Chapter Fourteen
“Sawyer’s band sucked!” Caite shouted over the music in the club.
Her friend Sawyer’s band did indeed suck, which was why they’d ditched the dive bar in lieu of the club about thirty minutes ago.
Keely hadn’t exactly been pumped to go out for the night, but with her rare Friday night off and at her roommate’s insistence, she found herself dressed up and in heels.
Her tiny white dress and black pumps would’ve been better suited for a date.
Specifically, with a brooding, dark-eyed man who deemed her unfit to know his whereabouts.
Jerk.
Keely was still holding a little animosity with Caine’s limited information.
He was entitled to his privacy of course, but what was the big deal?
She would’ve been more than forthcoming if he’d asked where she was going for the night.
But he hadn’t. In fact, they hadn’t spoken since she saw him at the Bowery two days ago.
She’d thought about texting him but figured it was a better play to make him come to her.
Unfortunately, Caine hadn’t called or even texted.
Again, jerk!
“So, tell me again about this asshole you’re seeing.”
Keely instantly regretted sharing with her roommate. Without naming him, she’d unleashed about Caine and his Jekyll and Hyde attitude when it came to their relationship. Keely needed an outlet to vent. Wasn’t that what girlfriends did? Of course, she wasn’t exactly painting him in the best light.
She’d been angry and upset with how she’d left things with Caine in the bathroom at work.
It was nothing new when it came to Caine, but the constant back and forth, hot and cold, was weighing heavy on her.
How could they go from intimately close to familiar acquaintances in a matter of days?
Keely couldn’t. It wasn’t part of her make-up.
Caine was a different story. That was the catalyst for the inquiry from her roommate. The interaction with Caine followed by a horrible night’s worth of tips was a recipe for disaster. By the time she’d gotten home from her shift, she’d been seething.
Keely sighed, tracing the rim of her glass with her finger. “He’s not really an asshole. He’s just private.”
Caite scoffed, rolled her eyes, and settled in her seat. She folded her arms, slightly arching her brow. I know that look . Keely had given it a million times when her friends made excuses for men’s poor behavior.
“Private?” Caite cocked her head. “That’s the explanation every asshole gives when they’re playing you, Keels.”
The pit in her stomach grew deeper.
Was the truth staring her straight in the eye, and she was ignoring all the warning signs?
Keely grabbed her glass, turning in her seat.
It was an intentional move to avoid Caite’s judgmental gaze.
As she peered around the crowded room, her eyes locked on a small group huddled in the dark corner of the bar. There were three men and a woman.
What the…
Keely straightened in her chair, swiveling the seat to directly face them.
Cyrus and Ridge were leaning on the bar, and next to them Caine stood very close to a woman.
Keely arched her neck for a better view.
He wasn’t touching her, but there was definitely a familiar vibe.
What the fuck, Caine? Aside from the fact that he’d clearly lied about being out of town, now he was hanging out with another woman?
When the mystery girl with the long dark curly hair leaned closer to him, Keely’s muscles tightened, and fiery blood rushed through her veins.
Keely pulled out her phone and quickly searched for Caine’s contact information.
She hadn’t texted him often, maybe a handful of times to let him know she was on her way to his place.
The few times she’d tried to spark up a thread of conversation, she was met with one-word responses.
She didn’t have him stored by his name. Again, protecting his privacy. It was just tagged C.
Keely: Hey! Thinking of you. Miss you.
She hit send and watched. A few seconds passed, and she had to shift positions when a crowd formed in front of her. Caine pulled out his phone, read the message, and immediately tucked his phone back in his pocket. He grabbed his glass, taking a sip.
You asshole!
Keely knitted her brows, watching the dark-haired woman move in closer and whisper something in his ear. Caine lowered his head for better access then looked across the room. He gave a sharp nod and straightened.
She quickly sent another message, slamming her phone on the table.
Keely: When are you coming home?
“Keely, are you…”
She waved her hand at Caite, silencing her friend with her eyes locked on Caine. He pulled out his phone, and his lips twisted. Even from across the room, she read his lips. “I don’t fucking need this right now.”
Her heart plummeted to her stomach, and a wretched burn raced through her blood when he shoved his phone in his pocket.
Fucking asshole!
She had two choices. She could either wallow in her heartbreak, go home, and start crying. Or? Keely downed her drink, and slammed the glass on the table.
“Let’s dance!” She hopped off her stool, rounding the table and grabbed Caite’s wrist, dragging her onto the dance floor. All the while sending a sharp glare in Caine’s direction.
Two could play this game. If Caine wanted to play, then…
Let’s fucking play, Caine!
****
This was the last place Caine wanted to be, but Anders had set the meet up location.
It was ironic. He’d spent the last several years at a club daily.
But outside of the X-Lounge, he loathed the experience.
Wall to wall people, most with an agenda to hook up or get free drinks.
Bars and clubs were cesspools, and Caine was counting down the minutes until the meeting.
He was only hoping it was short, and they’d be gone in the next hour.
“Where the fuck is Jared?” Caine snapped under his breath.
“On his way,” Ridge said.
In order for this plan to work, it was imperative all the members of security were there. They’d gotten word from Trey that Jared was running a little behind but assured them he’d be there before Anders showed up. He fucking better!
Jessie, who was stationed on Caine’s right, inched closer, and he bent down to hear her over the ear-blasting music.
“That’s Nan, Anders second in command. He’s with Ricky, who’s one of his top producers.
He was the one that brought Zeke in initially.
With them here, it must mean Anders isn’t too far behind. They always show up first.”
It was good intel.
His phone vibrated in his pocket, and he reached blindly, pulling it out.
He was given strict instructions to keep Ace posted on every detail.
It had been thirty minutes since he’d checked in.
There was nothing to report. Not yet anyway.
When he glanced down, Caine sucked in a breath. He wasn’t prepared for this message.
Keely: Hey! Thinking of you. Miss me?
Fuck! He ground his teeth, feeling the pressure in his molars. She was the last person he needed to be thinking about right now. His thumb hovered over the screen, contemplating on whether to respond. It had been two days since he’d last seen her at the Bowery. Too fucking long.
But this was not the time for distractions. He needed to stay focused. Any screw up with this meeting with Anders could derail the whole plan. The last thing he needed was to feel the wrath of Inez.
Caine shoved the phone back into his pocket and took a sip of his drink. When it pinged again, he hesitated looking at it. He had a feeling he knew exactly who was messaging him. Again. However, it could’ve been Ace or Nash. He had to check. He pulled out his phone and ground his teeth.
Keely: When are you coming home?
Fuck!
“I don’t fucking need this right now,” he muttered and shoved his phone back in his pocket.
This woman had the worst fucking timing. They all stood in the corner of the bar, and Caine sipped his drink. Occasionally, Jessie would alert them to another member of Anders’ crew arriving. It shouldn’t have surprised him she knew all the players.
Jessie’s position in the Underground hadn’t been exactly clear. She was tight with Inez, but not much was known about the woman or what she’d been doing for the last five years.
Ridge straightened suddenly, catching Caine’s attention.
There was an obvious tension, and Ridge turned his back to the bar.
To anyone else, it would be an odd move, facing the opposite direction of everyone in their party.
For Caine, he knew what he was doing. Ridge was concealing his face in case anyone was watching them.
He must’ve seen something. Caine brought his glass to his lips.
“What?” Caine asked.
“Keely’s here.”
Caine shifted his gaze to Ridge, who was staring straight ahead. “Dance floor, on the right.”
Caine’s gaze immediately sought her out.
And I fucking found her. She was dressed in a short, white skintight dress that accentuated every curve of her body.
Without realizing it, Caine fisted his glass, threatening to break it in his hand.
She was dancing with another woman, but there were a few men inching closer.
One in particular was perusing Keely’s body, which sent a ferocious heat through Caine’s veins.
She’s fucking mine!
“Is she going to be a problem, Caine?”
It was a simple question but carried a lot of meaning. Keely, as Charley’s friend with no other connection to them, wouldn’t be an issue. Even if she greeted them, it was easily explained. But Keely being in deeper with Caine held a different risk. Especially when he’d lied about his whereabouts.
Yeah, this is a big fucking problem.
“Fuck!” he muttered, cupping his jaw. “It’s a fucking problem.”
Caine knew that Ridge and possibly Cyrus had suspected something going down with Keely. He’d never confirmed it, nor would he. These two men were closer to Caine than anyone else, but he still kept most of his life private. There was no hiding this dilemma, and he needed back up.
“Alright. We need to get her isolated so we can get her out of here.” Ridge gripped his shoulder and circled his back, sidling up next to Jessie.
“Jess, gonna need you to order a glass of red wine,” Ridge said, and when she raised her brows, he continued, “And spill it on the redhead in the white dress on the dance floor.”
Caine jerked his head, scowling at Ridge. What the fuck? He wasn’t on board with this plan, and it seemed neither was Jessie.
She furrowed her brows. “What the fuck are you talking about?”
“We’ve got a situation. She, the redhead, we know her, and if she sees us, more likely than not, she’ll come over.” He side eyed Caine. “Possibly make a scene.”
Fuck. Caine balled his fists, cursing under his breath.
It was completely plausible, and leaning more toward inevitable, that Keely would be upset to know he’d lied to her.
Having another woman in his presence would have her questioning him.
This was not what he needed to deal with when they were trying to lay low and blend.
“We need to isolate her, and ultimately get her to leave without anyone seeing this play out.” Ridge said.
Caine may not have been copacetic with Ridge’s plan initially, but he was now.
The quicker they got Keely out of there, the safer she’d be.
If anyone noticed her with them, others would be wondering what part she played in the Underground.
Caine wasn’t risking that. But clearly, it was going to take a little more convincing for Jessie to fall in line.
Her brows hiked to her hairline. “You want me to pour red wine, purposely , on a girl in a white dress that I don’t even know?” Her gaze darted between him and Ridge. “Have you lost your goddamn mind?”
“It’s for her safety,” Caine snapped, but that didn’t seem to appease Jessie or convince her. She folded her arms and cocked her hip, narrowing her gaze.
“I’m gonna need a little more than that.”
Caine was set to give her the direct order. With him in charge, it was one she couldn’t decline. Ridge grasped his shoulder and leaned closer.
“She’s close to Charley, Nash’s girl. He wouldn’t want her in the crosshairs of this.”
Jessie scoffed. “Then tell her to leave.”
Ridge shared a look with Caine. “She doesn’t take orders well.”
That’s fucking accurate.
Jessie smirked. “Neither do I.”
Caine stepped closer. “I need to privately tell her to leave. Get her into the bathroom and then I’ll send her home. But not taking the chance that anyone sees her with us. Any connection puts a target on her back.” He narrowed his gaze. “You know that.”
It was an honest depiction.
Jessie sighed and flattened her lips then glanced over her shoulder at Keely. She was shaking her ass, dancing with her friend. Caine was watching her surroundings and clenched his jaw when he saw a man moving toward her.
Back up, motherfucker. Caine would be making his own scene if the guy got any closer.
As if Ridge sensed it, he leaned closer and muttered, “Reel it the fuck in, Caine. We don’t need this.” Ridge turned to Jessie. “Do it now before this shit blows up, and we all gotta deal with Inez.”
It was enough of a threat for anyone working in the Underground. Even Jessie, it seemed. He felt her stare but refused to look at her. He was too focused on Keely spinning around and her dress flying up dangerously close to exposing her ass.
“Son of a…” Jessie lifted her hand calling over the bartender, side-eyeing him and Ridge. “This is so fucked up.”
Yeah, it is. But if it meant getting Keely to leave and out of harm’s way, he’d do it. He’d do anything.