Hard to Fight - Bella Jewel Page 0,23

like she wants to laugh again. I point to her and say, “Shut up, Kady.”

She throws her hands up. “Sorry, I’m shutting up.”

I flash her a smile. “Call you later.”

“Laters.”

I head out to my car and read over Don’s information, which just came through on my phone. Male, early twenties, skipped bail for a drug charge. I stare at the picture. Skinny enough that I shouldn’t need anything else to take him in but what’s already with me. I shove my Taser and gun into my jeans and head on over.

I’m grateful for this distraction from the mess I’ve made with Raide.

* * *

The club Don texted me to go to is packed when I arrive. There are bodies everywhere, grinding and drinking. With a deep breath, I start pushing through the crowd, scanning each person’s face to see if I can locate Terry, the man I’m supposed to be bringing in. I scan the bar first, and see no one resembling him. If he’s on a drug charge, there’s a good chance he’s a junkie or knows someone who is.

I turn toward the darker parts of the club. The bathrooms, the halls, the back rooms, places like that. I check the toilets first, busting into the men’s toilet as though I’ve been in there a million times. Some of them curse, others smirk at me, but I ignore them, muttering, “Sorry, guys, ladies’ room is full, and so’s my bladder.” I check thoroughly—no Terry. “On second thought, I think I can hold it a little longer.”

I step out into the hall and crash into a tall, hard form. I squeal and leap back, only to feel my mouth drop open as Raide looks down at me, his expression hard. Great, this could not get any worse. Why does the universe hate me so much? He already thinks I’m stalking him, and now, as luck would have it, he’s in the same place as my guy for the night. I just hope he didn’t notice that I was in the process of exiting the men’s room. I don’t think I could come back from that.

“What the fuck?” he barks. “You follow me here, too?”

I blink at him. “Excuse me?”

“I said,” he growls, putting his hands on my shoulders and pushing me against the wall. I gasp when my back hits the cool, hard surface. “Did you fuckin’ follow me here?”

I don’t have time for this. I let my eyes scan the halls, and I’m about to smart-mouth Raide when I notice Terry standing at the end of the hall, mouth close to a young girl’s mouth as he whispers something. I actually watch him pull out a white pill and drop it into her drink as he speaks to her. Pig.

“Excuse me, I have things to do.” I shove out of Raide’s grip, focused entirely on Terry. I approach him casually, acting as though we’re long-lost friends. “Hi, Terry,” I chirp.

He turns to me, narrowing eyes that are so dark, I can’t tell in this light if they’re brown or black. He’s got short blond hair and is tall and skinny, just like the picture. He’s also completely whacked-out, his eyes bloodshot, his body flinching every few seconds. Easy.

“Do I know you?”

“Course you do, remember?”

He stares at me.

“Forgive me,” I say, leaning in close to his ear so no one else can hear me. “Why don’t we go out in the parking lot, and I can give you a reminder.” I thrust my chest out and bat my lashes, and as expected, he falls for it. Once we’re outside where Raide can’t see us, I’ll do the takedown.

I bring my body closer to his, but before I begin to lead him out, I turn to the girl and whisper, “Don’t drink that, honey. He drugged you.”

She stares down at her drink and drops it to the floor, glass smashing into thousands of tiny little pieces before she goes slinking off down the dark hall. I spin back to Terry, wrapping my arm around his biceps and leading him to the door.

“There a problem here?”

Shit. Raide.

I stare over my shoulder to see him approaching. I quickly adjust my strategy. Raide’s the bigger bounty, so if I have to sacrifice Terry to keep my cover, so be it. But I’d still like to try to get the date-raping bastard if I can.

“No problem at all. I’m just taking my cousin here home. He tried to drug that girl, and his dad is