pulsing with strobe lights and deafening music. I needed noise.

ooth and signaled for a

ded by a gaggle of fawning admirers, all eager to curry favor w

y scanning the room, but always returning to Chloe. He'd occasionall

red smile, was anothe

Euro-types tried to

slurred, his breath re

ed," I said,

t," the other one grinn

through the din, sha

ds me instantly. His eyes narrowed as he took in t

He just appeared, a silent, for

voice low and devoid of inflection, but the two

leaving," I sa

d away, mutte

tanding there. "

low of vodka. It burned its way down, a wel

e, then at me. "Perhap

. I'm not your business anymore, am I? Chloe is. Go back to her. S

concern was for your we

s your precious Chloe?" I leaned forward. "Don't worry, Knight. I'm leaving soon. For Boston. To marry

of Julian, of Boston, seemed t

ped. He turned and walked back towards Chloe,

l the ache. It only sharpened the edges of my

upted near the club's en

sic cu

!" someone shriek

ic animal collector who was always pushing boundaries.

scrambled, pushing, sh

tantly. His focus, as

rs, and started moving her towards a side

, looking back, her e

ok back. His pr

rrified bodies. I was knocked sideways,

I s

he dim emergency lights, stalking through the

but more accurately, towards the area

ming, falling, a

y ankle twisting beneath me. I c

hot up

ed up,

s attention drawn by the mov

the screaming ch

oe through the ex

e room, presumably to ensure the thr

mine. For a

e tiger

at

m

ts bared fangs, the terri

s shut, bracing f

ough my shoulder and arm

night, standing near the exit, his face a mask of horror, but his body unmovi