Reign (Sin City Outlaws #1)(21)

“Oh, wow,” I mutter, eyes wide.

“I know, I can’t stop looking at her rack,” Alessandra mutters next to me. I've lived in Vegas all my life, but I’ve never seen as many boobs at one time as I have the last fifteen minutes.

“I’m going to, uh...”

“Need another drink?” Alessandra asks, handing me another shot, her eyes never leaving the topless girl dancing like nobody is watching.

“Yeah.” I grab the shot and toss it back. My neck muscles tense and my eyes squeeze shut as it burns a trail of excitement down my throat.

“I feel over-dressed.” I chuckle.

Alessandra laughs. “Keep drinking and that could change.”

My eyes widen at her statement. “What?”

But she just ignores me, as she finds humor in my reaction.

We step away from the kitchen and head down into the living room. Alessandra starts to sway her hips to the music, picking up the beat. Looking around, insecurities run down my spine. I don’t dance in public, never have. I only dance at home, in the shower or in front of the mirror on the back of my door.

“Fun. Just have fun,” I whisper to myself. Looking down at the stained carpet, cigarette butts have burned holes into it. I close my eyes. Releasing a slow breath, my body gradually starts to relax from the drinks. I start to nod with the music, my hands sliding up and down my sides. My knees bend and before I know it… I'm dancing. Dancing like I dance at home in front of the mirror. I don’t think about anyone watching me, or if I look like a fool. I just don’t f*cking care for the first time in, well, forever. My body sways with the rhythm, my tension gone with the tune.

“I’m going to get us another drink!” Alessandra hollers. I tangle my hands in my hair and lose myself to the sexy bass as I watch her disappear into the crowd.

“The Hills” by The Weekend starts and I mouth the words, my knees twisting and ass swirling to the beat. My head falls back, and that feeling that nobody was watching me is instantly gone, because my eyes lock with Zeek’s from the balcony encasing the stairs. His eyes narrow and devour my every movement.

“Drinks. I got drinks!” Alessandra cheers, stepping up beside me. My eyes never leave Zeek’s He’s leaning over the balcony, watching me hungrily, his body hunched over, arms hanging over the railing. He moves the beer that was dangling from his fingertips, bringing it to his mouth, his eyes never leaving mine.

“Fuck,” I mutter, rolling my lips between my teeth nervously. After the way I put him in his place the other night, I wonder if he’ll try and put me in mine. That and the fact I didn’t bring my gun. Dammit!

“What? What are you staring at?” Alessandra follows my line of sight. “Is that?”

“Yes, it is,” I mumble.

“Interesting.” I finally pull my eyes from his and find Alessandra grinning from ear to ear, two shot glasses in her hands.

“Did you know they would be here?” I pin Alessandra with a death glare.

“No, Bunky never said the Outlaws would be here. He said it was just a party.” She shrugs, handing me another shot.

My heart accelerates, my hand gripping the cool glass. Looking back up, Zeek is gone.

“Hey there!” an unfamiliar male voice sounds. My eyes dart toward Alessandra, finding some guy grabbing her by the hips. He has a man bun and looks rugged. She turns and smiles at me bright-eyed, like she just won the lottery or something. He’s not bad-looking, I guess. I give a smirk and down my shot. Lifting it to her in cheers, I walk away, giving her space to do her thing.

I push and duck my way through the crowd, making my way past the kitchen to find a sliding glass door and a patio lined in stone. I could use some fresh air. Stepping out, a bonfire sits a ways from the house with a bunch of guys standing around it. Walking further onto the patio, I notice the guys are Sin City Outlaws and some other men who look to be like some country boys. One's even wearing a cowboy hat.

Spotting a lawn chair, I sit and put the shot on the table. A bunch of empty beer bottles and ashtrays litter it already.

“You don’t look like you’re from around here.” I jump where I sit, clutching my chest.

Sitting at the other end of the table, a girl emerges from the shadows. She has long, dark hair, her face round and flawless.

“Hi, I’m Dep—” I stop myself, not wanting to alert the crowd I’m a deputy. “I’m Jillian.” The girl purses her lips and eyes me suspiciously. I’ve either offended her, or she has resting bitch face down perfectly.

“You look familiar.” Her eyes sweep up and down my body, and I inhale a shaky breath, nervous she is on to me.

“Fuck you!” is shouted from the area near the bonfire, and the girl I was talking to stands quickly, her body tense and face in panic.

I stand, my body racing with sudden adrenaline.

She throws her chair back and runs toward the fire. A chill races up my spine, the energy in the air taking a sudden turn. Taking a few steps toward the action, I stop in my tracks. One of the cowboys just pulled out a gun, and a loud bang rings out. Before my eyes, the Outlaws and the country boys start shooting at each other. Out of instinct, I grab at my hip, finding no weapon. Shit! Stupid purse.

“Zeek!” the girl screams, her hands in her hair. I duck behind a chair, not sure if I should interfere or run.