“It’s none of our business, trouble,” Onyx grumbles.
I roll my eyes, looking back at the door they both disappeared through.
“Why don’t you come over here and sit with me,” Reef offers, patting the seat beside him, trying to entice me. “Romeo gave me his laptop so you can catch up on the club.”
My pulse quickens. “Really?”
He nods with that damn cheeky smirk he does so well, and I move as quickly as my legs will take me. He pulls up last night’s security footage, and I study every little detail of it, watching as Sally and Myriah work the floor, chatting to our regulars and having a laugh. They look okay, no different from normal. Then I click on the next camera and watch the VIP room, dancers up on the stage and Erica working the bar happily. She doesn’t look sadlike she was the night I was taken. But then I realize who she’s talking to. Asher is sitting at the bar in front of her, the two of them clearly flirting. “He needs to stay away from her.”
“Erica’s a big girl, Sloane, I’m sure she can handle him,” Onyx mutters.
I glare at Onyx, knowing that’s not true. I sigh heavily, handing the laptop back to Reef. “Thanks, but it’s not the same. I want to go home.”
His hand laces into mine, and he gazes back at me. “I know, wildcat, I’m sure you will be able to soon.” His words don’t fill me with any confidence. None of them will let me leave this place until Syd is dead and Papa Moretti is dealt with, but that could be a long fucking time, and he knows it.
I stare back at him, wondering how I get around their rules. I just need a little sliver of my old life, something to give me hope that I won’t be this isolated forever. “Can I talk to Jagger?”
“No!” they both say at the same time.
“I know you both think it’s too dangerous, but isn’t there some way?” I ask, more hopeful. “Please.” I offer them my most charming smile, hoping to get my way.
Onyx’s eyes meet with mine, a seriousness washing over him I don’t like. Mr. Bossy is back, great! “Sorry, Sloane, it’s not going to happen. Jagger knows you are in safe hands and that you’re okay, and that’s all he needs to know.”
I don’t know why but his words get my back up. I’m sick of being shut down, told no and being kept in the dark. They want to help me, then fucking include me in it all, I don’t care how bad it is. “Are you hiding shit from me?”
Onyx looks confused. “Why would you say that?” he snaps.
“She thinks she overheard something this morning, but she was eavesdropping and probably didn’t hear correctly,” Reef answers for me, a brow raised that says he thinks I should keep my mouth shut about what I heard.
I shoot Reef a furious glare for butting into the conversation and having an opinion when it doesn’t concern him. With a careless shrug, he dismisses my snippy attitude toward him. “Are you?” I demand, wanting to know what Onyx knows.
His brow rises and his dark eyes intensify. “I wasn’t the one talking to Romeo this morning.”
“Who was then, was it Orlando? I know it wasn’t Reef, he was behind me at the time, and it was one of you.”
Reef’s hands grasp my shoulders, his intense gaze burning into me. “Settle down, Sloane, he could have been on the phone talking to anyone. No one in this house will intentionally hurt you in any way. You mean too much to us.”
“Do you promise me?” I whisper, needing to hear it.
Reef looks me over, and I see the flash of concern in his pretty features. “Sloane, what’s going on with you? This isn’t the girl I know, freaking out over a conversation.”
I run my hands through my hair, feeling like I’m losing control.
“Have you taken your meds?” Onyx asks more seriously.
I jerk my head back to look at him, my eyes widening. “Yes, I have taken them,” I snap. Then my sharp gaze moves back to Reef. “You lot have happened to me. I’m locked up here like a caged animal. You know I need to be free, need to do things my way, and you have all stripped me of any control. It’s fucking with my head.”
They exchange a quick glance, in a way that makes my blood boil.
I stand in a rush. “Stop hiding shit from me. I’m done with the not-so-subtle looks, fuckers,” I spit, a surge of erratic energy radiating through me. I’m not even sure what I’m going to do right now.
“Sloane,” Reef utters my name in warning.
“Sit down, trouble,” Onyx growls, his voice holding more of a threat than warning.
I shake my head, telling him not to come any closer. He holds out his hand for me, and I can’t. I turn on my heel and run, sprinting back through the house as fast as my fucked-up ankle will let me.
“Sloane!” I hear them both shout my name from behind me.
