11. Rogue
“Today was great.”
I grin at Soul as we both stare through the window into Fists of Fury. Knuckles is currently in the center ring with Junior, a member he signed earlier in the day. Junior is ripped and giving my brother a run for his money. Something tells me he’ll be an employee or prospect soon.
“Not over yet, Prez.”
He glances at his cell, which he’s had in his hand for the last twenty minutes. “Nope. Party starts in an hour.”
“I take it you still haven’t heard from Cece,” I comment, knowing she’s the only person who could have him glued to his phone like that.
“She was supposed to be here twenty-two minutes ago,” he growls.
“Maybe she got caught up at the babysitter’s.”
Cece and Soul used every resource available to them to find a babysitter for Harper. Jez, Fort, and Lock ran numerous background checks and cleared a woman they’ve been using for the last few months. Fortunately, there aren’t many occasions when the entire club is expected away from the clubhouse, which is the only time they use the babysitter.
“Despite the cliché, Cathy isn’t all that chatty,” he quips. “And it’s not like Cece to be later when she kno—” He shakes his head when his cell rings. “Speak of the devil.”
I watch him walk away, tensing slightly as he talks to his ol’ lady. When I hear him laughing, I know that Cece didn’t run into any trouble, and I relax. He doesn’t remain on the phone long, and we both head inside when he’s done.
Just as the door swings closed behind us, Knuckles throws a right hook, and Junior drops to the mat, out cold.
“‘Bout time,” Soul taunts. “I thought I was gonna have to get Abyss here early to patch your ass up.”
Knuckles bounces on his feet and shakes out his arms. “Nah. I just wanted him to feel good about himself. Keep his business that way.”
Maybe he’ll live up to his potential faster than I thought.
“Go change so we can get this place set for the party,” Soul demands.
“What do I do about him?” Knuckles asks, nodding toward the unconscious man.
“Rogue and I will handle him.”
Knuckles launches himself over the ropes and races toward the locker room area while Soul and I enter the ring.
“Now what?” I ask.
Rather than answer, Soul nudges Junior with his boot. “Yo, wake up.”
After several attempts to rouse him, he finally stirs, groaning as he rolls to his side. It takes a moment, but he gets to his feet and grabs the ropes when he sways.
“He beat me, didn’t he?” Junior asks.
Soul and I laugh.
“Yeah, man, Knuckles whooped your ass,” I reply with a grin.
“Hit the showers and get outta here,” Soul says casually. “We’ll be open bright and early tomorrow if you want another go at him.”
Junior ducks under the ropes and jumps to the floor before walking toward the showers. He returns about fifteen minutes later, his hair still wet.
“Those have gotta be the best showers I’ve ever used at a gym,” he comments.
“We spared no expense,” I explain. “If our members aren’t comfortable, they won’t be loyal.”
“Well, you’re well on your way to earning my loyalty.”
“Good to know.”
“See you around,” Junior says as he strides out the door.
Twenty minutes later, brothers and prospects fill the space. High-top tables are being placed around the large room, kegs and a pseudo bar are in place, and the catering company just arrived to set up the buffet.
“When was the last time we had a party like this?” Spike asks when he steps up next to me.
“Persuasion Ink’s grand opening,” I say.
“Damn, that was a good night. Free ink, booze, food, and brothers… doesn’t get much better.”
By nine o’clock, the party is in full swing. Alcohol is freely flowing, music is blaring from the speakers, and everyone seems to be having a good time. I scan the room and almost swallow my tongue when I spot the one person I was hoping like hell would actually show up tonight.
I weave my way through the crowd, my eyes never straying from Skye. The purple and black top she’s wearing hugs her curves and shows off a lot of her tattoos. I lower my gaze to travel the length of her legs, and my mouth goes dry.
Before I reach her, Waylon walks up to Skye and strikes up a conversation.
“Damn,” Malice comments when I stop next to him. “Is there anything worse than getting cock blocked?”
“I can think of a few things,” I reply dryly.
Although, at the moment, none of those things comes to mind.
“A few things for what?” Abyss asks as he joins us.
“Rogue was on his way to make a move on Skye,” Malice begins, nodding toward my employees. “But Waylon beat him to the punch. I was making fun of him for being cock blocked, and he says there are worse things than that.”
“I wasn’t on m?—”
“Oooh, look at that,” Malice says. “Your girl’s alone again.”
I whip my head in that direction, unable to stop the involuntary movement. My brothers all laugh at me, but I don’t care. Arguing with them will only feed into their crazy theories. Best to leave them to think what they want.
“And there he goes,” Abyss taunts when I begin to walk away.
I flip them off over my shoulder, and their chuckles barely register above the music. My eyes focus on Skye, and my heart rate kicks up a notch at the way she drops her chin when she catches me watching her.
“You’re not this shy,” I comment when I reach her.
“What?”
I gesture to the room at large. “There’s a party going on, and you’re standing against the wall.”
“And?”
“And you’re a bartender. You’re not this shy so why are you sticking to the sidelines?”
“Maybe I’m just tired.”
I lower my eyes, letting them travel the length of her body. “Yeah, you’re not tired.”
“What makes you say that?”
“You put a lot of effort into your outfit for someone who’s tired.”
She glances down at herself, and when her gaze levels on mine, she smirks. “This old thing?”
I can’t stop the grin that lifts my lips. Flirting with Skye is fun, and so not what I should be doing.
“Sexy.”
Her brows shoot up. “Huh?”
“You look sexy.”
“I do?”
“Yeah, you do.”
Before she can respond, her name is called, and we both look toward the source. Cece is waving Skye over to the table she occupies with Jez and the other ol’ ladies.
“I, uh, should go,” she stammers.
“Right. Enjoy the party.”
As she walks away, I stare at her ass. My cock hardens painfully, and my brain short circuits.
Employee. She’s an employee.
And fuck, she’s a hot one.