by A J Love
Sasha drops into the seat beside me and smiles wickedly. “Are you ready for this, Rubes?”
I’ve never understood her enthusiasm for this job, or the way that she prefers everyone calls her by her stage name instead of her real name. It’s like she was born to do this. To be fair, with the money up for grabs tonight, I’m about to dance like I was born for it, so who am I to judge? Maybe it’s just her way of getting through it. We all have our own ways. For me? I grit my teeth and pretend it’s happening to someone else.
Pulling my red lipstick out, I flick off the lid with hard determination. “I sure am.”
The night is long, but I make it through to the end.
I seal my money with an elastic band and drop it into my purse, rushing out the doors. It’s later than I thought I’d be leaving, so I’m not surprised when I don’t see Kane’s truck in the lot out front. He has his own job to get to, and I’m two hours late. Still, it’s a little disappointing. Especially after the big deal he made of me working tonight. I’d tried to text him when I could, but the guys that Rick brought in were insane and would not fucking leave. They just kept going, so we had to keep going. That’s one of the problems with this place. They don’t shut their doors until the last person exits the building. By the time I managed to carve out five minutes for myself, my cell had died, and I was fresh out of luck.
Luckily, Cassie had good news when we finished and we were cleaning up out back. Rick was impressed with us and so had given us the day off. He was closing up for the night due to it being his daughter’s birthday or something. Fuck knows. I didn’t even know he had a daughter. All I know is I can sleep all day as I’m not due into the store until tomorrow. Plus, for staying so late—or early—he also said that we didn’t have to pay our fees tonight so all the money we made is ours with no cuts. Cha-ching.
I lift the hood up on my jacket and head toward home, quickening my pace. The tiredness is creeping in and if I don’t make it home soon, I may end up curled in a ball on the street.
“Lay,” I hear calling behind me.
I turn to see Bez jogging over.
“Hey, what’s up?” I ask, pulling my jacket around me.
“Let me give you a ride. It’s not safe to be walking this late. I’ve got Sasha in the car too.”
I frown a little, unsure whether I should take him up on his offer.
“I can take her,” Deke shouts, rushing to reach us. “It’s on my way home.”
Shit. This is absolutely not a situation I want to be in. After last night, I don’t want this asshole anywhere near me.
“Nah, man. It’s cool. I told Rick I’d get the girls home safe tonight,” Bez replies, placing his hand on the small of my back and pushing me slightly in the direction of the car lot. “You get yourself home, Deke. It’s been a long one.”
He doesn’t wait for a reply and leads me toward his car. I can see Sasha standing by it, waving, which relaxes me a little. I know where she lives, and it will make sense for him to drop me off first, so I won’t be alone with him. I don’t want to be alone with any of them.
Bez drops something on the floor, so I automatically stop and wait for him to pick it up. When he looks up, his eyes are serious. He glances back at the club and then at me. “Layton,” he says quietly. “You need to get out of here. Don’t come back to the club. It’s not safe for you there anymore.”
“What?” I ask, feeling a shiver run through me. “What do you mean? I need this job.”
He stands back up, walking once again to the car. “Rick noticed you tonight, and he’s going to want to meet you. Once you do that, there’s no going back.”
We reach the car, and he opens it for Sasha to jump in the front passenger seat. His hand halts on the back door. “McKenna didn’t get away, Lay. She never even left the club. He has her.”
What.
The.
Fuck?
Bez all but pushes me into the back of the car and shuts the door.
Rick can’t know that I know what was going on with her and Deke, otherwise I’d know by now. Hell, I’d probably be dead by now. I definitely wouldn’t be walking out of the place over six-hundred dollars richer. If McKenna never left the club, then he’s had her for over a month. If she was going to say something, she would have done it by now, surely? And Deke definitely doesn’t know anything after his performance at my door last night.
I ignore Sasha’s chatting and sink into the seat of the car, praying for a miracle. Bez is right, I can’t risk going back there. But where the hell am I supposed to go?
When Bez drops me off outside my building, I rush up the stairs and straight into my apartment, checking three times that the door is locked. I plug my cell into the charger and wait for the screen to light up. I change into an oversized shirt and boy shorts, wash my face and crawl under the covers while I wait. Despite the heat, I want to be cozy, and there’s something about being wrapped up like a burrito that makes me feel safe.
I didn’t need to watch for the light on my cell to know it’s switched on as the repetitive ping of notifications would have alerted me. It’s going crazy with messages, and all from Kane. I scroll through them, sensing his annoyance rising with each message. Oh boy. I read the last one, choosing to ignore the previous angry ones.
Layton, call me the second you get this. I don’t give a fuck what time. I have to get to work.
Nope. I definitely don’t want to call him. My night is bad enough. The time of that message was five-thirty. I missed him by a half hour. I pussy out and type out a text instead. Sorry, cell died. It was really busy tonight, and I just got home.
My cell rings within seconds of me pressing send. I groan. When will this day end? Reluctantly, I answer, “Hello?”
“What the fuck time is this?” He growls.
I wince. “I know, I didn’t get out until after six.”
“Twelve hours is a fucking disgrace.”
“I know.”
“You can’t keep doing this to yourself, Layton. It’s fucking stupid.”
“I know that too. I’m not going back.”
He chokes on something, probably his next angry comment. I get a little satisfaction out of shocking him, which is really inappropriate but awesome all the same. “You’re not?”
“No. Bez, one of the security guys, drove Sash and me home,” it all comes rushing out. “He pulled me to the side and told me not to go back. He said they had McKenna, and that Rick noticed me tonight and is going to want to meet me and that if he does, then it’s game over because there’s no getting out then.”
“Not happening,” Kane snaps. “Not fucking ever.”
I sniff a little, forcing the tears back. I am not going to cry on this guy again. “Now, I don’t know what I’m going to do. I didn’t want any of this.”
“Go to sleep. I’ll call you later.”
He clicks off and leaves me staring at the phone. Go to sleep? Is that it? What happened to the nice, caring Kane I had last night? Asshole.
I toss my cell onto the nightstand and turn over, wrapping the covers around me. I force my mind blank and close my eyes.
Fuck today.
Kane
“So, she’s just not going back there? Has she told anyone she’s not going back?”
I grunt, ignoring Grip and move back over to the car I’m working on. I’ve been trying to replace this water hose for over half an hour but it’s hard to concentrate when I’ve got him chirping in my fucking ear.
“Thatch, this is serious, brother,” he continues, coming around the car to stand beside me. “If she just poofs then they’ll look for her. She needs to call them and give some kind of excuse or something.”
I finally lift the old hose from the car and turn to face him. “You can tell her all of this yourself,” I glance at the clock on the wall, “she’ll be here in about an hour.”
I asked Nolan to go pick her up after his job, not wanting to wait until tonight to see her. After what she told me
on the phone this morning, things have taken a turn for the serious and I don’t want her out of my sight. All the shit that Grip has been saying to me has already been running through my head since that call, and I want to make sure they are definitely not going to come after her. I’ll set my left nut on fire before I let that happen.
“Shit, brother. You got it bad if you’re bringing her to your place of work. Are you in love with our stripper now?”
I toss my dirty rag at him and block out the sound of his laughing, focusing on the job. My customer will be back here in twenty minutes and I should have had this done by now. A fucking fifteen-minute job has taken me almost an hour. I’ll be lucky to still have customers at this rate. It’s hard enough that the Rippers are constantly parading around the place. They’re not exactly known for their nice manners and chivalry and do take a little getting used to.
I’m working on my last job of the afternoon when I hear Nolan pulling up outside. I crush the urge to go rushing out to her and continue jacking the car in front of me. Half of the Rippers are now in my shop and so I need to get a move on to finish today's work and then get Layton out of here before they fucking enroll her into the club. For sure, I need to have a word with Trev about his boys using the place as a fucking chill-out zone. I’m trying to run a business here, and even though they do bring me the majority of my work, I need some fucking space.
Finally, I stand from where I’ve been crouched behind the car and see her seated in the waiting area—the one I’ve been heavily regretting putting in—with Nolan, Grip, Declan, and Lynx. They’re all talking at her and she looks like she’s been dropped into some strange universe. She looks scared shitless. I glance down her frame, annoyed at the way she’s sitting right on the edge of the sofa, as if ready to run at any time. I can understand why, but I want her to be comfortable here. I want her to feel safe and okay whenever she’s near me. The urge to protect her is fucking unbearable and I don’t know how to get rid of it.
I wipe my hands on my jeans and walk around to the group, stopping via the fridge for a can of soda. One by one they stop to stare at me as if anticipating my reaction. What a bunch of fucking girls. I drop onto the only available seat, pass Layton the drink, and shake my head at them all.
“None of you have anything in here to be fixed, so why the fuck are you in here?” I ask.
Grip grins. “It’s your sparkly personality. We can’t get enough of it.”
“You’re just so much fun to be around,” Dec adds.
“And technically, you asked me to be here,” Nolan smiles.
Layton coughs a little, but it’s obvious that she’s hiding a laugh. I’m glad she finds this shit funny. “Haven’t you all got a bank to rob or something?”
“Not today, bro,” Lynx smiles. “We’re one hundred percent here to chill with you.”
He winks at Layton. “And this lovely woman, too.”
“Speaking of,” Grip turns to face her, taking her hand. “Have you told them you’re not going back yet, darlin’?”
Layton looks to me, her eyes wide. I sigh. “They all know where you work, and that you’re not going back. Apparently, we’re a bunch of gossiping schoolgirls.”
For a second she looks like she might want to object to them knowing this information, and deep down I hope she puts up a fight about it because her lack of a spine really pisses me off, but she doesn’t. Instead, she turns to Grip and shakes her head. “I’m not due in there today anyway, so they won’t be expecting me.”
“You should still let them know. People like that will look for you if you just don’t show.”
She nods, “I know. I will.”
Declan throws his arm around her shoulders, “If they give you any shit, I’m sure this huge motherfucker will sort them out for you,” he says, inclining his head at me.
I would.
In a heartbeat.
“I’m sure it will be okay. I’ll just tell them I have a new job,” she shrugs.
“And when they ask where it is?” Lynx asks, “what will you say then? You can bet your ass they’re going to check.”
I can see the panic in her eyes, making it obvious that she hasn’t already thought about this. Did she really think they would just let her go? Does she not see herself in the mirror? They’ll be furious that she’s leaving, because I’m willing to bet she brings most of the money into that place. I saw the way the crowd practically foamed at the mouth for her when I saw her on that stage. No, they’re going to want to check exactly where she is and do everything they can to get her back when they realize she doesn’t have a new job.
Fuck.
“You can tell them you work here. I’ll vouch for that.”
I leave them with those words and head back over to the car, mostly so I don’t have to deal with the shit I’m sure they’re all about to start slinging. Why I just offered that to her, I don't know, but I can’t see another way out for her. And if that means she’ll have to start hanging out around here, then so be it. It’s not like I’ll hate having her around, I’m practically jonesing for her right now.
I drop to my knees and attach the tire-iron to the wheel in front of me. I have until tomorrow afternoon to get the wheels on the car changed, but there’s no use hanging around as I’d only end up doing something stupid, like bending Layton over the hood of this piece of shit Ford Pinto. I shake my head at it. What were they even thinking buying this hunk of shit, let alone fixing it up? I’m all for classic cars, but this isn’t a classic. It’s old, decrepit, and should stay dead and fucking buried.
I’m on the second wheel when I feel her behind me. Her awkwardness fills the air in spades, making it impossible for me to not acknowledge her. The guys had said their goodbyes a while back, and so she’s just been sitting around waiting for me. I probably shouldn’t have ignored her like that, but I don’t know how to be around her. I don’t want her to break again like she did last night, because I don’t know if I’m man enough to pick her back up. I’m not supposed to give a shit, and even if I do, I’m not supposed to let that show. She’s not supposed to see that in reality, her wellbeing is all I can currently think about. I don’t want her to know that, because knowing it changes things. It will give her expectations I’ll never live up to, meaning I’ll constantly fail her, and I don’t think I could deal with her being disappointed in me. Which, truth be told, is stupid and ridiculous and I’m a fucking pussy bitch for even thinking that.
I turn to face her, dragging my eyes up the length of her. Resisting her would be so much easier if she wasn’t so damn hot.
“You don’t have to do this,” she says, her eyes not quite looking at me. “This is my mess, and I should clear it up myself. You don’t need to lie about me working here, babysit me, or take care of me. I’m not your obligation, Kane, and I would never expect that of you. I appreciate it, but I can’t drag you into all this. You don’t owe me anything.”
I stand, releasing a breath, and step closer to her. My body is sweaty, covered in oil, and probably doesn’t look too appealing right now, but I don’t care. I’m not about to sit there and listen to her telling me to back off. No fucking chance. I might be a piece of shit, but I’m the only piece of shit she currently has, and there is no way I’m going to leave her to fend for herself. I’m not that bad. Besides, her safety is apparently my number one priority.
I step closer to her, and again when she steps back. Her back is now against my work bench, leaving her nowhere to go. I drop my gaze to look into her eyes, the intensity in them mirroring my own. We’re a storm: feelings, emotions, and the unspoken. All of it clashing around just behind the surface of our eyes.
“I don’t have to do this,” I start. “I don’t need to lie about you working here, or babysit you, and I definitely don’t need to take care of you. You’re not my obligation and I don’t owe you anything. I know all of this, sweetheart.”
I dip my head low, my lips barely a fraction from hers. “I’m doing it because I
want to.”
“But why?” She whispers, “You don’t even know me.”
“I know everything I need to know.” Placing my hands on her hip, I press myself into her. “I know that you’re scared: of everything going on, of fighting for yourself, and of me. I want to change that.”
“I’m not scared of you,” she shakes her head. “I should be, but I’m not.”
I growl at her. “Then prove it.”
A sharp defiance fills her eyes before her lips crash to mine, desperately moving against me. I mold myself to her, my own desperation taking over. I kiss her like she’s the last woman on earth, and there’s no one around to see it.
She moans into my mouth as I bite on her bottom lip, forcing it to allow my tongue entrance. My hand grips her hair, pulling it to give me access to her neck. I lick the length of it before lifting her onto the work bench. Her legs spread and lock around my hips, pulling me closer, her hand tugging on my shirt.
“Please,” she begs, her hands now snaking under my shirt.
I tug it off me, tossing it on the floor. She chews on her lip as she stares at me, her hands absently moving to between her legs. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything so fucking incredible in my entire life.
Shit.
I’m on her, my hand at the back of her neck, my mouth dominating hers. I can’t get enough of her, can’t keep myself away from her. She’s like a drug I have to have one more taste of. It’s like nothing I’ve ever felt before. This is dangerous, but I can’t stop. Hell, I don’t want to stop. I need her to tell me she wants this because if I don’t get inside her soon I’m going to fucking burst. I pull back painfully and press my forehead against hers. Our breathing is heavy, erratic even.
“Layton, I—”
I’m cut off. I don’t get any further; a banging at the front of the shop drawing my attention away. I turn quickly, growling, and completely ready to rip someone’s fucking head off.
A wheel from a motorcycle comes hurtling through the door, followed by Trev Summers. And he doesn’t look happy.