Double Vision (Unknown Identities #2) by Regan Black

back.
    "What? You can't return the favor?"
    "Favor?" He scowled at her.
    "Trust," she clarified, turning her back to him. "Is my jacket clean?"
    His hands brushed roughly across the leather. "Yes. Although why you care –"
    "See that big line of people?" She tapped her foot against the sidewalk. "Can't you feel the heavy bass?"
    "You want to go clubbing?"
    "Did my mascara run?" She almost wished she hadn't asked as his eyes moved over her face, followed by his thumb.
    "Just a smudge," he said smoothing whatever it was from her cheek.
    She swallowed against her reaction, her urge to lean in and forget the danger. With her hand in his, she urged them toward the queue. "'Want' is the wrong word. Need is more appropriate in this situation. We can hide more easily in the crowd."
    As the noise spilling out of the club increased, she hoped maybe it would deter the questions she assumed he had for her. Unfortunately, it would make it harder to ask the questions she had for him as well.
    "Galloway doesn't know about my connection here," she said.
    "Don't count on that," he replied darkly.
    She decided she didn't want him to elaborate on that comment. "You have a better idea?"
    He shook his head. Satisfied he wouldn't interfere, she approached the door, applying every lesson her female cousins had ever shared on charming men.
    "Selena Vaccaro!" The booming voice of the bouncer at the door had all heads turning her way. It was an inside joke that he treated her like a celebrity they thought they should know. She usually managed to play along, but tonight she hammed it up, needing the extra attention, hoping it would have Galloway thinking twice about attacking her here.
    "Tell me Brevo is at the bar tonight."
    "Like always." The bouncer rolled his eyes. "Two?"
    "Please," she answered with another wide smile.
    "I hope your friend here can dance," the bouncer said in a stage whisper as he let them pass, "because he sure can't dress."
    Selena tossed him a wink over her shoulder. "That's why he's with me."
    The deep laughter followed them just inside the doorway, until the pulsing bass and strobing lights blotted out any semblance of reality.
    For her, this was almost as calming as the hot chocolate and cookies. The crowd felt like a safety net. Galloway couldn't open fire or attack them here without causing a scene and drawing way too much negative attention.
    Apparently it wasn't the same for Adam. He'd gone rigid beside her, his footsteps slowed and the muscles of his arm had turned to stone.
    "Are you okay?"
    " I'm fine," he bit out.
    "You don't look it."
    "I'm fine," he repeated. He rubbed at his eyes. "You were right. This is a good place to hide."
    She recognized the sound of pain when she heard it. "We won't stay long," she promised. "Brevo will let us crash at his place tonight."
    "Great. Boyfriend?"
    She wasn't sure she'd heard him correctly, so she ignored the question. It wasn't his business anyway, no matter what they'd recently survived.
    They wound their way through the bodies gyrating on the crowded dance floor to the elaborate bar at the far side of the cavernous room. While she instinctively moved with the music, Adam remained stiff and awkward at her side.
    Something was seriously wrong with him and her intuition had her questioning the wisdom of sticking with him. He'd managed to be everything people expected to see. He'd been the friendly food vendor, a Good Samaritan at the ambulance, a thoughtful new friend in the coffee shop, and a self-defense expert in the alley. He might have all the right moves, but she sensed the tough guy in the alley was the real Adam.
    Watching him now, she wondered if the awkward discomfort was another act. She'd seen him fight with the graceful movements comparable to a dancer, yet here, he couldn't seem to adapt to the club atmosphere.
    She thought about the gunfire and worried one of the bullets had found a target after all.
    As they neared the bar, more than one waitress greeted her with