43. Adrian
He needed a damn cigarette.
Still slick from rain, asphalt gave way to lopsided puddles along the curb. The murky water reflected neon lights from downtown’s entertainment district, and groups of pedestrians huddled together on the sidewalk to ward off the chill in the air.
A bright blue sign flashed across the front of the most prominent building on the block, a symbol of the club suit of cards. He didn’t know who named the place, but always thought The Club wasn’t very original.
At least it was easy enough to remember, and the place had rapidly grown in popularity since Royal Flush bought it years ago. When Riley decided to go straight into bartending after graduating high school, he hadn’t been thrilled, but at least he knew she’d be well-guarded working here.
Or so he thought. They must’ve let a prospect manage the entrance tonight. Who the fuck let one of the Dragons onto the property, much less a Yu? That shit could’ve ended with a lot more spilled blood—or worse.
He should’ve been there.
Normally, he made it a habit to check in every few weeks but hadn’t stopped by in a while. If he’d been around, then maybe he could’ve stopped Jun from waltzing in and attacking her. How many more people would he fail to protect?
His fingers tightened around Ivory’s, but her gentle squeeze brought him back. Her hand became his only comfort, warm despite the chilly air and too perfect of a fit for him to admit. Ironically, it was the first time he held hands with a girl other than family. Yet their situation couldn’t be less romantic, and the bandage around her finger was a subtle reminder of what could happen if they weren’t careful.
Ivory deserved better. She deserved a real date, not some fucked up family drama. A real reason to have put on that pretty black dress and done her hair up with the ribbon.
And yet, she’d almost said—
He didn’t dare think about the words that slipped out in his room. Didn’t want her to say them back just because he had. It wouldn’t be right to ask or expect so much of her, especially when tonight could change her perception about everything.
Still, he stood by what he’d said. It was the truth.
He’d been in love with her for a while now. When that happened didn’t matter, nor did he know the exact moment his desire to protect her turned into a need to possess her. But it had, and nothing would change that.
Instead of dwelling on the soft spot Ivory carved out of his granite heart, he focused on the old memories brought back by entering the club’s double glass doors. The first time he brought Caspian here during their freshman year. The late nights he spent out with Raptor all the years before that. They’d been young and too careless for their own good, getting into more trouble than they’d bargained for, but determined to earn their respect.
Now, they were all grown, and the only thing that changed was who they had to prove themselves to.
His arm circled Ivory’s waist as they walked into the foyer. Behind the entryway, black walls framed a view of the dancefloor, guarded by the bouncer behind a sleek glass countertop. Loud dance music rumbled through the walls as the DJ called out to the crowd.
Adrian nodded to the bouncer, a recruit Raptor had introduced him to a few months ago, and with a nod of acknowledgment, both he and Ivory were waved inside. He scanned the mass of bodies bouncing under the strobe lights and along the second-floor railing, half hoping to find Jace or even Jun glaring back. But they wouldn’t be dumb enough to stick around on enemy territory, and if they had, Raptor would’ve gotten to them already.
A familiar face registered in the corner—Jewelle Yu—cousin to Jun and Jace. She didn’t have the same standing in the family as the brothers and wasn’t an official Red Dragon, but her magnetism for chaos unnerved him, to say the least. Ivory noticed, too, and gave him a wary glance.
Had Jewelle come to watch, or did they have more planned?
Not wanting to draw attention to the fact he’d noticed Jewelle, he kept his gaze straight and moved farther in. He had to get the whole story before making any irrational moves. From Raptor’s call, it sounded like Jun left a message along with the imprint of his fist, but Raptor wouldn’t say over the phone.
They ducked under a line of tape sectioning off part of the bar. Shards of broken glass lay scattered in a pool of alcohol on the floor, along with splatters of dried blood. He frowned as anxiety crept back in. Extra security guards had been stationed at the exits, too.
He wordlessly led Ivory into the backroom, where the blasting music faded only slightly. Miscellaneous supplies and boxes of liquor crowded the shelves, along with a large meeting table and a steel gun safe. A metallic tang permeated the air.
Riley sat in the corner on a folding chair, eyes closed and pressing an ice pack to her nose. Raptor hovered at her side, his close-cut hair ruffled and jaw squared.
“I’m fine,” Riley snapped as they entered, not bothering to look up. Admittedly, his sister looked more pissed than in pain. Her black work uniform was crisp as always, her thick hair braided down to her waist. “What I need is some damn space, not everyone checking in on me as an excuse to get out of work.”
“I see you’re still in one piece,” Adrian replied dryly. Even if she wouldn't let this affect her, guilt tore into him at seeing her injured.
“Oh great, the cavalry’s here,” she joked in a lighter tone. Raising her head, her scowl faded as she spotted Ivory.
Raptor’s shoulders relaxed, and he met Adrian’s gaze, but the creases on his forehead deepened as he took note of the plus one. “Looks like I fucked up your night.”
Adrian shook his head. “Not your fault.”
Raptor towered above them in his leather cut, crossed arms as thick as tree trunks. The man looked intimidating as hell, and it didn’t surprise him when Ivory shifted on her feet. He squeezed her closer before dropping his hand to hers again.
“I told Ivory how much of a pain in the ass you both can be, but I’ll introduce you properly.” He tipped his head at them both, trying to cut through the tense energy in the room. “Ivory, this is Raptor and my dear sister, Riley.”
Riley snorted, wincing as she adjusted the ice pack. “ Dear sister ? Maybe I should get punched more often. Or should I credit your girl for you being nice?”
“Well, he did just call you a pain in the ass, so I’m not sure it was a compliment,” Ivory replied. Her lips quirked as she glanced at him. His gaze dipped to the trail of bite marks bruising her neck, and the surrounding gloom dispersed the smallest amount. Nothing meant more than seeing her wearing his mark in public.
Fuck, but now wasn’t the time to get riled up.
“She knows you too well,” Riley replied with a laugh, followed by another wince as she turned to Ivory. “Glad to meet you. Wish my face hadn’t been fucked up for it, though.”
Ivory’s smile faded. “Are you okay? What happened?”
“I’m fine.” Riley waved her hand. “You should probably worry more about Jun. I hope he got a damn concussion from the bottle I slammed in the side of his skull.”
Ivory’s eyes widened, and Adrian groaned. That would explain the broken glass outside. Neither he nor his sister had ever been good at de-escalating a situation. In grade school, his reputation had been second only to hers.
“You’re lucky that didn’t provoke him further,” Raptor muttered.
Riley huffed and placed a hand over her belly but didn’t say anything more.
Adrian’s brows knitted. Usually, Riley wouldn’t let anyone insinuate that she couldn’t hold her own in a fight. In fact, multiple scuffles had been started to prove that very point.
“What’s going on?” he asked, directing the question to Raptor as Riley avoided looking his way.
Raptor shifted uncomfortably.
“You can see I’m okay, so don’t go all panic mode on me, all right?” Riley said, breaking the silence.
He narrowed his eyes. “Is there something for me to panic about?”
“No.” She let out a deep breath and lowered the ice pack. “I’m pregnant.”
He forgot how to breathe.
“What?” Gasping to try and fill his deflated lungs, Adrian ran a hand through his hair and cursed. That meant it hadn’t just been her at risk. She’d been carrying a whole new life inside her.
His sister was pregnant.
Raptor was going to be a dad…shit, and he was about to become an uncle. In the middle of this whole damn mess, at that. “Riri—”
“I don’t need a lecture on safety precautions. That’s what I got him for.” She jabbed a finger at Raptor. “I’m only in the first trimester, and it’s perfectly normal to go to work if I want. I’m not about to sit on my ass at home, bored out of mind.”
Adrian swallowed. If that had been his kid and his woman…he glanced over at Ivory.
If she’d been hurt while carrying their—dammit, he shouldn’t even finish that thought. His chest pounded so hard that the rest of him started to shake.
They needed to get to the bottom of this.