Chapter 14 Leo
Leo
Gage and I are watching tv when my phone rings, Mateo’s name flashing across the screen.
I slide to answer. “What’s up, man?”
“You know where your girl is?” he asks cryptically.
I frown. I knew she and Ryder got into it. I could hear them yelling from the garage. And I have no idea what happened between her and Dex. All I know is he came inside like the weight of forty worlds was on his shoulders and relayed Alessa’s message not to follow her.
“She said she was going out.”
I could hear the thumping bass in the background. “She’s at Skyline. Drunk as fuck.”
I sit up on the couch, and Gage gives me a concerned look. “Is she okay?”
Mateo sighs. “No. She’s not. That’s the only reason I’m calling. I promised her I wouldn’t, but that’s before she put away enough liquor to drown a fucking elephant.”
“I’m on my way,” I tell him before hanging up and turning to Gage. “Alessa’s at Skyline drunk as hell.”
His brows knit together. “Why is she at your brother’s club?”
I shrug while standing up. “I don’t know. But are you taking me, or am I stealing a car?”
“I’ll take you. Let me go put some jeans on.
” He jogs up the stairs, and I realize we’re both in ball shorts.
I walk quickly to my jail cell and jerk a pair of jeans on, sliding my feet into my boots.
When I step back toward the garage door, Gage is sliding his on, nodding his head for me to follow.
I still can’t help staring at the garage in amazement.
It’s huge and wrap-around style, so they can park anywhere and still be able to get the cars out.
There are cars everywhere, of various kinds, along with the bikes and the vintage Mustang Alessa said Ryder is restoring.
When we returned this morning, I commented on the cars, and she joked about them being children with grown-up money.
Gage hits the fob on a black Range Rover. We both slide in, and before he can shut his door, Ryder appears from the back of the garage, covered in grease. He must have been working on the car, and we didn’t see him.
“Where are you going?” Ryder asks Gage.
Gage’s face changes to that level of crazy I saw right before the fight last night.
“Out.” He slams the door before stabbing the button for the garage door.
He backs out of the garage when it slides open, but not before flipping Ryder off through the windshield.
He also heard them yelling at each other and said this happened sometimes.
I didn’t like it, and from how his demeanor changed from joking to silent, he didn’t either.
He breaks every traffic law driving there, and I don’t even say anything; he is just as worried as I am.
Alessa doesn’t seem the type to drown her worries with booze, so something major went down.
He swings into the lot, and we get out, making our way inside.
The bouncer just waves us through when we walk in, probably expecting us.
We find Alessa tucked into a corner booth with Evander and Mateo.
Evander is beside her like he’s blocking her from exiting the booth, but they are laughing and joking with her.
I can see the worry in Evander’s eyes when we walk up.
“Leo!” she crows. “And Gage! The only two people who like me in the house right now.” She downs a shot, and I shoot a glare at Evander, and he subtly nods his head for me to follow him.
When he gets up, Gage slides into his spot. “Hey, Pretty girl,” he greets softly, throwing his arm around her shoulders.
“What the fuck, man? Why is she still drinking?” I ask when we round the corner toward the offices.
He raises an eyebrow, looking at me over his shoulder.
“You want me to tell the woman who could kill me with a look that she can’t drink in my bar?
” I glare harder. He pushes the door open to the back office before shutting us in.
“It’s watered down, and she’s too drunk to notice. What the fuck happened?”
I run my fingers through my hair. “I don’t know, bro. Things were fine this morning, and they went to shit quick with Ryder and Dex.”
“Because of what happened?” he asks.
I told him and Mateo what happened between Gage, Alessa, and me because I needed someone to talk to. They didn’t judge me; they helped me make up my mind. If this is how I can be with her, then that’s what I’m going to do. I’m not turning my back on her, not now, not ever.
“I’m sure that was Ryder’s fucking problem,” I grit out. “I don’t know about Dex. He never talks.”
“I’m going to say something, and I need you to listen without getting pissed off,” Evander says, and I immediately know it’s going to piss me off. “Ryder’s been in her life for twenty-five years. Maybe you need to step back and see it from his point of view.”
“What the hell, Van?” Did he just take that asshole’s side? “He’s why she’s here drunk on a Tuesday night before ten.”
He shakes his head. “I don’t think it’s just that. I don’t know her well, but I know this isn’t her. She burns shit to the ground when she’s pissed, not drown in tequila. That girl out there,” he points in the club’s direction, “is hurting.”
“Because of me?”
“I think it’s been building, and whatever happened today tipped it over the edge. You guys still haven’t talked?”
I give him a sheepish look. “No.”
He punches me hard in the shoulder. “Talk to her before you put your dick in her again.” He jerks the office door open, muttering “dumbass” under his breath.
I can’t even be mad. I don’t regret last night—quite the opposite.
I realized a few things about myself that I probably need to look closer at after I take care of my girl.
We walk back to where Alessa is sitting, and she’s staring at Mateo, head tilted to the side.
It’s cute in her drunken state instead of scary like that move typically is.
“You know,” she starts, pointing at him.
“You’re kind of pretty.” She leans her elbows up on the table.
“But your brother is hotter,” she whispers loudly, jerking a thumb at Evander.
Mateo’s face goes from smug to shocked in a second flat.
Gage loses it, laughing so hard he almost slides out of the booth.
I take another look at Mateo’s wounded expression and join in his laughter.
“Thanks,” Evander says with a chuckle.
“Don’t get a big head.” She points at me. “That brother, though? Hm,” she hums, and it sounds distinctly sexual, almost like a moan. “Is the hottest.”
I feel my chest puff out, giving Evander and Mateo a smug grin, causing them to roll their eyes.
“What about me, Pretty girl?” Gage asks teasingly.
She snorts, then hiccups. “You know you’re hot. Dark hair, blue eyes, dimples. You’re a walking wet dream.”
Gage gives her a smacking kiss on the cheek. “That’s you.”
He’s not wrong. Even inebriated with a plain band t-shirt over ripped jeans, hair in a messy bun with no makeup on, she is easily the prettiest girl in the room.
“And here I thought we were making friends,” Mateo comments with a pout.
“Oh. Yeah. Sure,” she giggles. “Friends.” She waves a hand between Gage and me. “My friends get lots of perks. I have lots of friends, friends I like to fuc….”
“Okay,” Gage interrupts, trying to fight a laugh. “I think it’s time to go.”
“Aw,” she pouts, and it’s the cutest damn thing I’ve ever seen. “But I’m making new friends.”
“Pretty girl.” Gage rubs his knuckles down her cheek. “Let’s make friends with them when you’re sober.”
“Why?”
“Because I’m pretty sure you just propositioned Mateo and Evander for sex in a roundabout way.” Gage loses his battle and laughs but covers it up with a cough.
“Did I?” she asks, her brow creasing in confusion. She isn’t even following her own conversations anymore.
“I agree, Baby. Let us take you home.”
“Fine,” she grumbles. “Thanks for hanging out with me,” she says to Mateo.
“Anytime, Alessa.” He grins, but it’s strained around the corners. I need to find out what exactly she said to make Evander and Mateo’s protective instincts kick in.
Gage slides out of the booth holding his hand out to help her.
She slides out and almost goes right back down.
His arms flash out, locking around her waist, pulling her against him.
She giggles. “Whoa.” She tilts her head back to look up at him.
He’s almost a foot taller than her when she has flat shoes on.
“Hot and chivalrous. Rest in peace to my panties.”
I hear Evander and Mateo snort a laugh behind me and have to struggle to control my face. She might be cracking jokes and seem one hundred percent fine, but I didn’t forget what Evander said.
Gage locks his arm around her waist and leads her to the door. “Thanks, guys,” he calls over his shoulder. “We owe you one.”
“No, you don’t,” Evander says with a nod. “This is what allies do.” Gage acknowledges that with his own nod.
“Bye, fellas!” Alessa yells, waving over her head. They call out their goodbyes, and I push the main door open so they can step through. Gage bundles her into the front seat while I climb into the back.
“We will come to get your car tomorrow,” he tells her, and she nods. He closes the door, and she’s passes out against it before he even gets in.
He looks at her for a second with so much softness that it makes my heart clench. I had my suspicions that this was more than just sex for Gage, but I didn’t see it until now. What does that mean for the future? I shake my head and tell myself one thing at a time.
I sit up between the seats when he pulls from the lot, heading home. “I’m going out on a limb here and guessing this isn’t normal.”
Gage glances at her, then back to the road, shaking his head. “She drinks, but never to this extent, and sure as fuck never alone.”