Chapter Thirty-Two

Lyrical

T he club is so loud I can't hear myself think. Lilac and Winter decided to throw me a bachelorette party at the club, and I have so many guards posted, watching me like a hawk, and Snow wouldn't tell me the reason why I need a security detail around me. He said there may be a new threat arising and he is being precautious. I think he's hiding something from me but doesn't want me to worry.

"What's with the security?" Lilac asks, before sipping her beverage.

She wears a black halter neck dress with matching heels, and her hair is tied up in a neat bun.

Nothing gets past her.

I shrug. "It's for extra protection. Snow hired them."

The music is so loud my chest vibrates along with the beat, and lights flash from green to orange to blue. I dance with Winter and Lilac, and the girls from the dinner with Professor Carter the other night can't make it. It's like they all disappeared. When I asked Professor Carter about them, he told me one dropped his class because he wouldn't sleep with her, and the other one transferred to another institution because her family couldn't keep up with the tuition fees.

Shaking my head, I head to the bar and I ask for a Long Island iced tea. I watch the barman pour a glass, then hand it to me. I down most of it and slam the glass onto the bartop.

A guy sits next to me, flashing me his pearly white teeth. He's beautiful, with dark hair and big brown eyes. He wears a beige suit with a black tie. I don't want any of the security to report to Snow that I'm talking to him, or any guy for that matter, because it will be a bloodbath. I fucked up when I kissed Melvin, and I don't want him to send me another body part. I got the hint. I need to stay away from the opposite sex, so I leave the bar.

When I make my way back to Lilac, I bump into someone, and the guy looks familiar. The scar across his face…

My heart hammers in my chest, and I feel bile rising to the back of my throat. I place my hand over my chest, because it's hard for me to breathe, so I clutch my dress.

He looks like the cop who pulled me over on the night of the car accident, but that can't be right… because it didn't happen, it was all in my head.

No, it can't be him. That wasn't real. My mind is playing tricks on me.

Someone taps me on the shoulder, and I turn to see it's Snow staring down at me, but when I turn back around, the cop guy disappears into thin air.

"What's wrong? You look like you just saw a ghost," Snow asks, gently stroking my chin.

I would tell Snow who I thought I saw, but I don't want to sound crazy, and I'm exhausted. Knowing Snow, he would have looked into it if I asked him to, but I don't want to waste his time chasing someone who is fictional.

I need fresh air, so I head straight to the back door, straight into the alley where there isn't anyone outside. I lean my back against the brick wall, trying to catch my breath, slowly inhaling and exhaling, so I can lower my heart rate. Snow and one of his guards follow me out back.

"Don't worry about it. I'm fine," I say.

Snow places both arms above my head, caging me in, and I inhale a heavy dose of his masculine cologne. "Are you sure? Did the guy at the bar say something to you?"

"No, he didn't. Just drop it, Snow. Mind your own business."

He places his hand on my neck, squeezing but not cutting off my airway. "I'm your fiancé. You come on my dick and mouth every night, and you have the audacity to tell me to mind my own business?"

"I'm your toy, that's all I am to you, remember?"

He lets me go, and I breathe in deeply.

"You and I both know you are more than just a toy to me."

I'm so fucking irritated.

"What's with these guards? Why don't you tell me what's going on, Snow? We already found out who Bailey's boyfriend is."

"Don't worry about it."

"Just tell me."

"No."

I move past him, swinging the door open, but Snow grabs me by the arm and ushers me to the car. My phone rings, and I hit the End button, sending a message to the group chat and letting them know I'll be there in a second.

"You're ruining my bachelorette party."

He strokes the side of my cheek. "I can't believe you think you're still my toy. I told you I wanted you, and you're not comprehending it. You're my fiancée."

"We're not in a relationship, Snow," I bite back.

"You're my property and I own every inch of you. Your tits and the holes between your legs are mine. Everything about you is mine."

"I'm not that important if you won't tell me what's going on. You're hiding something from me." He doesn't respond, so I go on, "If you want this relationship to work, whatever this is—"

"Engagement," he corrects me.

"Whatever. You're going to have to be honest with me." I fold my arms across my chest.

"I will. When it all blows over."

Whatever he's hiding, I'm going to find out. It's frustrating that he won't tell me what's going on, that he keeps me in the dark about stuff.

"Fine, Snow."

I'm not about to allow him to ruin my bachelorette party, so without a word, I step out of the car, but not before Snow grabs me by the neck.

"I need you to trust me, Lyrics. Trust that I have everything under control, and trust that I will do anything or kill anyone to keep you safe."

Without another word, I go back into the club, and I drink until I'm drunk off my ass.