Chapter 63
Chapter 63:
“You… know my boyfriend?” Addie asked, suspicion flickering in her eyes as she glanced between Sophie and the masked driver.
Her hand tightened around her designer bag, the boldness she had prepared to show off her flashy new boyfriend and his convertible suddenly faltering. She shot a quick, nervous look toward the man behind the wheel. He gave Sophie a brief, unreadable glance, then quickly turned away.
“I don’t know her,” he said flatly, his voice low and rushed. “Let’s not hold up traffic. Get in now, or I’m leaving p>
Flustered and stung by the awkward turn, Addie slid into the passenger seat, muttering, “Um… Maybe you girls should just call a cab p>
Sophie stood frozen on the curb, staring after the car as it sped off into the night. His words echoed in her mind and left a bitter taste in her mouth.
𝖣𝘪sc𝗈𝘃e𝘳 h𝗶𝗱d𝖾𝗇 g𝘦𝘮ѕ 𝘰n
She slumped down on the front steps of the bar, hugging her knees to her chest as the cold night breeze stung her eyes.
A shadowy figure drifted over, the smell of cigarettes and cheap liquor swirling in the air. “What’s a pretty thing like you doing out here p>
Sophie lifted her head, blinking up at a man in a loud floral shirt, gold chain glinting beneath his open collar. He leaned in with a leer. “How about you come have a drink with me p>
Sarah stirred beside her, trying to push herself upright, but Sophie gently tugged her back down, shaking her head. “No more drinking. I just want to go home p>
The man’s face brightened with opportunity. “Home? I can take you there p>
Something about the word made Sophie glance up. Sarah, half-slumped against her, tugged at her sleeve and asked, “Didn’t that guy say he’d get us home p>
Disoriented and unsteady, Sophie let herself be hauled upright. Sensing his moment, the man in the floral shirt reached out, aiming to lead them away.
But the second his rough fingers brushed Sophie’s wrist, a steely hand clamped down on his own with crushing force. The man screamed, pain shooting up his arm as he twisted around in shock.
Staring back at him was a stranger in a glossy black mask, cold eyes glinting beneath.
“If you want to keep that hand, I suggest you walk away. Now p>
The masked man’s voice was cold, each word sharp and final. For a split second, the man considered protesting—until he noticed Sophie, now held protectively in the masked man’s arms, shielded from the world. The stranger’s chilling glare made his blood run cold. The floral-shirted man bolted, stumbling away without another word.
Sophie squinted up, her vision swimming, and mumbled, “Adrian? Is that you? Why’d you come back p>
Adrian’s expression was thunderous. “How much did you have? You reek of booze. Nothing you say is making sense p>
He waved Neil over. Together, they got Sarah safely into the front seat, then Adrian climbed in back, cradling Sophie close. “We’ll drop Miss Miller off first p>
Luckily, Sarah was the chatty sort of drunk, rattling off her address with no trouble at all. After she was safely delivered home and Neil had helped her inside, the car fell silent but for the hum of the engine.
Only Adrian and Sophie remained in the backseat, the city lights flickering past the window.
Adrian glanced down at Sophie, still nestled against him, and tilted her chin so she had no choice but to meet his eyes. “Look at me p>
His tone was sharp, almost cold. “You promised you wouldn’t get wasted tonight. Do you have any idea what kind of creep you nearly went off with? You actually thought it was safe to just follow some stranger p>
Sophie blinked, her gaze unfocused, trying to make sense of the world as his face blurred into two. His lips moved, but all she heard was a distant drone—nothing she could understand. He was saying something, scolding her maybe, but the sound just buzzed in her ears.
It was too much. She wished he would just stop talking. What could she do to make him stop?
Adrian saw the glassy look in her eyes, the way she was barely registering a word. His frustration grew sharper. “Sophie, are you listening? Tell me it won’t p>
Before he could finish, Sophie’s arms slipped around his neck. She pressed her lips against his, clumsy and tasting faintly of sweet liquor, abruptly silencing him mid-sentence.
Adrian stiffened in shock, his stern lecture vanishing as the world seemed to freeze around them.