Chapter 22
Myles
“Ready to go?” Alexandria asks as she walks over to me and adjusts my tie.
“I guess. Why did I tell him I would come again?” I groan as I run my fingers through my hair one last time.
“I guess you’re right.”
“I still don’t understand why I have to go. Couldn’t you have taken someone else?” she teases.
No, because the one person I would want to take will already be there.
“Come on. It’s an open bar with dancing. How could you pass it up?”
“Easily. I could be at home on my couch in comfortable pajamas, digging into a carton of ice cream right now, but no. Instead, I’m in four-inch heels and a dress that makes me look like a streetwalker,” she huffs as she grabs her clutch.
“You’ll be the prettiest streetwalker there,” I tease. The glare that she shoots me has me worried she might actually hit me.
“Let’s just go,” she says as she rolls her eyes at me, then heads out the front door.
This night is going to be hell.
We drive in silence as Alexandria plays on her phone, and my attention is locked on the road.
My heart is racing. Maybe this is a bad idea.
Maybe I shouldn’t even be going. Maybe by some miracle, she won't be there…Which I know can’t happen because Jaz posted a photo of her and Mina with Cash and some other random guy.
The random guy had his arm wrapped around her waist, and it took every ounce of control not to shatter my phone in my fist.
The street is crowded as we pull up to the curb.
I toss my keys to the valet as I get out and walk around to Alexandria’s door.
I hold my hand out for her and help her out of the car.
When we turn to head inside, we are swarmed by cameras snapping photos.
Random questions are being asked, but to me, everything surrounding me is just dulled noise.
My focus is on one person and one person only. Mina.
She’s standing at the front of the building with Jaz, Cash, and that mother fucker who won’t keep his hands off of her.
I can see from here that his hand is on her lower back, and it’s making me see red.
Alexandria can feel the anger seeping off my body, and she quickly excuses us from the paparazzi asking questions and leads me toward the entrance.
A large red ribbon is strung across the doors, and Cash steps up to them with a large pair of scissors in hand.
When he cuts the ribbon, the crowd cheers.
“Woohoo, another club in Vegas…How unique,” Alexandria says sarcastically as she rolls her eyes.
“Play nice,” I whisper in her ear as I pull her closer.
Maybe an open bar for her wasn’t the best idea. She tends to lose her filter more and more with each sip. She leans against me as the crowd pushes in, trying to get through the doors. I can feel someone watching me, and as I glance around the crowd, my eyes immediately lock with Mina’s.
Shit.
She glances back and forth between me and Alexandria before biting her lip and looking away. She wraps her arm around the mother fucker next to her, and he pulls her closer. He places a kiss against the top of her head as he continues to talk to Cash.
“Hey. Let’s go talk to Cash, grab some booze, then you owe me a dance,” Alexandria teases as she loops her arm in mine and starts leading me toward Cash…Toward Mina.
“Myles!” Cash’s voice booms as we step closer. Most of the people have gone inside already, and only a few stragglers or paparazzi remain.
“Hello, Cash,” I say as I shake his hand.
“Thank you again for putting that team together on such short notice.” He glances around at my men, who are the new security team for Badlands. His eyes fall back to Alexandria, then to me.
“Sorry. This is Alexandria. She’s my…”
“Date,” she finishes. I was going to say assistant or coworker, but sure…Date. Not like that’s going to end horribly.
Mina’s eyes are locked on Alexandria as Cash talks to her.
They’re talking about the club and if he will need more security for any parties or private events…
I think…Honestly, I’m not sure. My focus has been on Mina.
Every word that Alexandria speaks is making Mina’s body tense up.
She watches Alexandria’s fingers wrap around my bicep as she laughs at something Cash says.
I can see the pain in her eyes, and I want so badly to pull her aside and tell her it’s not real.
I’m not with Alexandria. Fuck…I haven’t been with anyone since her.
I can’t. I got a taste of perfection and nothing else will ever come close, so why even bother?
“What do you think, Myles?” Alexandria asks. I simply raise an eyebrow at her, and she laughs before explaining the question again. Basically, he wants to see about hiring another team for the Badlands in San Antonio.
“That’s something we could look into. It would depend on whether or not the men would consider relocating to Texas.”
“I can look into getting permanent housing on the land.” Cash says.
“Oh, Myles. We could open a second office back in San Antonio,” Alexandria says as she tightens her grip on my arm.
“Let’s just enjoy tonight and not talk business. I can look over a few things on Monday and go from there. How about that?” I ask Cash, and he agrees.
“Right. No business talk tonight. Tonight is a night for celebration!”
When I glance back toward Mina, she’s gone, and so is that guy. Who the fuck is he?
“Cash, can we please go inside? Mina and Quin are already getting drinks,” Jaz whines.
Quin? His fucking name is Quin.
I’m glaring at the doorway to the club, and I catch Jaz watching me…No, she’s not watching, she’s smirking at me. I watch that smirk turn into a satisfied smile before she tosses her hair over her shoulder and drags Cash inside.
“What the fuck was that about?” Alexandria asks as she watches Jaz and Cash walk away.
“Which part?”
“The chick at the end there. What the hell was her problem?”
“No clue. Let’s just get inside and get this over with. How long do we have to stay to meet social obligations?”
“Hmmm, I’d say at least two hours or until I’m trashed.”
I lead us to the bar. Quin and Mina are already there with Cash and Jaz.
“Well, let’s get you a drink then…or three.” I jokingly whisper to her.
“Aww, Myles. Are you trying to get me drunk?” she says a bit too loudly, and when I glance back at Mina, she’s walking away. I can tell by the way her fists are balled at her sides she’s pissed.
Jaz glances at me before taking off after Mina.
Fuck! I knew this night was going to be hell.