Right?
But there came those nerves again. It wasn’t a common event for me, but I had reached out to him a few times over the last few weeks. A simple text, and every time, Kash had replied right away. Sometimes he could call.
He’d never had his phone off.
“Shit.” Matt leaned back, scowling. “There’s no point in coming if—”
The guard’s phone went off and he showed us the screen. “It’s the manager. Hold one moment.” He answered it, moving away. We didn’t wait long before he came back. “She said the party left on their own. They’ve moved to another location. We’re cleared to go in.”
We couldn’t move, but within ten minutes a caravan of vehicles was leaving the tournament, going past us. They went past us at a slow pace, and I recognized a couple movie stars. A pop princess was in one of them.
“Holy whoa.” Trying not to gape here.
Failing.
I was gawking.
“Those were probably the guys in the loft. That girl’s manager knows Dad.” Then he flashed me a smile and jerked forward in his seat. Now that we had the go-ahead, and now that the line was starting to inch forward, Matt’s mood got dramatically better. He’d been relaxed and normal, but now he was becoming restless. Impatient. I was recognizing the hyperness that he’d exhibited before. His words were more clipped. His smile was on edge.
We were pulling ahead.
The first security team was paused. One of the parking attendants spoke to them and they were waved forward. We were led onto a back road, going around the field, the main building where most of the crowd seemed to be gathering. A barn was farther off, at the southern end of the field, and seeing a patio hanging off the end of it, I was guessing that was where Matt was taking us.
We bypassed more cars, all the people drinking and mingling beside the field. The back of the main lodge was beautiful. Everything was, and I was glad that I had listened to Matt when he picked my outfit. He had chosen a pair of black capris and a white tank top that crossed my chest. It was lace and frilly and I felt exposed in it.
It was perfect.
Noting all the dresses, I gave Matt a look. “You told me I didn’t need to wear a dress.”
He grinned. “My sister does not need to show off her legs. To anyone.” He shrugged, turning onto another gravel road, which was leading straight to the barn. “Besides, we’re just hanging in the loft. Anyone who comes over won’t care. They’ll just be happy we’re allowing them in there.”
“I thought it was just you and me hanging out today?”
“Hmm?” But he was distracted.
Two large barn doors were being pulled open for us. A myriad of staff were running around inside the barn, bending to pick things up off the ground.
I leaned forward, my hand resting on the dashboard. “What’s going on?”
“Cars don’t usually drive into the barn. Scares the horses. But we’re making an exception today. They’re making sure it’s clear for the tires. Nothing will puncture them.”
It seemed a lot of work, but we’d come this far, and with this whole caravan we had going, we’d attracted a fair amount of attention.
I asked, wondering to myself, “What do they all think of this?”
“This?”
“Of us.” I motioned to the barn.
Matt shrugged again, making a dismissive face. His mouth moved to the side before speaking. “I don’t know. Who cares? It’s not like anyone will get close to you. We have an army around us.” He winked at me before pulling all the way into the barn. This was the Matt when he was high, when he was raving in the tent, or at an orgy party.
I was recognizing him now. Dread crawled up in me, digging a hole.
We parked in the middle of the barn and waited. Most of the guards came in with us, checking the barn, and waited until the staff were asked to leave. One guy was arguing, but a guard was handling him. The last few were walked out and the doors in the front and back were both shut. The guards took position as Matt was getting out.
My door was opened by a guard, so I got out as well.
We were led past a few of the stalls to a door. It was opened and we went up the stairs, stepping out onto the second floor that spanned the entire length of the barn. It was a full apartment.
Then the doors were being opened below.
Matt’s car was driven out, and we could hear the staff returning.
Matt said to me, “Don’t worry. No one will come up here. We have security all over the barn.” He nodded to the two who took point just inside the room, standing by the entrance.
“Is that the only way up here?”
“Yeah, unless someone tries parasailing in from the deck.” He motioned toward the open patio area. “But even they’ll be shot down, and we got the guys behind us. They’d rush the interloper.” He patted me on the arm before moving toward the bar. “You’re good to go. Let’s drink and relax, yeah?”
I was slower to move forward.
This didn’t feel right. There were too many people around. Then again, Matt had been the one who took me to the nightclub that night. Kash hadn’t been happy I was there. After that, Kash was the one who took me to the other two events, but those had been house parties. We were in and out, no lingering around.
I glanced uneasily at one of the security staff.
He noticed and approached. “Ma’am?”
“You guys haven’t gotten ahold of Kash?”
He was frowning. “Ma’am?”
I lifted a shoulder, skirting around the rest of the loft to him. “I … Just … He’d want to know I’m here, right?”
Understanding cleared and he nodded. “Yes, ma’am. We’ll continue to update him with our location. We always do anyway. It’s protocol.”
“Oh.” My head perked up. “That’s good then.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He nodded forward. “You can relax, have a good time, as Mr. Francis is doing right now.” I caught the slight grin on his face and looked ahead.
He was right.
Matt was getting a drink, already flirting with the bartender. The female bartender.
She was flirting right back, until she saw me. A nice frosty layer cooled her smile, until Matt said, “This is my—” He caught himself. “Distant cousin. Family. Extended family.” He rolled his eyes, pulling me to his side. “Come on, cuz. Let’s have a shot.” He beamed at the bartender. “Shots for both of us. You, too.”
After that, the bartender warmed up to me, but she was friendlier with Matt.
When another bartender came up to relieve her, an hour later, she stayed, sitting on Matt’s lap the rest of the time.
I settled back.
The whispering should’ve alerted me. It didn’t.
There was movement in the corner and I looked over, seeing the first bartender standing up. Her hand was in Matt’s, and she was leading him off the couch.
“Hey.”
Whoa. I stopped. I was feeling that third glass of wine. The barn had started to move. The horses. Where were the horses? There’d been horses in the field in front of us a moment ago. But then I heard sounds beneath us. The horses were coming in. A match was done. Horses were being led in and out. Watered. Fed.