Broken Wings (Dark Legacy #1)(32)

Eddy hadn’t lied, dragging me right out into the middle of the sweaty bodies. Most of the eyes of those around us were glazed, expressions vacant as they moved with the beat. There was definitely more than alcohol flowing at this party, which was pretty standard. A couple near us were devouring each other, his hand up her skirt as they moved together.

Eddy swung her hips into me, and I closed my eyes as I danced, the drinks I’d had keeping my body warm and pliant. A hard body pressed into my back at one point, and normally I would have pushed them away with a well-placed knee in the balls, but this body I recognized.

Dante’s hands pressed to my sides, and I leaned back against him. Part of my brain, a tiny non-drunk sliver, realized it was a bad idea to dance with my very platonic best friend this way, but the much larger drunk part didn’t give a fuck. Especially when I opened my eyes and found a set of steely gray ones locked on me. Beck stood with his friends, the four of them watching us closely, and I had to say, the looks on their faces were not at all reassuring. There was a warning there, a warning I didn’t quite understand, but I knew enough to fear for Dante. And myself.

“What’s wrong?” Dante asked. I’d stopped dancing, my heart pounding hard in my chest.

“I have to go with them tomorrow for a company meeting … or something,” I said slowly, and at this point Eddy had stopped moving too, her eyes wide as she watched me closely. “I have no idea where we’re going,” I continued breathlessly. “I have no idea what we’re supposed to do when we get there. All I know is I’ve been dragged into a fucked up family business, and another person from my family just died because of it.”

Dante’s face went dark and menacing, as a scowl tightened his lips. It was a look I’d seen from him plenty of times over the years but not usually directed at me. “You can’t go, Riles. I mean it.”

Throwing my hands in the air, I let out a long sigh. “A week ago you were telling me there was nothing I could do but play their games, and now you’re telling me to bail. How? They’re too fucking powerful.”

I had no choice. Even if I ran, I’d never stay off their radar. I was trapped.

Dante clenched and unclenched his hands; his frustration had nowhere to go and I knew he would be in some sort of fight before the night was through. He fought the way I drove, because he needed the release.

Eddy, who was clearly used to powerful, dangerous, damaged men, didn’t seem worried or scared, she just reached out and took one of Dante’s hands, stopping his obsessive movement.

“Dance with me,” she whispered, and I smiled at the look on his face.

Maybe fighting wasn’t the right F word for his release tonight. Thank you, I mouthed at her, and Eddy mimed a hip thrust at me. That, teamed with the look on her face, told me this was no hardship for her. She was feeling my best friend hard.

Deciding I was in need of another drink, I pushed my way through the tightly packed dance floor.

Rough hands grabbed at me as I passed, spinning me around so my front was pressed into his. Throwing my head back to see who had me, I stared into an unfamiliar face. Blandly handsome with blond hair and blue bloodshot eyes. “What the fuck do you think you’re doing?”

Nothing I hated more than handsy dudes who couldn’t take no for an answer.

“You might be the hottest bitch I’ve ever seen,” he said with a smirk.

Placing both of my hands on his chest, I pushed as hard as I could. He barely budged at all. Annoyance spiked through me, and I balled my fists, ready to do exactly what Dante had taught me in these situations. As I swung, I braced myself for the pain. This wasn’t the first guy I’d clocked, and last time I hadn’t been able to move my hand for a week. It was always worth it though. When my hand connected, there was a crunch and his head snapped back. They never expected a chick would punch them like that, and it took them by surprise every time. He let me go, and I was already rushing away, not wanting to deal with his retaliation. “Bitch!” he shouted and there was a new commotion.

I knew I shouldn’t have looked back, but human nature and all that … I had to see.

I skidded to a halt when I found no one was following me, instead everyone was crowding close to Jasper and Evan, who stood over the top of the dude I’d just punched. My gaze sought out Beck, knowing he’d be there somewhere as well, but there was no sign of him or Dylan. Pushing my way back, I cradled my aching hand.

“Did you really think you could touch one of us and get away with it?” Jasper said, staring down at the blond, who had a blossoming red mark on his cheek, and another around his throat. “You’ve been warned, Todd. Consider this your one and only.”

Todd held both of his hands up, pure terror on his face. “Dude, fuck, seriously. I didn’t know she was yours.”

“I’m not,” I spat at the same time Evan said, “We own her. Body and soul.”

My eyes widened at that. “No fuckin—”

Jasper turned violent eyes on me. “Shut up. You’re just lucky Beck was called away on some business outside, otherwise you’d be cleaning lover boy’s blood off the ground.”

“Lover boy,” I spluttered. “Did you miss the part where I punched him?”

His words were like acid as he replied. “Go home, Riley. You’re just causing trouble here.”