Charlie’s sudden entrance barely registered at first - I was otherwise occupied by a certain attractive blonde who, if you squinted, could have doubled as an extra on one of those CW vampire shows. It took me a moment to notice that Charlie had reappeared from whatever mysterious back room she’d vanished into earlier, now moving through the club with purpose.

Hey, can you blame me for the delay? It’s hard not to be distracted when you’ve got a hot chick brushing up against you, batting her lashes with that look that says, bad decisions welcome. And who was I to disappoint?

“So, you’re a dealer at Valhalla?” I asked, casually throwing her a charming grin. “Pretty neat. I mean, cool. I love poker.”

“Oh yeah,” she said, flashing a flirtatious smile as she leaned in closer. “Just working my way through college. And dealing beats the alternatives.”

“Well, what do you want to be when you grow up?” I asked, keeping the banter light.

“Oh, I don’t know,” she said, shrugging one bare shoulder. “I haven’t chosen a major yet. But I still have time.”

“Are you into animals?”

She raised an eyebrow, amused. “What kinds of animals?”

“You know, like the cute ones - puppies, kittens, ducklings…”

“Aren’t you precious,” she purred, trailing a finger down my jawline. The way she looked at me - eyes wide, mouth slightly parted - would have had any self-respecting man thinking this night was about to take a very interesting turn.

What can I say? I’m a handsome guy, in that rugged, boyish, Ryan Reynolds kind of way, with maybe a dash of that exotic charm thrown in, thanks to my mom’s dark complexion and green eyes. Women tended to like that, especially when it came with a bit of mystery.

“I love animals,” she murmured, leaning in, her breath warm on my skin.

But before this intellectual discussion could reach any deeper heights, Charlie suddenly barreled into us like a wrecking ball. She looked both frantic and… well, fantastic, now that she was close enough for me to catch the details. A small cluster of freckles on her left cheek resembled a strawberry - a cute little detail that was oddly endearing. But what really grabbed my attention was the look in her eyes - light brown, filled with fear and a razor-sharp determination.

“Hey, watch where you’re going, bitch,” my would-be bad decision snapped, flicking a bit of her drink off her arm, looking ready to throw down.

Charlie didn’t dignify her with a response, just shot her a glare that could have melted glass. She was about to push past, but I reached out, holding my hands up in a placating gesture, the kind you’d use with a spooked animal.

“Hey, are you okay?” I asked, doing my best to project calm and friendliness. I gave her my most reassuring half-smile, the one I’d perfected over years of dealing with all kinds of skittish creatures - human and otherwise. “Need any help?”

“Back off,” she snapped, her glare sizzling, burning hotter than any drink-induced buzz could handle.

This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

“I just want to help,” I tried, flashing the smile up a few more notches. Maybe the charming angle would work better.

“Listen, douche,” she hissed, her tone a dangerous growl. “Mind your own business.”

She shoved past us and pushed her way into the crowd, cutting through bodies like she had a one-way ticket to the exit.

“What a bitch,” the blonde muttered, though her smile bounced back on, cute as a button. “Now, where were we? Oh, yeah. Do you want to get out of here?” She gave me an expectant look, like she’d already planned the rest of her evening around me.

But I couldn’t help it, my focus was shot. My attention was locked on Charlie as she slipped through the crowd, disappearing out the front entrance like she was being chased. And, knowing my luck, she probably was. I shook my head, half-tempted to let it go and enjoy the company of the girl in front of me - I mean, how often does a perfectly good bad decision come with a free invitation?

But the second Charlie bolted toward the door, I felt that prickle of intuition, the one that says, Something’s up. Don’t ignore it.

Then my spider-sense tingled, and I instinctively looked toward the back door. It slammed open, and a man strode through, looking like he’d barely survived a wrestling match with a mountain lion. Scratch marks trailed down his furious face, and though he wore a sharp black suit, the fabric was torn at the shoulder. He wasted no time scanning the club, zeroing in on the front entrance where Charlie had gone, and, without a word, he pushed his way through the crowd, with the two former door guards flanking him like an entourage of enforcers.

Where Charlie had navigated the crowd with a sinuous, cat-like grace, this guy - let’s call him Fury Face - was about as subtle as a wrecking ball. He and his goons shoved and elbowed their way forward, sending people staggering in all directions. They were like bulls on a mission, leaving a path of fallen drinkers and overturned chairs in their wake. In moments, they’d muscled their way out the front, vanishing into the night.

“Hey, man, I’ll be right back,” I said, tapping Pete on the shoulder. “Got something I need to handle.”

Pete gave me a knowing grin, glancing between me and the blonde still latched to my arm. “Yeah, sure, man! Have fun. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.” He gave Jimmy a high five, and they turned back to the bar, Pete signaling for another round.

I caught the bartender’s eye, giving a subtle shake of my head. She nodded with a little smile, catching the message - my buddies didn’t need another round on top of what they’d already had, didn’t matter if it was his bachelor party. Someone had to look out for them, and that someone usually ended up being me.

Turning back to the blonde, I gave her an apologetic grin as I slipped her hand off my arm. “Sorry, babe, but I gotta go. Duty calls.”

“What? Are you serious?”

“Yeah, I, uh… need some air.” I offered a quick, apologetic smile and, before she could argue, headed toward the entrance, pushing through the crowd and stepping into the cool night.

She pouted, but I slipped free from her grip, maneuvering through the crowd after Charlie.

Exiting the club felt like getting hit by a refreshing, ice-cold blanket. The stark contrast from the thick, hazy air of the club to the cool desert breeze was like a shock to my system. I took a deep breath, the fresh air clearing my head, and scanned the street for any sign of Charlie or the goons on her tail.

There - a flash of movement caught my eye down the road to the right. She was moving away from the Strip, heading deeper into the dimly lit streets, and the three goons were following close behind, closing the gap. I jogged to catch up, making it just as they rounded a corner into a side alley.

By the time I turned the corner, Charlie was trapped at the end of a fenced-off alleyway, her back against the wall, with no clear way out. Thanks to Vegas’s endless construction projects, these makeshift dead ends were scattered all over the city, cutting off routes that would normally lead to another street. It was like a twisted urban maze, and casino owners probably loved it - the more lost people were, the more likely they’d head back to the slots.

But right now, the dead end had Charlie cornered, and Fury Face and his goons were advancing on her, spreading out to block any escape route she might think of. I knew I needed to act fast - and whatever I did, it had to be good.