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They both give me dubious looks. Look, I know they can defend themselves, but— And now I know exactly why Brawler said the same thing to me. Fuck. I turn toward him and give him a small smile, letting him know I’m not mad. Having backup is always a good idea, especially when you’re in the Heights.
“Okay, Princess,” Oscar says, giving Finn a death glare. I guess someone is over Finn using his nickname for me. “My mom has a bunch of makeup in the bathroom. I don’t know if you want to use any of it to do whatever girls do when they get ready for the club but it’s there.”
“Are you saying I need makeup, Drego?”
His mouth falls, and his eyes widen. “No.”
Johnny snickers in the background. Oscar turns to flip him off, and I chuckle to myself all the way to the bathroom. I’m not sure what I can use of hers because the thought of using someone else’s makeup grosses me out. Once I gaze into the mirror, I see Oscar’s point. My bruising is fading, but it’s still apparent. Unfortunately, Cynthia Drego and I do not have the same skin color, so using her foundation is out of the question. I use my fingers to apply a little blush and some eye shadow. Mascara would be nice, but I’m not using a used one, that’s for sure.
I do, however, find a shade of lipstick that hasn’t been open yet and use that, smacking my lips together to distribute the color. I shrug in the mirror. It’ll have to do. Everyone in the Heights knows I was in a fight less than a week ago and it’s not like I’m trying to pick anyone up at the club either. I just have to look the part, and I just have to be available for Gregory or one of his goons to swoop in and try to get me.
I walk out and place my hands on my hips. The guys all swing their gazes over, but the only ones I care about are the four of mine. They all look me over appreciatively, and I decide I can get used to being looked at like this every day for the rest of my life.
Magnum stands, beckoning me forward. “I guess I should have told you to get a dress with a little more fabric to it,” he says as he looks me over, trying to decide how they’re going to rig me up with a listening device.
I frown. I hadn’t thought of that. I actually just kind of lost my mind when I saw this outfit and had to have it.
He finishes attaching the tech to me, explaining that one is a bug so they can listen in to what I’m saying and that the other is a GPS in case they try to take me to another location before the rest of them can intervene.
My stomach twists a little, but I steel my shoulders. Gregory’s a piece of shit. He’s already tried to take me and kill me. Plus, what he’s done to the poor women like Oscar’s mom. He can drown in his own blood for all I care. The Heights will be better off without him, too.
Ha. It sounds like I’m some sort of vigilante. I’m not, I promise. This is just a means to the end I’ve always wanted.
We test the equipment to make sure it works. Then, Oscar once again hands me a new phone. I smile down at it. “Do you just have a stash of these somewhere now?”
“I figure it’s a safe bet if we always have backups.” He swipes at the screen and points out the ride share app. “Use this to get there. We’re right here with you.”
“Jax and I are going to do the same, so we won’t be far behind you either.”
Magnum stands tall and goes over the plan one more time, so we all know our parts to play. If I get desperate, I can start asking for Gregory, but they’re hoping it won’t take long at all. They’ve tried to get me when I was surrounded by the Crew, so they’re hoping showing up by myself will seem like a gift that they won’t think twice about.
I take a deep breath and put the heels back on. I wish they were boots, but Lynette seems to have something against sensible clothing.
Jax and Finn watch as the guys all come up to me to say their goodbyes. They don’t outright ask, but it doesn’t take a fucking rocket scientist to figure out that I’m with them all, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Let’s do this.
29
Despite the fact that I’m wearing this rocking outfit, my stomach churns as I’m let inside the club. The bouncer at the front door nods at me, giving me a show of respect before letting me through. Perhaps it’s because of what the guys are always saying, I do have a reputation in the Heights.
Much to my surprise, the moment I walk through the crowd, other club goers stare, nudging their friends as I make my way through. This is the first time I’ve been on my own since I came to the Heights, and I’m not too proud to admit I’m a little lost. Literally, ever since the night when Johnny claimed me after the fight with Cherry, I haven’t been alone since. I’ve been the Crew’s property. Johnny’s property. I don’t much care for the word property, but I’m not going to lie and say I’m mad about always having someone around. Without anyone nearby, it feels as if my right arm is gone. I can’t just turn and see one of my guys lingering somewhere close.
As I move further in, I search for a spot to sit. It doesn’t take me long, mainly because a guy with a suit comes up to me. “Uppercut Princess...” He gazes around, his face falling a little when he most likely sees I’m without Johnny Rocket. Knowing how the Heights works, it wasn’t just me that was bringing a lot of business into Dunnegan/Gregory’s strip joint, it was Johnny and the rest of the guys. Everyone wants to hang out where they’re hanging out. I was just an added bonus. “Can I help you find a seat?”
“I’d love that, thank you.”
He gestures toward an open path, his hand hovering over my back without actually touching me. Smart move on his part, considering how domineering Johnny got when Finn wrapped me up in a hug. My escort nods toward a table in the front. “Is this acceptable?” We stop in front of it, and he moves a rope out of the way to allow me to sit in one of the chairs. “Or are you having a bigger party?”
“This will be fine,” I assure him. “Thank you.”
He nods. “I’ll get a waitress to come right over.”
I smile at him and settle back. If I were here with the guys, Oscar would probably be dragging me out onto the dance floor. Johnny would be sitting back drinking an expensive cognac or something like that. Magnum would just be watching over everything, and Brawler...well, I don’t know. He doesn’t seem like the dancing type, but I could be way off base. Actually, he doesn’t seem like a club guy at all.
A waitress wearing a skimpy outfit makes her way over to me. She brings me a tray of pre-made drinks, angling so I can see them all while she tells me what’s in each one. I pick out a few because why the hell not and sit back. Out of the corner of my eye, Jax and Finn move into view. They stay at the edge of the dance floor, and it literally takes all of two seconds before they each have a girl dancing on them.
Shockingly, Jax is a phenomenal dancer. My mouth almost unhinges, even though I shouldn’t be all that surprised. They’re fighters, which means they’re light on their feet. Plus, they have game, so duh. The girls play right into their cover for the night, and they definitely don’t let dancing stop them from keeping an eye on me.