Chapter 29
Myssa
As the elevator doors open, we’re shocked by the sea of people already waiting for the band to start the show.
I give Vix a hug, and she heads over to the bar.
Knox is already standing by it, talking to one of the extra security members, and I watch intently, waiting for him to spot Vix. Boy, does his look not disappoint.
He stops talking to the guy and immediately walks past him towards Vix. Oh man, do I wish I was a fly on the wall for that conversation.
Vix doesn’t slow her pace towards the bar, as she walks past a group of guys, they instantly stop talking, one slapping the chest of another while pointing at Vix as she walks past.
Knox, taking notice, says something to them as he passes by, and they all look away.
He quickly catches up to Vix. As he starts to say something to her, she whips around and gives him the talk to the hand motion. The fury in his eyes is palpable. She turns back around and steps behind the bar, while Knox seethes.
I watch as she becomes the bartender every man wants to go to all of a sudden. This interaction seriously makes me want popcorn to snack on as I watch it unfold like a damn soap opera. I think this is her declaration to him to make a move because she’s done waiting around.
I turn back around and make my way through the crowd of people to the roped-off staircase leading to Zayne’s office. Security nods as they let me up. He asked me to meet him there to watch the concert. Seriously, the balcony holds the best seats in the house.
The house music is still bumping, and a long black curtain hangs over the stage to avoid exposing who the mystery band is. The door opens, and Zayne walks out. He stops, and I watch his gaze drink me in from head to toe. His face is stern, almost angry.
“What’s wrong?” Confusion clouds my mind as I look down at myself, wondering if I got something on my outfit.
“Nothing, you just…” but he pauses, as if fighting with himself about what to say.
“Just what, Zayne?” Irritation laces my tone as I cross my arms, waiting for what he’s going to say next.
“You’re fucking gorgeous, alright? I don’t want to share you.”
I let my arms go, picking at my nail polish. I’m not used to compliments, but from him they are everything.
“Share me with who?” I look around, but no one is around us.
“Them,” he says, pointing to the crowd.
“Well, I guess it’s a good thing you don’t have to.” I wink, and just on instinct, I kiss him on the cheek. His posture relaxes a little, and he takes my hand. I think I like this possessive side of him.
“Are you ready for your surprise?” He turns me around and walks me to the balcony.
He shifts behind me and wraps his arms around me, his chin resting on my head, as I hold on to the railing.
Tonight, I’m letting go—this closeness is everything I’ve been wanting for weeks.
I’m going to soak in any amount of affection he gives me. Just for tonight. I need this.
I need him.
I lean a little to look at him. “What do you mean, my surprise.“
He kisses my head, still holding me and whispering in my ear. “You’ll see.”
Just then, I hear the beginning notes of the first song, instantly I grab onto Zayne’s forearms in excitement. I know this song.
“No fucking way…No fucking way,” is all I can scream.
The first lyrics of “Somewhat Damaged” are belted out and the entire place irrupts in a frenzy.
And when the full band kicks in, the curtain drops, and there stands Nine Inch Nails on the stage. I can’t contain my excitement, and before I can even think, I turn around in Zayne's arms and kiss him. Not a deep one, just one of total appreciation that he made this happen.
“Thank you.” I beam at him.
“You’re welcome.” He smiles.
I turn back around to watch the show, and I look over by the bar to see Vix dancing around by herself while serving drinks, and a very upset Knox, not too far away, glaring at her. I tap Zayne on the shoulder and point over at the bar. He looks and just shakes his head.
“Are they ever going to get together?” he says in my ear.
I shrug, leaning up to his ear. “I think Vix is making a stand tonight.”
“Maybe it’s time—they have been doing this dance for a long time. Maybe if we lock them in a room with a bed.” He smiles.
I laugh. “Maybe that’s what needs to happen.”
“The Lovers” starts, and I feel Zayne tighten his grip on me.
I sink into him and close my eyes, letting the music take over my body.
This constant back and forth and the entangled web that has woven us together takes over.
The last few weeks, although short, no doubt have made me feel things I’ve never felt for another person.
Why does this have to feel so right and yet so cruel at the same time?
This constant yearning for his touch, for him to claim me, to make me his and him mine—it’s too much.
Damnit, I want him to be mine. The possessiveness I have for him swallows me whole.
The barrier he keeps up is so frustrating—why can’t we give in?
He’s so close and yet so far out of reach.
Fuck Jasper, even from the other world he’s cock blocking me.
Before I let that anger overpower me, I settle my thoughts, and try to keep myself in the moment.
Enjoying Zayne’s touch as if it might be the last time.
As the concert nears the end, “A Warm Place” starts, and Zayne pulls me in to sway to the music.
That gnawing inside me pulls from a distance.
I control my breathing and grip a little tighter to Zayne.
But it’s no use. Something has a hold of me, as if it’s trying to call to me, to my soul.
I close my eyes, hoping to shake it off, but the urge becomes stronger.
The twist through the frequency happens so quickly, I’m not even sure Zayne realizes it.
When I open my eyes, I’m back in the same area I was in the last time I saw Lily.
The crumbled warehouses showing their weaknesses, with open walls and cracks in the ceiling.
The crimson moon shining brightly above me.
I walk slowly over to the exposed brick into the warehouse where I’d met Lily the first time.
As I turn the corner, I see her again, biting her lip as she frantically looks around. I frown in confusion.
“Lily, what’s wrong?” I ask, walking quickly towards her. I kneel down in front of her, grabbing her hand in mine.
“I’m sorry, Myssa, I don’t have much time.
I needed you to know. He’s getting stronger,” she pleads.
“Something is going to happen. I can feel it,” she whispers.
The sheer panic on her face has my pulse rising.
As I try to understand her warning, she studies me.
Her stare so intense I feel she is looking deep into my soul.
the shimmer of her violet irises is unlike anything I have ever seen.
She breaks our gaze and whispers, “I’m sorry you can’t stay here.
You have to go now, Myssa. Please be careful. ” She grips my hand tight.
“Lily, come with me,” I plead.
She smiles softly, innocently, reminding me just how young she must be, but wise in knowing this unfortunate world.
“Ill be ok, Myssa.”
I try to speak again, but she lets go of my hand and closes her eyes. In a blink, I’m back at the concert. My view is not of the band, but of Zayne’s eyes, looking at me with concern.
“You ok?” he asks.
“Yeah,” I say.
He wraps his arms around me again from behind. Torn between the warning Lily gave me and the moments I’m sharing with Zayne, I decide that the latter wins for right now. The concert is almost over, and we can talk then.
As the show ends, I wait for people to start exiting and make my way down to the bar where Vix is. I take a seat, and she hands me water.
“Thank you,” I say, drinking it quickly.
She fills it back up. “Little thirsty, huh? Yeah, I saw you two from down here. Saw you getting quite cozy.”
“It was…nice,” I say, and my cheeks heat with the admission. Her I told you so smirk has me quickly changing the subject.
“And what about you?” I ask.
“What about me?” she deadpans.
“Oh, don’t bullshit me. I saw the way Knox looked at you when you were going to the bar.” Now look at whose cheeks are heating.
“Knox had a lot of choice words for me, and then decided that I needed to be supervised, since this wasn’t our,” she uses air quotes, ‘normal type of crowd.’ He stood in the corner like a pouting child and had two undercover security sitting at the bar the whole night.”
“I mean, at least you were secure,” I said, pursing my lips and trying to hold back a smile as I sipped my water.
“Myssa, it was fucking humiliating—he was kicking people out just because they asked me for my phone number. Who does that?” She waves her hands dramatically, like, what the fuck?
“Clearly, Knox,” I sarcastically answer.
“I finally yelled at him and told him he’s not my fucking keeper.”
“What did he say?” I ask.
She lets out a huff and starts to wipe down the bar. “Nothing, he just stood there for the night. Like a fucking stalker,” she adds, shaking her head, then she grabs a glass and fills it with water. She goes to put it to her lips but then side-eyes me and pauses.
“I guess it was kinda hot, pushing his buttons.” She smiles as she takes a sip.
“Amen to that.” I laugh. After picking up my glass and clinking it with hers, I drink the rest down.
“Listen, if you see Loverboy, can you have him come up to Zayne's office? I need to talk to them both about something.”
“Everything ok?”
“Yeah, I'll text you about it later.” I hug her and head back towards Zayne’s office.
I knock, and I hear, “Come in.”
Zayne looks up as I walk in. “You know you don’t have to knock, Myssa.”
“I know. It’s just a habit.” I shrug as I sit in the chair in front of his desk.
“So, did you like your surprise?” he asks.
“Do you even have to ask that question?” I joke.
“Did they leave already?”