Chapter 45 The Party
The Party
RIPLEY
The room is chaotic, the music blaring as dozens of drunk bikers guzzle their drinks, shouting and ogling the girls against the wall. The night hasn’t even started yet, and I’m wondering just how much worse this is going to get.
The other girls are either dancing or serving drinks, each of them in nothing but a pair of underwear. They look just as miserable as I feel.
“I have a plan, she says, making us fucking work for him.” Wren knocks back a shot of whiskey, shaking her head. “You’re an idiot.”
“I’m saving our lives, bitch,” I hiss. “Unless you wanna be up on that wall with the rest of them. Now, keep your voice down and stop drinking the fucking booze.”
“It’s the only thing that makes me feel better,” she sighs. “My goddamn back is killing me.”
I’m hurting too, but all I can think about is getting out of here.
Adonis said that our job is to run the bar tonight; my job is to make sure these assholes get nice and drunk.
Preferably, it’ll be to the point where they start to pass out, because It’ll be a hell of a lot easier to do literally anything without a room full of horny assholes ready to jump us.
“Ladies.”
I bristle at the word as I see one of Adonis’s men leaning up against the bar.
He’s got long dark hair that’s thinning at the sides, and faded acne scars on his cheeks.
The patch on his vest reads VICE PRESIDENT.
Wren gave me the rundown on some of these guys.
They’re big, they’re mean, and they demand respect— even if they never give it to anyone else.
“Adonis wants another Jack and Coke. He’s in a bad mood tonight, so make sure it’s extra strong.”
“Who pissed his cornflakes?” I ask.
The man scoffs, glancing over his shoulder.
“A couple of his men never came back after an assignment. Shit happens, right? I keep telling him it’s no big deal, but…”
My heart starts to pound. It could be anything, but he might be talking about the men Adonis left at the church. Does that mean Preacher’s alive? I know that’d definitely put him in a sour fucking mood.
“Some of the other boys are getting low, too, so you might wanna get on it.”
And just like that, I’m snapped back to the reality of our situation, the very thought of going back out on the floor making me want to vomit.
My stomach churns as I finish making Adonis’ fourth Jack and Coke of the night. The party hasn’t even started, and these guys are already halfway to wasted, but unfortunately the man himself is holding his own.
“There she is,” Adonis purrs, rattling his glass as I walk up to deliver his drink. “Been dry for a while, sweet thing.”
I do my best not to make eye contact as I set his drink down in front of him, but I can already feel his hand gliding up my thigh.
“Do you need anything else?”
“Yeah, actually.”
He gets to his feet, grabbing my wrist and dragging me toward the front of the room. My stomach bubbles, and my heart feels like it’s lodged in my throat. Is he going to make an example out of me in front of all of his friends? Is he going to let them—
Fuck, I can’t even think about it.
Just cooperate. Don’t fight back, not yet.
“Gentlemen!” Adonis bellows. “I just need a few moments of your time to go over the rules for tonight.”
I’m trying to stay calm, glancing over at my sister for some kind of reassurance, but I can’t catch her eye. She’s slipped out from behind the bar, quietly collecting empty bottles and glasses while the men are focused on Adonis.
“First off, this is a cash-only operation. No bartering. Once you’ve picked your girl, you pay up. Touching the merchandise is permitted— you want a sample? The rooms in the hallway are open. Any disputes will be settled by me.”
“What about this one?” A burly biker grabs Wren’s arm, pulling her into his lap. “She looks awful familiar.”
The laughter rippling through the room makes my blood run cold.
“That right there is your bar-wench, and she ain’t for sale.”
My body slumps with relief. If she disappeared into one of those rooms, I’d probably never see her again.
“One wrong move and I go back on my word,” Adonis purrs into my ear. “Don’t fucking test me, bitch.”
I swallow the urge to wrap my hands around his throat and squeeze as hard as I can. None of this works without the right opportunity. We just have to wait.
“Now someone turn the fuckin’ music up!” Adonis roars. “Let’s get this party started!”
The noise is so overwhelming I can barely think, and all I can do is watch as the men get to their feet and make their way over to the lineup of girls; none of them are shy about groping and grabbing whatever they want.
Adonis grasps my chin, literally grabbing my attention as he turns me to face him.
“I saved you,” he growls. “So keep that in mind, and fix your goddamn attitude.”
“You’re right, thank you.”
I can tell he doesn’t trust me by the way his eyes dance around my face, like he’s trying to see if I’m really thankful, and I feel myself starting to fall right back into the same habits I learned with Gabriel.
Smile.
Be soft and demure.
Don’t give him a reason.
“Good, now get the fuck back to work.”
I rush back to the bar, busying myself with some of the empty glasses Wren’s brought back before I spot her opening a second big plastic bottle of whiskey, the first one still only half-empty.
“What are you doing? We already have one over here.”
Her eyes dart around the room before she quickly digs something out of her waistband, tossing some baggies of white powder onto the counter.
“Lifted these off that prick who wanted to take me home with him. We put it in the liquor, and keep making drinks. If anyone gets suspicious we have that other one to show ‘em.”
“What is it?” I ask.
“Who gives a shit.” Wren quickly empties everything into the bottle before securing the cap and giving it a good shake. “Now get rid of those bags.”
I look around the kitchen, trying to find a hiding place less conspicuous than the trash sitting nearby. If we’re not out of here tonight, tomorrow it’ll be far too easy for them to trace this back to us.
My adrenaline is sky high as I watch the rest of the white powder dissolve into the liquor, and at the last second I spot a gap in the counter and quickly stuff the empty baggies into it.
This has to work.
“Evening, ladies!” A man calls, walking straight up to the bar. “I think I need another round!”
It takes me a moment, but I realize he’s the same one who grabbed Wren, already having moved on to a young blonde girl that’s practically glued to his arm. She keeps her eyes locked firmly on the floor, trembling like a leaf.
“What can I get you, sweetheart?” Wren asks.
“Jack and Coke. Strong as you can make it.”
She fixes his drink with a sweet smile, sliding it across the counter.
“If you need more, you know where to find me.”
He looks her up and down like a hungry dog.
“If you feel like joining us, let’s just say I wouldn’t mind some more company.”
She lets out a flirtatious giggle.
“I’ll consider it, baby.”
“That’s all I ask.” He glances at me. “That and… bring your friend, too.”
He strolls away, and Wren sighs as he disappears into the crowd.
“Fuck, I hope this works.”
“You and me both.”
There’s another half-hour or so of drinks, drunks, and depression, the two of us straining to see the first signs of Wren’s concoction taking effect, but time flies when you’re having the worst night of your life.
“I don’t see anyone passing out, Wren.”
“Probably takes a while to kick in,” she mumbles.
Maybe the shit she found in that guy’s pockets was just bunk. Maybe he planted it there on purpose, and when he finds out what we’ve done, maybe—
But suddenly I’m not thinking about all the maybes anymore. Suddenly the only thing on my mind is the shattered glass, and the deafening sound exploding from outside. Suddenly there’s the slimmest bit of room for hope.