m home again as his muscular arms encase me tightly. His body connects with mine and he holds me strongly against him. I glance back at Annie and smirk as I point to the dancefloor letting her know I’m going to be preoccupied for a while. Annie smiles and shakes her head as Danger grabs hold and walks with me into the sea of people on the dancefloor. He pulls my body flush to him and his hands come up either side of my face as his eyes interlock with mine.

“Fuck sugar, you’re even more beautiful than my memories,” he says and then his lips crash to mine and my body ignites into passion. Everything inside me explodes into a blissful harmony. Kissing Danger always felt right and doing it here right now after so long the feeling is exactly as it always has been.

He is my true north.

My home.

My safe place.

And right now I couldn’t feel more at ease as his tongue dances with mine. His piercing gliding against my tongue and my lips, bringing a new ecstasy to this moment. I wrap my arms tightly around his neck while my fingers run through his hair. God, I’ve missed just touching him. Everything about him I’ve missed and he hasn’t changed at all.

“I’ve missed you so much, Ella,” he says breaking the kiss and resting his forehead against mine.

“I’m glad you were able to come out and see me tonight.”

“I’m glad you came to London tonight. I’ve been aching to see you, baby. When you said you were at this club, I dropped everything and got here as soon as I could. I just need to hold you,” he says and my chest constricts with his words and a lump forms in my throat. Feeling like this with Danger is always so easy when he’s here. It’s when he’s not, that’s the issue.

“Can you not leave it so long between visits next time?” I ask and he huffs.

“Yeah sugar, I’m sorry. Life’s been crazy.”

“Tell me about it,” I say and he frowns.

“I’ve been such a dickhead and so busy with the band that I haven’t had time to do anything. I haven’t even been able to spend time with my sister’s fiancé yet, and it’s their wedding soon. Everything is suffering Ella, not just you.”

“Okay, I’m sorry, I’m not the most supportive girlfriend in the world—”

“Hey stop! You’re perfect, this is all on me, but I don’t want to talk right now. All I want to do is dance with you, hold you and kiss you all night long. Can we do that?”

“Of course,” I reply leaning on my toes and pressing my lips to his as an image of Chad flashes through my mind. I cringe and pull back from the kiss and nuzzle into Danger’s chest. Dancing with him instead, trying not to think about the fact that for some fucked up and twisted reason, I now feel like being here with Danger is me cheating on Chad.

My head is so fucked up!

While dancing with Danger, I notice Annie getting friendly with a guy who seems a bit of a bad boy. He’s covered in tattoos and has those ear gauges. And he’s certainly taken a fancy to her. I’m a bit worried that Annie might be going a bit too far with this guy. His hands are all over her and she seems completely oblivious to his overly-friendly behaviour.

“Danger, do you think that guy with Annie is okay?” I ask leaning up and yelling in his ear.

He looks over to watch him running his hand up the inside of her thigh and Annie doesn’t even seem to notice.

“Okay, I think maybe she’s had too much to drink. We’ll take her home,” he says taking my hand and walking us over to them. They’re dirty dancing and I mean practically dry humping in the middle of the room as Danger and I approach. Annie is completely off her face, she’s so wasted and needs to come home with us now. Annie’s laughing as she starts to sway while I tap her shoulder. She turns to face me and stumbles on the spot.

“Oh hey, sissy. What’s Danger doing here anyway?” she asks as Danger wraps his arms around my waist from behind.

“Oh, he was just in the neighbourhood. Anyway, I think you should stop drinking. You’ve had quite enough for now, and if you want to be sober by the time we get home then—”

“Oh, whatever. I’m not nearly drunk enough. Plus, my good mate Trent here is keeping me company,” she says slurring her words.

“Annie, you need to stop drinking and come home with us now,” I demand and Annie laughs like it’s a joke.

“Nah! Thanks. I’m having a great time. I think we should stay.”

“Annie, c’mon! You need to go home. You’re wasted and—”

“Oh, just piss off, Little Miss Goody-Two-Shoes. Go home with your dangerous boyfriend!”

I huff and fold my arms over my chest at her demeaning attitude. “Annie, you’re acting out. Stop being a bitch and come home now or I’ll tell Mum.”

Her eyes open wide and she glares at me. “You came out here just like I did, Ella. You tell her I’m here and I’ll tell her you’ve been drinking and dancing with Danger. How do you think she’d like to hear about that, huh?” she asks stepping right in front of me getting in my face.

“Okay, I think someone can’t handle her liquor. C’mon Ella, let Annie settle down for a bit then we’ll take her home,” Danger states and Annie smirks and tilts her head like she’s won this round.

Annie’s being a brat and she has no right to treat me like this.

“No, if she wants to stay she can. Let Little Miss I’m-Better-Than-Everyone-Else find her own way home in her drunken stupor. See how she likes being thrown into the deep end. Have a good night Annie, I hope you get whatever sick twisted satisfaction you’re after,” I say, and in my anger I storm off before I end up punching her out. She’s being such a bitch right now and I don’t want to be near her when she makes a fool of herself. I turn back to see Danger hand her something, I don’t care what it is so I turn back around and continue to storm out of the club. Soon a strong set of arms wrap around me and my anger ebbs in his arms.

“Hey, she’s just trying to have fun Ella,” he whispers in my ear.

“I know, but she’s completely smashed and that guy is going to take full advantage of her,” I say getting a little emotional.

He grabs my shoulders pulling me to look at him. “She’s a big girl, she knows when to say no, and she has my number now. She’ll call if she needs me, okay? Don’t worry,” he says and I huff and move in to cuddle him.

“Thank you for giving her your number. I hope she calls before she does something stupid,” I say and he murmurs something and walks us out of the club and over to my car. “I better get back home.” I feel really pissed off that Annie is ruining my night like this.

“Let me come with you?” Danger asks and it shocks me slightly.

“You want to come back to Oxfordshire, with me?”

“Yeah, I need to make sure you get home okay, and I don’t want you driving for an hour and a half on your own when you’re angry and you’ve been drinking,” he says and I lean up and kiss him taking him by surprise.

Pulling back he smirks at me. “Thank you,” I say and he shakes his head.

“Don’t thank me yet, I have no idea how Colt will react when he sees me,” he says and I smile and walk over to the driver’s side of my car.

“No need to worry Danger, Dad’s out of town. It’s just Mum at home and she knows about us, so we’ll be free to be ourselves around her,” I say and slide into the car.

It takes a second before Danger glides into the passenger’s seat and when he does he glares at me. “Ella, your Mom knows about us?”

“Yes, but before you go getting all panic-stricken, she hasn’t and won’t tell Dad until we want her to,” I say starting the ignition.

He huffs and shakes his head. “Are you sure?”

“Danger, if Dad knew about us I’m sure I would’ve had an earful by now. There’s been nothing since I told Mum, she hasn’t even said anything to me about it. So it hasn’t been mentioned. Don’t worry, your secret is safe from the scary Colter Slade,” I say backing out of the parking space and heading back home toward Oxfordshire.

Annie is playing on my mind and I feel sorry for leaving her, but she’s made her own bed and she can lie in it. On the ride back Danger holds my hand on the gearstick and talks to me about his band and his sister Mouse. He lights up when he talks about her and her plans to get married. I’ve never really thought about getting married myself and suddenly an image of me in a white dress walking down an aisle pops into my mind. I look down the end and standing there, one on either side, is Chad and Danger. Both dressed immaculately in suits and both staring at me like they’re waiting for me to choose between them.

“Ella!” Danger calls out and grabs the steering wheel swerving so I don’t go up the gutter.

“Shit, sorry, I was miles away,” I say shaking my head as my heart races so frantically I want to be sick.

“Are you okay to drive, sugar? Need me to take over? Are you too tired?” he asks watching me intently as I turn my eyes back to the road.

“No, sorry, I’m okay I promise,” I say and he exhales and nods resting his hand on my thigh.

“I was talking to you and it was like you completely zoned out. What were you thinking about?”

Oh, nothing, just a dream wedding where I had to pick between you and Chad. That’s all!

“No, nothing, I was just thinking about Annie and hoping she’s okay. I feel bad for leaving her. She wasn’t in a good way when we left her,” I say and Danger nods.

“Yeah, hopefully, she’ll just ring Caleb like she normally does and he’ll go and get her,” he says and I nod knowing that’s what she’ll probably do.

The rest of the car ride back we talk some more about everyday stuff and when we arrive at the manor, I start to feel a bit tenser about how this is all going to go down with Mum. Getting out of the car I walk over to Danger, who’s standing in awe of the manor.

“Shit sugar, this place is massive,” he says glancing upward.

I take his hand and shake my head pulling him toward the door. The dogs are barking incessantly as I arrive at the door, and when I open it Mum comes out of the lounge room in her pyjamas eating directly from a tub of ice cream.

“Oh, hey girls, I wasn’t expecting you back so…” she stops mid-sentence when she notices Danger walk in behind me. Her eyes are open wide as she looks down at what she’s wearing and then tries to cover herself. “Shit Ella, you could have warned me we were having guests. Sorry for the way I look, Danger. If I’d known you were coming I would’ve worn actual clothing,” she says and Danger chuckles.

“It’s fine Lia, your pyjamas are pretty rockin’ anyway,” he says and she smiles and tilts her head to the side.

“You think so?” she says and giggles.

I roll my eyes because I know the effect Danger has on women and it seems my mother isn’t immune.

“Mum, is it okay if Danger comes up to my room?” I ask and she purses her lips and straightens her stature.

“Ella, I don’t know…Wait! Where’s your sister? And where did Danger come from?” she asks and I tense up looking at Danger.

“I flew in a couple of days ago from the states. I was in London and met with the girls at a club—”

“What! A club? You went to London clubbing?” Mum yells and I bite my bottom lip as Danger looks at me pursing his lips in an apology.

“Mum, we just wanted to have some fun.”

She scoffs and shakes her head. “Some fun, Ella? Clubs are great when you have security. Did you even have any with you?” she asks and I gnaw on my lip and shake my head. “Great, so where’s your sister then?”

“Annie was having too much fun to come home,” Danger says and Mum scoffs.

“Great! So she’s drunk and all alone in a club somewhere in London, right?” Mum says and I nod.

“How could you be so fucking reckless, Ella? How could you leave her there? She’s famous, anyone could take advantage of her. Holy hell, this is the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard. And from you Ella, you’re the sensible one,” Mum yells grabbing her phone from the buffet and dialing.

“Who are you calling?” Hoping she isn’t calling Dad.

“Annie, I need to know she’s okay.” Mum paces the foyer as I look up at Danger, who’s rubbing the back of his neck uncomfortably.

“We shouldn’t have left her,” I whisper and he nods.

“I’ll go back and get her,” he says.

“I’ll come with you,” I say and he shakes his head.

“No, stay, keep your mother calm. I’ll find her, okay?”

Mum hangs up the phone and grunts in frustration. “She isn’t answering.”

“I’m going to go back and pick her up,” Danger says and Mum nods.

“Okay, thank you. Danger, if you want a relationship with Ella, prove to me you can look after my girls. Prove to me you can find Annie and bring her home, okay?”

“Don’t give him ultimatums Mum, that’s not your style.”

“You want my approval, Danger? Prove to me you can look after my girls,” she reiterates and I scoff and fold my arms over my chest as Danger nods and looks across at me. He walks up to me, grabs my head and pulls me to him kissing my forehead.

“I’ll find her, Ella,” he says and I nod grabbing his hands and looking into his eyes pleading with them to tell him I’m sorry about how this has turned out. He nods and kisses my forehead again.

“Shit, I don’t have a car,” Danger says.

“I’ll call a cab,” Mum says and starts to dial the number.

“I’m so sorry, it shouldn’t be like this,” I say and he shakes his head.

“No Ella, if I can prove to Lia that I’m worthy of you, that’s half the battle done,” he says and leans in kissing my lips softly.

“The taxi will be here soon. You can wait outside by the manor gate. I need to talk to my daughter,” Mum says dismissively.

“Okay, I’ll find her and get her home safely,” he says squeezing my hand and letting go as he turns to walk out of the door.

“Danger,” I call out and he turns back to look at me.

“That was great to see you again.”

He smiles radiantly. “I’ll see you again before I leave, I promise.”

I smile as he turns walking out the door closing it behind him.

“Ella Slade, how could you be so irresponsible?” Mum berates walking up to me and grabbing my shoulders looking me in the eyes with unshed tears in hers. “What if Annie’s in real trouble right now, huh?”

“I know, Mum. I know I fucked up, but she was being such a bitch and wouldn’t come with me, so I just left her there. I feel bad about it now. But I know if she gets in a jam she’ll call Caleb,” I say and Mum shakes her head.

“Okay, well let’s just hope that Danger finds her. We have an agonizing hour and a half wait for him to get to her. Let’s go to the lounge room and talk about your night, and you can tell me exactly what Annie was doing,” Mum says.

We spend hours worrying and I get a text from Danger saying he went back to the club, but he couldn’t see her anywhere. He asked around and people saw her leaving with a guy, but that’s all we know. We stay up all night worrying, and Mum is beside herself debating whether or not to call Dad, but I keep telling her not to worry him just yet.

Into the night, Mum received a phone call on her mobile and it was from the hospital in London. They said Annie had been admitted with drugs in her system and was being held overnight for observation.

Mum and I drive as quickly as possible to the London hospital. With an overwhelming sense of guilt and a gnawing in my stomach that won’t subside, I cry the entire trip and Mum has to be the strong one for the both of us.

On the way in, I called Danger and told him we received the call about Annie being in the hospital. I cried and told him how guilty I felt. He tried to reassure me by saying it wasn’t my fault and that no matter what we did she wouldn’t come with us, so there wasn’t anything we could have done differently. He also said not to worry and that she’s safe in the hospital and they’ll look after her there. He also said he would come and visit me during the day tomorrow before he has to leave the country again.