“In one of the rooms downstairs. I didn’t wanna bring her back up here, all things considered.” Colton looks over to me and then back to Finley.
She lets out an awkward laugh. “Yeah, good point. Alright. Let’s go down.” Finley grabs onto my hand and leads me out of her office. We proceed to head down two flights of stairs into the main area of the club, then through another doorway. I half expected this to be where the kitchen is, but instead it’s a dark, dimly lit hallway with a few doors on each side. Another man stands in the open doorframe of one, moving aside the second he sees Finley. She releases my hand just before we walk in and immediately shifts her eyes to Kayla. I do the same as I walk in and let out an obvious gasp, holding my hand in front of my face.
How did something like this happen within two minutes of leaving the club? What was used against her?
Her lip is busted, blood over her chin, and there is even swelling on the upper and bottom lip. Meanwhile, the side of her cheek is also swelling near the cheekbone and there are cuts above her eye.
Streams of tears come down her face and I’m sure she can’t control it. If I were in her position I’d be crying too.
“Do you need any pain medicine, vodka, water, anything?” Finley asks, keeping her voice nice and low.
“I don’t need a d-damn thing from you e-except to get the f-fuck out of here. The last p-place I w-want to be is h-here,” Kayla sobs, tears continue to rush down her cheeks in an effortless stream.
“While I’m sure that’s true, I can’t just let you leave. Not when you were beaten on the street like that. If that isn’t the worst part, this happened in my neck of the woods so I want to know everything you can remember about who did this to you.”
Kayla pulls her head back in disbelief and rises from her chair in an offended manner. “You have to be fucking kidding me! I was just beaten and you want to stand here and tell me how I need to tell you shit? Fuck that. Fuck that!”
“Kayla, please. Whatever she’s trying to figure out, she’s asking for a reason,” I step in, playing devil’s advocate, but it only makes things worse.
Kayla’s eyes go from pissed to furious within a millisecond and she comes rushing over toward me. One of Finley’s guys grabs her by the arm and the sash she had covering her arms and chest comes flying off her, and when it does, I see a familiar symbol.
A familiar one that only means one thing—the cult came after her.
The symbol’s of a woman with a knife through her chest, bleeding on a tree. It appears to be some sort of ink, almost like something we got whenever we go into any sort of club. How fucking peculiar. Boss had told the entire club the marks she’d seen were more like healed up scars, but does this mark mean they’re hunting down that individual, or is it like when gangs tag territory? I have so many questions and desperately want answers.
Kayla grabs her sash from the floor and covers her exposed upper chest.
“This isn’t the only time a woman got attacked near my club. I think it’s the same person, ‘cause it just happened last week . . . so I’m trying to figure out if it’s the same person, to see if you can remember anything the other victim told me about,” Finley speaks up, trying to break through the weirdness of what’s transpiring right now.
Kayla shuts her eyes and brings the back of her hand to her face to wipe the tears away. “One of them had brown hair, but the other guy I don’t remember a thing about. He was quiet the whole time and he was wearing something like a bank robber would. All black, ski mask, but over the ski mask he had some sort of weird netting over his eye holes in the mask. But . . . the mark I have on my chest . . . the one guy with brown hair had it on his right forearm, but it’s a tattoo.”
The more she tells us, the more I feel the need to call Boss as soon as fucking possible. She needs to know about what’s happened here, and I need to give her an update. If you ask me, shit’s worse than we thought it was down here.
Finley’s guy steps away from her and goes back against the wall, still acting as security if we need him. “Is there anything else?” I question her, really searching for any sort of details she might’ve overlooked.
Kayla scoffs, glaring at me. “I don’t have to tell you shit. You used me to . . . make her jealous or something. I thought we were dating, Ainslee. I thought this was a fucking date, but obviously I’ve been horribly mistaken.” Kayla averts her attention to Finley. “That’s everything I can remember, so I’d appreciate it if I could get the fuck out of here. It’s been a horrible night and to be quite frank I really don’t want to have to look at her.”
Finley clenches her fist by her side. “I’m sorry you had a bad night, but she didn’t do shit wrong. She didn’t know I run this place. I saw her with you and I lost my shit. Now, I’m sorry your feelings got hurt in the process, but Ainslee’s my girl, and your attitude is disrespectful as fuck. I want to throw your ass back out on the street but considering what you’ve been through tonight I’ll have one of my guys take you home, make sure nothing bad happens to you and all that.” Finley waves a hand, signaling for the guy to take Kayla home, and Kayla readjusts her sash again, showing the mark in the center of her chest.
God, I can’t stop staring at it and chills run down my spine knowing the cult is indeed here.
Chapter Eighteen
Finley
Seeing the way Ainslee’s eyes zero in on the mark I know she’s figured something out. I know from what Twister said she was coming here for school, but I’m sure it’s to do with this bullshit we’ve all been dealing with. The two of us have a pretty solid relationship with keeping each other in the loop. We only steer clear of each other’s business in the process. They get their cut of whatever I need them for, when it comes to protection or whatnot.
My phone’s been vibrating in my pocket incessantly for the past five minutes. I pull the damn thing out from my pocket while keeping my eye on Kayla. I don’t trust the bitch. Not when it comes to Ainslee. I’m not stupid enough to think she hasn’t put her lips on Ainslee, or her hands on her in any way. But from now on the only person putting their hands on her will be me. I glance down to see who’s been blowing me the fuck up. It’s Cedric, I call him right back.
“About fuckin’ time, Fin’. We got a situation,” he snaps.
What the fuck now?
“Explain,” I demand.
“Debt being paid. You probably need to bring Ainslee with you.” Why the hell do I need to take Ainslee with me? I handle business when it comes to a fucker paying his debt. Then again, why is he here to do so? I don’t handle that type of business here, only at the other club I own, ‘The Lounge’.
Fuckin’ hell, when the fuck did this night turn to shit?
All I want is to take Ainslee home, drag her into my room, and for the first time block out the rest of the world while I savor every inch of her. I only got a taste of her once again and my mouth is watering, desperate to have her again. She’s a temptation I’m sure I’ll always be addicted to.
“Give me a minute and come up to the office,” I grumble.
“Yeah,” he mutters and hangs up, knowing nothing else needs to be said.
I pull the phone from my ear, turning my attention to Ainslee. “I’ve got more shit to handle, I need you to come with me.”
“What’s going on?” Ainslee asks, while furrowing her brows.
“Don’t know,” I mutter with a shrug, and turn my glare at Kayla. “I get you’ve been beaten and shit, so I’ll put it to you this way. I know my boys told you, you’re banned from this club, that won’t be changing.”
“Finley,” Ainslee calls my name but I put my hand up to stop her.
“I’m sorry for what happened to you and he’ll take you home, or wherever it is you want to head to. But, you will not be stepping foot into this club again. And as for Ainslee, you stay away from her.”
“You can have her, she’s not worth the trouble,” Kayla sneers.
“Quit with the bitchiness. I don’t
need it and Ainslee sure as fuck doesn’t need it. Now get the hell out of here,” I snap, nodding my head to Link who’s been standing nearby. “Get Nick to take her. Call Jackson while you’re at it. Tell him about the attack. I’m sure he and his team will want to know about it.”
“You got it, boss,” Link grumbles as he moves. Leading Kayla toward the door, he turns to look at me again. “I should get a bonus for dealing with this much attitude in one night. At this rate I’d prefer to deal with the girls on the second floor.”
“Just get this shit done. I gotta go see the next headache of the night,” I seethe, making a note to give him a bonus. He’s right. Normally the fun always happens on the second floor rather than the first floor.
Taking ahold of Ainslee’s hand, I guide us back up to my office.
“You didn’t have to be a bitch to her, you know,” Ainslee mutters.
“Yeah, I did. I’m not the boss of this establishment for nothing. I have rules and she broke a major one,” I grumble as I open the door and hold it for her to step in first.
“And what rule is that?”
“She disrespected you. No one and I mean no one, disrespects what’s mine and sure as fuck doesn’t try to take a go at you. If you’re in this club, you’re mine.”
“So, does that mean I’m not yours outside this club?”
I grin at Ainslee and pull her to me. “No, babe, you’ll always be mine.”
I lean in to give her a quick kiss but I’m interrupted because Cedric pushes through while Halton drags a well-dressed man into my office. Colton steps in behind them holding a small bundle in his arms.
“What the fuck?” I demand.
“Boss, this here’s the man who owes you a quarter of a million. Listen to what he has to say,” Cedric snarls.
“Excuse me what the hell is this?” Ainslee asks, glaring around the room.
“I’m listening,” I say, my voice cold as ice as I glare at the man Halton is still holding by the nape of his neck.
“I . . . have a proposition for you,” he slurs, drunkenly.
“And what’s that?”
“You wipe my debt clear and I’ll give you a kid. You can keep the kid or sell it. I don’t give a fuck,” he says, spit spewing from his mouth.
“What the . . . is this dude serious?” Ainslee yells.
Shit.
She’s not going to like this.
Stepping to Colton, I take the baby in his arms. I glance down at the baby presume it’s a little boy since it’s wearing a green plaid outfit with a tractor on it. Damn he’s a cute little thing. He can’t be more than a few weeks old. I know what I’ve got to do, what I’d already intended, but this seals his fate.
“Take him down to the basement, we’ll handle the rest of this down there,” I order and turn to Ainslee, placing the baby in her arms. “I need you to go down to the second floor, I’ll make sure to tell security to let you pass, find Mara-Lee and tell her to call the lawyer.”
Giving her a swift kiss, I leave her standing in the middle of my office as I follow the others out. This shit’s about to get real and the fact I’m bringing in Madelyn Stark is just the topping on the cake.
Chapter Nineteen
Ainslee/Vex
Christ almighty. I don’t know what the fuck is going on around here, but it sure isn’t good. Who was that guy? Why did he have a baby? Why in the fuck was he offering up a baby as payment? Who’d sell a fucking baby? Motherfucker! With every step I take another question comes to my mind and I grow angrier as well, but I try not to get too upset. The little one in my arms is cooing and even smiling as he looks up to me. At least, I assume he’s a he. He’s got on this plaid looking onesie with a tractor in the middle of it, and he even grabs on to my hair and holds it. Fuck, it brings back memories of my son when he was this old. I’m about to have a damn heart attack, or anxiety attack. It’ll either be one or the other.
I get down to the second floor and see exactly what this place is. I hadn’t asked as of yet . . . but my girlfriend is a fucking pimp.
Wait. Did I just call her my girlfriend? Holy fuck, that went fast. I shake my head, not knowing what to think . . . but I know how I feel in my heart and I don’t want to have this opportunity go up in smoke. She and I had an amazing connection a few years back and now I can say the same. It was just as fierce, with chemistry that’s comparable to fireworks shooting off into the sky. I don’t want to ruin this, not when it might be the only chance we have to try again.
Women are half naked, tits out, and if they’re not naked, they’re walking around in the most sinful lingerie I’ve ever seen. Fuck, I wonder what Finley would look like wearing some of that . . . especially white . . . I bet she’d look hot as fuck in some white colored lace lingerie.
“Uh, mamacita, what’re you doing down here?” Mara-Lee says, and then her eyes glance to my arms. “And why did you bring a baby on the floor? Wait, who’s baby is that?”
“Long story short, I have no idea, but I assume it’s the guy who’s trying to repay the debt to Finley . . . with the kid, who said she could sell it if she wanted.”
Mara-Lee’s eyes widen and she shakes her head. “Holy fuck, no one surprises me anymore. Not a single damn soul. Fin’ tell you to come down here?”
I nod. “Yep, and she wants you to call the lawyer.”
“Well, guess she’s calling the big dog in.”
“Big dog?”
“Madelyn is Finley’s lawyer, and she’s the best in all of Virginia. Whatever’s going on, Finley wants to be prepared. Excuse me for a second while I call her.” Mara-Lee pulls her phone from her pants pocket and brings it up to her ear, walking maybe a couple of feet away from me.
“Aw, what a cute baby!” A redhead comes up with big busty tits, smiling at the little guy. He smiles too, but I’m betting I know why.
“Baby? Where?!” Another woman says and then I’m being surrounded by a whole bunch of them. All of the girls are smiling except one—a blonde. She’s standing back against the wall with her arms crossed in a black lingerie set with a garter belt.
One-by-one the girls file out and go back to whatever they were doing, or rather, who they were servicing.
The blonde woman with her hands across her chest comes strutting up to me in her heels. “If I were you, I’d be careful. Finley’s a womanizer and she’s never the type to stick to something more than a few times. Eventually, she’ll get tired of you too, sweetie. Protect that fragile heart of yours.”
As soon as she’s finished speaking, she smirks and goes on her way, disappearing behind a long dark velvet curtain.
Mara-Lee hangs up the phone and slides it back into her pocket. “Lacey say something to you?”
“Is that who the blonde was?”
Mara-Lee nods. “Yep, she’s a real cunt. Actually, let me rephrase that, she’s a dramatic bimbo who thinks she owns the place and has a major crush on Fin’. It’s almost sad, how she dotes around after her the way she does. Of course, in a super bitchy way.”
Ugh, I was thankful a woman like Finley didn’t have a line of women after her, ready to fight me for her . . . but I guess there’s always one. I’ll be making sure Lacey stays far away from me, and Finley for that matter.
Chapter Twenty
Finley
I ignore the pumping bass of the music the DJ’s playing as I follow the men to the basement doors. I step through the doors and let them slam behind me. I’m not in the best mood and this fucker just pissed me the fuck off.
Cedric is already standing next to the interrogation chair when Halton pushes the douchebag into it. Colton brings a set of industrial zip ties and secures the man’s hands to the arms of the chair.
“Now, you want to explain to me why the hell you want to use a baby to pay your debt,” I demand.
“Kid’s not worth anything to me and I want to keep my life the way I like it. Can’t do that deal with a demon child,” he sneers.
“What’s your name again?” I
ask, cocking my head to the side.
“Jennings,” he says, a light coming in his eyes.
Hm, interesting,
“Where’s the kid’s mother?”
Pain seeps into his face. “He killed her. Killed my wife.”
“Who?”
“That demon child,” he spits.
As the words filter into my head, I back hand him as my mind plays Ainslee’s words on repeat about her losing her little boy. How she was never going to get to hold that baby in her arms again.
The world has a funny way of turning some days.
“So, you believe your child was the reason your wife died?”
“It’s the truth, if she hadn’t had him, I’d still have her,” he sneers, his eyes narrowing on me.
I nod and face Cedric. Immediately he hands me my blade.
“I’ll take the child, he’ll wipe your debt, but only because you’ll be dead. Do you know my father never wanted me? But he did teach me a very valuable lesson,” I mutter as I lift the sharp blade and bring it down on his left hand, severing it clear off his body. Jennings wails like the coward he is. “We’ll keep the other hand attached for now, soon as you sign the papers, then we’ll take it. Until then I think I’ll make sure you regret your decisions in other ways.”
I reach out and grip his ear with one hand while using the bloody steel to slice the ear off as if it were nothing more than deli meat being sliced off the rest of the slab. The entire time I ignore Jennings’ pleas for mercy.
“What in the world is going on in here?” I lift my head up to meet Madelyn’s gaze. Most people would be freaking right about now, but Madelyn’s been around long enough to know what’s up. I’d taken’ her under my wing for a brief time when she worked here at the club. I’d run into her one night as she was working a corner and found out she was selling herself to put herself through school, she didn’t have much longer to go and I offered her a better alternative. Since then, she’s become our lawyer.
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