Chapter 18
We head back down to the kitchen and wait.
I was hoping to head out after meeting with Jake, but clearly, that wasn’t going to happen.
I’ve never really loved the party scene, but with Jade under our care, it had me even more ready to go.
As if the universe was having a laugh at me, leaving became a non-option when she went missing.
The meeting had gone over too well, apparently, and as if to add to all the shit already happening, Kratos decided to drop by. Fantastic.
The fact that Kratos didn’t just rip us apart is a blessing in itself. However, that doesn’t mean Froggie still won’t decide we still deserve to die.
Spencer, Zander, and I all take up positions scattered around the kitchen as we wait for Kratos to bring Jade back.
Zander sits his ass on the island, reclining back on his hands, kicking his legs back and forth like a child.
All of his earlier seriousness is gone now that Jade’s been found.
I’m glad they seem to get along, but how easily he’s taken to her is concerning.
That's an issue for later, though. Spencer leans against the fridge, just out of sight of everyone else, attention on his phone. I can only assume he’s fucking with some of his precious tech shit.
I stand leaning against the far counter, my back to the wall, arms crossed in a way that most people understand is a silent fuck off. I survey the room in front of us and the many people who dance, jump, and grind against one another with zero shame.
A glance around lets me know that we lost Trent somewhere along the way.
I can only assume he’s gone back to Jake, probably to report all of this shit.
I shake my head at the idea of having to deal with Jake again tonight.
I saw how he looked at Jade. Hell, it’s how most people have looked at her since we walked in the door.
The problem with Jake is he thinks that he has some kind of pull because he moves our drugs, and his dad's the mayor. That’s not true, and I’m happy to put him back in his place if needed, but I’d rather not have to do it tonight.
It’s still more shit to handle. Always more shit.
In less time than I expected, I spot Kratos and Jade parting the crowd and heading back toward us.
They make it about halfway when the song changes, and Jade stops dead in her tracks, whirling around to face Kratos.
I can’t read the expression on his face, not that I ever can, really, but the distance doesn’t help.
After a moment, he nods, his hand snaking around her body to rest just above the swell of her ass.
For a long moment, all I can do is stare at them before I force myself to turn away and look to the others. Spencer is still entranced by his phone and doesn’t seem to have noticed anything, which isn’t surprising. But when I turn to Zander, I know without asking he’s seen.
He stares at them where they stand across the room, his jaw hanging slack and his eyebrows arched up in obvious shock. I may have more control over my expression than he does, but it’s still nice to know I’m not the only one who's amazed by this turn of events.
My eyes are drawn back to them like magnets. Jade’s no longer facing him. Instead, her back pressed against his front, eyes closed, her head leaning back against his shoulder, and her arm reaching up to wrap around him. Her lips are pulled up, but she looks blissed out as she moves against him.
Kratos may not be dancing, but occasionally, he sways one way or the other.
Even with him almost still, they have the biggest impact on anyone with eyes.
Even people dancing around them have stopped to notice them.
Not that either of them seems to be aware of that.
One of Kratos’ hands snakes its way under her shirt, which has been hiked up by her movement.
He rests it flat against her bare skin before his other hand comes up to hold her hip as if he’s holding her in place.
Zander hops off the counter without so much as blinking as he heads toward them.
I put my arm out to block his way on instinct.
I’m not sure if it’s Kratos or the people around them watching who have his panties in a bunch, but either way, it’s best to let Kratos handle it.
He doesn’t fight against me, but he lets out a huff, and that’s all I need to know that he’s not happy.
Honestly, I’m not either, though I assume it’s for different reasons.
Where I’m sure Zander is jealous, I’m more concerned about the attention this will put on Jade.
She’s been turning heads since she walked in the door, between her looks and how she holds herself; add that to the fact that she walked in with us, and now she’s getting special attention from Kratos in a very public place.
Well, that puts her in the spotlight on multiple fronts.
Girls would kill to get even a moment of Kratos' undivided attention. We weren’t joking when we told Jade that he doesn’t entertain women.
“What the fuck are they doing?” Zander hisses, gaze still fixed on them as if he can’t make himself look away. I’m sure his line of thought is similar to my own.
“It looks like she’s also sunk her claws into him, though what else did we expect?” Spencer's voice cuts through my thoughts, and I see that he’s abandoned his hiding spot to join us, looking out into the crowd just as we are.
Zander turns on Spencer, quickly getting into his space. “What the fuck is that supposed to mean?” his voice is low, and I can hear the threat of violence dripping from each word.
Spencer's face takes on a taunting smile as he turns away from the show and looks back at Zander. “Let’s not pretend like she hasn’t been playing you like a fiddle.
You don’t get to be the best in her lifestyle without being able to draw attention.
” The cruel sneer in his voice is something I haven’t heard in a long time, but regardless, his words ring with truth.
I can see the moment Zander decides he’s had enough. I reach out and snag his bicep before he can lunge.
“Enough. This is not how we handle things,” I hiss, looking around the room to see who’s paying attention.
For the first time tonight, I’m almost grateful that they’re pulling everyone's attention. The last thing we need is for anyone to see us fighting amongst ourselves, but with them out on the dance floor, it appears as if nobody is giving us a second glance. As odd as that may be, it’s not unwelcome, especially not right now.
Zander shakes my hand off of him but remains where he is. His chest presses up against Spencer's as he heaves deep breaths in and out, trying to get himself under control. After a moment, he shoves Spencer back before moving back to lean against the island, his eyes turning back to Jade and Kratos.
Spencer doesn't react to Zander's outburst; he looks more than proud of himself, though, and I have to fight the urge to punch him myself. He may not like Jade, but I know he will take her safety seriously since it’s something Froggie wants.
Too bad his head is too far up his ass right now to see that this will all have a negative impact on our ability to do so easily.
With the situation handled for the moment, I also turn my attention back to the crowd. When my eyes land on them, I feel my heart pick up speed again.
I tell myself it’s just anxiety over the situation; maybe if I keep telling myself that it will be true.
“What are they whispering about?” Zander asks out loud, though I don’t think he actually expects an answer. None of us have any hope of hearing them from this far away. The only indication I have that they’re even talking is based on their stances.
Kratos’ head is dipped low, his mouth next to her ear as she continues to move against him.
From the corner of my eye, I see Zander reach down and adjust himself.
It should be ridiculous, considering the fact that they are hardly moving.
Hell, half the crowd is being more sexual and showy in their attempts to damn near fuck the person they’re with.
But for some reason, Jade and Kratos’ display is intoxicating, and I have to fight my own urge to adjust as I feel the blood run south.
As we watch, Kratos leans forward, his hand from her hip runs down the length of her leg, stopping at the top of her boot before he pulls it back up, running along the no doubt soft exposed skin just below her knee, to her ass before disappearing behind her back.
Something in his hand reflects the lights that pulse all around us, but it's gone before I can see what it is.
I lean over to ask Zander if he saw what it was, but before I can get the words out of my mouth, Kratos makes a move that stops me dead.
He spins Jade around quickly so they are once again face to face, chest to chest. His hand is fisted in the hair above her neck, pulling her head back so her face is angled up to look at him as he stares down at her.
Something in my chest tightens as I watch him manhandle her. I hear Zander pull in a sharp breath, and I know he feels it, too. Jade may very well be in danger right now, but Kratos is Froggie’s number one. If this is what he chooses to do, we don’t have a right to step in.
In the back of my mind, I know she’ll be fine. Why would Froggie have us watch her just to have Kratos harm her? But even with logic on my side, I have to fight off the urge to rush forward.
Maybe this is her punishment for wandering off?
Maybe he knows something we don’t?
They stand so that both of their profiles are visible to us.
Kratos’ face is a mask of calm, but even from this far away, I can see that his posture has stiffened, and his eyes are no doubt dark as he watches her.
Jade’s face is blank for a moment before it breaks into a wide smile that’s almost unsettling, rivaling even Zander’s unhinged smile, and that’s something I didn’t even think was possible.