“Promise?” Bryan gave me a slow once over.

My cheeks warmed. “I just might, you ass,” I warned as I crossed over to him, ignoring Dizzy who’d suddenly started shaking his head at me. I was surprised my brother didn’t have more faith in me. That forty dollars was already mine. I bent down to kiss Bryan. As soon as our lips touched, he took over and I forgot all about our audience.

I shouldn’t have.

“Lace.” War’s voice snapped my head up like a whip. “Come to bed.” His expression was furious.

Blood roaring in my ears, I swiped my winnings off the table before hurrying after him.

19

I shifted in my bunk, scrolling up the volume again, trying to drown out the sound of Lace and War yelling at each other in the back.

I knew that I shouldn’t have taken things so far with that kiss. But I wasn’t sure I gave a damn. I’d wanted to taste her again.

I had a sudden terrible thought. What if War got physical with Lace? Not that I’d ever seen War hit a woman, but drugs could make you do irrational things.

I pulled out my earbuds, listening intently.

Just more shouting.

But now that my imagination had gone there, I couldn’t rest until I saw for myself she was ok. I threw my legs over the side and started to climb down from my top roost.

“Stay put.” Dizzy grabbed a hold of my leg before my foot even hit the floor. “Get the fuck back in bed. Haven’t you caused enough trouble for one night?”

“I’m going to make sure he doesn’t hurt her,” I told him flatly.

“He wouldn’t dare. Not with you standing by, ready to take her off his hands.” A pause. “Besides you know Lace can take care of herself.”

I wasn’t so sure about that. I wasn’t sure about a lot of things anymore.

“Why can’t you let it go?” Dizzy asked in a low voice.

I didn’t answer. Dizzy would never understand. I’d never seen the dude have an emotional connection with any woman. He went through them at a faster clip than I ever had. Diz had the whole grab ‘em and bag ‘em thing down to an art form. It seemed like an obsession with him more than a game.

Things had finally settled down back there. My tensed muscles began to loosen. But then I smelled something acrid burning.

Fuck.

They were shooting up again. I put my buds back in and blasted up the volume. I could certainly relate to Axl’s sarcastic introduction to “Estranged” from the live version. I squeezed my eyes tightly shut as Slash’s guitar solo began to wail in my ears.

I tapped the tips of my stilettos. Nerves on a raw edge, I peeked out around the stage column. The Philips Arena was a complete sell out. An ocean of fans bounced in the pit as Bryan stood up front, playing the catchy guitar riff in “We’re Through.”