Ruthless God (The Defiant God Brotherhood #5)

1. 5 Months Ago

1

5 MONTHS AGO

Cecely

My best friend shakes his head. “No.”

“I’m not asking.”

“Good, then this conversation is over.”

“Harvey.”

“Cecely.”

My gaze searches his. “Why won’t you let me do this?”

“Because you’re better than that!”

I laugh, but he doesn’t.

“I’m serious, Cecely.”

“And I think you’re being ridiculous. Where was this righteous attitude when I worked there the first time?”

“You needed the money then! I wasn’t going to tell you no.”

“I need the money now.”

He cuts his gaze. “No.”

“You can’t stop me.”

“I’ll tell Lili.”

I roll my eyes. “Lili, who has three jobs? Yeah, tell her I’m going to strip again for money. See how little she cares.”

“I’ll tell her the truth.”

“I’ve said all along that I think you should tell her.” My voice is firm but unwavering. The weight of the conversation hangs between us like a storm cloud ready to break.

At that moment, the front door creaks open, followed by the familiar thud of boots being kicked off. Our other roommate’s voice rings through the apartment.

“Where is everyone?” Lili’s tone is light and oblivious. For now.

Harvey meets my gaze, his jaw tightening. His hesitation is palpable, thickening the air between us. I arch an eyebrow, challenging him in silence. He needs to tell her. We need a plan, and we can’t make one if we’re keeping secrets.

He exhales, raking a hand through his hair. “I don’t want her to know. It’ll only stress her out.”

His voice is low, almost pleading. Footsteps grow louder, approaching fast. Lili is seconds away, and I sigh.

“Fine.” I force my voice into something casual. “We’re in my room!”

The words feel heavier than they should, knowing what’s about to unravel. A moment later, Lili peeks her dark head around the corner.

“Raquel and I decided we want tacos tonight.”

Harvey snorts. “Since when does a five-month-old like tacos?”

“She’s very advanced for a five-month-old.”

Harvey says, “I’ll make the guac.”

I add, “No, I will. Your guac is terrible.”

He rolls his eyes but doesn’t disagree. I mean, it’s the truth.

He says, “Guess I’ll watch my favorite baby while the two of you cook.”

He follows Lili from my room. When they’re gone, I grab my phone.

Jade

Hey girlie! Any spots open?

For you? Always!

When can you start?

ASAP

If you can be in tonight, then I’ll get you on the list.

I’ll be there.

Swing by my office when you get here. Lots of things to chat about.

See you then!

Dropping my phone on my bed, I join my friends in the kitchen. Harvey catches my gaze, but I look away. He knows me too well and I don’t want to fight with him. I just want to help him. Which is why I’m not going to tell him what I’m doing.

Lili tells us about her day at the coffee shop where we both work while we eat, making us laugh. She attracts a lot of attention from men, even though she’s not looking. She’s too hung up on Raquel’s father to move on. Personally, I think the man is a dick. I mean, he fucked her in a bathroom and then freaked out over his dead wife. And Lili is his son’s ex ! Says a lot about him, if you ask me. But Lili didn’t ask me, so I keep my thoughts to myself.

Instead, I cook next to my best friends and try not to worry about Harvey. His gaze meets mine a few times before he looks away, making me feel worse. I don’t want him to worry about me, either. Not when he’s the one with real crap happening in his life. Crap that’s going to get real bad, real fast.

When the food is ready, we sit around the small table pushed against the wall. Lili feeds Raquel in her highchair while we eat. We all laugh when she gives Raquel a small bite of guacamole and Raquel spits it out, making a face. Everything is normal and yet I know this might be the last time we’re all this happy.

“I’ll clean up,” I say when we’re finished eating.

Lili’s eyebrows shoot up. “Are you feeling okay?”

“Yeah…”

“Because you never offer to clean up.” She looks at Harvey. “Back me up here.”

Harvey says, “She has a point.”

“Wow,” I draw out the word. “I see how it is. A girl tries to be nice to her roommates and everyone acts like she’s lost it.”

Harvey grins at that. “You said it. Not us.”

Standing, I reach for his plate and stick out my tongue for good measure.

I say, “Go pick a movie. I’ll make popcorn when I’m done in here.”

Lili carries the baby and heads toward the living room. Harvey waits a beat before following. I exhale when I’m alone. I hate fighting with Harvey, so, in this case, lying to him is better. It’s the only option, really.

As I clean in the kitchen, I hear my friends debating over which movie to watch. They finally settle on a romcom and yell out that it’s starting. By the time I join them on the couch with the popcorn, the movie’s just started.

Half way through, Lili goes to put the baby down. I glance over at Harvey, whose eyes are shut.

“I’m beat. I think I’m going to go to bed,” I say.

He doesn’t answer, so I slip from the couch and go to my room. Luckily for me, I kept the clothes I wore the last time I worked for Jade. I mean, some of them are hella cute.

In my closet, I grab a few options and shove them in a backpack.

Lili is rocking Raquel when I peek my head in her room.

“Hey, I’m going out for a bit.”

“Okay.” She yawns. “I’ll probably call it a night soon.”

“See you in the morning.”

In the living room, Harvey is still fast asleep. I grab my keys from the table by the door and am almost outside when he speaks.

“Where are you going?”

“Out.”

“Cecely.”

“Harvey.” I wait a beat. “I won’t be gone long.”

The fib rolls off my tongue easily, but my bestie doesn’t buy it.

He sits. “Cecely, I’m serious. Don’t do this.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

I blow him a kiss as I leave the apartment, rushing down the stairs just in case he follows.

Once I’m safely in my car, I start the engine and crank the volume on the radio, belting out Taylor Swift as I drive.

Not once do I have a moment where I wonder if I’m doing the right thing. Not once do I fear Harvey won’t forgive me, or worse, not take the money I’m going to literally shake my ass for. Because we’ve always had each other’s backs. This is no different.

Purple Panther Hideaway stakes its claim along a bustling highway lined with clubs, each vying for attention in the neon glow of the night. But we’re not just another stop on the strip. We own the spotlight. Vivid violet lights slice through the darkness, all eyes inevitably drawn to the sleek obsidian panther poised atop our roof. The statue isn’t just decoration. It’s a promise, a warning, a symbol of the power and mystery that waits inside. The pulsing bass from within seeps through the walls, a siren call to anyone looking for a night they won’t forget.

Oh, and let’s be real. We have the best girls in Dallas. Hands down.

But the front and back of the club are two different stories. As I park, I notice the parking lot still hasn’t been paved. Guess the big boss is too busy snorting and drinking all the money he makes to actually do anything to improve the club. Heaven forbid, right? Grabbing my gym bag, I lock my car and go through the back door. Jesus. There’s not even a bouncer sitting by the door.

“Jade?”

“In the office,” Jade calls back.

I wave at a few of the girls I know as I weave through the dimly lit hallway, their laughter and perfume lingering in the air. The bass from the main floor hums beneath my feet, a steady pulse that never quite fades. My destination? The so-called “office.” Calling it that is generous. In reality, it’s a glorified janitor’s closet—cramped, stuffy, and barely big enough for one person. But somehow, Jade has made it her throne, squeezing in a tiny desk, a chair, and a world of attitude. Me and all my curves? Yeah, fitting in there would be a joke.

I tap on the neon-purple door, and Jade’s head snaps up, her grin sharp and knowing. She hasn’t changed a bit since the last time I was here. She’s still effortlessly seductive, like she was born to toy with men’s hearts. Petite and sinfully stunning, she moves with the confidence that could make a saint rethink their vows.

Her jet-black hair is cut into a razor-sharp bob, and every time she shifts, flashes of emerald-green highlights catch the light like hidden jewels. It puts my dirty-blonde hair to shame. Tonight, she’s wrapped in a silky mini-kimono, the deep hues making her green eyes glow. Her lips are painted a bold, unapologetic red, a striking contrast against her golden-brown skin.

With a delighted squeal, she jumps to her feet, reaching out to pull me into a quick side-hug.

“It’s good to see you, Cecely!” She gives me a naughty grin. “Or, should I say, Ruby!”

I groan. “No.”

“Oh, yes. When I told boss-man that you were coming back, he insisted that all his gems be reunited. Pearl, Opal, and Sapphire are around here somewhere.”

“Emerald?”

Jade’s smile fades. “She’s back in rehab.”

“No! I thought she was doing better.”

“She was, but then that asshole started coming around, and you know she can’t say no to Bart.”

I shake my head. “That’s so sad. I was really rooting for her.”

“Me, too. Boss-man said she can’t come back, either.”

“Oh, shit. Does that mean the cops were involved?”

Because that’s the only reason I can think of that would get a girl banned here.

Jade says, “Yeah. She OD’d in the VIP room. Still had the needle in her arm when the medics showed up. Looked wild under the black-light. Boss-man had to pay off some people to make this problem go away.”

“Ah.”

“Enough of that. First, welcome back. Second, what in the hell happened?”

I snort. “I knew you wouldn’t beat around the bush to ask.”

“So?”

“Harvey’s sick.”

“Oh, honey.” She reaches out, taking my hand. “How bad?”

“Bad, which is why I’m back here. He needs a lot of money, and fast.”

“Won’t his insurance cover the treatment or surgery?”

I sigh. “He doesn’t have insurance. His folks dropped him without telling him.”

I don’t mention how quickly they discarded him, how the love they claimed was unconditional came with fine print. How the moment they found out their all-American, football-playing son was with another man, everything changed. How their pride couldn’t handle the truth, so they rewrote the story instead into one where he no longer existed. To them, his love was a betrayal. He wasn’t their son anymore. And just like that, they cut him off, erased him from their lives, like he was nothing.

But they were wrong. Because he is everything. And it’s their loss!

“No!”

I nod. “Yeah.”

“And he’s good with you getting back on the pole for him?”

“How do you do it?”

“What?”

“How do you always know what to ask?” I wait a beat. “No, he’s not okay with it, but he doesn’t have a say in this.”

“Well, alrighty then. As for your question, my grandmother always said I was touched or some shit like that.”

I laugh. “I’m sure she appreciates that.”

“She died a long time ago, and I think she’d get a chuckle out of it, especially since she was right.” Jade waves her hand. “Enough of that. What did you bring to wear tonight?”

“The usual. Boy shorts, some fun pasties, and a mesh top.”

“That’s fine for tonight, but we have a theme night coming up.”

“What in the heck do you mean by theme night?”

Jade rolls her eyes. “Just how it sounds. Boss-man thinks it makes it fun for the customers. In reality, he just wants to perv out by making us dress up like his fantasies.”

“Gross.”

“Tell me about it. Last week was French maids.”

“What’s the next one? And when?”

“It’s this Saturday.” She says, “It’s kind of cool. It’s a Halloween themed night.”

“In May?”

Her shoulder lifts. “I don’t make the rules, babe, I just pass them on.”

“What are you wearing?”

“A lot of the girls want to do killers from horror movies.”

“Are there any good ones left?”

“You can be Freddy or Art.”

I love horror films, so I know who each character is.

I hum. “I’ll be Art.”

“Good choice. Even though I’m against the theme night, a lot of the customers are even talking about dressing up.” She grins. “Ought to be fun to see what the regulars come up with.”

I laugh, because—let’s be real—she’s right. Not that it’ll make much of a difference. Some of these guys wouldn’t dress up if their lives depended on it. I mean, why bother with a costume when you can stick to your usual uniform of jeans and a button-up? Or, even better, sweats and a t-shirt, like you just rolled off your couch and straight into the club.

Yeah, our boss isn’t the type to enforce a dress code for patrons like some of the other spots do. Personally, I think it kills the vibe a little. There’s something about seeing a guy in baggy gym shorts, sipping top-shelf whiskey, that just feels wrong. But hey, it’s not my business, and it’s not like I get a say. So I keep my mouth shut and let the mismatched fashion show continue.

“Come on. Your old locker is still available.”

“Really? Has business been that bad?”

Jade lifts a shoulder in a shrug. “You tell me.”

We walk to the backstage area to the wall of lockers. Sure enough, number eleven is still free.

I touch the chipped metal door. “Ah, memories.”

“I’m sure. Now, get dressed. You’re up in ten.”

“Jade!”

“Welcome back,” she says as she laughs, backing away from me.

The funny thing is it is good to be back.