CHAPTER SEVEN
Az
If someone else didn't kill her when all this was over, I just might. She was pure evil, hiding behind those innocent eyes. I slammed the patio doors behind me as I stormed through the house to get upstairs to my room.
"I thought I told you to watch them." Rich's voice came from somewhere behind me.
"Fuck you Rich. You fucking watch them. I'm done." I didn't wait for a response as I climbed the stairs two at a time.
Leighton was going to pay for that shit, one way or another. I slammed my door behind me, hearing the jam crack slightly at the force. I looked around my room, needing to break something. It would have been better to go to the gym, probably, but fuck it. I grabbed a decorative vase from the table beside my door and threw it at the opposite wall. The glass shattering was satisfying, but it wasn't enough. Following it were several other decorative and, more importantly, breakable things. Before long, the floor was littered with glass and porcelain. A knock at my door broke the angry haze I was seeing for a second.
"WHAT?" I yelled as I yanked the door open.
Rich looked at me calmly, his eyebrow raised and arms folded across his chest. I sneered at him and moved away from the door and let him in, slamming the door behind him because I fucking could. He took the room in slowly before turning around to look at me.
"I don't know what's got you so angry, but I don't think breaking Prudence Bristol's things is the answer." His voice was stern, but it wasn't harsh.
Guilt washed away the anger that had boiled through my veins before, and I sagged against the door as he spoke. I looked around the room without the red haze clouding my vision and felt worse for every broken trinket on the ground.
"Fuck! How can she be so fucking evil and have come from someone so good?" I shoved my hand through my hair and sank down to the floor.
"The Princess?"
"Of course, the fucking Princess! Who the fuck else would I be talking about, Rich? Prudence was a goddamn saint. When mom lost the trailer after dad died, Prudence made sure we had a place. Hell, even after mom turned to prostitution, Prudence was there. She never said anything about it, just made sure me and mom had what we needed. If it hadn't been for her, who knows where I would have ended up when mom died. I'd have been tossed into the system and who knows if I'd have been able to find my way back to you guys after that?"
"Prudence did a lot for all of us. Except Leighton, but if he'd been around when we were kids, she'd have done it for him too. It's just who she was." Rich replied. The pain of my memories was like a physical weight sitting on my chest that I couldn't do anything for.
"How did her daughter end up–"
"Like her father?" Rich offered. "I'm not sure what Victoria Bristol is just yet, but Az, this isn't how you handle it."
"I don't know how I'm going to get through this whole thing. I know I was on board with the plan. Bringing her down for what she tried to do is the right thing, but fuck, it's harder than I realized having to share space with her."
"It's not going to be easy for any of us. We lean on each other to get through it, like every other fucked up thing life's thrown at us. And next time that you need to work out the rage, try the gym." Rich reached out his hand to help me up from the floor. I took it and dusted myself off after I stood.
"Thanks man, needed pulled out of the spiral."
"No problem. And Az?" He paused to give the room another look around. "Get this shit cleaned up and replaced. She can't know you broke her mother's things. It doesn't matter who she is or what she's done, that would just be cruelty for the sake of it. We're better than that." His words hung heavy on my mind as he closed the door and left me with my mess.
Over the next week, I did what I could to avoid Victoria. Leighton seemed to shadow her like a lost puppy dog. I had barely managed to patch myself back together after his poolside prodding. I knew it would only take one sideways comment from Leighton to send me spiraling again, and that wasn't something we could afford, not if we were going to make her pay. Rich seemed to sense my need for space, ensuring that there was plenty of Horsemen business for me to handle when I wasn't in the office or working through my anger in the gym.
But she'd even invaded my space to work off my anger after a few days. Running a set with Craig on the new equipment we'd had installed, he'd greeted her with a friendly wave, and I wanted to burn the house to the ground again. Grabbing my water bottle, I headed for the door immediately because this room wasn't big enough for both of us to be in it comfortably. She'd tried to speak to me, her soft voice pricking against my ears as if she'd wanted to soothe me. I cracked the glass door by slamming it on my way out. I wanted nothing from Victoria Bristol.
Somehow, I found myself on babysitting duty, even with everything I'd done to keep away from her. Joey and Leighton were on a job, and Craig had gone with Rich to chase down a lead. We'd each gone out to chase a few down since we'd been locked up with the Princess. None of them panned out, and none had pointed back to her. We had more questions now than answers.
Unable to bear being near Victoria, I locked myself in the security room, choosing the safe route of watching her on camera over tolerating her presence. I watched her running on the treadmill, her ass shaking to whatever song was playing in her headphones. My mind and body had two very different ideas about dealing with her, my dick throbbing painfully the longer I stared at her. But I couldn't bring myself to look away. The shrill ring of my cell phone pulled me from my reverie.
"Yeah?" I answered.
"I'm having a dress delivered to the house. Be sure that Victoria gets it and puts it on. We may have found a lead, but they refuse to talk unless we're all present." Rich's voice came through the receiver. "We're meeting at Temptat!on at ten."
"You fucking give it to her, Rich."
Rich laughed at my clipped response.
"Az, man, it's time to put your big boy pants back on and pull yourself back together. You've been through hell and back, and you're going to let this spoiled Princess break you down?" I sneered at his comments, consciously telling myself to ease my grip on my phone or I'd have to buy another new one.
"Fuck you Rich. When's the delivery supposed to arrive?" And as if on cue, the doorbell rang.
"Sounds like it's there." Rich chuckled before his tone turned serious again. "I mean it Az. She comes with you tonight. We can't leave her alone to get up to God knows what. Especially if she is involved in all this shit. We will meet you in the back office of the club at nine so we can ensure the Princess is distracted while we handle business."
I grunted my acknowledgment before hanging up to answer the door. A delivery woman from Glow was at the door with a garment and shoe box. I grabbed the packages, dug a bit of cash from my pocket, and gave it to her without looking before I shut the door in her face.
I made my way through the house and had to stop outside the doors to the attached gym. I took a steadying breath before I pushed it open and strolled in, keeping my features carefully neutral.
"Princess!" I yelled before I remembered she was wearing earbuds.
Fuck. I strode across the room and yanked an earbud out of her ear. She jumped, her foot slipping out from under her. On reflex, I dropped the packages, reached out, and caught her before she ate the belt. I set her down on the floor.
"What the fuck, Az?!"
"Delivery. Go put it on. We're going out tonight."
Her eyes narrowed in suspicion. "Why would I go anywhere with you?" She demanded. I let out a slow breath, fighting the very different reactions I had to that statement.
"Because it wasn't a request, Princess. It was an order."
"Where do you get off? You avoid me all week and then storm in here, ruin my run, and start demanding I go out with you. I'm not doing it. You can't fucking make me." She was seething.
I chuckled darkly, stepping into her space as I crowded her against the arm of the treadmill. I watched the same warring emotions I'd been fighting flash across her face momentarily and gave her a wicked grin. Her face flushed red, and she turned it away from me. Something about the action unleashed my more primal side. Reaching up, I wrapped her hair around my fist and pulled, forcing her to look me in the eyes.
"Princess…" I crooned. She almost successfully cut off the soft moan in her throat, but I pulled harder to let her know I'd heard it. "Put the fucking dress on, or I will do it for you."
The way her throat bobbed as she swallowed made my cock twitch. I gave her hair one last tug before pushing her away roughly and heading for the door.
"Be ready to go in thirty." I called over my shoulder. Fuck, I needed a cold shower.
Thirty-five minutes later, I was pacing in the great room, irritated. She was taking her time on purpose, and I fucking knew it. I rechecked my watch and pushed a hand through my hair.
"Princess! If you're not out here in thirty fucking seconds, I'm coming in there and you're going like you are!" She opened the door a moment later and stepped out.
"Cool your jets, Az. I'm coming." She said calmly, turning to face me.
I felt like someone slapped me, and my breath caught in my throat. Rich and I would definitely be having words later over his outfit choice for her. She looked stunning in a black sweater dress, which hugged her curves tightly and sparkled under the overhead lights. The long sleeves had slits that let her arms peek out from beneath the soft fabric, adding a touch of elegance.
The dress only fell to mid-thigh, so her shapely legs were on full display. Soft ribbons crisscrossed up her calves and tied in a little bow behind her knees. Brown curls were pulled up in a similar updo to how she wore it the first night in the house, with long, curly tendrils caressing her neck.
She looked downright delicious in that outfit, and if it had been anyone but her, we likely would never have made it to that club.
"What are you staring at, Az? See something you like?" She gave me a mean little smirk and did a full turn, showing off her very bare back. I had to lock my stance to prevent my body from responding.
"Not remotely." I growled through clenched teeth. I roughly grabbed her by the arm as I made for the door and pulled her toward my cherry red Porsche. "Let's go. We're already late since you had to preen."
"Whatever, asshole." She huffed, sliding into the passenger side and slamming the door in my face.
I slid into the driver's side and glanced at her from the corner of my eye. Her dress had ridden so high on her leg that I had to clamp down on the groan that formed involuntarily in my chest.
"Fucking Rich is trying to kill me…" I muttered under my breath as I put the car in drive and pulled away.
The drive to the club was almost painful. Victoria's tiny dress taunted me the whole way, causing me to nearly bolt from the car as soon as I cut the ignition. I jerked my chin toward the back entrance before storming toward it, leaving Victoria to trot along behind me. I paused long enough for her to pass through the door before continuing to the office where the others were waiting.
"You're late." Rich spoke as we strolled into the office.
"You can thank Her Majesty for that." I retorted. "She decided to disregard my orders."
Rich's eyes flicked between me and Victoria before he blew out a puff of air. "We can discuss that later. Come on."
Rich walked from the room, Joey and Craig hot on his heels. Leighton slowed to grab Victoria's hand, pulling her into a hug and whispering something in her ear that made her giggle. I scowled at him, earning a broad grin in return before he turned and led her down the hall. Taking up the rear, I stomped along behind them, a dark cloud hovering over me and ruining what remained of my mood.
As we entered the club's main room, the first thing that hit me was the thumping of the music. It was so loud the floor seemed to vibrate to the beat. The air was thick with the scent of sweat and perfume. It was a heady mix, and had my mood not been so sour already, it would have pulled me right into it.
The lights were low, with flashes of neon pinks and purples that cast shadows across the dance floor. As we made our way deeper, heading for our private booth, we passed groups of people laughing and shouting over the music. Others swayed and danced to the beat. It was packed tonight.
When we finally made our table, an ear-piercing squeal made us pause. We turned and barely saw the woman before Tiffany rushed Victoria with a hug.
"Girl! You didn't tell me you were coming out tonight! How did these assholes get you here when I barely can?!" Tiffany squealed, obviously already a few drinks into her evening. Victoria peeled herself out of the other woman's grip.
"Easy. We didn't tell her we were coming." Leighton grinned, and Tiffany turned to give him a hug as well.
I exchanged a look with the other guys when he hugged her back and didn't attempt to touch her anywhere inappropriate. Rich raised an eyebrow and shrugged, climbing the small dais into our reserved booth.
"Tiff, babes, drinks are on me tonight. Go get you girls something good and maybe give our girl a lesson in how to let loose."
Leighton pulled a few folded bills from the pocket of his slacks and handed them to her. Tiffany hugged him again, grabbed Victoria by the arm, and pulled her across the dance floor to the bar. My eyes continued to track them across the club as the rest of us slid into the booth.
"A grand says Az is too big a pussy to take our girl for a whirl on the dance floor." Leighton called out over the music.
"I'll take that action. Put me in for a grand." Craig said, laughing.
"Fuck both of you." I groaned.
"Your the one eye fucking her from across the room." Leighton shrugged. "I'm sure if you play it right, you can get laid tonight."
"I don't need to get laid, especially not by Victoria Bristol."
"How's that stick up your ass working out for ya?" Leighton smirked before turning to Craig. "I say we bump the bet to two."
"Three says he doesn't even leave the table." Joey piped in, throwing a handful of large bills down. "Az is too much of a stubborn asshole to act on a sure thing. We've all seen the way Victoria watches him."
"I'll lay ten he does." Rich said, his deep voice laced with laughter. "You boys don't give the slow burn enough credit."
"Alright! We have a bet now, boys." Leighton said, laughing as I gave Rich my best betrayed look.
"Fuck all of you."
"If you move fast enough, I'm sure you won't need us to fuck you." Leighton cackled.
"That doesn't even make sense, L." Joey laughed, shaking his head.
"My dick has been hard for a week straight. If Az wants to be a pussy about dancing with the Princess, I may as well stick my dick in it." Leighton turned and waggled his eyebrows at me. "So, where you want it, sweetness? You know I'll make it good for ya."
I playfully shoved him away just as something on the dance floor caught his attention. Tracking his gaze, I watched as Tiffany dragged Victoria into the middle of the crowd. Leighton growled like a feral animal as some rando slid up against her. Moving in the corner of my eye, Joey pulled my attention away from the girls. He was out of the booth before any of us could react.
"If you two fuckwads are just gonna growl like animals and drool over her, then I'm going to go dance with her." He called out over the music. "Somebody has to make sure these dudes here know she's not to be touched."
"Like hell you will." The words were out of my mouth before I could stop them. Shit. "We have business, remember, and you're more involved than I am behind the scenes. You'll be needed."
"Nice save pussy." Leighton said, pushing me out of the booth.
Before I made my way to the girls, I grabbed the wad of cash on the table, counted out half, and pocketed it before tossing the other half at Rich. "I never lose a bet."
Leighton hooted and hollered as I slipped into the crowd. The little fucker had gotten to me, but now I was committed. I reached Victoria, grabbed the arm of the man grinding against her, and pulled him away roughly. He spun from the force and then tried to turn on me. I practically growled at him to fuck off before I stepped seamlessly into the place I'd forced him to vacate. Tiffany gave me a wink and nod before walking back to where the boys were still gathered around our booth. Victoria stilled and turned to face me.
"Az?" She tried to step back, but I threaded my arm around her waist and pulled back toward me. She opened her mouth to say something else, but I shook my head.
"Dance with me, Princess."
"I'm not sure I want you that close to me."
"We both know how much of a lie that is, Princess." I tipped her chin up until she was looking me directly in the eye. "It's just a dance. You gonna run scared?" Anger flashed in her face and was quickly replaced with pure heat that mirrored my own. At that moment, the speakers blasted the suggestive beats of 'Buttons.' I smirked at her in silent challenge. "Ball's in your court now, Princess."
She slid her hand up my arm and around my neck; the other rested on my hip. She said nothing, but she wasn't pulling away either. We moved together, closing the gaps between our bodies. I slid a leg between hers as we moved to bring her closer. It wasn't long before my heart slammed against my chest, and it wasn't from exertion. She fit against me too perfectly. Her eyes were hooded, and she never looked away. I slid my hand up her back and laced my fingers through the tendrils of hair that had started to fall from her updo.
"Mind if I cut in?" Leighton's voice over the music snapped us both from the spell we were under. The music had changed at some point, and 'Partition' played around us.
"Fuck off, L." I growled at him. A few hours ago, I would have pushed her to him and been happy to be out of the situation.
"Then I'll join you." I rolled my eyes. Nothing deterred him. We adjusted around each other as if we were long-time dance partners.
She leaned against him as he pressed against her back, and if the flush that crept across her face was any indication, he hadn't bothered to hide just how much he wanted to dance with her. He whispered something in her ear that I couldn't hear over the music, and I couldn't deny the flash of jealousy that swept through me as she pulled her lower lip between her teeth.
Her hooded brown eyes snapped back to me with a come hither look, and I was powerless to fight it. I slid my hands down her hips until my fingers brushed against her bare thighs and pulled her close again. Leighton danced behind her, his hands running up and down her sides. We moved as one, with Victoria melting against us as the heady music gave us all permission to live in our fantasies for a while. Even Leighton had let go of his snarky remarks, keeping his lips near her ear to whisper in it occasionally.
I was so lost in the sensation of having her pinned between us that I didn't notice the muzzle flash in the dimly lit club. Leighton's eyes widened as blood splattered across my cheek just before two people nearby fell to the floor. Not wasting a moment, he grabbed Victoria around the waist and tackled her to the floor, taking me down with them.
"Stay down!" He bellowed as the surrounding crowd took notice of what was happening.
The music cut off, only to be replaced by the sound of gunshots as people screamed and stampeded toward the door. I shifted my body to provide more protection for Victoria, afraid that the crowd would trample her. More bodies fell around us, and Victoria screamed out in terror.
"We gotta go," Joey called out as he slid to a stop beside us.
"Out the back. Stay low and use the crowd for cover." Leighton barked as he got to his feet, pulling Victoria with him.
He shoved her into my arms and pulled a gun from his waistband, turning to watch our backs as we fought our way across the room. Shots continued to ring out, but I didn't look back. It would only cost us precious time. Time that could mean the difference between getting out alive or not.