Steve 17.
“I feel like a fucking movie star princess!” Fanny gushes, her voice way above the whisper she was trying for. A few people at nearby tables chuckle at her exuberance and she ducks her head with a blush. The things that girl has done and allowed to be done to her, and she blushes over being excited to be included at a fancy charity shindig. I love these women.
“You should, you look like one. All of you look absolutely gorgeous. Ain’t a soft cock in the joint with you four around.” I wink lasciviously at them and join in their laughter.
“Us? Have you seen you in that tuxedo?” Muff fans herself with her hand, biting her bottom lip as her eyes run over my body. “Mauve should not look good on a man, but damn, do you wear it well. It’s practically painted on you.”
“I know! His ass is spectacular in those pants.”
I dip my chin in gratitude, “Why, thank you, Beaver.” I lean in close, “Your ass looks juicy and ripe…if only it wasn’t attached to a hideous sea monster.” The girls laugh loudly, drawing more attention to our table. None of us mind. Though, I’d rather have the attention of a certain tank-like prospect, sadly he is not in attendance this evening. I shake it off and focus on the continued conversation.
“It was so nice of Mr. Davidson to sponsor us for this table tonight.” Coozie smiles easily, “We didn’t really do much the other day, but I can’t say I’m not glad to be included.” Her head is on a swivel as she and the others take in everyone in attendance. Local and state politicians, prominent business owners, OG chapter, dicks and boobs, The Krov, and so many unknown faces, all happy to open their wallets to support Maimonides Mitzvot at Aventine Manor and the hard work that Etta, Ceres, and Dru do for the community. It warms my bedazzled heart to see such positivity in one place.
Etta is captivating, Lang is charming, Asher and Zeb and the others from Squirrel Hill behave as if they are escaped mental patients, but it’s the residents of the shelter that steal the show. We may not know each of their stories but are bearing witness to their rebirth and it is humbling. Everyone has their own tragic origin story, some more tragic than others, but it is perseverance that defines us. Each performer is a beacon of hope, concrete proof that the work the Golem Guerillas are doing here in Morgantown and back in Squirrel Hill is integral to the lives of so many. None more so than the last performer of the evening, Maisie Lee. My God, she’s…there are no words to adequately convey the heart and soul in her every fluid movement on the stage. Tears fall from nearly every eye in the building as the song reaches its end, and Maisie is once again motionless. The girls and I clap our hearts out, just like everyone else. I chuckle to myself, picturing Etta, Ceres, and Dru swimming like Scrooge McDuck in the gobs of money her performance alone will rake in.
A swell of pride overwhelms me for a moment. These are my people. And they are incredible; philanthropic, compassionate, selfless. I can’t believe I’m lucky enough to call them my friends. But they are more than that, they’ve become my family.
Everyone breaks up to mingle and head to the bar for more drinks since the entertainment for tonight is over. A while later, my watch chimes with an incoming message. Shaking my head, I read the message from Chase, requesting my presence upstairs in my office. I slip away unnoticed from the 1 st floor, sneak behind the curtained area and past the dressing rooms for the club, to a private elevator. Placing my thumb on the fingerprint scanner, I wait for the doors to open, then step inside. On the second floor, the elevator opens into a hidden room attached to my ensuite bathroom.
I find Chase hunched over my desk; his entire body strung tight. “Hey? What’s going on?”
His head snaps up and his concern is evident. “I don’t know, exactly. This came to my email.” He grabs a piece of paper in front of him and hands it to me. I scan it once, then twice. I meet his eyes, feeling my lips dip into a frown.
“What is this? Where did it come from?” Chase shakes his head.
“I don’t know.”
“Is this for real?” I ask rhetorically, knowing he’s got as much information as I do at this point. “I’ll have Mercury look into it. ‘His money can’t save them. He doesn’t deserve them. I’ll make them wish they never met him.’ What the fuck?”
Chase opens his mouth to respond, but the sound of gunfire has us both spinning around and running for the door. It’s chaos inside the club, but we manage to push our way through to the front entrance. The club security holds us back.
“Sir.” I continue to push, but Archie doesn’t budge. “Sir. Steve!” I look up and up and up to meet his dark eyes. “It isn’t safe, please, you need to go back up to your office and into the safe room.”
“Absolutely not!” The door opens and I catch a brief glimpse of Kevlar carrying Gretchen, Mars dragging Etta behind him with Dru and Sibyl following. However, it’s the sight of an older woman clutching her arm as blood pours out from beneath her hand that stops my resistance. I deflate in Archie’s arms.
“Benny!” I’m passed into another set of burly arms and led back through the mess of people, up the stairs and into my office. I snap to it just before we make it to the safe room.
“No, Benny. I’ll be fine here in my office; I’m not going in there.”
“Sir—”
“I know what Archie said, but the shooting has stopped. Chase and I will be fine here. You can wait outside if you want.” He’s reluctant but nods after a few seconds of deliberation. “Benny, can you have Brad queue up all the security footage, inside and outside the building, for the police? And send me a copy to my email?”
“Yes, sir.” He steps into the hallway, pressing his finger to the earpiece that connects the security team, as he closes my office door behind him. Chase and I collapse onto the plush couch in my seating area. I pluck his hand from running through his hair and hold it in mine on my lap.
“Chase…find out who has been injured and then get in touch with the hospital to have all medical bills for treatment sent to me. I don’t know if this is connected to that fucking email, but I want to bring in additional security for the Rook until everything is resolved.”
He nods, taking his hand from mine so he can type rapidly on his ever-present phone. I’ve known Chase since high school and when my life splintered, he was there holding me up while I figured out how to glue it all back together. I would not have survived under the weight of grief without him.
“Steve, the police on scene want to speak with you. Specifically, Officer Doherty.” My heart starts racing for an entirely different reason, every cell in my body is yearning for Rowan, his thickly muscled arms to hold me tight, to anchor me to the here and now. I clear my throat and nod curtly.
“Send them up.” I stand from the couch, walk over to the window that overlooks the club floor. It’s almost empty now. Mercury, Jupiter, Neptune, Dungarees, Nessy, and Rufio stand in a circle animatedly talking. Apollo is probably outside helping the EMTs and victims. I swallow hard, seeing that woman bleeding in my mind again. Was she the worst of it? Has someone died?
“Steve.” I feel myself sag in relief at the sound of Rowan’s deep voice. “What are you doing up here? Are you ok?” I force myself to turn around, taking in the sight of him in his police uniform stretched tight across his protective vest. The sheer size of him overwhelms the stitching of his clothing, like one wrong move and the shirt would shred to pieces. I start giggling uncontrollably when I picture him Hulking out, tattered clothing clinging to his muscular body as his chest heaves from exertion. I think I’m losing my mind; I can’t stop laughing. In seconds I’m hysterical. As if I’m free falling, I can’t get a hold of myself. Suddenly, I’m airborne, cradled against a warm body, completely engulfed by comfort and safety.
“I’ve got you, boy.”