Don't Rush Me (Nora Jacobs #1)(5)

“For real?” Xavier asks. “I knew I liked you. Are you a regular there? Or a VIP?”

Parker ignores Xavier and meets my gaze. “If you’re absolutely certain you want to go there. Xavier isn’t wrong about Underworld’s reputation. It is dangerous.”

I’m curious how Parker knows this. He seems to have firsthand experience with the place—which in itself is frightening—but since it’s what I want, I don’t press the matter. The thought of going there scares the hell out of me; no one knows exactly how dangerous that place is better than I do. I don’t want to have anything to do with underworlders, but the enemy of my enemy is my ally, so I steel my resolve and meet Parker’s solemn eyes with determination. “Yes. I’m sure I want to go there.”

He holds his stare a moment longer and then nods. “You’re the birthday girl.”





Underworld is exactly the type of club you’d expect it to be, judging by its name. Deep in the bowels of Detroit, it feels like a gateway from one world to another. It’s dark, dangerous, and magical. Though most humans can’t recognize it for what it is, they feel its power and instinctively shy away. The lucky ones, anyway. The outside of the club matches the abandoned warehouses that surround it. You’d never know it was here if not for the pounding bass and crowd of punk and goth partiers standing alongside of the building, waiting to get in.

Once we arrive, Xavier and I head for the back of the line, but Parker shakes his head and walks straight toward the bouncer. The way the people in line watch us as we bypass them makes me shiver. I can’t tell what they are without touching them, but I can guess at a few. Some are curious, others are annoyed, and some smile pleasantly at us. Those are the ones who frighten me the most. It’s the friendly ones that you really need to watch out for.

Guarding the front door is a man nearly seven and a half feet tall and at least half as wide. If I had to guess, I’d say he’s a troll, but I don’t care to get close enough to find out. His head is so bald the moonlight shines off of it. He has piercings in his ears, nose, and eyebrows, and he’s playing with a stud in his tongue as we walk up. “Parker,” he greets in a low, rumbling voice as he extends an arm the size of a tree trunk. “Back so soon? I thought you’d be busy with—”

“Oh, I am,” Parker says, cutting the man off as he shakes his hand. His eyes flick briefly to Xavier and me before he smiles at the bouncer again. “You know me. Always busy with something.”

The bouncer’s gaze roams over Xavier and me, and he nods slowly. “I gotcha.” He looks back at Parker. “Well, don’t work all night. Make sure you blow off a little steam while you’re here.”

“I will.”

I don’t like this. Something’s going on. Parker’s obviously a regular here, and he’s too interested in Xavier and me. That can only mean one thing. Parker isn’t human, and whatever he is, it’s something powerful enough to be a VIP at Underworld. Maybe I’ve been wrong all along. Maybe my premonition isn’t a warning against Xavier. Maybe my real problem is Parker.

Parker and the bouncer fall into a whispered conversation. The words humans, suspects, and her idea startle me from my thoughts. I look up to see both Parker and the bouncer watching me with curiosity, suspicion even. I don’t know what I’d be a suspect for, but this whole situation makes me sick to my stomach. What has Xavier dragged me into, and did I make it worse by coming here? It would be just my luck.

I know better than to admit I’m aware of their world or show any fear. Pulling my shoulders back, I meet Parker’s gaze with not just confidence, but attitude. Underworlders respect arrogance. “Is there a problem, Parker? I thought you said you could get us in.”

The bouncer’s pierced brows climb up his huge, shiny forehead, and his mouth quirks up on one side into a crooked smile. “I don’t like trouble in my club, little lady. You’re not looking to start any, are you?”

I match his smirk. “Define trouble.”

The bouncer’s smile grows into a wide grin, and he folds his watermelon biceps in front of his chest. “Feisty little brunettes with not enough sense of self-preservation.”

I grin. I can’t help myself. “We’re good, then,” I assure him, “because I’m all about self-preservation.”

The bouncer shakes his head, chuckling, and nods to Xavier. “And him?”

I shrug. “A harmless frat boy looking for a good time who doesn’t have enough brains to know he needs any self-preservation.”

At that, the bouncer throws his head back and laughs. The sound is so bellowing it shakes the walls of the club. Definitely a troll. “You’ve found yourself a winner, Parker. Just make sure you keep an eye on her. She’s trouble, all right.”

When he pulls the rope back to let me pass, I wink at him and stride through. Xavier enters behind me. I turn around just in time to catch Xavier glare at the bouncer. “She’s not with Parker, she’s mine.”

The troll could snap Xavier in half with his pinky finger, but he can also see that Xavier isn’t worth the time and effort. He raises a questioning brow at me. When I roll my eyes, he laughs again.

Parker is last to pass the bouncer. As he does, the troll clasps his big, meaty hand on Parker’s shoulder. I have to strain to hear their conversation, but I’m fairly certain the troll says, “You sure about that one? I like her.”