Chapter Three.
Allegra
“Can you believe what Gramps and Nana did?” I asked Damon as we entered the club.
“Yeah. They weren’t happy when they heard what Mom and Dad did to Aubrey. Sure, Aubrey’s unconventional, but he’s making a real career for himself.”
“Thatch mentioned that Aubrey signed up for a second season of the game event he was hosting,” I said.
“Yup. Aubrey’s drag queen act hits the audience at the right spot. He’s also been given a talk show, but he’s not announcing that yet.”
“You’re joking!” I gasped, overjoyed for my cousin. Damn, Aubrey deserved this; he’d worked so hard.
“Nope. Aubrey has signed, and they’re interviewing people now. It’s going to have some games and other stuff on it, make it a real entertainment thing,” Damon explained.
We grabbed a booth facing the stage and glanced around. We’d got here early to grab the front seats. Luckily, the booths were enormous, so we only needed one. We were waiting for everyone else to arrive, but people were starting to flood in.
The room was massive; the bar along the back wall with booths in front of it.
The dance floor had been converted into a large stage.
This was a huge annual event, but it was Aubrey’s first time here.
Naturally, those in the family who cared about him showed up to support him.
As the crowd grew, some drag queens came out and mingled with customers.
Aubrey went by the name of Madam Mischief.
He’d developed the persona in his teens and perfected it over the years.
Aubrey hadn’t been sure of the path he was going down, but had attended loads of competitions and cabaret shows.
Soon, he began gaining recognition, and then he entered a TV series called Drag Queens Forever.
It ran for the planned three episodes, but it had been huge.
There’d been catfights, screeching, bitching, jealousy, and temper tantrums. All through it, Aubrey won viewers’ hearts by being himself.
He then, last year, signed up for a television programme, and here we were, Aubrey being a headlining act.
“I’ll go fetch some drinks,” I said to Damon, eyeing the bar.
“Yeah, ask them to deliver some pitchers or something,” Damon suggested.
The bar was beginning to get crowded, but there was still standing room. The bartender held up a finger.
I sensed eyes watching me and felt a little uncomfortable.
“How’d your grandfather like his presents?” a deep voice inquired, and I turned and spotted Shotgun. He checked me over, his gaze lingering, and a smile crossed his lips.
“Hey, Shotgun, how’s it going? Gramps loved them; he’ll be wearing the belt tonight, I’ve no doubt.”
“He’s coming here?” Shotgun asked, surprised, raising his eyebrows. I got it: a seventy-year-old man in a gay club. Not something you saw every day.
“Yeah. My cousin is Madam Mischief.”
“Really? Isn’t that one of the headlining acts?”
“Yes. Wouldn’t have thought this was your scene,” I replied, batting my eyelids.
Shotgun stared and chewed his bottom lip. That shit was sexy. “The club or the cabaret?”
“Both.”
“I’m meeting my boyfriend.” Shotgun smiled slowly, and my body locked. Crap, I’d been flirting with a guy who’s taken.
“Ah, I see. Sorry for overstepping.” Damn it, the good-looking ones were always gay.
Shotgun’s hand shot out, and he caught my wrist. His thumb rubbed circles over it. My pulse fluttered, and Shotgun’s eyes took on a knowing look.
“Allegra, I’m bisexual, as is my boyfriend.”
“Yup, okay, that’s great,” I said, flustered by the heat Shotgun was generating and the smile on his lips.
“Is it?” he teased.
“Yeah. But I don’t cheat or help people cheat,” I replied. The bartender approached and interrupted what was becoming an awkward moment.
“Can I have four pitchers of beer and a bottle of white delivered to table one, please?” I asked.
“Sure.” He rang it up, and I paid. When I turned to say goodbye to Shotgun, another guy stood close to him. Intelligent grey eyes stared with definite curiosity.
“This is Rain. Rain, this is the girl I told you about,” Shotgun said.
Rain offered his hand, and I placed mine in his. There was interest in Rain’s expression, and he held on for longer than was polite.
“Apple cobbler and custard?” Rain inquired, and I laughed.
“Seems I’m famous for that,” I replied.
“Are you here alone?” Rain asked, and I was confused. I was getting interesting vibes from both of them. What was going on here?
“No, my cousin Damon is here, and the rest of my family should be arriving any minute now.”
“Family night out?” Rain inquired.
I gave him the same explanation I’d given Shotgun. Both of them were staring at me intensely. And shit, if it wasn’t flattering. The two of them were hot and gorgeous in different ways. Although both were tall, Rain was slimmer than Shotgun’s bulk, but both men worked out; it was obvious.
Rain was grey-eyed with dark auburn hair, while Shotgun was dark-haired and blue-eyed. Even their style of clothing was different, and yet suited them in unique ways.
The desire in their eyes was making me feel things I wasn’t sure were right. They were in a relationship.
“Better get back to my table,” I muttered, and Shotgun smirked. He knew what effect he was having on me.
Shotgun stepped forward and leaned down. “Run away, apple cobbler, but know we’re both watching you.”
“You’re in a committed relationship,” I gasped even as my lady parts stood up and began doing the Mexican wave.
“Look up ‘triad’. When you want to learn more, come and find me. You know where I am,” Shotgun murmured.
As I walked off, I felt their eyes burning into me. I glanced over my shoulder and discovered both of them watching my ass. What the hell was a triad?
◆◆◆
“Shake it, Mischief!” Prescott yelled.
I laughed as Mischief spun and shook her ass at him. The crowd roared as my cousin continued singing Sexy, and I Know It.
I burst into laughter, and Prescott whooped alongside Barrett and Nana. Nana was waving a scarf around her head, getting amused looks from all directions. The audience was loving Madam Mischief, and Mischief was lapping it up.
“That’s my Nana!” Mischief informed the crowd, who cheered again.
It wasn’t long before Thatch was up with Mischief and singing their duet, Secret Lovers.
My family went nuts, and I joined in. It wasn’t often Thatch let his hair down, but at moments like this, he was a fun-loving guy.
Mischief heaped praise on Thatch before sending him to sit down.
She spent a few more minutes plugging her TV quiz shows and sharing funny anecdotes before leaving the stage.
When she did, triad was still on my mind, so I typed it into my phone and got a bunch of search results for Japan. Somehow, I didn’t think Shotgun was referring to them. I tried a triad relationship and hit the jackpot.
My brows shot up.
Well, this was an eye-opener. I was so engrossed in reading that I didn’t see Nana looking over my shoulder.
“That’s an interesting subject,” she murmured in my ear with a cackle. I jumped in my seat and offered her a baleful glance.
“Nana!”
“What? You’re in public, kid. What’s making you look that up?” she demanded. Luckily, the music was loud, so my brothers and cousins couldn’t hear.
“Someone told me to research it,” I replied.
Nana’s gaze narrowed. “Did they now? That type of relationship takes a lot of trust and love. However, if love is present and you’re all adults, then it can work.”
I stared at Nana. Did I ask? I bit my tongue, and Nana’s eyes gleamed. Blast her, Nana knew what I wanted to blurt out.
“Your Gramps and I went to a few swingers’ clubs in our time,” Nana said.
Next to me, Stafford screeched. “Nana! You can’t say shit like that!”
“Like what?” Lowell demanded, leaning forward.
“That your gramps and I have been to some sex dungeons,” Nana announced. All of my male relatives let out groans and bellows of denial as Gramps and Nana beamed. Even though he was the eldest, Bradford jabbed his fingers in his ears and started humming.
“We had to stop about five years ago when Nana got stuck in a sex swing. Bit embarrassing having some guys help get her out,” Gramps added.
Barrett turned with horrified eyes. “Is that when Nana injured her back?”
Nana and Gramps didn’t deny it; they both began chuckling.
“No! I need ear bleach!” Damon howled.
Nana looked proud of herself. “Shit, I live to embarrass you kids. Hey Norman, how about the nudist beach?”
“Now that was damn funny. All those sausages about,” Gramps screeched, chuckling away.
“When?” Thatch asked, terrified.
“About ten years ago,” Nana replied.
“No!” Thatch moaned.
Nana and Gramps both got an evil glint in their eyes. And I escaped. “I’ll order some more pitchers.”
I nearly climbed over Nana in my attempt to escape.
“Bitch!” Prescott yelled, and I sent him a gleeful grin.
As I stood waiting at the bar for service, two strong arms caged me in. “Seems like you’re all having a good time,” Shotgun murmured in my ear.
I glanced down at his arms and saw the prominent veins. Shit, that was just so sexy. Shotgun’s hands were also scarred with little nicks and some scratches. No doubt from working with leather.
“Although the men with you look traumatised,” Rain stated.
“That’s because Nana and Gramps are telling them about swinging, sex clubs, and sex swings. And nudist beaches,” I said. I felt two pairs of incredulous eyes on me before they both laughed.
“Good joke.” Rain chuckled.
“Oh no, I’m deadly serious.”
Both of them looked at me. “Is that the usual topic of conversation?” Shotgun asked warily.
“Nope. Nana caught me looking up triad relationships and decided to elaborate.”
Once again, silence fell between us. The noisy crowd might as well not be here.
“They are my fuckin’ heroes,” Shotgun exclaimed.
“After Granny, right?” Rain added.
“Hell yeah. Can you imagine if they met? Shit, they’d bring the house down.” Shotgun chuckled.