Page 27 of Outrun The Devil
Out of fear that Nathan and Rachel might still be there, Olivia steadied herself and drew in a deep breath. She had two options: go back inside and wait for them to leave, or pretend she had just walked out of the Tolleson precinct for the first time. Eager to question Mr. Knight, Olivia decided that the latter was the best option. There was no time to waste.
And more than just the investigation questions nagged at her now. No, Olivia was flooded with the need to know why her name was brought up in that argument. And how she could be connected in any other capacity than she was currently. Oliva must have heard wrong. That had to be it.
The redhead stepped away from her hiding spot, the sun-drenched asphalt radiating heat beneath her boots. The atmosphere crackled with a tension palpable enough to raise hairs. But she strode forward.
The question hung in the air like the whispered warning of a storm on the horizon. Were they still there? Watching?
"Olivia." The syllables of her name slithered through the stifling air, and she pivoted on her heel, locking eyes with Nathan. His steps were measured, each footfall ratcheting up the suspense as if echoing the rhythmic pulse of an impending revelation.
As he drew closer to her, Olivia was careful to make eye contact with him and not to act out of the ordinary. The last thing Olivia wanted was to raise any flags that she was the one standing out there eavesdropping on his conversation with Rachel.
Nathan's head canted to the side, his gaze fixated on Olivia like a predator assessing its prey. The air grew taut with an undercurrent of suspense, the tension between them palpable. His expression was reminiscent of a dog trying to decipher unfamiliar commands.
"You look like you're on a mission," his voice held an edge as if he was privy to secrets he wasn't sharing. "Where are ya headed?" His words hung in the air, charged with an electricity that sent a shiver down Olivia's spine.
In the fraction of a moment that followed, Olivia's mind raced. She stood on a precipice, the choice she made now had the power to either shield her intentions or lay her vulnerabilities bare. The stakes were high, and every word she chose was a piece of a puzzle she was crafting on the fly.
Her eyebrows rose with calculated care, a mask of nonchalance she donned to hide the racing of her pulse. Arms crossed defensively over her chest, she met his probing gaze with a mix of challenge and caution.
"I do believe that is none of your business, Steele," she replied, her voice cool. Every word was a calculated step, a chess piece moved into place on a board of uncertainties.
A ghost of a smirk danced on his lips, a subtle acknowledgment of the game they were entangled in. "Oh, we're back to icing me out, I see," he retorted, his tone heavy with a blend of annoyance and amusement. "Fine, have it your way."
With a calculated step backward, he moved away, seemingly relenting. But just as Olivia's guard eased ever so slightly, the scene escalated in a flash that caught her off guard. He had maneuvered around her squad car, and as her brain scrambled to process the shift, he was already in the passenger seat.
The moment held the air of a well-choreographed thriller, each action executed with a precision that left Olivia's heart racing. The car door clicked shut, the sound reverberating like a punctuation mark at the end of an enigmatic sentence.
Closing her eyes, Olivia drew a deep breath to steady her racing heart. Nathan was unrelenting in getting under her skin and ensuring that he was included in every step she made. It was aggravating but she didn't have time or energy to fight.
Olivia found herself at a crossroads between intrigue and caution. Nathan's actions were unpredictable, his motives veiled. With a calculated exhale, she squared her shoulders and got into the driver's side. She didn't dare look at Nathan whom she was certain wore a smug look on his face.
Instead, Olivia focused on the drive and not giving him an inch.
Chapter Eight
Olivia stood before The Hive, a nightclub that lived up to its name. The building was a marvel of architecture, its curved walls and hexagonal shape resembling a giant beehive. Its sheer size was impressive, towering over the surrounding buildings with four floors and a glass roof. The honey-gold exterior was adorned with black trim, and the club's logo, a stylized bee with the letters TH emblazoned on its wings, shone above the entrance.
As she gazed up at the imposing structure, Olivia couldn't help but feel small in comparison. The hum of the city buzzed around her, but all she could focus on was the sound of her heartbeat. Nathan's presence beside her did little to ease her nerves, and the ride over had been painfully silent.
“I’m not sure what I expected when she said…” Olivia gestured towards the club, “But it wasn't this. A literal beehive.”
Nathan's shrug was a half-hearted attempt at nonchalance, but his eyes betrayed his surprise. Olivia knew that he was just as awed by the sight before them as she was.
“What? I don't make it a habit to come out to Tolleson that often, let alone a nightclub. Just isn’t my scene.”
“Shocker.” Nathan's chuckle grated on her nerves.
He pulled open the door, and Olivia stepped forward, eager to escape their awkward silence. But as she reached the entrance, the door slammed shut in her face. She recoiled, the force of the impact jarring her senses. Her eyes narrowed in anger as she pushed open the door and stepped inside, leaving Nathan's laughter ringing in her ears.
The moment Olivia stepped inside The Hive, she was hit with a wave of sensory overload. The thumping music reverberated through the club, pounding against her chest. The pulsing lights flashed in every direction, illuminating the dark corners of the room. The air was thick with the scent of alcohol and sweat, creating a pungent aroma that clung to her skin.
As her eyes adjusted to the dim lighting, Olivia took in the stunning interior of the club. The hexagonal shape of the building created a unique layout, with each floor overlooking the one below. The walls were adorned with hexagonal honeycomb-shaped panels that cast a warm, yellow glow across the club.
The furniture was sleek and modern, with low sofas and high-top tables lining the perimeter of each floor. The colors inside were mostly black, with accents of dark yellow that added a sense of danger and excitement.
Olivia's gaze swept across the dance floor below, packed with bodies contorting to the beat. She couldn't help but feel a sense of detachment as she watched the sweaty bodies move in unison. She had missed out on years of going out dancing due to being a young mother, but she didn't feel like she had missed anything important.
Olivia noticed several private rooms with glass walls on the higher floors, creating an exclusive feel. People were lounging inside, some drinking, while others seemed to be engaging in more illicit activities. The sense of danger grew stronger, and Olivia couldn't shake the feeling that something sinister was happening just out of sight.