Chapter 18 – Six Weeks Later #2
It was gorgeous. Exactly what I would’ve picked. I messaged back,
I love you, T. See you at 11
Tristan: ILY2
I sat back in the seat, my eyes going back to the outfit Tristan had bought for me. I checked the website to find the price and transferred the money to his bank. Within a minute, he texted the Judge Judy wagging finger GIF, and I messaged back the GIF of Rihanna putting her crown on.
For the first time in weeks, I didn’t have to force my smile, and I loved that for me. I wasn’t over what had happened—maybe I never would be—but I had accepted it was done, and that was the first step in healing.
—————
The sound of doors slamming filled the parking lot of Vortex as the girls disembarked from the cars that the Speed Demons had arranged for us.
My heart raced with nerves, and my palms were clammy as I smoothed my skirt over my hips and licked my dry lips.
“You look fire, babe,” my friend Kennedy said from beside me. “That prick’s going to swallow his own tongue if he sees you.”
“Hope so,” I murmured. “With any luck, he’ll choke on it.”
Kennedy cackled as our other friend, Cara, linked her arm through mine. “Come on. Let’s go dance with some strippers.”
“Erm, what am I?” Kennedy asked. “Chopped liver?”
I laughed.
When she was young, Kennedy was a top-billed Vegas dancer.
It was when she met her now husband, Kit Stone, road name, Breaker, the VP of the Speed Demons.
He was a young soldier who went to Vegas the weekend before he was deployed to Afghanistan, and they fell in love.
After losing touch, they met up again by chance years later, along with the twins that Breaker had no idea existed.
“You ready, girlies?” Tristan asked as he approached with Maeve, Sophie, and Emily.
“As we’ll ever be,” Layla, another ol’ lady, announced from behind me.
My gaze went to the doors of Vortex, which were being manned by Cruise, Castle, Bootneck, and a few other brothers who I recognized but had never met.
My belly churned.
“You okay, Ash?” Maeve asked. “Do you want to go back to Hambleton?”
I took a deep breath, released it slowly, and shook my head. “No. I’m okay.” We began to move toward the entrance as a group. No way would I ruin her special night.
“We’ve got your back, babe,” Cara murmured from beside me. “And you look fucking hot. Tristan hit the jackpot with that outfit.”
“It helps that she’s got the flat stomach to carry it off,” Layla added.
“You too could have a flat stomach if you stopped getting pregnant,” Tristan told her sagely.
Layla giggled. “True.”
“Your hair looks amazing, too,” Sophie added.
Tristan had given me some soft, bouncy curls, and we played around with some makeup. My cat eye—in the words of Taylor Swift—was sharp enough to kill a man, and my lips were pouty with a dark red burgundy gloss that matched my outfit.
“Thank you. Tristan worked wonders.” I shot her a grateful smile. “And you girls are good for my ego.”
“Heads up, and push those titties out, girls,” Tristan ordered us all. “It’s time to work it like you mean it.”
Adrenaline pumped so hard through my blood that I thought I might pass out as we approached the doors.
Castle spotted us first and elbowed the others, who stopped mid-conversation and looked around. A low wolf whistle cut through the warm night air, and Maeve giggled.
“Evenin’, ladies,” Castle called out on our approach. His gaze slid to me, and he looked me up and down appreciatively. “Looking stunnin’ tonight.”
I beamed a smile at him.
Bootneck went for the door and held it open for us. “No cover charge tonight. Compliments of the management.”
“But everyone pays,” I pointed out. “Even you guys.”
“Well, not you, and not tonight.” Boot turned his face back toward me, and I did a double take at the bruising down one side of his face and the swelling around his jaw. It appeared he’d been in a fight recently.
“Are you okay, honey?” I asked, my tone full of concern at how stiffly he moved.
He glanced in my direction and jerked a nod, but his eyes never once met mine.
“Enjoy your night, Ash,” Castle called from behind me.
I twisted my neck and shot him a bright smile, murmuring, “Thanks,” before walking inside. We walked straight past coat check and entered the club.
It was just after nine, and the first dancer didn’t come on until ten, so the place was only about a third full, though I knew that would change soon.
“Let’s go to the bar and get drinks,” I suggested to the others.
“No need,” a familiar voice said from behind me. “You’re all fully comped tonight. Your table’s ready and there’s champagne waiting on ice.”
I spun around to see Zara standing there.
“Oh my God!” I cried, grabbing her and pulling her in for a hug. “I’ve missed you.”
“I missed you too,” she whispered in my ear. “I’m so sorry about what happened—”
I pulled back. “Not now please, babe. We’ll talk soon, okay? But tonight we’re here to celebrate. Can you join us?”
Her eyes sparkled. “I’d love to.”
I did the introductions and followed Zara as she led us over to our table, chatting as we went. She told me the tattoo shop had been open for two weeks and that she loved her new job.
“How are things with you and Boot?” I asked her.
“Non-existent.” She shrugged nonchalantly. “I told him I wasn’t interested when I left the clubhouse.”
“Why?” I asked. “I always thought Boot was good to you.”
She looked at me warily. “Let’s just say he did something I thought was shitty, and it opened my eyes to a few things.
I’ll tell you all about it one day, but you’re right; tonight’s not the night.
” She pointed over at the best table in the place, center-front of the stage, and did a sweeping gesture with her hand. “Ta daa!”
“Oh my God!” Maeve exclaimed. “That table looks awesome!”
She was right; it did.
Metallic gold balloons and streamers covered the table, along with buckets filled with my favorite Armand de Brignac Champagne in the iconic gold bottles.
My eyes flared slightly because I knew that even wholesale, those bottles cost around four hundred dollars each, and there were five of them in ice buckets, along with bottles of Grey Goose vodka and various mixers.
“Wow, Maeve got the VIP treatment,” I murmured, my gaze sliding to Zara. “Did you do this?”
“Roxanne and I set it up, but it wasn’t our idea.” She laughed at Kennedy, who let out a loud whoop as she picked up a bottle of champagne and held it high in the air. “I hope you girls have a good night.”
“So do I,” I said absentmindedly, glancing around the club furtively.
“He’s in the office,” she told me softly. “He’ll probably be out later.”
My heart jumped into my throat, but I hid it with my nonchalant shrug. “Whatever.”
Zara smiled sadly at me. “If it’s any consolation, he misses you.”
“Thanks, babe, but at this point, it’s irrelevant.” I nodded to where the girls were getting settled and making themselves comfortable. “Let’s get a drink.”
We walked over to the table and grabbed a set each. “I’ve been trying to call you, but your number’s not working. Is everything okay?”
I plucked a bottle of champagne from a bucket and poured us both a glass.
“I dumped it. I’ve got a new number now.
I’ll give it to you before I go. I was going to call you anyway, but I went to Ireland and honestly just tried to switch off from everything.
I only got back yesterday, and I spent the day at the salon today, so I haven’t had time to speak to anyone. ”
She took the glass I held out for her. “I understand.”
“How’s Rox doing?” I asked.
“She’s doing great. Nox is furious that she won’t give him the time of day anymore.”
“Wow. Still?”
“You’ll find out all about it later, no doubt.
Roxie’s dancing tonight. I know she wanted the night off, but she couldn’t afford to lose Saturday night tips.
Her daughter wants to go on a school trip next summer to London, so Roxie’s trying to raise all the cash she can.
” Her gaze lifted over my shoulder, and her eyes widened as she stared.
I craned my neck to see my brothers and the rest of the guys walking through the club toward another table that, incidentally, was clearly reserved but hadn’t been decorated like ours had. Still, a couple of waitresses were already there, placing fresh beers down ready for Callum and the boys.
“There’s the groom.” My eyes tracked Callum as he spotted Maeve and began to head over. “They all met at the bar for a drink first; that’s why they’re late.”
“They’re all so good-looking,” she breathed.
Tristan, who was sitting at the other side of me, gave her a pointed look and nodded.
“Girl. You have no idea. Hambleton’s full of hotties.
I think there’s something in the water that makes ’em big and strong because, going by the way all their kids are shaping up, it’s only gonna get more interesting.
” He gave me a nudge. “Did you know Rosie moved back to town when you were in Ireland?”
I took a sip of champagne. “Donovan mentioned he’d seen her.”
“She’s looking fine,” Tristan crowed.
“She always looks fine,” I murmured. “I’d kill for her ass.”
“I think Donovan’s got a thing for her,” he told me quietly.
I felt my face light up because that would be awesome.
“Which one’s Donovan?” Zara asked.
I craned my neck to see Donovan laughing at something Cash was telling him. “Tattoos, blue eyes, black shirt, permanent smirk. Looks like the man your mother always warned you about.”
She lifted a hand to fan her face, her eyes rounding just as something cold hit my back.
I shot forward and twisted my neck to see a waitress behind me.
“I’m so sorry, I lost my footing,” she cried. “Oh my God, it’s my first night, and already I’m going to get fired.”
I waved her off. “It’s fine. I’ll go stand under the hand dryer in the ladies’ room.”
“I’ll come with you,” she offered.
“Honest, honey, it’s nothing,” I assured her. “I can deal with it.”
“Let me see,” Tristan asked, his hands going to my top at the back. “Oh, it’s just a spot. Put it under the hand dryer for a minute, and it’ll be fine.”
Getting to my feet, I grabbed my purse. “I won’t be long.” Leaving Zara and Tristan talking, I headed off in the direction of the bathrooms.
I got halfway there when strong hands grabbed my waist and spun me around, muttering, “How’s my favorite Irish lass?”
“Reno!” I exclaimed, throwing my arms around his neck and giving him a hug. “How are you? I haven’t seen you around.”
His arms tightened around me, and he pulled back to study my face. “I’m all the better for seein’ you again. You look gorgeous, babe.”
I blinked, my mouth curving into a smile at the memory of making out with Reno at a party at the Shamrock last Christmas.
We’d gone out back, and he’d kissed my face off.
He was in his mid-thirties and handsome as hell with dark hair and eyes.
He was good fun and thankfully past the fuck-anything-that-moved stage like some of the younger MC brothers.
I liked him; he was cute and funny, and I knew my brothers and my mam liked him too.
“You’re looking good yourself,” I told him.
His fingers, still gripping my waist, squeezed gently. “You hangin’ around for a while?”
“Yeah.” I cocked my head. “Catch up later?”
“You betcha,” he muttered, a lazy grin spreading over his face. He let me go and turned, throwing me a sexy grin over his shoulder as he walked away.
I held his eyes, my mind elsewhere as I continued on in the direction of the door that led to the hallway where the ladies’ room was situated. I certainly wasn’t paying attention to what was ahead.
Pushing on the door, I stepped into the luxuriously carpeted corridor and then let out a sharp cry as a huge figure pushed me against the wall and warm fingers cuffed my throat.
My heart stuttered as a deep, familiar voice rasped, “You lettin’ other men touch you already, Dubheasa?”
I lifted my shocked gaze to meet Pagan’s fathomless, black eyes, and my pulse thrummed.
He looked the same, smelled the same, and pinned me with the same challenging glare I’d seen a hundred times when he was angry with me. His face, much like Bootneck’s, had faded bruises around his cheekbone, and without thinking, I lifted my fingers to automatically soothe them.
Then I remembered, and my mouth went dry as I dropped my hand back to my side.
He noticed, just like he noticed everything, and he cocked an eyebrow. “How was Ireland?”
The burn that had been contained in my chest since the night I walked into his office and caught him with Saskia flared out of control. I rolled up on my toes, got in his face, and snapped, “Fuck off!”
His mouth quirked, and slowly his face descended to meet mine.
All breath left me because I thought he was going to try to kiss me, but instead, his hands went to my hips, lifting me clean up and tossing me over his shoulder.
“Put me down!” I shrieked, wriggling my body like crazy to escape his vise-like grip.
His reply was a sharp slap to my ass, and a grunted, “Shut your fuckin’ mouth, Aislynn, before I pull down that sexy-as-fuck skirt, spread your thighs, and slap that needy little pussy into submission.”
My screams caught in my throat because I knew it was no use; nobody could hear me, and Pagan was way too strong for me to escape.
Nobody was coming to save me.
I was screwed.