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Unlike the Panic Rooue was under nenership; it preventedan in--and part of me felt thankful One Kelter was all I could handle I suppose I didn’t need an in anyway The club was dark and thuh the crowd to a vacant spot near the wall Phin rounded on me and lowered his head to my ear

"We’ll spread out and see if we spot any of the hoodies," he said "Let’s give it forty rave "If you need ht," I said, and watched the Dupré brothers split up and disappear into the crowd For a Monday night, it was a heavy ue like sardines, and as I edged the perian to weave into the center The dark interior and flashing lights made it pretty difficult to see any sort of distance, so Ihands, hts set on the opposite side of the club A hand to my crotch--yes, rabbed the wrist taking privileges and yanked upward, and I separated the offender frouy, maybe nineteen or twenty, with burred black-dyed hair and a silver mesh sleeveless shirt stared at me with cold, almost black eyes The side of his neck was inked with a massive wad of barbed wire; in the center was a naked wo to the wire, a look of terror--or ecstasy, I couldn’t tell which--on her face It was a shoddy art job, in uy pushed toward me, his face close "I knohat you want," he said in what he probably thought was a seductive, turn-me-on, throaty voice

I dropped his ar perv"

Frorabbed my hips to holdfor," he said against my ear, and then a hot wetness crept over my lobe as he licked it

I stopped and looked at hiht?" I said, repulsed but hiding it "And what exactly do you know?" Maybe he’d seen Seth or one of the boys It orth checking out

"This way, babe," he said, and nudged h the crowd; the whole tirowled, and he laughed but removed his hands As we moved, I continued to search faces, but no one seemed familiar--not even Phin or Luc appeared Finally, we broke free, and e did the guy totally took ainst the exit door In the next second he was pressed against h the door, into the alley With a heavily booted foot he kicked the door closed behind us and was on me, my front sla, and this guy was grinding his hard crotch againstrunting in round out, and he ood, but I was a tall girl, strong and athletic; I pulled ed the balls of ainst the wall, and pushed hard We both fell back, and I leapt up Before he could get off his ass, I’d kicked him in the jaw, and his head jerked back; he spit blood froain "Stupid bitch"

Adrenaline ed for ure rabbed him by the throat that my brain hardly had tiainst the Dumpster and hit with a heavy thud In the next second, Eli eed frohtened but not yet opaque He moved closer but did not touch , Riley?" he said, his voice dark, angered, shaking with rage "What?" Those light eyes regarded me, held me captive I couldn’t have looked away if I’d tried Thankfully, he did He grasped his neck with both hands and looked skyward "Tu me fais mourir," he muttered in French, and of course I had no idea what itme," he clarified, and then drew a deep breath and looked at lanced toward the Dued "You didn’t kill him, did you?" I asked

Eli’s face became evenif I saidEli It’d only been two days, but it’d felt like forever Pretty etting used to I didn’t want to care about hi much ivento back off

"He did what?" Eli asked,closer

I turned my back and headed for the door "Oh rasp thehtened My heart raced at the thought of hi me, and my breath quickened at how he had touched me I didn’t dare move

"I’m sorry I left, Riley," he said, close to my ear "I had no choice"

I made myself breathe, and steady my voice "Yeah I know"

Just then, Phin entered the alley froainst the yellow Dued "I had it Besides--he led ht it orth a shot to check out"

Phin rolled his eyes and threw his hands up Yes A vaain Besides--we just spotted three of the kids" Phin glanced at Eli "They ith a new kid--a little older, but not hteen A total badass They’re headed down to the river Lots of warehouses down there Luc’s on the out down there, too Glad you’re back" He slapped his aro, then," I said, and turned up the alley A steely grip stoppedthe thrill that shot through ht I had

"You stay with , despite the fact that being close to hiet over it and deal "Fine," I answered "Then,out"

Eli stood there, his face unreadable, and stared It certainly would be nice to have thatpoker player I had no idea what he was thinking Might be a good thing, now that I thought about it

"Oh-kay," Phin said sarcastically "Let’s go"