Chapter 6
Chapter six
Those blades aren’t just for show
Harrison
I watch as Theo climbs the stairs to the stage and takes a seat in the center chair.
The fucker has a huge smirk on his face, like he just won the lottery or something.
Though I’m sure to others it looks like he is scowling.
From the corner of my eye, I see X head back toward me, drink in hand, nodding to patrons as he goes.
The fucker acts like he is just another average Joe, but in reality, he owns most of the underground dealings in this city.
He has eyes everywhere and knows everything, which is why Theo and I are even here tonight.
It would have been better for Roman to attend, but he had other shit to deal with. Lucky bastard.
I keep my eye trained on Theo as the woman X called Grim approaches.
We really can’t afford this deal to go sideways, so I tense as the leather-clad goddess leans forward and whispers into O’s ear.
I watch as a shudder runs through his body and read his lips as he agrees to something.
Theo hates being touched without permission, so the fact that he willingly paid to be touched by a woman wearing leather and knives on her thighs somewhat surprises me.
What’s crazier to me is that he hates being near women.
Hates seeing how when their eyes catch on his face, their expressions change before they can stop it.
The flinch is always there. Sometimes it’s quick, polite, and almost invisible.
Sometimes it’s violent and ugly. But it’s always the same.
I’ve watched it happen more times than I can count.
I’ve watched him retreat into himself afterward, shoulders tight, jaw locked like he’s bracing for another hit that will never come.
X finally reaches the table, making me half turn in acknowledgement as he takes a seat across from me.
I tell myself I can’t look away from the stage because O is so unpredictable, but I’d be lying if I said I was solely focused on him.
The woman is currently blindfolding O with a piece of black fabric as she sways her hips for the crowd.
The men in the room go crazy as their eyes all seem to focus on the way the shine of the leather and metal glints under the spotlight.
“Your associate is in good hands. Grim is one of my best girls here. She loves to put on a good show.” He chuckles to himself as if meaning more than dancing on stage, making an irrational part of my brain annoyed.
He takes a sip of his drink before cocking an eyebrow in my direction.
I don’t know what he sees, but it makes his lips tip in a small smile.
I snap my head back to the stage, not liking the sly smile he is giving me, and focus back on the small woman hypnotizing a full room of grown men.
“I’m not worried about O. I’m more worried about your girl.
Theo can be…” I pause, thinking of the best way to describe him.
“…unpredictable at times and can react before thinking.” X chuckles again, waving his hand in the air, as that’s not even a valid concern.
“Grim can take care of herself. Those blades aren’t just for show,” he says conspiratorially, but before I can ask what he might mean by that, he continues.
“So, what brings you and your man to my side of town?” He nods to the stage before quivering a brow.
I stay quiet for a second just watching the shadowed stage and the woman he calls Grim move around it.
The way her body moves is graceful, yet there is something almost lethal.
Like a rose with thorns, it screams, "Come closer; look how beautiful I am," and then when you go to touch it, it slashes out, making you bleed.
When I finally speak, I turn slowly to face X.
Professionalism and all that. “I think you know why we are here. We would like to make a deal. One that can benefit both of us. Yes?” X hmmms before taking another sip of whatever he was drinking.
I do the same, waiting for his response.
I’m not here to play games, and I think X wants to see what we are really about.
Whether we are worthy of his time or not.
“I see. You know your bosses should have come themselves. It would have made this a lot easier.” He looks towards the stage as an odd expression crosses his face.
It’s there and gone before I can figure it out before he sits up straighter in his seat, turning towards me with an expressionless mask.
“Unfortunately, I don’t do business with men like your bosses.
You should keep better company, Mr. Jackson.
” He looks to the stage once more before tipping his head back, finishing his drink.
“If you three ever go out on your own, we can chat then, but until certain things are taken care of, we will have no deal. Now if you would excuse me.” He stands, buttoning his suit coat, eyes still trained on the stage where O is now following behind Grim like a lost puppy dog; his tongue is practically hanging out as he turns and winks at me.
I slump back in my seat, annoyed that O just left to probably have a quick fuck while I now have to sit here and wait, thinking of ways to tell the bosses that X will not work with them and I don’t even know why.
He never exactly gave a reason but made it seem like they should know why he wouldn’t.
Roman is going to be pissed, but how was I supposed to know X didn’t like his daddy dearest and already made up his mind about the deal?
Before I can drink enough to get some liquid courage to call Rome, X turns to me.
“A word of advice.” I nod, not knowing what else to do.
“Don’t follow in your boss's footsteps. It won’t end well.
” He turns to walk away before throwing back.
“I hear karma is a real bitch in the end.” He grins a wicked smirk, nodding in my direction, then saunters off through the club.
His words worm their way into my head as I take a sip of my now-watered-down whiskey.
Something about the way he said his final words reminds me of something, but I can’t place my finger on it.
Either way, I had one job, and I failed.
Maybe if I can figure out why X has issues with Mr. Shaw and the others, I can fix it.
We need X for his connections if the guys and I want to make our move.
Downing my drink, I check my phone for the time.
I flagged down a waitress, motioning to her to bring me another.
I’ll give O thirty minutes before I drag his ass home so we can regroup and figure out our next move.