Breaking The Rules

Chapter 34

The clatter of pool balls clicked over the soft music being played through the speakers behind the bar. It was a weekday at the Underground which meant that most of the patrons present that evening were just there to have a bite to eat or chill. The atmosphere was much more relaxed than my last visit with a live DJ and people dancing on the bar.

Which is exactly what I'd been hoping for.

The smell of beer and cheap perfume mingled and the faint tang of sweat. The air in the underground restaurant was thick. I trailed behind Eden, Lydia, and Ella as we moved past the booths by the stairs and over to the bar. It was the last place I thought I'd be. While I wasn't exactly underdressed in a pair of leggings and cropped sweater, I couldn't help but feel like I stuck out like a sore thumb.

Not long after Eden had shared the information about Maverick getting kicked off the team I had the overwhelming desire to track Mila down and talk to her myself. I didn't have any intention to drag any of the girls along with me, but each of them had been as fired up as I was for a little bit of justice.

Ella had called in a favor, and her sorority sisters had delivered. Within twenty minutes she had received a text regarding the location of just the person we were searching for.

As we turned the corner Mila came into view. She was on the opposite side of the room by the pool tables and a couple of friends. She grinned, long black hair catching the light every time she threw her head back to laugh. She looked completely at ease, fancy cocktail in hand, like she wasn't in the process of trying to ruin someone's life.

Eden nudged me as we stopped near the edge of the bar, her voice low. "Do you want back-up?"

Ignoring the way my stomach grew taunt with nerves, I shook my head. "No. It'll be easier if it's just me. Too many people, and she'll clam up."

"I'd still feel better if we had some sort of secret signal."

"For what?" I said, tearing my eyes off of Mila to peer down at Eden.

She shrugged, flailing her hands around a little. "I don't know...just in case she tries something."

An amused smile stretched over my face. "If you see her grab a fist-full of my hair, you'll know to come running."

Eden pursed her lips at me.

"She won't touch you," Ella insisted as she ignored a couple of guys who strolled by and offered her a low whistle. Out of all of us, she was the one who had managed to show up to Lydia's looking put together. "Considering the kind of claim she's making, she's going to want to make herself appear as squeaky clean to the public as possible. If she's sought legal counsel already, they would have told her to keep her head low."

"Then maybe you should go over there and push a few buttons," Eden muttered, perching herself up on a stool.

"She's probably going to have to," Lydia said as she slid a drink into my hand. "I can't see her slipping up unless emotions get in the way."

I frowned, glancing down at the amber liquid. "What's this for?"

"Liquid courage," she replied with a shrug, "or, you know, something to throw at her if things get messy."

Eden snorted, but her smile didn't quite reach her eyes. If the situation were different, I know she would have appreciated that one.

Ella's hazel eyes studied me. "Are you sure about this?"

I gripped the glass a little tighter. "Trust me, I'd prefer not to be anywhere near her right now. But I need to do this."

Eden patted my shoulder, her touch grounding me. "Fuck that bitch up."