Mandy stepped away, brushing away her tears, burrowing under my arm closer to me.
I nodded. “She is.” She stiffened next to me, and if she could get any closer to me, she would’ve. She was terrified of him. I was about to ask if Samuel needed an ambulance when the door on the opposite end opened.
Everyone stopped. The guards froze. Krein’s light-hearted attitude fled, and I turned to see who had entered.
Jace. He was dressed in black cargo pants and a black shirt that clung to him. A gun was holstered on his side and he held a radio in one hand. He looked at the group with one glance and scowled. “Get ‘em out, Krein. No parties. Not tonight.”
“Jace,” he started.
He wasn’t listening. He started towards the door Krein and the group had come through. “I mean it. I want them out. Now.”
Krein called after him, “Even Matthews?”
Jace was reaching for the door, but stopped and swung those piercing eyes my way. He didn’t say anything for a moment. Then Tray stepped up beside me. “We’ll get out of here as soon as we get our friend.”
Jace narrowed his eyes and started for us. “Evans.”
Tray gave him a tight nod in return. His gaze met mine for a second. I felt his warning in them again, but he turned and went to Samuel. The group helped him to his feet and then towards the exit door.
“My friends were here,” I told Jace. “That’s the only reason I’m back. I’ll leave as soon as we have them all.”
Krein asked, “I thought this was all of them?”
“We have one more.”
“My brother,” Amber spoke up. “Can I go with you?”
Krein waited for Jace’s approval.
He nodded. “Take her with you, find her brother, and then get all of them out of here.” He was staring right at me as he stressed the word all. I clamped my mouth shut, feeling a burst of anger. I wanted to say something. I didn’t, but I wanted so damn much to tear into him.
Amber headed after Krein, but she turned around and her eyes raked Jace up and down. When she finished her perusal, she ducked through the door. The noises from the club filled the room for a moment. It faded when the door shut once more. I looked around. Mandy had gone with the group out the exit door. The guards went with Krein. It was only Jace and myself.
He didn’t waste time. “Did you really only come because of your friends?”
I flushed and narrowed my eyes at him. “Are you calling me a liar? It was my sister, Jace. You know how I am with family loyalty.”
Unlike him. That was the unspoken message. He received it, and his glare lessened. Then he asked, his voice softer, “Are your friends okay?”
“I don’t really care about any of them except my sister.” I paused. “And Tray.”
“Evans.”
It wasn’t a question from him, but I nodded. “Yes. He’s my friend.”
“I told you to stay away from him—”
“The second you threatened to have me shot is when your advice was no longer wanted.” I wanted to hurt him like he had hurt me. “Tray’s never hurt me like you have.”
He laughed, shaking his head. “I see your verbal skills are still intact. You haven’t gotten too soft over there in white picket fence land.”
“Fuck you.”
The words were out of my mouth before I could hold them in.
He barked out another laugh. “I have a lot I can say on that one, but I’ll keep it to myself.” His radio sounded and Krein’s voice came over, “We got him in the back.” Jace lifted it and spoke into it, “I’m sending Taryn back to you.” Then he pointed to the exit door. “Your friends are out there waiting for you. Go away, Taryn.”
I flinched. It didn’t hurt any less than the first time. A lump formed in my throat, but I refused to accept it was there. Screw him. I swept past him. “I hope Brian continues to hate you. I hope he hates you so much that he doesn’t want anything to do with you and leaves town, just like I did.” I got to the door and started to push it open.
“So do I.” His words stopped me.
Then I shoved through the door. The pain mixed with fury and I stopped just outside the door, bent over, and took gaping breaths. Then I brushed away the tears and headed to the back parking lot. Everyone was waiting for me, everyone that mattered now.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Samuel was taken to the hospital. Mandy cried into Devon’s arms, and Jennica rolled her eyes. Grant was fine. He’d been in the bathroom the entire time. No one asked what he was doing in there, but Amber remained by his side. Tray gave me a ride to the school and I went home in my own car that evening.