Page 89 of Shadowed With Fear

Behind me, Brahm and Adam are huddled together. Adam’s leg is healing pretty well. The stitches he gave himself have a few more days until they’re ready to be taken out, but he’s still limping pretty bad. When I asked him earlier, he swore he would be okay, but I caught him taking a few Tylenols before we left Grayson’s house.

“Okay, what are we doing?” My question catches them off guard, both turning to me.

“The guy we questioned a few weeks back— “

“Marcus,” Adam supplies.

“Marcus said that the next pick-up point was here, tonight. He’s here somewhere, waiting to meet with whoever it is he’s getting the drugs from. He said that when it happens, he’d text us so we can follow, and he’s going to give us whatever they gave him so dispose of it,” Brahm finishes, eyes scanning the crowd.

“So, essentially were waiting for a text, and then we’re just staking out?” I ask.

“Pretty much,” Adam exhales.

“Nice, so I can go get a drink…” I trail off, starting to move toward the bar on the left of the ring, but Brahm’s hand stops me.

“Not so fast, missy.” He gives me a scathing look.

“Why?” I cross my arms.

“We’re working. You never know if something will go wrong.”

I huff. “Fine. I’m going to go look around. Maybe I’ll find some clues,” I wiggle my fingers dramatically, rolling my eyes.

“D— “Brahm calls out, but I can’t hear him as I move further away, the loud music drowning out his voice.

All the chaos in the room is pretty disorienting. My ears ring, my heart pounds. The rush is enthralling. I can see why Grayson likes it so much. I feel drunk. High. Like I’m invincible.

I make my way towards the ring, watching the fight. One guy is pretty banged up, blood pouring from his nose, a cut on his chin. The other’s eye is almost swollen shut. They’re both panting heavily but aren’t backing down. The bell chimes and they each take their corners.

“Dahlia!” A voice yells over the crowd. I turn in the direction I hear my name, and I’m a little shocked.

“Issac?” I say squinting in confusion. “What the hell?”

“What’re you doing here?” He laughs, his hair falling slightly out of place from its usually perfect style.

He’s still wearing khakis though. Weirdo.

“I—,” I pause not really sure what to say. “What are you doing here? This isn’t really your scene,” I chuckled gesturing to the room.

He smiles wide. “I’m here with Ethan! There are usually a few pretty good fights during these things, and the beer’s cheap, so,” he shrugs. “Why not?”

In the room of constant movement, dancing, fighting, drunken bodies, and blaring music, I somehow find myself blanketed in ice. The cold seeps beneath my skin, the hairs on my neck rising.

“Ethan? He—You’re here with him?”

“Yeah! I’ve been looking forward to this for weeks. I went to the last one and it was great. He’s supposed to fight tonight. Have you been here before?” He looks me over, eying my chest in the cut-up band tee I’m wearing.

I cross my arms. “No. No, I’ve not. Uh, I’m here with my brother and Grayson— “

“Grayson? Seriously?” He spits.

“Yeah. He’s fighting too. Apparently, he’s been doing it for a long fucking time. Uh, Brahm wanted me to come with to watch.”

He snorts. “Yeah, I’d guess he would, wouldn’t he? It’s getting pretty dangerous staying at home by yourself, isn’t it?”

I cock my head, “Yeah, I guess. Where’s Liz tonight?”

He looks away, taking a deep drink from the flask he pulls from his pocket. I’m a little taken aback because it usually takes a lot of coaxing and promises of a hand job from Liz to get Issac to drink anything other than beer. “Work. Always at work.” He sniffs, rubbing his nose.