Lounging around the house on my day off did nothing but give me time to think about Kaden and everything that had happened in the past few days.
We’d gone months, hell… years, without seeing each other as much as we have recently and while I didn’t understand his need to be near me suddenly, I couldn’t lie and say that I was completely annoyed with his attentions. Completely, being the operative word.
It was as if Kaden had bombarded my world with his presence, barely giving me enough room to breathe, let alone come to grips with him trying to get me back into his life in some capacity. On several occasions, he said that we needed to talk, that he was sorry, but he never elaborated on the conversation or at the very least gave me any sort of resolution or plan going forward. Yes, I cut him off most of the time, but that never stopped him from saying what he wanted in the past.
I realized my way of approaching our new situation seemed cold and detached, but I needed to protect myself from what would most likely end up happening, which would be for us to become friendly again, maybe even stretch the boundaries of our relationship into something more… then it would all come crashing down around us.
At this point in my life, while I was still scared to tell my dad about us if we indeed chose to be together again, I would, but I didn’t want to cause unnecessary stress in my life by revealing something that might not go anywhere long-term. I also didn’t want Kaden to have to deal with the fallout at the club every day, either.
Flipping through the television stations, my restless mind wouldn’t calm enough for me to focus on much, let alone a movie or show. After searching for several more minutes, I grabbed my phone from beside me and unlocked the screen, pulling up the last text message I received from Kaden. He’d thanked me for cutting his hair and I replied with a curt no problem.
I felt like things had changed drastically between us since that text. After he’d taken me back to his house after Rustic, we possessed a different rapport, even if it had only been slightly altered from our previous interactions as of late.
While I thought about the new dynamic between Kaden and me, my phone dinged with a text from an unknown number.
Unknown: Hey, it’s Linc. Can you do me a huge favor?
Me: I’m lying on the couch in my jammies, so if it requires me to get dressed and leave the house… NO
Unknown: I’ll owe you so big
Me: How big?
Unknown: Five percent of my next winnings
For my brother to offer me any percentage of his pot meant that this favor was something I wouldn’t normally agree to. But five percent of his prize money could amount to a hefty amount and there was this pair of shoes I had my eye on.
Hmm… How bad could the task be?
Me: Fine. What is it?
Unknown: I need you to grab my phone and bring it to me
Me: That’s it?
Unknown: Yeah, I’ll send you the address where I’m at. Text me back at this number when you’re here and I’ll have one of the guys run out to get it
I was confused by the task. It seemed simple enough, so then why would he offer me so much money to complete it?
Me: Where’s your phone? In your room?
Unknown: No
Walking into my bedroom, I tossed my cell on top of my dresser before entering my closet. I grabbed a pair of jeans and a black-and-white striped shirt, already looking forward to shedding them soon to put my comfy pajamas back on. Lincoln sent another text, and when I opened the screen again, I shook my head, as if he could see my response.
Unknown: I left my phone at Indulge. Carla has it behind the bar
My fingers glided over the keys faster than I believed they ever had before, my irritation reaching a whole other level.
Me: There’s no way I’m going to that place just to grab your damn phone. NO!
Unknown: I need it and there’s no one else to go. I’ll give you ten percent. Come on… please!
I shot my best friend a text and she replied right away, accompanied by all sorts of emojis.
Me: Fine. But I’m bringing Chelsea with me.
Unknown: Thanks. You’re my favorite sister
Me: Not flattering since I’m your only sister
“I can’t believe I let him talk me into this,” I mumbled to myself, slamming the driver’s side door and waiting for Chelsea to get her ass out here to join me.
The parking lot was packed, vehicles taking up every space in front, around the sides, and, I assumed, filling up the space designated behind the building. There were two bikes parked out front, one of which I recognized as Kaden’s.
“That’s great.” Again, I spoke to myself, but that time my bestie heard me.
“What’s wrong?” She linked her arm with mine and practically dragged me toward the front door, her blonde and pink hair swinging around her with each step.
“This is the last place I wanna be right now. Scratch that. This is the last place I wanna be ever.”
“Oh, don’t get your panties in a bunch. It’s just a strip club. Who cares?” She laughed, but I didn’t find anything amusing about me having to trek inside, even if my visit was gonna be brief.
Every step toward the entrance of the club made me tense, and while I wanted to pass off the reason as nothing more than not wanting to be surrounded by naked chicks and drunk horny men, the real reason for my reservation was that I didn’t want to come face-to-face with anyone who might’ve had sex with Kaden. I couldn’t tell who it was just by looking around, but the possibilities were endless and daunting.
I wasn’t dumb. He came here often, and I doubted all his trips were due to club business. And even then, even if he was here because of his duties, I doubted he’d turn down free pussy if offered.
Kaden was, after all, a single man.
As soon as Chelsea opened the door, I expected to be hit with an overwhelming and awful smell of whatever nasty aroma existed inside strip clubs, but there was none of that. The air had a clean scent with a touch of subtle fragrance. I overheard my dad talking about an air filtration system that was installed in both clubs last year and it appeared to be working well.
“Who has your brother’s phone?”
“Carla.”
I’d met Carla twice before. Once when I’d been with my dad at the clubhouse and she’d stopped by with paperwork for Marek, and once in a grocery store where I was shopping with my mom. The two women chatted for a while, and I remember thinking I liked her. She seemed pleasant and she had one of those faces you could trust, for as odd as that might sound. If I had to guess her age, I’d say she was in her early to mid-sixties, although she seemed younger.
My eyes roamed around the enormous space, and while my initial thoughts of what the place would look like didn’t match, I still felt out of place and somewhat uncomfortable sharing the same space as so many naked bodies. I wasn’t a prude by any means, but there was something about the atmosphere that while not being as seedy as I envisioned, prickled at my need to rush home and take another shower.
Years back, they remodeled the inside of Indulge, which I thought was a waste of money. Why sink resources into a place men would come to regardless of the décor? Various-sized booths lined three of the four walls, while numerous tables and chairs were positioned in the center areas of the club. There was one main stage with several smaller ones scattered around allowing more than one stripper to perform at a time.
“Can we stay for a drink?” Chelsea asked, already on her way to the bar. I hurried to catch up to her to tell her I wasn’t staying, but she placed her order before I could get to her.
The petite black-haired bartender flashed me a big smile when I approached. “What can I getcha, honey?” Her southern drawl threw me, and before I could answer, telling her I didn’t want anything, someone appeared to my right and waved his hand toward the bartender, dismissing her.
“What the hell are you doin’ here?”
I turned to see Kaden’s eyes burning right through me and mixed with the nasty scowl on his face, I should’ve just told him I, we, were only there to pick up Linc’s phone and go. But I didn’t. Last I looked, this was a free country and I was a grown woman and I could go wherever I wanted. Not that I wanted to be here, but still.
The stubborn part of me roared to life when I glared back at him. “Nice to see you, too.”
“I mean it, Ry. Why the hell are you here?”
Chelsea appeared next to me, drink in hand and a smile on her face. “We’re here checking to see if they’re hiring.” She was obviously kidding, thinking it would be funny to play some sort of joke on Kaden, but what she didn’t realize was she’d only served to poke the beast. Even if Kaden had not been actively trying to see me, to talk to me, to get me back into his life in some way, he still wouldn’t have taken her words lightly, even in a joking manner.
“What the fuck?” He looked from Chelsea to me, his gaze sinking into mine and making me squirm where I stood.
“Calm down,” Chelsea laughed. “I’m just kiddin’.”
“I am calm,” responded the person who looked like he was ready to kill someone. Either he was having a shit day or the thought of me on one of those stages was enough to contort his features as if he’d smelled something rotting.
“What are you two doin’ here?” Ace strolled toward us, and unlike Kaden, had a smile on his face when he saw Chelsea and me.
“They were just leaving.” Kaden grabbed me by the shoulders and turned me in the direction of the door. The moment he tried to kick me out was the exact moment I decided I was gonna stay.
I shrugged away from him. “I’m not goin’ anywhere.”
“Riley.” The arch of his brow did nothing but rile me further.
“You can’t kick me out.”
“I can if I feel your presence will incite a situation.”
I laughed, thinking he was pulling my leg, but when I glanced down and saw his fists clenching, I knew he wasn’t joking.
“Oh yeah? And what kind of situation am I gonna incite?”
“Hey, sexy,” some bald drunk guy said as he walked by, stopping a second too long to be casual. “You comin’ on next?” Ace shoved him back, saying something to him to make him move on without another glance in my direction.
“Need I say more?” Kaden crossed his arms over his chest, the fabric of his shirt stretching over his biceps.
“Hey, I didn’t know you two would be here,” Tag said, walking up behind Kaden, clueless there was an altercation about to happen between me and the infuriating man in front of me.
I looked around Kaden and smiled at him. “Hi, Tag.”
If I hadn’t been all wrapped up questioning if what I felt for Kaden was residual from our time together years ago or true feelings reemerging since he’d cornered me outside the salon, I could see myself pursing something with Tag. Or at the very least, getting to know him better to see if we jived. The side of his cheek indented a fraction when he smiled, making him appear harmless, innocent even. But I remembered his entire torso was covered with ink, which portrayed the possibility he was a little more dangerous than I perceived him to be, more so to a woman’s heart and mind. When all was said and done, he was definitely eye candy.
Tag tapped his chest, then moved his arms behind him, patting his pockets. He scowled right before he moved toward me, brushing my shoulder with his as he passed.
“Where you goin’?” Ace asked.
“I left my phone in my truck. I’ll be right back.”
Some of the strippers walked past our group, their eyes staring a little too long at Kaden first, then moving on to devour the sight of Ace. This was exactly what I didn’t want to be privy to, and to make matters worse, one of them doubled back and approached Kaden, linking her arm with his when she was close enough. She was attractive, thin, and had huge fake tits, her fire-engine red hair wild and curly.
“Hi, baby,” she cooed, her false lashes batting up at him as soon as he turned toward her.
“Jaz.” One word was all he gave her, his tone curt and annoyed, but she didn’t take the hint. She rose on her tip toes and whispered something in his ear, and while I wanted to stand my ground, I refused to watch this shit.
I grabbed Chelsea’s hand and dragged her toward the main bar. The same bartender approached, but before she could ask what I wanted to drink again, I asked if she knew where Carla was. She held up her pointer finger before walking away.
Swearing under my breath for giving in to my brother didn’t erase the fact I was here, but at least we’d be out of here soon, sooner if Carla hurried the hell up.
I saw the woman in question twenty feet away, talking to one of the security guards, her expression solemn. When she pointed her finger at the big guy all he did was nod before walking away. I’d heard my brother mention that Carla was a force to be reckoned with and I never knew what he meant. When I’d met her, she seemed laid-back, but now I understood what he was talking about.
“I hope you’re charging Linc for this little errand.” Carla laughed as she drew near, holding out my brother’s phone.
Once I had the device in my hand, I shoved it in my back pocket for safe keeping. “A lot.”
“Good.” She looked to Chelsea, then back to me. “Do you want a drink before you go?” There was something about her demeanor that put me at ease, and while I didn’t want to stay in this place any longer than necessary, I contemplated taking her up on her offer.
“No, she doesn’t,” Kaden answered before I could. “These two were just leaving.”
I turned to tell him what I thought about his intrusiveness when Tag reappeared, standing close behind Kaden. He leaned in and said something in his ear, and I didn’t think anything of it until Kaden’s eyes landed on me, a flash of worry passing over his face before he gave me his back, beckoning over two of the security guards and Ace.
“What’s going on?” I asked, reaching out to touch Kaden’s shoulder, but he walked away before I could make contact. The hairs on the back of my neck stood up, and while I didn’t fully understand what was going on, I realized I needed to pay attention to my gut. “I think we need to go.” I grabbed Chelsea’s wrist and dragged her off her stool. The puzzled look on her face would’ve been amusing had I not been alarmed with the quick movements of Kaden, Tag, and the security detail.
“Why? What happened?” Chelsea looked around the club before resting her gaze back onto me. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah, I… I just wanna get outta here.”
“Okay.” She took another sip of her drink, then pushed it forward on the bar. “Wanna say goodbye to the guys?”
“No.”
A scream tore through the air before we moved away from the bar, a plume of smoke appearing from the hallway and slinking into the main room of the club.
A flurry of activity erupted, everyone making a mad dash for the exit. The smoke intensified, but it wasn’t until the shrill sound of the alarms filled the air that my heart picked up its pace. Chelsea and I followed the throngs of people, making it outside in what I thought was record time considering the amount of people shoving their way out of the club.
When I heard glass shattering, I turned to look back at the building, smoke billowing out of the now broken windows. I flinched when another one broke, the sound frightening me, making the scene unfolding in front of all of us feel that much more dangerous.
“Are you hurt?” Kaden appeared out of nowhere, wrapping me in his arms before I could answer, or protest being engulfed into his embrace. He squeezed me tighter before releasing me, looking to Chelsea to ask her the same.
“We’re fine,” I answered the moment I took a step back, the worried look on his face disappearing once he saw I was indeed okay.
Ace and Tag rushed toward us, Ace pulling my friend away and doing his own inspection of her body. I smiled, happy she had someone who was concerned about her, even if she played it off like she didn’t much care for him, which I knew wasn’t the whole truth.
“I need to talk to you guys,” Tag said, walking off to the side and waiting for Kaden and Ace to follow. All three of them huddled together, talking quietly about God knew what. I heard Kaden shout “Fuck!” before he left the other two, striding toward me with determination laced into every line of his face.
“Are you okay to drive home?”
I was shaken up a bit but otherwise all right. “Yeah.”
“Okay.” He leaned in and kissed my temple, his hand resting low on my back. The gesture was far too intimate to be shared between us, yet somehow, I found comfort in the action. And I wasn’t the only one who noticed. When I happened to look over at Chelsea, she wiggled her brows and shook her shoulders, quick enough I was the only one who saw her reaction.
Rolling my eyes, I gestured for her to follow me to my Jeep. A couple of minutes later, we pulled out of the parking lot, passing a fire engine, ambulance, and two police cruisers on their way to the club.