A lex’s round eyes narrowed into tiny slits. “Danger? Maybe I like what Nash is doing to me .”

She wasn’t listening. I wanted to shake some sense into her and I grabbed her shoulders .

“You have it all wrong.” She pushed my hands away. “You don’t know what you’ve done. You know nothing about my relationship with Nash. I’ve been coming here far longer than you would believe, and if he were to see you here now — ”

“We can’t let that happen.” I reached for her arm again .

“Why, Kendra?” Her brows drew together. “Because he’s dangerous?” She shook her head .

Stepping closer, I lowered my voice. “There is a lot you don’t know about him .”

“And you do?” She pressed her hands into my shoulders and pushed me back .

A couple neared and I ducked my head, keeping my voice just above a whisper. “We hoped we wouldn’t find you here .”

“You shouldn’t have come.” She folded her arms over her chest and angled her body away. “Because, guess what? I’m here. And I like it .”

The music grew louder as silence hung between us. I didn’t know what I could say to get Alex to listen, to take my warning more seriously than she was. The fact that we were even having this conversation out in the open was risky enough .

“Kelly has uncovered the truth about him,” I said as soon as the murmur of the crowd filled the room, drowning out our own conversation .

“Let me guess.” She cocked a hip out to the side. “It’s about that dead girl ?”

Stepping in front of her, I put my face in front of hers and grinded my teeth. “Listen, Alex. This isn’t a game.” I glared. “Your relationship is following the same pattern as Maria’s. And now she’s dead .”

Alex tucked her chin into her neck, hiding a glimmer of doubt in her eye .

“Dead.” My foot stomped. “Gone. Never coming back.” I slapped my thigh. “You get that? She’s gone forever and it looks like you could be next .”

I raised my voice much louder than I’d intended. But I needed to drill my point home. And as I did, I had forgotten my place, the role I was supposed to fulfill tonight—acting as an obedient submissive .

But finding Alex had changed everything. I didn’t care what the rules of the club were. Her survival was my priority—my mission—and as the room spun around us I could see her rigid posture and bulging eyes take in the bigger picture .

Slowly, I nodded. “We need to get you out of here .”

She blinked for the first time in what seemed like forever. She glanced over my shoulder as if suddenly remembering where we were. The next horn that blared on stage lifted her heels off the ground. I watched as she raised her shaking hand over her mouth before turning to face the wall .

“Let’s go. We can’t stand here any longer,” I said, pressing my palm between her shoulder blades. She was cold to the touch .

Alex was bent over with her head in her hands. “And how do you expect to just leave ?”

Taking her by the hand, I murmured close to her ear, “Kelly .”

Kendra turned to look at me like I was crazy .

“He’s waiting upstairs.” Hope filled my eyes. “He’ll know what to do .”

Taking a deep breath in, Alex pulled herself upright, fixed her mask and pinched her lips together. “That’s not how this place works. There are eyes everywhere.” Her head swiveled on her shoulders as if looking for something—or someone. First to the right, then to the left, before fixing her gaze back on me. “You think it’s hard to get inside, just wait until you try to leave .”

My eyes darted over her face as I felt my legs go weak. “Alex, Kelly will be our saving grace .”

“No.” Her voice raised high enough to draw attention. “Kelly is the reason I hated you this week .”

My mouth fell open .

“He’s the reason our friendship isn’t what it was. Fuck, Kendra.” She paused to let the muscle in her jaw tick. “Kelly is the reason Nash’s homecoming hasn’t been as great as it should have been. And it’s partially your fault.” She stomped her foot hard enough to shake the floorboards we stood on .

“I’m sorry.” I choked on my apology .

“If I’m wrong about Nash and he isn’t the great guy I know he is,” she leaned her shoulder in, “then you’re most certainly wrong about Kelly .”

Blinking back tears, my eyes watered. Alex’s words left me feeling strangled. And just as I started to hyperventilate, Alex huffed something unrecognizable and skirted around me .

“You can’t just leave,” I said, hooking my arm through the crook of hers .

“If you really do care about me, you’ll let me go.” She cast her gaze down to my white-knuckle grip. Refusing to let go, Alex added, “I can’t just leave him, Kendra. He’s expecting me back .”

A man wearing a black suit approached. He flashed an employee badge and said, “I need you two to come with me .”

Ignoring him, I looked Alex in the eye. “I can’t let you go. Not until I know that you’ll be safe .”

“Please,” the man said more firmly this time. “Come with me. You’re distracting our guests.” He reached for my arm .

Alex leaned in close to my face and whispered, “Look what you did. Now you got both us in trouble .”

She swung her hair over her shoulder and told the man she was ready to follow him. He released my arm and I smoothed out the wrinkles of my dress, hoping that I didn’t get us wedged between anything Kelly couldn’t get us out of. It wasn’t my intention to cause a scene, break the rules of the club, do anything other than make sure Alex was safe and out of harm’s way .

Quickly, I caught up to Alex. “Don’t worry, I’m sure Wes and Kelly are behind this .”

Alex stopped mid-stride. “Wes knows ?”

I rolled my eyes over to her, nodding once. “C’mon. We have to get to Kelly before Nash knows you’re with me .”

“Let’s be honest, I’m sure he already knows.” Alex sighed as a rope leading up the stairs was dropped by security .

We followed the suit up the stairs only to find Kami waiting for us at the top. “Very well then.” She glanced between Alex and me. “Alex, it’s great to see you—” she reached out to smooth her hand down Alex’s arm, “—safe .”

My brows furrowed. “What’s going on? Where’s Kelly ?”

Kami rolled her eyes over to me, smiling. “He’s with Wes. And they’ve requested both of you.” She raised her brows and waved for them to follow her .

Security seemed to be everywhere and as I looked at them with a questioning eye, I couldn’t stop thinking the worst. Did something happen in that short time I was gone? And how did Wes and Kelly know that Alex was here before I did? A million questions rolled through my mind as Kami led us down a series of dark hallways. Passing through a secure door I kept close to Alex, unsure what was going to happen next .

When Kami stopped in front of a closed door, Alex whispered in my ear, “Am I really wrong about Nash ?”

“Sometimes things aren’t what they seem.” I rolled my neck back to Kami when I heard the door latch click .

Following her inside, Wes was there with Kelly. They were both standing near his desk with their hands buried deep inside their pockets. But when the door closed and I saw who was hiding behind it, I swore that my heart was going to stop .

“What the fuck?” My jaw swung on its hinges .

Nash had only eyes for Alex .

Her feet were glued to the ground. Her body frozen stiff. And when Nash made a move for her, I stepped between them, blocking his pursuit .

“You bastard!” I slapped my hands down hard in the center of his chest. “You stay away from her !”

My hands beat his chest like a drum as I squeezed my eyes shut, hating him for thinking he could use my friend like he did Maria .

I hit him again and again until I found myself wrapped tightly inside Kelly’s arms. “No! Let me go!” I screamed, kicking my legs in the air .

Alex covered her chest with her arms, concern twisting her face. She looked to me for answers but I had none. Kelly was supposed to save us. Nash wasn’t supposed to be here. And he sure as hell wasn’t supposed to be acting like he loved Alex .

Finally, after a minute, I calmed myself and Kelly dropped my heels back to the floor .

“Everything is all right, Alex.” Wes rounded the corner of his desk and kept his gaze focused on Alex .

“Everything is not all right,” I barked back .

Looking between them, I turned my head and flashed Kelly a questioning look .

“It’s okay.” He squeezed his arms around me. “She’s safe.” He slid his hand around my waist, holding me tight .

“But he brought her here.” I tipped my chin back and looked him in the eye. “Just like he did Maria .”

Alex drew in a shaky breath. Her round eyes were wet when I looked at her. She wasn’t sure what to believe or if the man she loved could be trusted .

“Alex, honey, you told me Nash hadn’t been himself after Kelly questioned his involvement .”

Her hands began shaking .

“Be honest with yourself.” I paused as the room went silent. “Do you believe Nash has it in him to kill someone ?”

“Don’t answer that!” Kelly pointed at Alex before pulling me behind him .

“Alex, you know him best.” Tears swelled behind my eyes. “Do you think Nash is a killer ?”

Kelly flipped around and clamped his hand over my mouth. “Stop it,” he growled .

“Alex.” Wes’s calm voice eased the tension in the room. “He’s not a killer, is he ?”

Alex wiped her face as she could barely look Nash in the face .

“No, he’s not.” Wes stepped closer. “Because Nash was with me the night Maria was killed .”

When Nash’s hand fell to Alex’s shoulder, she jumped. Gently, he pulled her into his arms, bringing her head over his heart. As soon as her head hit his chest she started crying. “Did you love her?” she asked him .

Nash tipped his head back and stared into the ceiling as he blew out a shaky breath .

I watched and waited to hear his answer, needing to know if he loved Maria as much as Alex wanted to know .

My throat felt like sandpaper, burning the back of my mouth with each swallow .

The clock ticked and there were still no answers .

The first tear fell just as Kelly clamped his fingers around my elbow .

Leading me out of the office, I dug my heels in. “Alex!” I reached for her hand but she was too far. “No, Kelly. I can’t leave her,” I cried as he pulled me through the hallway .

Kelly kept marching, his shoulders rounded and his head down. Something had happened in that office before I arrived, a revelation that changed everything. His mood. Our reason for saving Alex from the monster we thought Nash might be .

Sniffing back the tears I wiped my cheeks dry, trying not to trip on my heels. I stumbled but gave in to trusting Kelly. He wouldn’t leave Alex with Nash if he didn’t believe she was safe. That was the kind of man he was. The knight in shining armor that I knew him to be .

The clock kept on ticking but time was irrelevant .

Ignoring where Kelly was taking me, all I could think about was Alex and how I’d left her with the man I said was dangerous .

Kelly kept one hand firmly clamped on my arm while I watched him dig out a keycard from his back pocket. He flashed it in front of the reader and the lock clicked over. Gently, he guided me into the room first. Spinning around to face him, I said, “What happened in there, Kelly? We can’t just leave Alex there all alone. She doesn’t know how much danger she is actually in .”

He hung his head and worked to remove his jacket .

“I’m worried, Kelly.” I held my hand over my thrashing heart .

He hung his jacket on the far wall, turned back to me, and rolled up his sleeves as he sauntered in my direction. His eyes were dark and heavy. Stress washed away his beauty. This week had been too much. More than he could handle. And I wanted nothing more than to relieve his agony .

“Is Alex going to be all right?” I pulled at the collar around my neck. “Are we going to be all right ?”

He took my face between his calloused hands and tucked my hair behind my ear. “I was wrong, Bella . ”

I felt lightheaded. “Wrong? About Alex ?”

Kelly sat me down on the velvet couch against the wall. Over the next several minutes he told me everything that transpired in Wes’s office, beginning with how Nash was with Wes the night in question. I listened, hanging on to every word, wishing that I knew what he had learned before I shared my fears with Alex .

But it was too late. The damage was done .

But when Kelly told me that Angel filled in for reporter Sylvia Neil the night of Stone’s movie premiere, I asked him, “So, what’s next ?”

Unbuttoning his shirt, he turned his head to the bed in the center of the room. Pulling me to my feet, he unzipped my gown, letting it float to the floor. “We go after Angelina Davis and ask her why she posed as Sylvia Neil .”