17. Fox
SEVENTEEN
FOX
A nson didn’t know I was there. I watched as he punched a wall before tugging at his hair.
Something was wrong. Anson wasn’t the sort to display anger and frustration like that.
At least what I knew of him. He’d been lying low lately, only watching Rosalie and disappearing quickly after we’d take his spot.
When I asked Rosalie if he was acting weird, she said a little, but he’d been mostly fine the last few days and hadn’t mentioned anything to her.
I knew it was because Enzo had basically fucked him over, and for that, I felt bad for the guy.
“You good?” I called out as I approached him.
He stopped his hair tugging and looked at me, his blue eyes bloodshot.
“I’m fine,” he answered, blowing out a breath.
“Don’t fucking lie, Beyers,” I said sourly. “I’m not stupid.”
He looked away from me and sighed. “It’s nothing, man. Just shit I’m trying to work through.”
I nodded. “Rosalie.”
“It’s always Rosalie,” he muttered, shaking his head.
“Don’t I know it?” I leaned against the wall he’d punched and studied him as he paced the small space in the hall of the music department. “Talk to me. What’s going on?”
“I don’t want to talk about it right now. Especially not here.”
“OK. Tell you what. Let’s go out for a beer tonight.”
He stopped pacing and stared me down. “Really? You and me?”
I shrugged. “I don’t see why not. I’m not doing anything this evening. Rosalie promised E they’d do a movie marathon tonight. Cole and Enzo have work to do. It makes sense for us to talk tonight if you want to.”
“OK. Yeah. We can meet at The Burger Garden. Have a few drinks and food. Is eight OK?”
“Yeah. That’s perfect.”
I didn’t get to push the subject in an attempt to maybe dig a scrap of information out of him because the door opened to the music room, and the class came out, Rosalie following and her nose stuck in the papers she held as she read while she walked.
I smiled at that. Her nose was always stuck in a book or doing some sort of reading.
She let out a gasp as I captured her in my arms.
“Oh gosh.” She laughed, looking up at me. “You scared me!”
“You need to be aware of your surroundings,” I admonished playfully, knowing damn well I was being more serious than teasing.
She wound her arms around my neck and pressed her lips against mine. I kissed her back and glanced at Anson, who watched, his body stiff. He locked eyes on me, his expression never changing.
I broke the kiss and held her hand in mine, but it didn’t last long because she spotted Anson and grinned. She tore away from me and went straight to him.
His body visibly relaxed, and a smile washed over his face at her approach.
Fuck, he had it bad.
“Check this out,” she said, handing him the papers she had.
He took them from her and quickly read over them. I moved to stand next to them, my hand on Rosalie’s lower back.
“Oh, I forgot about this,” he murmured. “Yeah. It’s a great time. I can’t believe it slipped my mind.” He handed her the papers back. “You want to do it?”
“Do you think I can? I mean, the big showcase is coming up in just a few months, and we’re still working on music for it. Can I take the time away to do this?”
“LeeLee, you have nothing but time. I say you do it. We’re doing great with the showcase stuff. It’ll be a nice break for you. Right, Fox?” Anson looked to me for my response.
“Uh, what is it?”
“It’s this night out. Once a week, people from the music department go out to Club Von and sing. There’s a weekly prize, too,” she said.
“Prize payout depends on turnout. It’s usually really high because it’s free entertainment. Sometimes, agents drop in and lurk for new talent. But mostly, it’s just people having fun,” Anson added.
“I could use the money,” Rosalie continued softly.
I frowned at her words. “What? Why?”
She looked up from the papers and blinked at me. “My savings are running low. I need to win a few of these or get a job?—”
“Rosie, if you need money, ask me,” I said.
I had a sizable portion from my inheritance as well as money I made working with the horsemen.
I wasn’t hurting for cash in the slightest, and neither were the guys.
In fact, we had a surplus. I’d give Rosalie whatever she wanted in a heartbeat.
I often tried to pay for stuff when it came to her.
Many times, she’d reject me, or I’d find extra cash in my pocket after taking her somewhere or buying her something online.
The thought of her working made my stomach twist into uncomfortable knots.
She gave me a quick smile. “I can make my own. You know that. This might be the way to do it.”
Before I could protest her getting a job since I was still stuck on that part, Anson interjected.
“I’m game to attend,” he said. “I liked going to it. It’s on Thursdays.”
“I’m fine with it.” I looked to her. She clapped her hands together before wrapping her arms around me in a tight embrace.
“Thank you, Foxy!” she squealed.
I laughed and hugged her against me.
“Come on. Let’s get home and get you ready for E tonight. He’s been looking forward to this all week.” I took her hand and led her down the hall, Anson falling into step on her other side, talking her ear off.
Months ago, I’d have raged over it. Fought. Maybe even killed him. Now, I welcomed him, knowing it was way more than we admitted.
But I don’t think I was ready to admit it. Fathom it. Imagine him with his lips on hers.
To be fair, I didn’t hate the thought as much as I once did.
That meant something. Something I wasn’t unhappy about.
I slid onto the leather seat of Anson’s blacked-out Challenger and closed the door. The scent of Rosalie’s perfume lingered in the air, smacking with me just how much time the pair spent together.
“Didn’t even bring me flowers,” I joked as he put the car into gear and we drove out of the driveway.
“I never waste money on a date unless I know my date is worth it,” he said, smirking at me.
“You mean I have to put out before I get flowers? Rude,” I muttered, chuckling.
He laughed, too, and shook his head.
“How was getting out of the house? Enzo say anything?” he asked, his mood shifting from light to serious.
“He seemed fine. Relieved it was me and not Rosalie, most likely.”
Anson scoffed at that but didn’t get to say anything because his phone rang. I glanced at the number that popped up on the screen in his car. No name greeted me.
“Fuck,” Anson grumbled. “I have to take this.”
I nodded, understanding.
“Hello?” His hand tightened on the wheel.
“No.” Silence for a beat before he spoke into his phone again.
“I’m busy tonight.” He tensed as he listened to the voice on the other end.
My curiosity was getting the better of me.
I knew Anson had been part of the Underground and had worked for Everett Church for a big portion of his life.
He’d even been a well-known fighter going by the name Archangel.
I also knew he’d left that life behind for the most part.
I suspected he may still beat the shit out of people when the mood struck him, but I knew for a fact he’d not be going back to work for Everett Church after the shit he’d been through.
The shit which put Anson in a whole new light for me and changed how I felt about who he was and how he fit into my Rosie’s life.
“No. It’s fine. I’ll be there soon. OK. Bye.” He hung up the phone before he tightened his hands on the wheel.
“Everything cool?”
“No.”
I nodded and clicked my tongue. “OK. What’s going on?”
“My father wants to see me tonight. Isn’t taking no for an answer.”
I swallowed at his words, knowing all too well how dangerous meeting Matteo De Santis tonight would be for me.
“I’m sorry, man. I can’t tell him no. He doesn’t seem like the sort to accept that answer.”
I grunted, knowing damn well he was right on that account.
“Where does he want to meet?” I asked.
“Fuse,” he muttered.
“I’ll have a drink at the bar. You can meet with your old man.
I’ll come back to the car if it’s too sketchy.
I assume no one will make a move on me.” They’d be stupid to try.
Enzo would lose his shit if there were a scuffle, though.
He was ready to tear heads off at any given time, and with Cole at his side, I had no doubt he’d do it without blinking an eye.
While I didn’t want to start some sort of war, I also didn’t want to be a pussy who retreated home with my tail between my legs.
“You sure? I’d be limited in what I can do to keep you safe?—”
“I don’t need you to fight for me,” I cut in. “I can handle myself.”
“It’s not just about handling yourself. It’s what Rosalie would do if something happened to your ass. I’d get blamed, and we’d both be fucked, and not in a good way.” He made a left turn, the city lights whizzing past us.
“I’ll be fine,” I repeated, but for good measure, I sent Rosalie a message letting her know we were going to Fuse instead.
I doubt she’d answer me since she was devoting the evening to E, but at least the message was there.
I’d have sent it to Enzo or Cole if I thought they wouldn’t bust into the club and start shooting to make a point.
Anson shot me a look that said he didn’t believe me, but he kept going and pulled into the Fuse parking lot.
We both got out, and he locked the doors before we bypassed the line and went straight to the bouncer outside the door.
“I’m Alessandro, and I’m here to see Matteo,” Anson said, ignoring the protests from the crowd about us cutting.
The man looked at his list for a moment before nodding and stepping aside for us to enter.
“The Place is nice,” I said, taking in how massive the interior was: strobing lights, loud music, a huge dance floor, loads of tables with four different bars.
I caught the stairs leading up to the VIP section, which I assumed was where Anson would go to meet Matteo.
Making sure I knew where all the exits were, I felt satisfied that I’d be just fine.
Anson glanced around, seemingly doing what I did, before speaking.
“I’m meeting him in the VIP. If you need me, shoot.”
I chuckled at that. These days, I never left home without a weapon on me. He clapped me on the shoulder and went upstairs, turning heads from females as he passed by.
Deciding I should try to blend in, I went to the bar and ordered a drink, slightly irritated at the cost of it.
“Hey.” A blonde rubbed up against me as I took a seat on a stool.
I cast her a quick look before shifting away.
“I’ve never seen you here before,” she continued, moving her hand to my arm. I stared down at the motion, my irritation rising.
“Don’t touch me,” I snarled, jerking my arm away from her.
She blinked at me, apparently confused by my reaction, her cheeks appearing to darken beneath the strobing lights. At least, that’s what I told myself.
“Dick,” she muttered, turning on her heel and storming away.
I sipped at my drink until another girl approached me, doing pretty much the same thing the last one did. Again, I scared her off. By the time the third girl approached, I was desperate to get home to my Rosie.
With a glance to the VIP area, I sent out a silent prayer that Anson would hurry his ass up. My patience was running thin.
Maybe I would start shooting. At least Cole would be proud of me if nothing else.