Mixed with Trouble: A CASH BAR NOVEL

by Faiman, Hayley

  “You were meant to be a job,” he breathes. “You turned into more and I’m pissed the fuck off about it.”

  “Carter,” I rasp, lifting my hand to cup his cheek.

  I try not to feel at all, especially not for him, but this moment he seems so vulnerable that I allow him inside of me just a touch deeper, like the fool that I am.

  “I just wanted a little more time with you. Now it’s all fucked. Get your ass upstairs, don’t try to leave. I have a man watching you,” he warns, releasing my arm.

  I do as he demands, with pleasure. I almost feel sorry for him, then the pain in my cheek throbs and I decide that I don’t feel sorry for him in the slightest. I want to watch him and his father burn.

  Once I’m in my apartment, I lock myself inside and run toward the bathroom and lock myself inside of there, too. Turning on the water at the sink, I’m not sure if he’s bugged my apartment or not, but I’m not about to find out, either.

  Scrolling through my contacts on my phone, I pass by Snake’s real number, unsure if I should contact him or not. Then I remember that Baby was here. Maybe he’s still here. It’s only been a couple of days. My thumb presses his name and I pinch my eyes closed for a moment.

  “Lea?” Baby’s voice asks.

  It sounds raspier than it did before I left six years ago, hoarser.

  “I think I’m in trouble,” I whisper.

  CHAPTER SIX

  BABY

  “I think I’m in trouble.”

  Those words send a chill down my spine. Yeah, no fuckin’ shit, is what I want to say back to her, but I don’t.

  “Talk to me,” I demand.

  I wait for a beat, my heart racing as the woman next to me stirs. She lifts up slightly, but I only hold my hand up to quiet her. She knows her place and she snaps her lips closed as I wait for Lea to reply.

  “I can’t talk, not in my apartment, not over the phone. Are you still in town?” she says, her voice practically pleading.

  “I’m not. I’ll make it happen.”

  She makes a noise in the back of her throat. Something is off and I know it has to do with that prick that I watched walk from her apartment.

  “Stay at your place, don’t leave.”

  Without allowing her to speak again, I end the call. Scrolling through my contacts, I find Snake’s name. Pressing call, I wait for him to answer. It’s late, he’s probably tucked away in bed, but fuck, this can’t wait.

  “The fuck?” he growls.

  “You got anyone in Alberta you can trust to keep an eye on Lea until I get there?” I demand.

  “What the fuck?” he shouts, sounding much more aware than he did moments ago.

  I clear my throat. “Lea called, says she’s in trouble. Felt that shit in my gut when I was there, Pres. I need to go to her, but I want her protected until I arrive,” I explain.

  There is a pause, then I hear him growl. “She’s Skinner’s daughter, don’t you forget that shit. Go, I’ll deal with Martel and your bitch here.”

  “Deal with it, completely?” I ask hopefully.

  He chuckles. “Not a chance on your fucking life. Got a meet with the Governor General in three days, I expect you to be back by then. Don’t think you’re going to avoid all that is Chardonnay. Besides, don’t you want to be the one to met out her shit and watch the look on her face?” he asks, a smile in his voice.

  “Yeah, fuck yeah,” I agree. “I’ll grab her, bring her back and we’ll deal with whatever shit she got herself into up there.”

  “Can’t be too bad. Maybe a bad boyfriend, we could send a prospect to deal with him,” he mutters. “I got a contact up there, I’ll call him to watch her place until you arrive.”

  I nod in agreement as if he can see me. Ending the call, I slide out of bed and start to get ready to leave. The girl in my bed rolls onto her back, her big eyes looking over at me, expectantly almost.

  “Need you out, babe,” I murmur.

  She sits up, not bothering to hide her tits with the sheet. Spreading her thighs, she offers me an uninhibited view of her pussy. It’s pink and swollen from the pounding I gave it not too long ago. I lick my lips at the sight, my cock twitching.

  “You’re going to leave me here, alone?”

  My head jerks, my eyes finding hers. I forget that she’s not a regular clubgirl, she just came with some friends for a party tonight. Not too often we open up the clubhouse to the public, but tonight we did, and she showed.

  She’s younger than I usually go for, in her early twenties, but she was more than willing to come back to my room with me. Taking a step forward, I reach my hand out, cupping her cheek with my palm.

  “We had fun, babe, but I got shit to do and you can’t be here when I get back,” I murmur, keeping my voice low and even.

  “Why? Don’t you want more of me?” she asks, pouting her lips.

  With a smirk, I realize that I have a fucking type. She reminds me of Chardonnay, a little too much. Dropping my hand, I run my fingers through my hair, my eyes drifting over her bare body. She’s hot, but I’ve fucked dozens of hot women, she isn’t special.

  “Out, sugar,” I bark.

  She narrows her eyes, closes her legs and slides out of the bed, bending over to grab her shit. “You’re an asshole,” she seethes.

  I chuckle, recognizing Chardonnay in every move that she makes. “Know that, got a woman at home who tells me fuckin’ daily,” I point out.

  Her lips part and her eyes widen. “You’re with someone?” she hisses.

  Leaning forward, I tilt my head to the side. “Yeah, that’s the way this world works,” I say.

  “Fuck this.” She stomps, pulling her clothes on and running out the door.

  I don’t bother telling her that most of the guys with Old Ladies are faithful. This bitch was looking for a wild ride, but she doesn’t want to ride wild until the end, she wants to wrap a goddamn leash around whatever dick she can catch.

  Fuck. That.

  Hurrying for the shower, I quickly rinse the scent of pussy off and then change into clean clothes. I don’t bother calling Chardonnay, I really don’t care if she knows I’m gone or not, soon she’ll be nothing but a distant memory.

  Jogging toward my bike, I start the engine and roar out of the clubhouse parking area, passing the bitch that just left my bed with a wave. I don’t linger to see if she flips me off, though I imagine she does.

  Glancing at my watch, I decide to see if I can make it to Lea in less than the full ten hours. Her plea for help has my heart pounding and my stomach twisting. Something is going on and I’m not so sure it’s as simple as some asshole she’s seeing.

  LEA

  I don’t sleep. I can’t. After calling Baby, I take a shower and dress in sweats and a hoodie, then I pace. I feel dirty, my face is throbbing and I just want to go home. I want to see my family and run far away from here.

  I don’t care anymore if that makes me weak.

  I don’t mind being weak if it means I’m away from Carter and his father.

  Every hour, I look out the window. The first time, nobody was there. The second time, I saw a man in the shadows, his back leaning against the building across the street from mine. Every time, I walk to the window to check on him again, he doesn’t move, not once.

  My phone rings in my hand and I jump. Glancing down, my heart races as my thumb slides across the screen.

  “Hello?” I ask, my voice trembling.

  “Halfway there, Tiny,” he murmurs.

  Tiny.

  It seems like it’s been a hundred years since he’s called me that. I thought I would hate it as an adult, that it was a nickname for a kid, but there is something comforting about hearing it spill easily from his lips.

  “Okay, Baby,” I breathe.

  “Stay inside,” he orders before the line goes silent.

  My eyes don’t leave the man across the street, not until the sun begins to rise. His gaze doesn’t lift to mine that I can tell. I wonder who he is, wh
y he’s there and who has placed him there. I wait, for what seems like days, but is merely hours, hoping that Baby gets here soon.

  Glancing down at my phone, I inhale a deep breath and let it out on a sigh when I realize he’s still at least two hours away from me. Lifting my gaze to the street, my blood runs cold at the sight of Carter walking down the street.

  He’s wearing the same clothes he had on last night, they’re rumpled and disheveled and I know that he’s done what he said he was going to do. I’m not even angry or upset that he’s gone to someone else, I actually feel sorry for the girl.

  The man against the wall takes a step forward when he sees Carter, but he doesn’t approach him. Instead, I watch as he lifts his phone to his ear.

  His mouth moves as he speaks, but unless I learn to read lips, I have no way of knowing what he’s saying or who he’s talking to. I just hope that he’s called Baby.

  The knock on my apartment door causes me to jump. Tucking my phone into the kangaroo pocket of my hoodie, I hurry to answer. Glancing through the peephole, I inhale a deep breath before I open the door to Carter on the other side.

  He waltzes in as if he lives here. I don’t mind, hopefully this will be my last encounter with the epic asshole. I watch as he walks over to the fridge and reaches inside for a bottle of water.

  Twisting the cap off, he has the nerve to toss it onto the floor before he brings the bottle to his lips and guzzles the contents. Then, he tosses the bottle onto the floor as well before letting out a burp.

  “Clean that shit up,” he barks, his eyes finding mine.

  Grinding my teeth together, I decide not to make a big deal about it. I just keep reminding myself that Baby is on his way, he’ll be here soon and I’ll be gone.

  Fuck Carter Martel.

  I pick up the bottle and cap, throwing it the six inches into the wastebasket as he walks into the bathroom. Glancing down at my phone, I’m surprised to see that I only have an hour before Baby should be here.

  Inhaling a deep breath, I let it out on a sigh and go about tidying up my already spotless apartment. I need something to do, something that keeps me away from Carter.

  A few moments later he emerges with just a towel wrapped around his waist. He looks refreshed, rejuvenated and it doesn’t lessen the hate that I feel for him. He is a despicable person and I can’t wait for him to get his just deserts.

  He smiles, it’s one of his sweeter ones, his eyes roaming over my body, seeing past the baggy sweats and hoodie, seeing me. It makes me feel almost dirty, the way he’s staring at me.

  “Now that the other bitch’s pussy is cleaned off of me, come give me a kiss.” He chuckles.

  My entire body freezes from his words. He is disgusting. I can’t believe I let his good looks lure me into this position. I just spread my legs and let him right in here. I had no idea, we were together for months, and never did I think he could be this gross and cruel.

  “No thanks,” I whisper, lifting my hand to touch my still aching cheek.

  “Come now, Lea. I got mad, you don’t understand the pressure I’m under,” he lamely explains.

  I bite the inside of my cheek to keep from screaming at him. I have less than an hour. I repeat this to myself as I walk over to him and press my lips against his. He doesn’t allow me to shift away from him, wrapping one of his hands around my back he pulls me in deeper.

  Carter’s tongue teases my lips and I have no choice but to open for him. I know that if I don’t, it will just make this situation ten times worse than it already is. Thankfully, his lips travel from my mouth down my neck and to the hollow of my throat.

  “Why do you have to dress like a fucking nun, huh?” he growls against my skin.

  “I just showered and put this on, I didn’t sleep well and spent the rest of the morning just relaxing after the long night at work and everything else that happened,” I explain.

  “Go and change. My dad may want to fuck you, but I’m going to get my fill before he lays his hands on you,” he grunts.

  Disgust rolls through my entire body at his words. Deciding to just go ahead and change, I make my way back to my bedroom and search for something to wear. I’m not going to dress in anything revealing. I’m getting on the back of a bike as soon as humanly possible.

  Slipping off my sweatpants, I find a pair of jeans and pull them up my body. Tucking my phone into my back pocket, I grab a white tank top and pull that on after I’ve discarded my hoodie.

  I decide to go sans bra, hoping that it will be, sexy, enough for him, because I’m staying one hundred percent prepared for running out of this bitch like my ass is on fire.

  Slipping my feet into a pair of white tennis shoes, I tie them quickly and take my millionth deep breath of the morning before walking back out to the living room.

  Carter is back in his suit, though it isn’t as rumpled as it was before. His eyes scan my body, lingering on my free breasts and his lips tip up in a smirk.

  “Good girl,” he mutters. I open my mouth just as a knock sounds on the front door. “What the fuck?” he hisses.

  My heart begins to speed up, it races as the door opens and big as life, Baby walks through. His eyes find me, immediately scanning my body then land on my cheek and I watch as fury fills him from the inside out.

  Carter opens his mouth but doesn’t get to say anything before his body falls to the floor. A pool of blood immediately forms on his wrinkled white shirt and I lift my gaze to Baby.

  “Come the fuck on,” he demands.

  I don’t quibble. In fact, I run toward him. Without even skipping a beat he bends slightly, picking me up. I wrap my arms around his shoulders and my legs around his hips. Pressing my face against his neck, he walks us down the four flights of stairs and straight for his bike.

  “Clean up in her apartment,” he orders as he shifts me to my feet.

  Climbing on the back of his bike, I wrap my arms around his waist, tucking in close as it roars to life and then I finally close my eyes and for the first time in a week, I breathe easy.

  Baby has me.

  Baby is here.

  I’m weak. I needed him. I’m no longer this independent woman that I’d so craved to become. Without him, I wouldn’t have made it through another week in the hands of Carter and his father.

  Baby saved me and I don’t give a fuck what that says about me. I needed him to save me. I needed the knight in black leather on a bike. I’ve always needed him. I’ve always needed the Devils.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  BABY

  Lea holds onto me tighter than I expect, and yet, it’s a welcome feeling. My cock strains against the zipper of my jeans, her tits pressed tight against my back doesn’t help my predicament at all. Though, I can’t find it in me to feel guilty about my attraction to her. She most definitely is not the girl she once was.

  Without stopping immediately, we ride out of the city, toward home. When we’re halfway to Regina, I stop at the first motel that I can find. We’re out in the middle of nowhere, but there is a small town with a motel, a bar, and a greasy spoon diner. It’s as good of a spot as any to rest for the night.

  Pulling into the motel’s parking lot, I climb off of my bike and turn toward Lea. The sight of her bruised cheek sends another wave of rage throughout my body. I don’t know the circumstances surrounding the mark, I also don’t care.

  That prick hit her and that is a good enough reason for him to die. I’m sure once I find out the details, I’ll want to kill him all over again.

  “Stay here, I’ll get us a room,” I order.

  Lea lifts her chin, her eyes finding mine and her lips twitch into a devilish looking smirk. She doesn’t agree to stay put and I can’t help but wonder what kind of trouble is brewing inside her head.

  “Stay the fuck here,” I order, again.

  She only lifts her hand in a non-committal motion and I can’t stop the growl from erupting up my throat. Turning my back on her, I walk toward the motel’s office to get us a r
oom for the night.

  The man sitting behind the counter doesn’t even lift his gaze from his computer screen as I walk up to him.

  “Need a room,” I state. He tells me how much it is for the night, then starts to rattle off the extras.

  “An extra fee for towels and clean sheets. More if you want cable television,” he announces, never looking up from his screen.

  I snort, fuck, this place is a dump. Pulling twenty-five dollars from my pocket I toss it down in front of him. Never even looking away from his screen, he reaches behind him for a key and tosses it toward me.

  He points over to a cabinet in the corner of the room. “Towels and sheets in there,” he instructs.

  Turning to the cabinet, I open it expecting to find all white towels and sheets, but instead there are a variety of colors of both. As if these things were taken from people’s homes, maybe yard sales. Fuck it. I’ve slept on worse.

  Grabbing two towels and a folded set of matching sheets, I hold the key tightly in my grasp and head outside. Lifting my gaze to my bike, I frown when I notice that Lea isn’t there.

  Jogging over to the room, I slip the key inside, unlock it and dump the shit in my hands on the bed before I leave to go find Lea.

  The neon light flashes out of the corner of my eye, the bar catching my attention. Fuck. Turning, I swiftly walk toward the entrance. Pressing the door open, I walk inside, my eyes scanning the room.

  It doesn’t take me long to find Lea amongst the locals. The bar looks almost like an exact replica of the Cash Bar. It’s plain, the floors and bar top scarred from years of use and abuse. There is a pool table in the back, a dartboard on one wall, and an old jukebox playing even older country music.

  Lea is like a fucking beacon of light in this place, especially since the bitch is standing on a table, swaying her hips to the beat of the music. Her nipples are hard beneath her thin white top, hiding fucking nothing from the view of the dozen men in the room. All of which have their rapt attention focused on her and only her.