Page 201 of Face Off

“You were removed from Ember’s by four women carrying pool cues,” Easton says.

“They misunderstood an act of service.”

“You changed the song on the jukebox.”

“It was depressing.”

“You played ‘Mambo No. 5’ three times.”

“The room needed energy.”

A laugh escapes me before I can stop it. Briggs points at me with the bacon-wrapped appetizer.

“See? Healing.”

“I’m considering breaking your eye.”

His grin widens. “Charm likes my face.”

The mention of her name pulls my attention toward the staircase for the thirteenth time.

Rider raises his glass. “Thirteen.”

“Shut the fuck up.”

“I didn’t say anything.”

“Your face did.”

“My face rarely wastes language.”

“It’s hard to speak through all that bullshit,” Easton says.

Bliss and Aura appear near the ballroom doors.

Everything inside our circle changes before either woman reaches us. Bliss walks too quickly, one hand closed around the front of her dress while Aura remains close enough to catch her if she stops holding herself together. Both have been crying. Bliss’s mascara is smudged beneath her eyes, and Aura’s expression carries the controlled fury she usually saves for someone who has hurt Bliss.

Cade sees them and hands his drink to Briggs without looking.

“What happened?”

Bliss reaches him before answering. Cade catches her around the waist when she folds into him, one hand closing behind her neck while he searches Aura’s face over her shoulder.

“Where’s Charm?” I ask.

Aura looks at me. The alarm I’ve spent ten minutes pretending not to feel tears fully open. “Where is she?”

“In her room,” Bliss says against Cade’s chest.

“Is she okay?”

“No,” Aura answers.

I place the empty glass on the bar. “What happened?”

Bliss pulls away from Cade enough to wipe her face. “Can we go somewhere private?”

Cade looks toward the patio doors. “Outside is empty.”