Silently, Molly and Naomi nodded and stepped from the circle of bodies that still swarmed around Jade.
“The rest of you, please go prepare for the lineup. I need you to go,” she said, aware of the desperate plea in her voice.
They all scurried like frightened kittens as Fallon approached the chaise again. “George, can you take her to your place and let her sleep this off?”
“Sure, no problem.”
“I’ll help you get her to your car,” Rafe said, stepping next to Fallon. He reached down, preparing to slide his arm beneath Jade’s head when George’s hand reached out and stopped him.
“I’ll get her.”
• • •
After finding the discarded needle and flushing the plastic bag with heroin remnants, she dragged a trash can to Jade’s vanity and started picking up the larger shards of glass from the floor.
As her hands held the jagged pieces, her mind replayed back to the fear that had strangled her when she saw Jade lying on the floor surrounded by splinters of glass.
But the moment she’d spotted Rafe in the crowd, her fear had loosened its grip a little. It was like the night she first saw him. She was drawn to him, finding him in a moment when her mind was elsewhere. Distracting her from the present.
Fallon had mastered the art of keeping her feelings hidden, but when her body relaxed and the panic eased in her chest the moment his hand pressed against her, she knew he was dangerous. This man was a complete stranger. A complete stranger who had the ability to drain the control from her body and claim it for himself. Her body had become her source of power, yet it was defenseless when it ran along his. Even with just the simple touch of his hand.
He was a confusing, compelling contradiction. He absorbed her hidden emotions yet at the same time made her feel. He was dangerous, yet his nearness alone gave her a sense of security she’d never experienced. He was a stranger.
A beautiful distraction.
The cool air brushed through the room as the back door opened, then sucked shut. She lifted her head to look at Rafe, then stood.
“She’s gonna be fine. She’ll be hurting tomorrow, but she’ll be okay. I gave George my number in case he needed me. Can I help? Do anything? Call anyone? Do you want me to drive you home?”
“I’m fine.”
“I know, but I can tell you’re upset and—”
“Rafe, I’m fine,” she snapped. “Just go.” She needed him to add significant space between them before she ended up throwing herself in his arms, clinging onto him just so she could feel the comfort she knew his touch would provide.
Arm’s length had been her motto, but at this moment, even arm’s length was too close.
“Fallon, I will take you—”
“No,” she interrupted. “I’ve got stuff to take care of here.”
“That’s fine. I’ll help you, then make sure you get home all right.”
“Goddammit, Rafe! I don’t want you here! I don’t need you to hold my hand and make sure I’m okay. I can deal with this just fine on my own. And I’m perfectly capable of getting myself home in one piece. I’ve been taking care of myself for a long damn time. Go!”
His eyes remained impassive, never hardening or darkening as she’d expected them to. He just studied her for another heartbeat. He didn’t say anything, didn’t nod or smile or give any other reaction. Then he crossed backstage and descended the stairs out of the club.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Fallon sat in her car and waited for the headlights to appear in her rearview mirror. She’d seen the black Jeep pull out behind her as she left the parking lot of the club and she’d watched as it followed her all the way to her house. Her car was off but the music still hummed softly through the speakers as she waited at the front of her dark driveway.
When two small lights appeared in her mirror, she stepped out of the car, the motion-sensored lights on her house flickering on, casting a spotlight on her in the darkness. Her hands rested on her hips as she fixed her eyes on the Jeep, beckoning him to turn into her drive.
And he did.
The Jeep’s tires spun slowly over the smooth cement as he traveled the long, winding path to her house. Parking behind her car, he stepped out of the Jeep.
“You caught me?” he asked, but he looked only amused, not guilty.
“You weren’t necessarily subtle. You need to work on your undercover abilities.”
His stride was long, his legs closing a large portion of the distance that remained between them. Lowering his treacherously dark eyes, he focused on her mouth. It made her nervous knowing his gaze was set on her lips, and she instinctively sank her teeth into the corner of her bottom lip.