Chapter 6
Kelly has decided I need a distraction and we came back to the ZBE. Figures. She knows I have a crush on Rock but also knows we kissed after my birthday and then he left. I couldn’t tell her I had sex and he dumped me playing the I’m confused card. I think it’s the first time I lied to my bestie but now she’s mad at him too.
At first, I wasn”t happy at all about her choice, but she has convinced me that I need to wear my grown-up pants and not give a shit about what happened with Rock. If he doesn’t care, why should I? I’m young and I fucking deserve to live it up. We have one life which means I won’t waste it.
“Hey, Princess, the usual?” asks the bartender. How does he remember me?
“Hi, J. No, I won’t drive tonight, can I have a Screwdriver, please?”
“Yeah, sure,” he replies as I peer at the dance floor where Kelly is already dancing with someone. The lucky bitch. “Here you go, enjoy!”
“Thank you,” I take a long sip and it feels like an explosion. “It”s the best I ever had.” My eyes dart up at the window. Maybe he’s not even here.
It’s not so crowded tonight. With the hockey season open, the team is out of town and most of the fans are glued in front of their TV. Too bad.
Song after song I dance along with Amanda and Kelly.
“I need a drink, you coming?”
“Yep.” I follow them to the bar, swaying my hips at the rhythm of the song.
“The usual?” J asks and I point to the Manhattan Amanda’s drinking. “Princess, it’s not wise mixing so much alcohol.”
“You’re not her father,” snaps Amanda in an annoyed voice.
“Don’t be rude,” I scold her. “It’s okay, J, but I want it.” he nods and mixes it. When I’m about to sip it, someone nudges me, making my drink spill all over the counter.
“Fuck, I’m sorry,” a male voice says but my eyes are glued at the mess I made.
“It’s okay,” I try to stop the drink from running down on the floor. “J can I have a cloth?”
“I take care of it, Princess.”
“Ashley?”
I turn around seeing the one who made my drink fall on the bar counter. “Hey, Drew.”
“Hey dude, make her another one, it’s on me.” He snaps his fingers to J, who stares back at him. I didn’t miss his jaw clenched a few times before starting to make another one.
“I’m sorry.” I mutter to him who winks at me.
“Twice in a day, that’s faith.” Drew smirks. Is it? This is one of the best clubs in town. How hard it may be?
“It’s a small city. You’ll get used to it.”
“How did you know I’m new in town?” I laugh at how predictable he may be. “I guess I need to get used to people pointing it out.”
“We’re not that bad.” Taking a sip of my new drink, I realize it’s less alcoholic and, somehow, I nod at J, silently thanking him.
“Oh no, you’re not at all.” Drew peers toward his table. “I’m here with my brother, do you wanna join us?”
“Thanks but I’m with my best friends.” I point to the girls on the dance floor.
“Tell them to join us too.” Drew pleads. Turning around I spot Di and some guys entering the staff door. So he is here.
The music changes and Drew’s smile gets bigger. “I love this song,” he drags me on the dance floor. I don’t have time to protest that I’m already in the middle of it. Where is my drink?
Drew has something dangerous in him, not sure what gives me this feeling. It may be his voice or because he doesn’t ask but takes what he wants. It’s completely different from how I felt with Rock but still he seems pretty interested in spending time with me. After a few songs we go to sit at his table, and he makes me sit on his lap. After all, this side of him can be useful for my plan. I dart my eyes up to Rock’s office.
Drew’s brother, Chris, is a funny one. I haven’t laughed so hard in a long time. They keep rambling about their last trip to Europe. I”ve loved Europe a lot, and I can”t wait to visit Paris or Milan again – hopefully with no work involved.
Feeling Drew”s breath over my shoulder I dare to lean on him.
“Do you want to dance?” His voice is pure lust, and I nod in response. I hope you’ll enjoy the show, Rock, because this is just for you.
On the dance floor, I dance all my heart over. It’s amazing, until Drew”s hands land on my hips in a possessive way I don’t like. I take them away, trying to put a little distance between us. Kelly and Chris have joined us, and it’s my way-out dance with them too. Drew pulls my back on him, brushing his erection against my ass. The guy is way too wrong if he thinks he”ll get laid tonight. Yanking his hands off of me, I try to move away but he forces me to stay still.
“You’re so fucking gorgeous,” he grunts while kissing my neck.
“You better stop now,” I say while he tightens his arm around my chest.
“I know what you need little one,”
“I said to stop.” I shout, pulling him back. From nowhere Rock grabs Drew. “Hands off!” his voice booms while everyone has stopped dancing. Rock pushes him out of the club as if he was a puppet.
“You okay, Princess,” asks a man I have never seen before. I’m shivering in my spot, what the hell just happened?
Kelly surrounds my shoulder with her arm. “Hey, Ash, is everything okay?”
“Yeah, I - I better go home.” I stammer, bracing myself.
Fuck!It wasn’t supposed to end like this.
A second meeting is not something I’ve planned for today, but if Denise is right, troubles are in sight, and I don’t want any. I don’t know if I have to inform Harrison or just take care of them myself. It’s been years since The Vipers didn’t show up here. I’m wondering why now. A message pops up on my screen.
J: Princess is here.
Seeing her from my office is like seeing the light after a storm. She chats with her friends and J and seems happy. I needed to know she’s okay. Spotting Di, Blue and Mac coming in, I sit at my desk pretending I’m working on some shit.
“Hey, Prez.” greets Blue once in the office.
I don”t even raise my head. “Hey guys.”
“So what’s up?” asks Mac, sitting in the stool in front of me.
Leaning my back against the backseat I meet their gaze. “Di has seen a Viper in town.”
“For real? Where?”
“At Boxe.” Denise points out.
“Why were you downtown?” Mac smirks at her.
“It’s not important why,” I snap. “We need to get rid of him.”
“Blue, tell the guys to get ready, we need more patrolling and this time I want at least five per each squad.”
“On it.” He takes out his cell phone and types out.
“Di, the Clubhouse. You know what to do.”
“Mhm,” her distracted voice makes me peer at her. “He’s here and he’s not alone.”
“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.” I snap rushing in front of the mirror window. She points to the duo in the VIP area.
Looking at the two talking with Ash makes me clench my fists.
I keep staring at them for a while and then Di and Blue leave the office.
“Mac, find me all on them.”
“On it,” he sits at my desk and uses my computer.
Seeing her dancing with him drives me insane. I can’t take my eyes off Ashley and seeing his hands on her makes me lose my mind. The final strike comes when I notice she seems to be trapped with him. I see red. I storm out of the office, through the dance floor.
“Rock, wait.” I hear Mac in the background. I don”t give a fuck anymore, she”s mine.
“Hands off!” I shout, taking him by the collar, and kicking him out.
“What the fuck!” He stops freeing himself.
“You”re banned from ZBE, you got it?”
“You have no idea who you”re messing with.”
“Take your shit outta here. The next time you go next my woman you”ll be a dead man. Same goes for the club.”
“She was enjoying it, but if you want to watch, I don’t mind. I”m not jealous.”
Motherfucker! My fist hits his jaw, making him fall on the ground. Blue and the guys show up and he and his friend run away.
I spot Ash walking toward a taxi, and I follow close.
“Are you okay?” I ask her, making her jump. She tries to open the car door, but I can see she”s shaking.
“Princess, look at me, did he hurt you?”
When she faces me, tears stream down her face.
I make a step toward her, but she holds her hands up, and it’s like a fucking stab. “Don”t, I”m fine.”
“Princess…”
“I”m Ashley.” She snaps before getting in the car. Leaving me watching it going away.
“Rock!” Denise”s voice reaches me out.
“What now?” I ask, seeing the guys staring at me.
“Come in, it”s raining.” I look up at the sky, I haven”t noticed it, not that I care. I glance one last time toward the street, but the taxi is already gone.
Walking back to the club, the people keep dancing like nothing happened. I”m fucking fuming while I march toward my office skirting me back to my nightmare. The woman I care about may be in danger. I want to punch something, but I”ll be damned if I”ll let it repeat over again. The door hits the wall violently. “What do we have?”
“Drew and Christopher Schlower, a.k.a Tats and Smokey,” Mac informs me.
Flatting my hands over my desk I stare at the monitor too. “Why are they here?”
“To piss you off that”s sure,” says Brick.
“No, they don’t even know who I am, he dared to say I haven”t idea who I was messing up with.”
“Maybe he”s here for Princess,” says Blue.
Snapping my head at him I pierce him in place. “Why? Di said they just met.”
“She”s Harrison’s daughter, that”s why. Maybe he wants to scare or send him some sort of message.” Mac spins on the chair, facing me.
“Are you kidding me?” The sheriff”s daughter? It can”t be true.
“You didn”t know?”
“No,” I take my jacket off the couch. “Eyes open, guys, we need to find what they want. And keep Ashley safe.” Rushing out of the office, I pull out my cell phone, dialing her.
Fuck me, she”s Harrison’s daughter. He”ll want my head.