Page 87 of Jake's Angel

I’ve watched her dance to every song, looking like she doesn’t have a care in the world. It’s the lightest I think I’ve seen her look since she’s been in town.

I knew when I saw her take a double shot of Jinx’s special brew that she was still pissed at me. She had to be if she was willing to drink against her own better judgment. It’s okay though. She can let loose here if she wants to. I’ll keep watch over her.

Because it’s your job?

I’ve been nursing the same beer since we got here. Fighting with myself about the shit I told Hawk about Avery. She’s more than my charge. I only said it because I don’t want to admit out loud what I already know to be true.

She’s mine.

Sadie’s screeching pulls me out of my epiphany moment. Her words cutting me to the quick.

“Jake! Avery needs you!” She’s screaming, but the music and the crowd are louder. “Breathe Avery! Come on, babe. Fucking, breathe!”

The sight before me has me seeing red and charging the dance floor like a raging bull. Avery is on her knees on the ground, breathing erratically and not responding to anyone around her while Sadie sits on the ground in front of her, saying her name loudly over and over again.

I push my way through the crowd and find my Angel laid out on the ground, her head in Sadie’s lap. Sadie has tears streaming down her face as she argues with some asshole standing above them. Everyone else has formed a circle around us, waiting to see what will happen next. Strangers have their cell phones out, recording this shit as it unfolds.

“Prospect!” I shout to the crowd. All four men come running in my direction. Blake is the closest, so I give him my orders. “Collect all those phones and delete everything. I don’t want anything getting out about this.”

“On it.” Blake grabs the other three, and they make the rounds to collect phones.

“What did you do to her?” Sadie’s screaming at the same asshole. He was the last person I saw dancing with Avery just seconds before shit went sideways.

My head snaps from Sadie to his direction. He throws both hands up in surrender.

“Nothing! I swear. We were dancing, and she moved to face me, and then she just freaked the fuck out. I didn’t do anything to her, man. I fucking swear!”

People are grumbling and muttering shit all around us. My brothers are all doing what they can to ensure damage control. I hear Pres barking at someone for lockdown protocols.

I don’t have time to figure this guy’s shit out. Hawk and Declan are quick to restrain him. They’ll take him to the basement for questioning. My primary concern is getting my girl and getting her the hell out of here.

Ethan and Jameson are pushing the crowd back making a path to the clubhouse doors. Skyler’s holding a shaking Violet.

I don’t take much time to worry about the other people around us. I know my brothers will handle shit from here. I need to take care of my girl.

I squat down beside Sadie, and motion for her to move. She gives me a skeptical look. I get it. I’m an asshole.

“Let me take her. I’ll get her in the clubhouse away from the crowd.” Sadie still isn’t convinced. Her loyalty to her friend is unmatched. “I’ll take care of her, Sadie. You have my word.”

That seems to do the trick. Sadie gently slides out from under Avery’s head, and I cradle my arms under her neck and legs, lifting her with me off the ground.

Avery’s eyes are flittering, like she’s fighting to get them open. She takes in a deep breath and sighs out my name. Just like last time, her hands grip on tight to my T-shirt, turning her face into the crook of my neck.

“I’ve got you Angel. I’m going to get you out of here.” I promise as I push us through the crowd.

My pulse is thrumming in my ears. I don’t know what’s going on, but I’m about to find out.

One minute she was having a good time, driving me crazy as I watched her from across the yard. She, Sadie, and Jayde were surrounded by a group of my brothers and some locals from town, all dancing and smiling. Then suddenly the girls were yelling at someone to get their hands off her.

I don’t have all the details yet, but I’m damn sure going to find out.

“Is she sick?” I ask Jayde, who’s hot on my heels. She shakes her head.

“I don’t know. One minute she was dancing, happy, the next she was on the ground,” she answers, shaken up and concerned for her friend.

“What did she drink?” I know I saw her with one drink, but after how pissed she was earlier and with Sadie playing the little devil on her shoulder, I can’t be too sure she didn’t have more. Jayde shakes her head again and tells me she only had one, then she stuck to soda and water.

“Did someone touch her?” Just the thought causes my blood to boil and has me scanning the crowd for a target to hit.