Every muscle in Cole’s body tensed as he headed for the
main part of the gym, ready to kill a mother fucker. He knew, whoever shot it, had to be someone who worked for him. They were the only ones with the keys to his office. His office, that held the two-sided mirror that looked into Penny’s studio. The studio he had built just for her, the one that no one else, was ever allowed to step foot into. Someone was going to pay for this.
Penny sat in her room, her mind in a haze. After rushing home, she had jumped in the shower, but she could still feel Cole’s hands, all over her body, just the same. She licked her lips, still tasting him in her mouth, right along with the mint from her toothpaste. It was hopeless, the feel of him on her, and inside of her, was like a second skin, close and a bit too tight, a bit too hot, bubbling inside her core.
What the hell was she thinking? She should never have danced with him. She knew better. She knew the connection they had, in that particular, way. She hadn’t stood a chance of not getting swept up in it, yet she still did it, still let him pull her under with him. Her head was spinning, her insides twisting. She had thought she was a mess, last night after Cole had left, but that didn't hold a candle to how she was feeling now.
She was torn, split right down the center. Half of her wanted to hold on to the anger and disappointment that she held against him, but the other half, just wanted to let go, of all, of it.
This was killing her. Being around Cole was killing her, what they had done today, was killing her. She felt like a cheater for some reason, even though, she and Able weren’t actually together. No promises had been given, nor would they be, but for some reason, it still felt wrong. She wanted to feel dirty for what had happened but she couldn't, she loved Cole, but on the other hand, she was starting to think she loved Able as well, or she definitely could, anyway. She was never gonna get that chance, though. He was leaving soon and then it would be back to her old life, whatever the hell that was.
If going back was even possible, that is. Something had changed between Cole and her this afternoon, something had sparked back to life, after years of smoldering. Even so, she still wasn't ready to forgive him, not all the way. Which meant, that they still didn’t have a future together.
Chapter 16
" Meet me at 210, Kitty Kat Club, 11 p.m., don’t be late!" Able looked down at his phone, reading the message that he had just received from Cole. He eyed the address with a raised brow, before hitting up Google, finding it was the location of a local strip club.
"Not really feeling it tonight, man. I think I wanna see what Livi’s up to."
"I wasn't asking, just be there. I need this brother!"
Able read Cole's message taking a deep breath, and letting it out slow. He really didn't want to go out. He still felt like shit from last night's drink fest, not to mention, he only had two more nights in town. He really wanted to spend a little more time with Livi, while he still could. He tapped the side of his phone with his fingertip, knowing he had to go. Cole had said he, ‘needed’, him there. Something must be up.
"Alright, I'll be there, man." He wrote back with a sigh, already pushing himself up, off his hotel mattress.
Cole felt weighted, as he set his phone, back down on his desk. He felt guilty for what he was about to do, but it had to be done. He couldn't lose Penny and wasn’t willing to give up his best friend, either. This was the only way. They would hurt for a while but they would both get over it, in the end.
Cole wanted things back to normal, well, as normal as it ever had been anyways.
"Hey man, here I am, like promised." Able sighed, climbing off his bike. It had cost him a pretty penny, but the garage had got it all put back together, in less than a day.
"Good deal, because I have a wild night in store for us, brother!" Cole announced, trying to keep his voice level and a smile on his lips. This was harder than he thought it would be. Seeing Able, here in the flesh, made it hard. This was his best friend and he was about to betray him. He was about to go out of his way just to hurt him. He felt like Judas must have, betraying Jesus. Hell, Able even looked a little bit like Jesus, the long haired little hippie.
"Can we kinda lay low, tonight? I still feel like shit from last night; I’m gettin’ old man." Able laughed, coming to lean against Cole's Viper, shoulder to shoulder with his friend of many years.
"Yeah, no worries, we can be chill." Cole nodded too quick, he was a mess of nerves, wanting to go in already, just to get it over with but his feet, wouldn't move him in the direction of his wicked mission.
"So…, I'm guessing that was, the, Penny Lane in the video? That shit blew up; last time I checked, it had over a million views.”
“A million people got to see my ass, awesome!” Cole scoffed.
“That shit, was fucking hot, man! I've never seen anything like it before. That dance, the mirror, the fucking! God damn, I mean shit, I definitely added it to my spank bank. Looks like she ain’t done with you two, just yet."Able laughed, nudging his friend with his shoulder.
He didn’t miss how Cole was looking a bit off tonight. Either, it was the after effects of last night drink fest or the sex tape being leaked, but one of the two, maybe both, had Cole looking less than his average, playboy self.
"Yeah, that's, my, girl. I don’t know what I would do if I lost her, man.”
Finishing up, Cole’s eyes locked with Able’s. Instantly, the younger man's brows furrowed. Cole’s voice had sounded off. It was way too serious, way too life or death. Cole wasn’t like that. He was a jokester, always light-hearted, always messing around. It was odd to hear him, almost sounding, as if he was frightened of something. That couldn’t be, though, Cole Conners, wasn’t afraid of anything, he was Superman for Christ sake.
"Dude, are you okay?" Able questioned, his hand coming to rest on his friends shoulder.
"Yeah, fuck yeah, I'm fine. It's just been a fucked up day, is all. Shit, I almost killed that guy who snagged the video. The freakin’ prick, he worked for me, for six fucking years, and then he goes and pulls that kinda shit. You think you know someone, right?” Cole shook his head in disgust.
“I guess it’s true what they say.”
“What’s that?”
“It’s always the ones closest, who end up stabbing you in the back. They’ll get ya, every damn time.” Able offered with a pat to Coles back.
Cole let his eyes drop. Able was right on the money and right now, Cole was the closest man to him, in so many more ways than just physical location. He was about to stab his best friend and he already had his weapon of choice, ready and waiting inside. Penny Lane. He quickly shook the thought out of his head, clearing his throat.
“Ya, well, I hope the little creeper got a fat-ass check for his little flick, he’s gonna be needing it for his fucking lawyer. I'm gonna sue the shit out of him!" Cole announced, trying to shake off the terrible weight on his shoulders.
"No doubt man, but it was cool seeing you and Penny in the same room. Just from watching, I can tell you two belong together. It was like watching two tornadoes go at it. Beautiful destruction. Hell, I wish I could have been there, grabbed some still shots, it would have been sick!” Able said, in an excited tone, as if he could already see the prints of their dance hung up, and seven feet tall displayed in a gallery, somewhere in the city. “You two really have something man, like something real, you can't fake that shit. You can’t fake that look in your eyes when you talk about her or the way your voice gets all excited, when you're telling her story. I mean, I feel like I know her just after hearing it." Able finished, glancing around the packed parking lot. It was Friday night and the place seemed to be slammed.
"Yeah, I bet you do." Cole said, eyeing Able like he was the wolf and not the other way around. "Hey, enough about that stupid ass video. How bout you and Livi? Did you two get it on yet? You fuck her, boy?" Cole fought like hell, not to growl out the words to the question that he was both, scared and pissed, to be asking. He needed to know,
though. He watched as Able’s face turned a bit red, his eyes instantly darting to the beat up old boots he was standing in. The damn man was loaded, yet he still walked around like he lived under a bridge, for some reason.
Two many seconds passed for Cole’s liking, he needed the answer.
"Did you?" Cole questioned, pushing off the car. He could already feel his blood starting to boil.
"No man, I mean we kissed and shit, messed around a bit but that’s it, nothing really to talk about." Able shrugged already feeling bad for talking about it. It was weird too, because he talked to Cole about everything, girls, fucking, it didn't matter. Cole was his best friend, they didn't keep anything from each other. Livi was different for some reason, though. He didn’t want to share her with anyone, not even his best friend.
Cole let out a relieved breath. He could handle a couple of kisses and some ass grabbing, between the two. But, anything further than that, he couldn’t promise that someone wouldn’t have ended up getting hurt.
"Well, ya win some, ya lose some, that’s just the way it goes” Cole offered with a satisfied smirk. “Come on, let’s head in.”
With shaky legs, Cole led the way down the long hall that led to the main floor of the Kitty Kat Club. His nerves were eating him alive, he was still Judas, still personally escorting Jesus to his destruction.
A song about doing a bad, bad thing was playing overhead, the beat was edgy, a little bluesy, even. It seeped down the hall, reverberating off the flickering lights that seemed to be struggling at keeping the long hall illuminated. The shady song and shifty lights, had their journey feeling more, and more, ill-fated, with each step they took, toward the promise land.
"You ever been here before?" Able questioned, nervously looking around as he chewed his thumbnail. They were now, standing at the door that would lead them out into the main part of the club.
"Yeah, a time or two," Cole tossed the words over his shoulder, turning, for just a split second, to eye his friend.
The poor fuck didn’t have a clue. Quickly, he jerked his eyes away, not wanting the evil coward that he was, to be seen in them. Instead, he pushed open the double doors, ready to lead his friend into the fire.
No one seemed to take note of the infamous stars of Brother’s In Murder as they made their way around the outskirts of the club. The place was packed, and all eyes, where on the half-naked beauties that were crawling all over it.
Able watched as Cole waved over a hostess, leaning in to whisper something into her ear. For a moment their eyes locked and Able’s brow furrowed, once again. Something was definitely, not right with his friend, tonight. Even his eyes seemed darker than normal, a shade that didn’t suit him, not one bit.
"You're gonna go with her, I bought you a little surprise!” Cole informed, with the Devils grin, on his lips.
“Oh…, no,… thanks but I’m not really in the mood for any of that crazy back room shit tonight.” Able said, rubbing the back of his neck with his palm, his eyes everywhere but on Cole. He really wasn’t in the mood for any of this.
“Fuck, your mood! Listen, they have this crazy ass box show, here. It's sick! You're gonna love it, man!" Cole promised, already shoving his friend toward the hostess.
"I thought, maybe we could just hold back for tonight, just relax for a bit, ya know?" Able protested, at the same moment the hostess slid her hand into his, trying to tug him along with her.
"We will, I promise. You just go enjoy the show. I'll hit the head and then we’ll meet back up. We can chill all you want after that, alright?”
Able eyed Cole for a moment before giving him that trusting smile of his.
“Alright man, let’s do that.” He gave in, with a nod.
"Come right this way, sugar."
The redhead purred, pulling Able along as they made their way around the room, staying in the shadows that the club had to offer.
Cole watched on with a held breath as his friend made his way around the room, continuing to steal glances back his way. It was like a dog at the pound, looking at you with those sad eyes as they were on their way to be put down. Sorry buddy, no home for you today.
Able found himself in a small room, that looked no bigger than a closet. Its walls were lined with red crushed velvet, the floors set thick with shag carpet. The only light was neon, and it hung above the chair he was currently seated in, located in the very center of the room. It faced a floor to ceiling mirror that showed him back his own reflection when he eyed it. The red-headed hostess had told him to take a seat in a sultry tone, before she had walked out the door, leaving him all alone.
Starring at his own reflection, Able leaned back in the chair. For some reason, he didn't feel right about being here. He had no use for half naked strangers, when he could be hanging out with his girl instead. Strip clubs were over rated. Able had never been a big fan. They always seemed dirty to him, and not, in a sexy way. Dancers in clubs always seemed a bit sad, a bit lost, or abused looking. It made sense, who the hell would want the job? It was a nasty trade when you broke it down for what it really was. Lost women, trying to support habits with their naked flesh. In his mind, you kind of had to be a little fucked in the head to be a stripper. Why else would you do something, so seedy, for a living when there were so many other jobs around?
Not that he wasn’t guilty of partying it up with his fair share of strippers. With Cole as a friend, it was kind of a must sometimes. Times like tonight. He had no interest in being here, that was all Cole. If Able had his way, he would be off, somewhere bugging Livi.
Quickly, he pulled out his phone, typing her a fast text of ‘thinking of you’ before shoving the device back into his pocket. Music had started to play in the little room, just as he noticed the mirror starting to change. He watched as his reflection faded away. In its place, a woman now stood. She was facing away from him, wearing a pair of thigh-high black hooker boots, a black lace thong, and a glittery black bra.
He watched as her body moved in time to the music, before dropping down, and then popping back up. Her hands stayed locked on the pole in front of her while she bent in half, more cat in heat than human. It gave the perfect view of her heart shaped ass.
Able couldn’t help but to shift in his seat, He was feeling more than a little uncomfortable. This felt wrong, being here, felt wrong, and the woody in his pants, definitely, felt wrong. He was about to get up, headed to tell Cole, that he just wasn’t up for this tonight. He was gonna head out, hit up Penny, while he still could. He was about to do, all that, but then the seductive woman, behind the glass, turned around to finally face him.
His jaw dropped, as his heart, skipped a painful beat.
“Livi,” he whispered, too low, to be heard. She was looking right through him, as if he wasn’t even there, at all. The mirror had doubled back on her, all she could see was her own reflection.
He watched on, not believing his eyes. Scooting up in his chair, he watched as she twirled around the pole, her hands sliding suggestively, up and down, her body. Quickly, he pushed off his chair, bolting up until he was standing nose to nose with the glass. His palm pressed flat against the hard surface. He was just inches away from her now, but it felt like miles.
"No, Livi," he whispered, as he took in her every feature. She looked different, somehow, lost in her surroundings, maybe. She was working it, but he could tell she was somewhere else in her head.
Resting his forehead against the glass, Able was reminded of Coles warning to him. He had guessed her a stripper, right from the start and he had been, right on, the dirty money.
He felt like a fool. All her talk about, people being real, honesty, and being up front, it was all bullshit. If she could lie to him about this, then she wasn’t the person he thought she was. His heart hurt, as he took in the proof that she wasn’t real and never had been.
Penny's head just wasn't in it tonight. Her lack of focus was throwing off her dancing. Not that it mattered, horny dudes, were pretty damn easy to please. T
hey didn't care about things like staying in time to the music or proper execution. All they cared about, where tits and ass. All she really had to do was remember to shake them.
Her mind, wouldn’t stop wandering off. She couldn’t stop thinking about the past and the future, about Cole and about Able, as well. There was only one thing that she was positive about. She had to tell Able the truth, no matter what. She wasn't sure what his reaction would be, but it didn’t matter, he deserved to know. She didn't like being a liar. She already had enough on her plate, she didn't need to feel bad about that, as well.
He was leaving anyway. She would just fess up, right before he did and then, wait it out. Maybe one day, he might decide that he would like to see her again, weirder things have happened. Maybe his photography would bring him back to town, after all, he was here now, wasn’t he? There might be a chance that she would see him again, even if it was, just as friends. That's if, he still wanted to speak to her again, after finding out, that she was a dirty little liar.
Hearing the sound of the buzzer, Penny sucked in a deep breath. It was time for the second part of the act. The part she hated. Lap dances, were always her least favorite way of making a dollar. She always felt disgusting, rubbing up against strangers, but the private dances paid the best. So, she had learned a long time ago just to grit her teeth and bare it.
She listened, as the mirrored glass in front of her shifted, slowly moving up, to reveal a pair of, paint speckled, black work boots. Her heart skipped a beat.
"No," she whispered, the glass continuing to reveal the man standing before her. It didn’t need to rise anymore, though. She already knew whose face it would reveal in the end.
Between a Rock and a Hard Place Page 28