Page 19 of Feast

Is he fucking serious?

“Let…me…go!” I stomped my heel into his foot and he finally let me go, hollering as I stumbled forward, free from his grasp.

“What the f—” I slapped the man straight across the face, hitting him so hard I knocked his drunken ass down.

He looked up at me, wideieyed and clutching his already swelling cheek. I stopped over him, pressing my heel into his chest. “I said no! And no one fucking touches me!” I kicked his side, huffing as I turned and walked away, leaving the bastard there.

Fucking men.

I tossed the green hair of my wig over my shoulder and scanned the club.

Fuck…where did Ray go?

I searched the crowds, but between the commotion of the confetti and that drunken asshole, I had lost him. “Fuck!” I spun around, feeling my anxiety rise.

Focus, Indi…think. Think.

The dance floor had nearly doubled in body count, thanks to the DJ’s set. I felt hot, my body sweating as I tried to breathe. It was extremely claustrophobic in the club, people dancing and shoved into one another with barely any room to really move, let alone breathe.

I gotta get out of here.

I pushed my way through, desperately trying to reach the bar. “Let me through!” I shouted. No one listened or cared. “Move!” I felt my heart racing, and my head began to spin.

Fuck…don’t pass out. Just keep moving. Keep moving!

I reached my arm out, clinging to any hope I had of breaking free from the crowd. “Please!” I cried out, feeling overwhelmed. “Just let me⁠—”

Someone grabbed my hand, nearly ripping me through the crowd with a single tug. I tried to keep on my feet, struggling to keep up when I finally spotted who it was pulling me.

Haze.

His back may have been turned to me, but I knew his body. And those muscles in his back…the tattoos across the nape of his neck…there was no doubt this was my twin. And knowing he had me, I instantly felt relieved.

Haze kept his hand tight around mine, pushing anyone and everyone out of the way to make room for me. He guided me through the club floor and pulled me into him as we walked past the bar and approached the back door of the club, which led into the private VIP rooms.

Wait…why are we going this way?

I looked up at him, but he effortlessly lifted me, while only using one arm. “What’re you—” He adjusted his grip, holding me close. He kicked the door to an empty VIP room open, stepping inside. “Haze.” He dropped onto the velvet lounger without saying a word. “What the—” I heard the sound of the door lock behind me.

Why did he lock us in here?

I looked back through the green hair and watched as my twin approached me. He was sweating, panting, and fuming. The room was drenched in a deep hue of green, the lights low enough to allow visibility while still leaving a little mystery in the shadows. “Are you okay?” he asked, kneeling before me. The look in his eyes was rare, filled with rage and overcome with fear. He reached out, touching my face. “Indi.”

I rolled to face him, sitting up as he nestled between my legs. He stared up at me, and I noticed just how flustered he was. “Haze.”

His hand cupped my face, pulling me close as he slammed his mouth into mine. His hand moved, gripping my neck. I couldn’t control myself, wrapping my arms around his thick neck. My nails slithered beneath his shirt, clawing at the skin of his back.

“Indi,” he purred.

“I’m okay,” I breathed into him.

He pushed me back, and I tried to catch my breath. “What did he do to you?”

I blinked and furrowed my brows. “Who⁠—”

“That man. The fucker on the dance floor,” he growled. His hands fell to his sides and squeezed into fists. “I saw him…touching you.” The fear dissipated and absolute rage burned behind those dark contacts, seething in his emerald eyes. “Did he fucking hurt you?”

I shook my head. “No…I’m okay.” I stroked his cheek and pulled his face into my embrace, clutching him against my chest. “I promise.”