Chapter 7: Paradise club

Lyra’s eyes widened.

Nadine gasped. 

Alex stumbled back, head bent, clutching his bleeding nose. Lifting his head a bit, his eyes shot lasers at Daphne. “What the hell was that? The fuck is wrong with you?”

Daphne rolled her shoulders and cracked her knuckles, giving Alex the I'm-more-than-ready-for-you look. Thanks to all those taekwondo classes. Finally putting them to good use. “I heard my friend asking you to leave.”

Lyra moved over to stand beside Daphne. “Daph,” she whispered, a proud look on her face.

“And so?” Alex growled, his eyes flashing red. “I could sue you for assault!”

“We could call the cops for trespassing,” Daphne shot back.

He blinked. “Are you for real?! She’s my fiancée!"

“Ex,” Lyra chipped in. "Ex-fiancée."

Nadine wrapped her hand around Alex and gave him a small nudge. “Let's go,” she muttered, eyeing Daphne. “She’s a crazy bitch.”

Daphne let out a short laugh. “Crazy bitch? Please. I’m not the one making amateur p**n with my friend’s fiancé. What was that position again…? Wheelbarrow?”

Alex lunged at Daphne, but Nadine held him back. “Let's just leave,” she bit out. His face hardened, and he looked like he wanted to argue—like he wanted to do something worse—but he swallowed it and let her pull him away.

“And don’t come back!” Lyra called after them.

Nadine paused, turning back with a cold smile. “Don’t act tough just because your friend’s here. He won’t take you back when you come begging.”

With that, they both left.

“God, they're so infuriating!” Daphne groaned, exasperated. She kept staring until they were out of sight.

Discreetly, Lyra removed her ring and hid it behind her. She couldn't just throw this on Daphne. The right moment would show itself later, and she'd tell Daphne about it.

“I was going to come and sulk with you.” Daphne dusted her palms. “But God, after seeing that asshole, I'm beyond mad— Like, actually beyond mad. Let's go clubbing, I need alcohol to blow off all this rage. You need the fresh air too.”

Lyra inhaled. “I don't have clothes.”

“Haha, I knew you'd say that.” Daphne smiled mischievously and picked up the bags she'd dropped in a corner. 

“What's inside?”

Daphne didn't answer. Instead, her smile widened as she pushed past Lyra and headed for the bedroom. 

Inside, she emptied the contents of the bags. While she did that, Lyra carefully moved towards the dresser. She opened the drawer and dropped the ring.

A short red sequin dress, gold heels, a short halter-neck blue dress, and silver stilettos lay on the bed. “We'll pair them with your jewelry and makeup. Men will have their jaws on the floor,” Daphne said with a cheeky grin.

Lyra’s mouth dropped as she sank on the bed, sifting through the items. “Are you sure you were planning to come and sulk?”

“Well…” Daphne giggled. “Help you forget about Alex. They're basically the same thing.”

~ ~ ~

Two hours later, Daphne and Lyra sat bathed in the neon lights at Paradise Club. Daphne had done their hair and makeup, and both women looked ravishing. They attracted stares from all corners of the club. 

The atmosphere pulsated with wild energy. The smell of lust, sweat, and liquor filling the air.

From her peripheral vision, Lyra could feel a pair of eyes staring at her. Not the usual ‘she’s hot’ kinda way, but in a way that made her skin prickle with unease. She turned fully to look at the man—he had on a black baseball cap and a black leather jacket—but he threw his face away.

“That guy's staring at us,” Lyra yelled to Daphne, trying to speak over the thrumming bass. The music was so loud she could feel it in her chest. 

Daphne smiled and leaned forward. “Honey, who isn't? Have you seen yourself?”

“Cocktails for two beautiful ladies. On the house,” Martins, the bartender, announced, dropping two glasses of martinis in front of them. 

“Thank you, Martins.” Lyra reached for her glass and took a sip. She glanced around, feeding her eyes. 

Nearby, a girl had her phone up with a ring light clipped to it, mouthing the lyrics to ‘Paint The Town Red’ blasting from the speakers. A couple of guys were sizing them up—and other girls— with lust-glazed eyes, tongues sliding across their lips. Bodies pressed together on the dance floor, sweat and perfume mixing in the heat.

Instinctively, her gaze moved over to the corner where she'd seen those creepy eyes earlier—nothing. It made unease crawl up her back.

Lyra brushed it off, her focus returning to her drink. She noticed Daphne and Martins locked eyes in that dreamy-romantic, kinda flirty way.

Martins winked at Daphne, and she blushed. Lyra just smiled before clearing her throat. “Get a room, guys.” Then she stood. “I'm going to the restroom.”

Daphne pulled her over. “Hope you still have your pepper spray and penknife?" 

She chuckled and gave Daph a small nod in response. 

“Good, cos the world's a crazy place.”

Just before Lyra was out of earshot, she heard Martins saying to Daphne. “Any plans for tonight?”

The music faded as Lyra moved through the hallway and into the restroom.

After she finished her business, she stood in front of the mirror and adjusted her hair and makeup. She'd probably tell Daphne about Tyson tonight. 

As soon as she stepped out of the restroom, a pair of large arms grabbed her and pinned her against the wall. 

Her back hit the hard door, causing her breath to hitch, and then he clamped a hand over her mouth. “Shhh,” he hissed.

His head tilted a little, and the red hallway lights rested on his face, illuminating it. 

That baseball cap. 

The jacket…

The creepy man from earlier. 

Then he reached for his pocket, and Lyra’s heart leaped.