Richard laughs. It sounds nervous. Then he sniffs a couple times and wipes at his nose with the back of his hand.

I narrow my eyes on him. That’s when I start noticing more.

He can’t stand still. He’s shifting his weight around, rocking his upper body, cracking his knuckles. Constantly sniffing and darting his eyes all over the place like he can’t focus on one thing too long. He looks wired.

My jaw flexes again. The muscles in my back and shoulders tense up.

The other shit that sometimes goes on at these things has definitely been going on.

Richard is on something. Coke, by the looks of it. I recognize his behavior all too well.

Jesus fucking Christ.

Letting his woman out of his sight, looking the way she does in a crowd like this so he can score some blow.

Wasn’t lying after all. I am going to kill him.

I move in so I’m standing in his space. “I’m going to ask you once and if you lie to me, this shit is going to end a helluva lot worse for you,” I inform the prick, watching his eyes dart all over my face. “You got it on you or did you score it from someone?”

Richard leans back. “The fuck you talking about?”

“CJ . . .”

Riley’s voice is at my shoulder. It’s full of questions.

That I’m not surprised about.

I ignore her for now and stay on Richard. “The blow,” I elaborate. “Did you bring it?”

He shakes his head, blinking fast. “What?”

I lean in. “Last time,” I growl.

I’ve dealt with people on drugs a lot. I know their reactions can be unpredictable. You gotta be ready for anything.

I’m fucking ready.

Richard smiles like he knows something I don’t, then he steps back, laughing and shaking his head. “Man, what the fuck? You’re crazy. Come on, Ri.”

He grabs her hand and tugs her away from me, wrapping his arm around her waist, but it barely lands before I’m stepping up and separating them. I get Riley behind me and put myself between them.

“CJ!” she calls out, pushing up against my back.

I ignore her and get up in his face.

“Hey, man, what are you doing?” Richard tries to move around me to get to Riley. I side-step with him. His face turns red. “What the fuck, man? Move!”

The crowd around us starts stirring. Bodies knock into me and move past in a herd, fast, like they’re all gathering for something. All three of us start getting pushed around the floor and separated.

I watch Richard. His eyes are all over the place, but I think he’s looking for Riley.

“FIGHT!” someone yells from behind me.

“Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight!” others start chanting.

Chaos breaks out. People panic and rush in to see what’s going on.

I turn my head to make sure Riley isn’t anywhere near it, but I don’t see her. I do see the fight that’s broken out. It’s coming from the hallway leading to the bathrooms. Three guys all throwing fists, some landing, some not, charging at each other and knocking into people who aren’t sticking around to watch, but who are just trying to get away from it. Innocent people who don’t want any part of it.

Shit like this can get out of control fast. People can get hurt.

Luckily, I don’t need to intervene.

Security moves in, and I’m guessing the other guy working undercover, all of them swarming on the three jerkoffs and anyone else trying to get involved, locking that shit down quick.

Seeing that and knowing they got it handled, I turn back around to keep with what I’m doing.

Richard isn’t in front of me anymore. I look above heads and behind others. I search the crowd.

Nothing. I don’t see him.

I don’t see Riley either.

“Fuck,” I growl.

I charge ahead, scanning faces as I push my way toward the floor where I first spotted Riley, thinking maybe she made for here when the fight broke out and knew I’d come looking for her.

The band is still playing. People are still dancing and oblivious.

I search, looking all over. Moving people when they don’t clear for me and ignoring their bitching when I need to move them.

I don’t see her.

Pushing toward the stage, I keep searching.

Nothing.

I check the bar, thinking maybe that asshole took her over there so he can get another fucking drink.

Nothing.

I head back to where we were standing and check near the restrooms, pushing through more people. Maybe I missed her and she’s over here scared `cause of the shit she’s seeing.

I don’t see her. Then a thought hits me as I look toward the entrance.

He’s got her outside. He knows I’m onto him and he’s trying to leave.

He’s trying to leave with her.

Jaw clenching so hard my teeth fucking ache, I make for the door, heart pounding, nerves on edge, fists forming. I’m shoving people out of the way and knocking them to the ground. I don’t care. I don’t stop. I keep moving.

She’s with him. And he’s fucking high.

Getting outside, I scan the sidewalk, whipping my head left first and seeing the patrol cars parked along the curb. Two of them. The officers are standing on the sidewalk talking to some guy who looks pissed about something. He’s yelling about his ticket.

I glance further down the sidewalk, thinking maybe Richard’s moving with Riley and they’re not near the door.

That’s when I hear it.

“Stop! You’re hurting me! Let go, Richard! What’s wrong with you?”

My head whips right. I look past a crowd standing in front of the venue and see her.

Riley struggles in Richard’s grasp. His hands are gripping onto her arms as he tries to move her further down the sidewalk. He’s shoving her. He’s making it so she has no choice but to go with him.

Fuck that. She has a choice.

“Hey!” I yell out, stalking in their direction.

“Move, Ri! We’re fucking leaving! Go!”

He shoves at her again. Then he grabs her arm and forces her to walk.

“Get your hands off her!” I roar, gaining the attention of the other people on the sidewalk, just not the one person who needs to be hearing me. Richard doesn’t even turn his head.

I shove at people to get through the crowd. They’re slowing me down. They won’t let me get to her.

“I don’t want to go yet, Richard. Please!” Riley begs, stumbling as she tries to get away. “Let go of me! Why are you acting like this?”