From the Ashes (Force of Nature Book 1) Read Online Free Page A

anymore.”
    “Deal,” she said with a hesitant smile. “Need anything else?” She jerked her head back toward the wall of alcohol behind her.
    “Good thinking,” I replied, eyeing the backlit bottles. “Make me something strong. Really, really strong.”
    “You're going to need it.” I watched her walk over and start pulling various liquors down from the shelves. I stopped counting after the fifth one. It seemed Kat was about to make good on her word.

 
     
     
     
     
     
    2
     
     
     
    Thirty minutes later, things were looking up.
    I had rejoined the boys in VIP with my new favorite beverage, and I proceeded to drink it as quickly as possible. Given that I'd all but chugged the previous one, I was well on my way to drunk as it was. I wasn't much of a partier, so I had lightweight drinking status at best. My size didn't exactly work in my favor either. After Kat's concoction was done, I was lit up like a Christmas tree.
    The women that had amassed in my absence cleared out not long after my return, putting an end to any potential shenanigans for the boys. Dean pouted. Jase looked concerned. And Merc just brooded in the corner like nothing had changed.
    “So now what are we going to do?” I asked, leaning back in my chair to prop my feet up on the table. “Looks like none of ya will be getting laid, I know that much.” I laughed heartily at what I'd thought was a joke. When nobody joined in, I sat up a bit straighter. “What? Why are you staring at me like that?”
    “You're wasted,” Jase observed.
    “And you're grumpy. Waitress!” I yelled, hoping one of the scantily clad girls that served the VIP section would come running.
    “Piper, what has gotten into you tonight?” Dean asked, a faint look of disgust in his expression.
    “A whole lot of tequila?” I replied before erupting into another drunken outburst of laughter.
    “I think it's time we get you home,” Jase said, rising from his seat. Suddenly, he paused and looked over at Merc, who hadn't moved an inch. “Yeah, I don't think so, bro. She's coming home with us. All of us. Now.” Merc still maintained his position, lounging back against his chair, his arms folded across his chest. When his hooded eyes fell upon mine, I sobered up, if only for a second. There was a palpable tension between us in that moment. He was concentrating on something, staring at me in a way that no one ever had before.
    After what seemed like an eternity, his pale eyes darted back to Jase, whose eyebrow cocked strangely.
    “You can't? That is rather interesting,” he muttered, looking to me. “But don't pull that shit, especially not on her. I mean it. No more fucking around. That's what landed you in trouble last time. Now, let's go.” Without awaiting a response from anyone, Jase walked over to me, scooped me up under my arms, and pulled me out of my chair to my feet.
    “But I wanted to hang out!” I objected with a pout.
    “The only thing you're going to do is pass out in the car on the way home, party girl. You won't be missing anything. I promise.”
    “What did Kat put in your drink anyway? Rubbing alcohol?” Dean asked, following Jase and me as his brother ushered me toward the exit.
    “Nope. It was way too yummy for that.”
    “Might as well have been for as much as you tasted it. You downed that thing.”
    I shrugged in response, tripping over my foot as I tried to look back at Dean. Jase caught me, mumbling something to himself about the lightweight queen. I decided (in all my drunken wisdom) that I would give him a quick jab in the arm as payback. Unfortunately, all that earned me was a near-faceplant in the crowd of clubbers.
    “Can you try to stay upright?” Jase admonished. When I bounced off the nearest wall in reply, he sighed heavily, then picked me up over his shoulder in a fireman carry. The position did little for the pressure in my head or the rolling sensation in my stomach.
    “Put me down!” I yelled, my words coming out a bit