until we see him.”
“So, you plan on ruining his engagement party, then?”
My stomach sours, and I press against Wyatt who tenses underneath me. That was not the information I was expecting.
Lucas peeks at me, and when he returns his stare to the Jacobs’ servant, he’s even more furious than before. “If this was his real engagement party, we would’ve been invited. So, get him.”
“He’s with Miss Marissa at the moment, preparing for their guests. I don’t know what to tell you if your name is not on the guest list.”
Wyatt speaks up, having him check all of our names. It was a long shot, but we’re not on there either. Of course. Lance Jacobs created the guest list. I glance out the rear window and see a line of cars piling up. Are all these stuffed-shirt assholes in this rich guy group? Do they really think they’re so above everyone else?
“If you don’t move, I’m going to have to call the police.”
Lucas shrugs. “Excellent idea. I’m sure the media would love to see such a scandal at Stone Jacobs’ engagement celebration.”
Another guy in a tuxedo waltzes over, briefly discussing with the first servant what’s going on before returning to the small guard house. We watch as he picks up the phone. Behind us, people start getting out of their cars to ask what the holdup is. Lucas stays silent, sitting in the driver’s seat with his arms crossed over his chest.
My phone rings, and I nearly drop it trying to answer it so quickly. My heart jumps up into my throat, but when I glance at the screen, it’s not Stone’s name I see. It’s Cole’s.
“Hello?”
“Don’t tell me you’re at his house.”
“Fine. I won’t tell you we’re parked outside the gate right now. All these rich pricks are getting angry behind us.”
Cole sighs.
Annoyance flares through me, and I lower my voice. “I thought you were going to help me with this?”
“I am helping you, baby girl. I need you to leave the Jacobs’ house for now. No one’s going to come out and see you.”
“But Stone—”
“Stone’s....” He growls into the phone. “Just leave, okay?”
“No,” I growl.
“Of course you’re fucking stubborn. I should’ve guessed it. I’m telling you that no good is going to come out of you going in there. Okay? You believe me, don’t you? Do you really want to head in there and see Stone catering to his father’s friends? To pretend that he’s in love with this rich bitch? Is that something you really want to watch? Because I can make it happen, but I’m looking out for you. You don’t want to see it.”
“I need to make sure he’s okay. He isn’t answering our phone calls. He didn’t show up at school.”
“Last chance,” Cole warns. “Walk away.”
“Never.”
“Fine.”
The line goes dead. Fifteen seconds later, two guys with fire ink wrapping up their necks approach the hosts. The tuxedo-wearing servants start to protest, but a Dragon with tattooed knuckles produces a gun. He shoots him, and I gasp so loud I nearly choke. It takes me longer than it should to realize there was no bang. There’s no blood. The servant slumps to the ground and the Dragons pick him up and carry him to the guard house, leaning him against the wall.
The other host looks as if he’s going to piss his pants. Few words are exchanged before the servant goes to the gate to open it. The iron bars swing open in front of us, and the two members of the Dragons nod at us as they walk away.
“Fucking Christ,” Lucas swears. He turns on the car and inches forward.
“Must have been some sort of tranquilizer,” Wyatt offers, gaze still on the unmoving form of the host propped against the guard station.
The gate closes behind us, and we pull up to the last car in line. We get out and immediately see Lance Jacobs come around the side of the house, marching toward us. So, they opened up the gate, but not before alerting the owner we were coming.
Wyatt helps me out of the car with a solid hand on my ass. He comes out right after me as we face Lance. “What are you three doing here?” He gazes past us toward the gate as if he can’t believe we got inside.
He must realize now he isn’t the only one who can use Cole and the Dragons for their nefarious purposes.
“What the fuck’s going on, Lance?” Lucas spits. “We’re not invited to our best friend’s