Suddenly thinking, I pulled out my phone. 2:08am. Nope, it wasn’t my birthday anymore. Whatever, it was still the night of my birthday, I was still allowed to have some champagne.
I also realized with a laugh that I wasn’t even twenty one yet. I shouldn’t have been in here at all. Oh well, no one had carded me. Luckily.
I toasted myself and decided to have a second glass of champagne. Why the hell not, after all it was free, and it looked like I was going to be hanging out in here by myself for a while.
About ten minutes later, however, the door opened and Kiegan walked in.
Great.
“Hey, sis,” he greeted me, grabbing the open bottle of champagne and sitting on the couch across from me. “Enjoying the party?”
“Does it look like I’m enjoying the party?” I asked.
“Nope, but then again, you never look like you enjoy yourself ever when you’re around me.”
“Maybe you should take that as a hint.”
“Except for this afternoon, of course.”
The flush crawled up my cheeks immediately. Damn my Irish heritage that made me flame up like a tomato instantly.
“That was a mistake. It never should have happened. It will never happen again.”
“Whatever you say, little sister.”
“Stop calling me that, I’ve told you enough.”
“You forget, I’m your boss. I can call you whatever I want.”
“Then you wonder why I hate being around you.”
Suddenly, the music stopped. My ears began to ring in the silence, and some noise began to waft up to where we were from the floor. Kiegan and I jumped up and went to the window.
“What’s going on?” I asked no one in particular, I knew Kiegan had no more of a clue than I did.
“I don’t know. But no matter what, stay here,” Kiegan ordered, and he rushed to the door.
“Wait!” I cried. “It could be dangerous.”
“Awww… I didn’t know you cared,” he replied with that same smarmy grin I hated, and then he was gone.
I watched as my brother flew down the stairs. Bouncers were flooding in, but they were so big, and the crowd so thick, that they barely made any movement. Suddenly I realized what was happening. In the middle of the dance floor was a guy, bald headed, his body covered in tattoos, wearing a wife beater and combat boots. I didn’t need to see the swastika tattooed on his neck to know he was some kind of white power dude. But I was more focused on the gun he was holding, pointing it at a blonde girl cowering on the floor, obviously begging him not to shoot her.
My heart jumped in my throat for her. His hands were shaking, he was obviously furious at her about something, and the group of people around were too obviously scared to do anything. Everyone just watched as he continued to yell.
Suddenly, I saw my brother come in from behind and knock the man’s hand down. I gasped as Kiegan’s surprise attack knocked the man over, and they struggled on the floor. My face was practically pressed against the glass as I tried to see what was happening, but the distance and the group of people who suddenly swarmed around the fight stopped me from getting a good look.
When the gun went off, though, that was when all hell broke loose. I knew Kiegan had told me to stay up here, and I knew it was safest if I did what he asked, but I was still worried. I ran out of the room and down the stairs. The bouncer guarding the VIP entrance was long gone, probably trying to make his way to the gunman as well.
Everyone in the club was careening towards the exits. It was a complete madhouse, I was pretty sure if anyone fell over they’d be trampled to death. People pushed against me, and while I wasn’t exactly sure where I was going, I figured if I went away from people running to the exits I’d be heading in the right general direction.
Eventually all the people running past had dispersed, and there were only a few people left on the floor. The neo-Nazi was on his back, with about four enormous bouncers holding him down on the floor. Karen was on her phone in the corner. About two feet away, with another bouncer helping him, was Kiegan, holding his arm and wincing as blood flowed through his fingers.
“Holy shit, Kiegan, are you ok?” I exclaimed, rushing over to him. He smiled ruefully.
“Never been better.”
I rolled my eyes and looked around to find something to stem the bleeding with. Before I got a chance, however, a couple of paramedics showed up, followed closely by some police officers.
Karen immediately got off the phone, relieved, and made her way over to the paramedics.