I see girls tossing their hair and try it myself, losing myself to the beat of the music. Another hard body pushes against me from behind, caging me in. I lean into Colt, his scent surrounding me. I dance with them both, carefree for the first time in my life. No wonder Clara didn’t want to return for me. If this is the life she was living, I never want to go back either.
The song changes slightly, and I dance between the brothers for another song. I feel eyes on us, watching, dissecting. “They’re just wondering who you are. We’re well known, little islander, and it’s been quite some time since we’ve been seen out together,” Colt whispers in my ear, observing the people watching us too.
“Why?” I ask, breathless, a sheen of sweat dusting my skin.
“Because Cash fell in love and I didn’t,” he whispers into my ear, his message cryptic. Does he mean Clara?
“Let’s get our drinks.” He clasps my hand as Cash takes the other.
He leads us to a curtain, which gets pulled open by a giant man, like the one who brought me to Colt after finding me on his property.
There are seats and a table. The table is covered with glasses, all full of different colored liquids.
Colt whispers something into the big man’s ear, then takes a seat, pulling me into a position between them. He reaches out, picking up a pink drink. “Try this.”
“There’s fruit in it.” I gasp, excited to eat the strawberry bobbing in the glass.
“Yes, there is.” He chuckles.
I take a tentative sip, wary in case it burns my throat. Bubbles pop over my tongue, a burst of flavor caressing my taste buds. “That’s gorgeous!” I exclaim.
“Yes, yes it is.” He gazes at me, his eyes dropping to my lips. Heat builds in my lower stomach and pools between my legs. With just a look, I feel flustered and bewildered. It’s dangerous, and I love every second of his attention.
Colt stiffens abruptly, his eyes flicking to someone over my shoulder.
I follow his gaze to see an older man who’s joined us in our little corner of this club. A beautiful woman with flowing blonde hair clutches his arm, her smile sugary sweet, aimed straight at Colt. “Annemarie?” he says, bewildered.
“Oh, sorry, son, didn’t you know I’ve been seeing Annie?”
Son?
This must be their father. I see it now. They have similar features, hard jawlines and penetrating eyes.
“You really are pathetic,” Cash grinds out.
“Now, now, no need to get hostile. I’m not the one walking into your club.”
“Annemarie?” Colt snorts, shaking his head.
“You were done with her long ago, Colt, and it looks like you’ve found someone else to occupy your bed.” He turns his gaze on me. “Hello,” he drawls. Anger taking hold, causing my muscles to coil.
“Does she speak?” He chuckles, looking between the brothers and then to the one they call Annemarie.
“Not to assholes like you,” Cash spits out.
Holding his hands in the air, their father steps back. “Ouch. So she’s here with both of you. Since when did you start sharing again?”
“Do you recognize her?” Colt asks.
“Should I?” He’s curious now, watching me more closely. “She does look familiar. Have we fucked?” he croons.
Colt is on his feet before I can blink, his fist connecting with his father’s face, sending him tumbling backward, Annemarie being dragged down with him. She screams as they plow through the curtain into the crowd of people who all scurry to clear the space. Wrapping an arm around my waist, Cash guides me around them.
“You little fucking shit,” their father roars.
Colt inspects his knuckles, then pulls on his jacket to straighten himself up.
“That’s been a long time coming. Sorry you had to fall with this piece of shit, Annemarie—in more ways than one.”
We tip out into the night, the moon full and round in the sky. Energy courses through my body.
“That was…fun.” I grin, the drink from before swirling in my bloodstream.
“He didn’t recognize her,” Cash announces.
“I know.” Colt nods.
“So it wasn’t him.”
“It doesn’t mean the person who killed Clara is the same one who gave Mona back the necklace. Maybe someone found it.”
I hadn’t thought of that.
A shiver ripples through me. I feel eyes on me from the shadows, watching.
“Can we get out of here?” I ask.
“Sure. Let’s go back to my place, sleep on it, and decide what the plan should be,” Colt decides.
“I want to swim in the ocean,” I announce.
“It’s dark.” Cash chuckles.
“I don’t care. We’re forbidden from doing so on the island. I want to do everything, experience all my urges, live out every dream and wish,” I exclaim.
Cash looks to Colt, who shrugs and does his sexy smile.
Sixteen
Colt
“Is this wise?” Cash whines, scratching his head.
“The girl lived surrounded by the ocean and was forbidden from swimming in it,” I remind him. She could tell me she wanted to swim around the world and I’d be there to see it happen.