Page 57 of A Knight’s Revenge: The Complete Series

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

ZACH

“ H appy birthday, Zachary. I’m sorry I have to rush off like this, but I’m sure you do not want your mother lurking around your birthday party.”

I definitely did not. Guests had already started arriving in droves, the students of Holywell Academy dying for a glimpse inside the fabled Euphoria Club.

I’d known Mom was still here, having just finished entertaining the usual balding, fat, lecherous businessmen she bilked out of their money on a regular basis, so I’d had to stop by or risk her throwing a passive-aggressive temper tantrum later.

I kissed her cheek as she swanned past me. “Thanks for the party, Mom. And for letting us use the Club.”

She waved a dismissive hand at me. “Anything for my baby.” She stopped in the doorway of her office, turning to frown at me like a thought had just occurred to her. “The Knight girl isn’t coming, is she?”

I shrugged. “The invitation went out to the entire Academy. She might be.”

She’d fucking better be .

“Zachary, really,” Mom chided. “That little bitch broke in here and snooped in my most private business. I’ve only just managed to calm our most important investors down about all of her… nonsense. ”

“I’ll make sure she behaves, Mom,” I replied with a mischievous grin. “Don’t worry.”

She looked me up and down, then a knowing, proud smile appeared on her red lips. “Alright, then. I trust you to handle her, baby. Good luck.”

Then she disappeared down the hall.

I blew out a relieved breath before pasting my usual lazy smile back on my face.

I checked my reflection in one of the three mirrors Mom kept in her office, satisfied my tight white designer T-shirt, ripped black jeans, and dark boots gave off the desired I-don’t-give-a-fuck-that-there’s-a-dress-code-because-I-own-this-place vibe, then I sauntered back out onto the Club floor and headed straight for the Heirs’ VIP table in the center of the room.

A soft blue glow lit the spacious, open first floor, casting eerie, sensuous shadows over the hundreds of Academy students and alumni here to kiss my ass and get hammered on the free booze.

The sultry music that played through the room was low and hypnotic, able to lull even the most sober person in the room into a trance that would ensure they’d return again and again.

Tonight’s theme was black and gold, and all the burlesque dancers and Club servers wore lingerie and other costume embellishments in those colors.

A group of beautiful dancers—both male and female—commanded the stage along the north wall, seducing the crowd one perfectly choreographed routine at a time.

Equally gorgeous servers flitted around the main floor and the open second floor above, and the awed, hungry looks my classmates were giving to the staff served as a reminder of why membership to the Club was the most sought-after in the City.

I passed Chad Hendrickson and his little fan club, the group of them sprawled on the teal velvet furniture that surrounded one of the Club’s many round gold-plated tables—theirs currently piled high with bottles of champagne and hard liquor.

The uncomfortable look on their server’s face as I neared snagged my attention, so I changed direction and stalked over.

“Get your fucking hands off the staff, Hendrickson,” I barked, looming over the loveseat where he lazed. He yanked his hand away from Cici’s ass like he was a fucking toddler caught in the cookie jar. “I will toss your ass out of here if I see it again.”

Chad pasted the sleazy grin on his face that he thought was his people-pleasing best. “My bad, Ferrero. You have to know that having your waitresses dressed like whores is sending some mixed signals. I thought this place was where we got to have our… desires met.”

I gave him a droll look. “That feature is limited to the upper floors, and you’re not on that fucking client list.”

“Aw, come on, man,” he said with a laugh. “Put in a good word for me! Surely those lovely ladies are looking for some more young, virile cock to ride—you, Hargraves, and Spencer can’t be having all the fun.”

I shot him a cocky smirk even though it had been… a while since any of us had utilized our privileges upstairs. “Of course we can.”

He sighed dramatically as though I’d wounded him, and I turned and stalked away without a backwards glance. I pulled my phone from my pocket and sent a message to the head bouncer on duty to make sure someone kept an eye on Hendrickson.

I almost hoped he put a toe out of line so I could have an excuse to beat the fuck out of him. I hadn’t forgotten that he’d broken my Princess’s face last semester, and he was still on my shit list for it.

Though it did amuse me that, after Jojo’s stunning, hard-on-inducing display at Fight Night, we’d all figured out that Chad’s little hand injury that he whined about for a month was probably not from “a training accident with his sensei” as he’d claimed.

I hadn’t gone five steps when I was waylaid again. Lisa stepped in front of me, lashes fluttering. Normally, I’d have been annoyed, but this little encounter actually fit neatly into my plans for this evening.

“Happy birthday, Zach,” she said, breathy and coy. Her long nails played at the low neckline of her tight red dress. “I was hoping to have some time with you later to give you my… present. I think you’ll really like it.”

Showtime. “Oh, really?” I murmured, making a show of looking her up and down. Lisa was not unattractive—she had the body of a runway model and a fine-boned face made for the ads her family’s entertainment company constantly featured her in.

Too bad I liked a girl with meat on her bones and scars on her knuckles.

She preened, slinking closer to run a hand up my chest. “ Really . I just need somewhere a little more private , baby, then it’s all yours. ”

I wrapped a hand around her throat, squeezing just this side of too hard, and she was putty in my hands. I leaned in close to whisper instructions in her ear, and I could feel her body trembling in anticipation of getting to fuck me at long last.

“See you later,” I whispered, releasing her and walking away before she could delay me any further.

I finally made it to the VIP area and collapsed onto the half-moon couch where Noah, Bennett, and Bennett’s date were holding court.

A glass of bourbon was shoved into my hand by Dante, one of our most tenured waiters, as he cruised by.

I took a giant gulp before I settled in to watch the door and await my Princess’s arrival.

“She’ll be here,” Noah said, grinning at me like an asshole as he poured himself another drink from the assortment at our table.

He and Bennett were in dress code tonight, both wearing impeccably tailored slacks, fitted dress shirts, and dark blazers.

“I know Jojo won’t be able to resist coming into Andrea’s house just as a ‘fuck you’ to her. ”

“Too true,” I replied, then I punched him in the shoulder. “And you’re not out of the doghouse with me yet, man. I still can’t believe you kissed our girl before me. I have had the patience and control of a fucking monk , and you just went and jumped the line like that.”

His grin only got bigger. “I don’t regret it, but I’ve behaved these past few weeks. I’m letting you have tonight because it’s your birthday, and I know you have plans. I want to do something just as big to show her what she means to me.”

Never let it be said that Noah Hargraves wasn’t a damn decent friend. He would allow me my time with her, and I would do the same for him when his time came.

We were going to rock this co-boyfriend shit.

I was relieved he was coming around, anyway, which only left our fearless leader to pull his head out of his ass. Bringing that bitch Harper to this party was not a great start, even if he’d only done it because his dad had made a fucking stink about appearances.

Jojo’s going all scorched earth in his honor had blown Bennett’s fragile little mind, and he was slowly drifting off course, caught in a stormy sea of feelings . His reset mode was always to just do as Spencer required, ever the model-fucking-Heir.

“So, baby,” Harper cooed at Bennett loudly enough over the music that Noah and I could make out her words.

“I know our contract doesn’t require exclusivity during the engagement period, but I’d love for you to take me upstairs and let me give you a little preview of what’s to come.

I think you’ll find you won’t need to visit the Club anymore when I show you just how thoroughly I can please you. ”

Bennett’s jaw ticked, but he was otherwise unaffected—his great superpower with respect to everyone on the planet except Jolie Knight.

“I think you should relax and enjoy the party, Harper,” he said in his usual monotone. “My visits to the Club are not your concern.”

She huffed, taking a dainty sip of her drink as her eyes landed on the front entrance. She wrapped her possessive claws around Bennett’s bicep, and that was how I knew my girl had arrived.

Jojo stepped out onto the Club floor, her arm linked with Max’s— who the fuck let him in here?

—looking like pure sex in a see-through blouse and a tiny fucking skirt.

Her long hair fell around her face in soft waves, her luscious lips painted a dark red, and those gorgeous eyes were locked right on us.

“Damn,” Noah whispered.

“Yeah,” I agreed, swallowing hard.

One glance at Bennett told me he was now seething, his stormy eyes glued to Jojo while likely plotting the violent murder of every dude in here who was now openly checking her out.

Or they may have been checking Max out—he had that effect, even I had to admit, which just pissed me off more. No one was allowed to be hotter than me at my own party.

Mari and a girl that I guessed was her girlfriend flounced in behind them and then promptly bolted for the bar, while Max and Jojo processed through the room like royalty until they were standing in front of our table.

“Hey, guys,” she said, her aquamarine gaze sweeping across us and her lip curling when she spotted Harper clutching Bennett like he was going to make a break for it if she let go.

Jojo shook it off—loath to let Bennett see her affected—and directed her gaze back to me with a little smile. “Happy birthday, Zach.”

“Hey, Princess,” I said, hopping to my feet. “Glad you could make it. ”

“Happy birthday, Ferrero,” Max said with his usual shit-eating grin. “Hope you don’t mind me crashing—I’m Jojo’s bodyguard tonight.”

I plucked her from his grasp. She rolled her eyes but came willingly—fuck yes. “Thanks, man. I've got it from here.”

Noah stood, drink in hand, and made his way over to Jolie. He pulled her into a tight hug before placing a lingering kiss to her cheek. “I’m glad you came, sweetheart. Enjoy your night with Zach.”

She looked at him quizzically as he handed her back to me, while Max asked, “Going somewhere, Nolan?”

Noah tossed back the last huge sip of his drink, then he turned to give Max his most charming smile. “I’m the one tasked with making the rounds tonight. I hear the barbacks are short-staffed if you want to pitch in while you’re here, Miller.”

“ Noah ,” Jolie chided, but he just tossed her a wink and ambled away.

Max tutted under his breath, watching Noah as he faded into the crowd. “I’d beat his ass for that, but he’s too cute. That sexy smile and high, tight butt probably let him get away with just about anything.”

Jolie leaned over to stage-whisper, “I think it’s his billions.”

“Right.”

“Come on, Princess,” I said, wrapping an arm around her shoulder, ready to get us back on track. “Dance with me for a little bit.”

She relaxed against me. “Fine. Inform Lisa that if she has a problem with it, she can fight me like a woman instead of a cowardly little bitch this time.”

I chuckled. “I’ll take care of it.”

Max bent to swipe one of our bottles of liquor off the table, giving Bennett an exaggerated once-over as he did it. “Hey, Spencer,” he rumbled. “Looking good , big man. Lose the skinny bitch, and I’ll show you a much better time.”

The asshole was playing with fire. Harper let out a scandalized gasp and looked to Bennett to defend her honor, but he only gave Max a dirty look before he took a sip of his drink and went right back to being bored.

Max chuckled as he floated past us, pressing a kiss to Jolie’s hair. “I’ll be… out and about. Stay safe, Jojo.”

He disappeared, and I tossed one last glance behind us at Bennett as I steered my girl to the dance floor.

He gave me a stilted nod of begrudging approval for my plans for the rest of the evening. I knew he was going to just sit here and suffer while Harper pawed at him and he did his best to make sure the building didn’t burn down around us.

Sorry, buddy, but you dug this hole.

It was my night with my girl, and I was going to fucking enjoy it.