33. Fox
THIRTY-THREE
FOX
I stared out at the sea of people in the club.
We’d been here only minutes, and I already wanted to go home.
We needed all hands on deck, and Rosalie was home alone with the doors locked.
All I wanted to do was be with her, taking a bubble bath and listening to her newest song.
As hard as it was, we’d taken turns collecting her from classes and driving her home daily.
It was difficult to navigate, given how much our schedules varied.
I hated it. Anson was sorely missed in that aspect alone.
She’d been depressed since Anson had disappeared. She never said it, but I could tell by the look in her eyes. My heart hurt for her. I wanted to do something about it, not only because she was hurting but because it fucked with my plans to get her out of this life.
I’d been considering going to him myself to see what the fuck he was doing. On the other hand, Enzo and Cole seemed more at ease with him gone. And E?
I glanced over at him at the booth. His leg bounced, and he was staring at his hands folded on the table, a look of pure concentration on his face.
My ultimate goal was to take him out of here as soon as this deal was over.
We’d go home to our girl. Her being alone, even for an hour, had me on edge.
Again, it made me pissed at Anson, but I also knew it wasn’t his responsibility to babysit her.
Enzo assured me the men under his thumb were working hard and had the place surrounded. That didn’t mean one of them wouldn’t fuck up and be a turncoat. It was an unspoken fear I had that I knew we all shared.
Or at least I assumed we did.
I checked my phone for what felt like the millionth time since leaving to see Rosalie’s dot on the GPS was still home. Quickly, I sent her a text.
Fox: Hey, babe. Checking in to see how you’re doing.
Her reply came quickly.
Rosalie: Cotton and I are watching TV and working on a song. I’m fine. Promise. I love you.
I smiled down at her answer and thumbed out a reply.
Fox: I’ll be home soon. Keep a spot warm for me so I can join you and Cotton.
She sent me back hearts and another promise. It only fueled my fire to get the hell out of here sooner.
I turned and took in Enzo and the guys at the booth in the VIP section. E still looked like he was ready to run out of his skin. Sighing, I went back to them and slid in next to him.
“You good?” I murmured as I spotted Vander Veer walking toward us with a younger man I didn’t recognize and Celeste in tow. Fucking hell. He toted that bitch all over like a damn prized toy poodle.
E’s gaze followed mine, his body stiffening.
“No,” was all he said as Vander Veer reached us. Enzo stood to greet him with a hearty handshake, and they all took their seats.
“Hey, E,” Celeste called out in a sickening, sweet voice.
He said nothing, his leg bouncing faster beneath the table.
“I’d like you all to meet Jared Speckler. He’s a family friend. His father and I go way back.”
I gave the man a polite nod. He smiled out at everyone while Enzo greeted him then went around and introduced all of us.
I tuned everything out as I focused on E. His breathing had picked up, and he was shaking.
It took me a moment to realize why.
Celeste was rubbing his leg beneath the table with her high-heel-clad foot. Irritated out of my mind, I intervened with my foot and gave her a quick kick, which made her whimper and her cheeks darken.
I shot her a look that I hoped got my point across.
Leaning in, I whispered to E.
“Almost out of here. Hold it together.”
He gave me a stiff nod, his breathing not slowing as he neared panic levels.
Cole must have also noticed because he reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a dose of sugar before sliding it to E. E didn’t hesitate. He laid it all out on the table and snorted a rail of it before leaning back in his seat.
“Oh, we’re going to really party, huh?” Vander Veer called out, his eyes sparkling.
“Of course,” Enzo said smoothly, shooting a concerned look to E, who had his head back against the booth now, his breathing slowing as the drugs took hold.
Cole wasted no time sliding portions out to everyone but Celeste and me.
“I’d like to try it,” she called out, her bottom lip fixed in a pout. “If I’m to help my father, I think I should know our product?—”
“The product is mine,” E snapped. “Not yours. It belongs to me. You’re just a peon who pushes it. Nothing more.”
“Ethan,” Enzo said in a dangerous tone.
E glared at him for a moment before going silent.
Vander Veer let out a nervous laugh. “It’s quite all right. The sugar daddy is correct. This is his baby. We are merely the ones who enjoy the fruits of his labor. Jared, you need to try this.”
I let out a breath of relief as the focus was taken off E and back to the drugs.
For an hour, we sat there listening to the drone of business—drugs, weapons. Vander Veer snapped his fingers at one of the bouncers, and he brought several beautiful women to the table.
“A gift,” Vander Veer called out proudly. “For our continued alliance.”
Celeste took it upon herself to leave right then, at least lessening that discomfort.
One of the women reached out and ran her hand down my arm before trailing it to my thigh.
I shot a look at Enzo to tell him this ended now, but he was too busy trying to wiggle away from one of the women who had gone to him.
Even Cole looked like he was struggling.
A muscle popped along his jaw, signaling he was close to losing his shit.
And E.
A woman stood behind him, her hands running down his chest. He was blitzed out of his fucking mind, having done two more hits after the first. He mumbled something that sounded vaguely like Rosalie’s name.
I couldn’t focus because there was a hand on my crotch rubbing me.
I jerked away and jumped out of my seat, my chest heaving, my anger coursing through me.
The woman let out a squeal as she stumbled away.
“No,” I snarled, glaring out at Vander Veer, who was getting his dick sucked from beneath the table. He gave me a dazed, confused look, the drugs dragging him into a stupor.
“Enzo, I’m not fucking doing this,” I continued. “ We’re not doing this shit. I’m leaving.”
E mumbled something incoherent before stumbling to his feet and falling against me. I helped him right himself as everyone stared at us.
“Fox,” Enzo started in the voice he reserved for our men. Not me. Never fucking me. “Sit down.”
“Fuck you,” I snarled at him. “I have a girl to get home to.” I shook my head in disgust at him. The only saving grace was that he had pushed the woman off him. Had he not, I’d have beaten the shit out of him without a second guess.
“Are you coming or not?” I demanded, glaring out at him.
Everything in his dark eyes told me what I needed to know. He was going to see this deal through. I hope he didn’t fuck it up by going too far.
“Fine.” I backed away, really pissed off. I helped E as he wobbled. “Cole?”
“I-I can’t,” Cole called out weakly.
I nodded, knowing that would be his answer. He’d never leave Enzo alone.
“Explain it to Rosalie then.” And with those words, I helped E downstairs. Before we could make it through the throng of writhing bodies, Celeste stepped out.
Her hand came out and pushed against my chest, stopping me. I had my arm around E, trying to hold him up as he mumbled out an obscenity at her.
“Why are you leaving? Not much for the nightlife?” she asked in a sultry voice as she leaned in, her lips against my ear.
I took the moment to reply, not giving a fuck if I ruined everything. Her, being the complete bitch she was, took it as a good sign and let out a little giggle as our bodies brushed against one another.
“I’m not much for whores and cunts,” I answered. “That includes you.”
She pulled away, her face twisted in anger.
“I hope you’re really not talking about me because I’ll tell my dad?—”
I didn’t give a shit if she told the free world. I shoved her hard, sending her to her ass as she reached out for E. She landed with a cry, tears glistening in her eyes beneath the strobing lights.
I stepped over her with ease, taking E with me.
I was over this shit.