Page 23

LONDON

Before I even open my eyes, I know Kallum is gone because I don’t feel his heat on my back. When we’re in bed together, there is never a moment he’s not holding me.

Slowly, I open my eyes and look at the empty space beside me. I reach out and grab the pillow where his head was and hug it close to my body. Kallum’s scent still lingers on the soft fabric, and I can’t help but close my eyes and breathe it in.

The club is on lockdown, so we spent the night at the clubhouse.

That also means my avoiding my best friend and the girls is ending.

There’s no avoiding it. Kallum has made the changes between him and me clear, and he did so in front of everyone when we walked into the clubhouse hand-in-hand.

Then he went and made our situation even clearer by kissing me.

I’m sure by now the girls know a little about what has transpired in the past twenty-four hours, but they will want to hear the details from my mouth.

Rolling over in bed, I stare up at the ceiling and wonder how Promise will react when I tell her the truth.

She’ll be pissed, no doubt. Pissed because we don’t keep secrets.

I can handle her being mad, though. Her disappointment in me is something I won’t be able to take.

Either way, it’s time to face the music and let the cards fall where they may.

When I walk downstairs, it's still early. The sun isn’t up, and since Promise and I won’t be going into the office today, she’ll take advantage and sleep as long as Jaxson lets her. On the other hand, I have too much on my mind to sleep.

The common room is empty, so I head to the kitchen for a much-needed coffee. When I walk in, Catcher is there, back resting against the counter, a cup of coffee in his hand. “Hey, Catcher.”

“Mornin’," he grunts.

Obviously not a morning person.

“You wouldn’t happen to know where Kallum is, would you?” I ask.

Catcher downs the last of his coffee and then sets the mug in the sink. "The guys had some shit to look into, said they’d be back by lunch.”

By ‘shit to do’ he means club business. Club business means none of mine.

I don’t take offense to Catcher’s lack of information.

I’ve been around long enough to know the rules of the club.

I also know ‘said business’ is likely to do with my failed kidnapping.

“Gotcha.” I nod, making my way over to the coffee pot.

“You doin’ all right this mornin’?” Catcher asks, catching me off guard. Catcher has been around the club for a while, and though I don’t know him well, I do know the man is not one for small talk.

I shrug. “I’m okay. I’ve never been stun-gunned and kidnapped before. "Ten out of ten, I don’t recommend.” I try to make light of the situation, but the way Catcher clenches his jaw says he doesn’t find my comment amusing.

Sighing, I plop down in a chair at the kitchen table. “Sorry, bad joke. The truth is, it scared the hell out of me, and I’m freaked out. I’m also scared for my friend who is missing.”

Catcher’s angry expression softens a little at my confession. “We all have our own ways of dealing with bad shit.”

“You say that like you’re speaking from experience.

” As soon as I voice my observation, I see Catcher’s wall go up.

The man is clearly dealing with his own demons.

I’m smart enough to know not to push, so I change the subject.

Standing, I take my cup with me. “I’m going to get some fresh air.

If Promise wakes up and is looking for me, will you tell her where I’m at? ”

“Sure.” Catcher nods. “Don’t wander too far.”

I smile. “I won’t.”

Once outside, I make my way over to the covered veranda and take a seat on the porch swing, tucking my feet under my butt.

The sun is just rising over the river, painting the sky in a pretty shade of pink and the promise of a beautiful day.

Moments like this remind me of all the mornings I’d wake up and find my mom sitting in our backyard with her cup of coffee as she watched the sunrise.

I remember climbing into her lap as a little girl, sleepy-eyed and clueless about all the world's dangers. And not twenty-four hours ago, that danger touched me. I wasn’t lying to Catcher when I said it scared the hell out of me.

I keep replaying what happened each time I think about the outcome if Tony had not been there.

Kallum was right.

I was reckless.

My recklessness and keeping secrets almost got me killed.

I’m drawn out of my racing thoughts when there is a shuffling sound behind me.

I peer over my shoulder at Promise, still clad in her pajamas, and a bright-eyed Jaxon clung to her hip.

Her son truly is his father made over. Jaxon has dark hair with a hint of mischief hidden behind his crooked smile.

As Promise passes in front of me, I grab Jaxson’s little foot. “Good morning, little man.”

Promise sets Jaxon at the small kiddie table beside the swing and hands him a sippy cup of milk and a sandwich bag full of dry cereal.

“You’re up early,” I remark.

“I had to call Zara and tell her I wouldn’t be in today. I asked her to reschedule our appointments and take the next few days off.”

“Thanks,” I mutter. “You know, over the years, I’ve kind of gotten used to club drama and the occasional lockdown. I just didn’t ever expect it would one day be because of me.” I try to joke.

Promise doesn’t respond. Instead, she remains silent. I take it as a bad sign.

When I can’t take the uncomfortable silence, I close my eyes and let the words I’ve held in for so long tumble out. “I’ve been stripping at the Pink Paradise for the past three months.”

“What?” Promise breathes.

I tip my head to the side to look at the disbelief on her face.

“What… why?” she asks.

“I had no choice,” I tell her softly. “Mom’s insurance wouldn’t cover the cost of her stay at Golden Hills, and there was no way I could let her live elsewhere. I tried to get a night job at a few other places, but it wasn’t enough,” I tell her. “I did what I had to do.”

Promise turns toward me. “London, why didn’t you come to me? You know I would have helped.”

It kills me to see how truly hurt Promise is that I didn’t come to her for help. “You go to your best friend when you need to borrow twenty bucks, Promise, not fifteen thousand. And that’s per month. Our firm does well, but not enough that I can keep up the cost every single month.”

“London—” Promise goes to argue, but I cut her off.

“I did what I had to do to take care of my mom, Promise. My mom means the world to me and has given me the world. So, if I have to show my tits and dance for the entire state of Louisiana to ensure she gets the best care there is, then that’s what I’m going to do.

” A tear slides down my cheek as I look at my best friend.

“My momma is everything to me, Promise.”

“Oh, Lon.” Promise wraps her arms around me. “I know what your mom means to you. I only wish you’d come to me. You’re more than my best friend, you’re like a sister. You shouldn’t be going through this alone.”

I break away from Promise and wipe my cheek with the back of my hand. “That’s not the kind of burden you pawn off on your best friend, Promise.”

“Pawn off?” Promise looks affronted. “London, is that how you see it? Let me ask you this. If the roles were reversed, would you want me to come to you, or would you want me to suffer alone in silence?”

“Of course, I’d want you to come to me,” I say. “But?—”

This time, Promise cuts me off. “But nothing. If you’re in trouble, the rules are to go to your best friend for help.”

“So, there are rules now?” I grin.

“It’s an unwritten rule, and you know it.” Promise juts out her chin.

“Fine. The next time I’m in trouble, I’ll come to you.”

“Good. And you’re going to let me help with your mom.”

I shake my head. “No. I can’t let you do that.”

“London, there is no way I’m going to let you keep stripping when I have the means to help.”

“I love you, Promise, but it’s not happening. Besides…” I shrug. “Dancing is not that bad. I love my boss and the girls I work with. I’ve made some good friends at the Pink Palace.”

I can tell Promise is skeptical. “You mean, you want to keep dancing?”

“No, but it’s a sacrifice I’m willing to make to help my mom. I’m just saying the people I work with make it possible.”

“What’s Everest say?” Promise asks.

“Kallum doesn’t have a say in what I do.”

Promise bites her bottom lip to try to hide her smile. “We’ll see.”

I roll my eyes. “We’ll see my ass. I’m not letting any man tell me what I can and can’t do.”

At that, Promise lets out a full-on cackle. “Oh, London. You have so much to learn when it comes to these men. I have a feeling you will find out sooner rather than later, though.”

“Please, I can handle Kallum.”

Promise doesn’t look convinced. “Whatever you say, London. I can tell you now that my money is on Everest. There is no way he’s letting you back on that stage. When one of these men claims a woman, they are claimed.”

“You make them sound like cavemen?”

“That’s because they are.” Promise giggles. “You have been around long enough to see that it’s true. Only now, it’s your turn to experience it. And I have to say, it’s been a long time coming, that’s for sure.”

“What are you on about now?”

Promise makes a tsking sound. “Don’t be dense.

Everyone has been watching you and Everest dance around each other since the day you met.

I’m just surprised it took y’all this long to get your shit together.

I bet the sex was off the charts with all the back-and-forth flirting that’s been happening.

The sexual tension has been off the charts. ”

My mouth hangs open at her bold observation. “How do you know we had sex?”

Promise looks at me like I’ve grown a second head. “Hello, a woman can tell when her best friend has been laid… and laid good and proper. And you, London, have most definitely been laid.” Promise leans into me, her expression serious. “I have to know. How was it?”

I want to stay irritated with my best friend, but the truth is, I can’t. Half the fun of having a best friend is talking about men. “Best I ever had. Bar none,” I confess.

Promise’s face lights up with a huge grin. “I’m happy for you.”

I laugh. “You’re happy I’m having good sex?”

“Ah, yeah. Rules are if your best friend is having the best sex of her life, you’re happy for her,” Promise says with mock irritation.

“Best sex of your life?” a deep voice rumbles.

Startled, I turn to see Everest standing just inside the door, looking as smug as ever.

I narrow my eyes on him. “What makes you think I was talking about you?”

His lip twitches like he’s trying not to laugh. The bastard knows I was talking about him.

“What are you doing eavesdropping anyway? Catcher said you wouldn’t be back until later.”

Everest stalks toward me, carrying a paper bag with a familiar logo and a cup filled with what I already know will be my favorite coffee. “I stopped at that coffee shop down the street from your apartment and got that sugary shit you call coffee and one of those blueberry muffins you like.”

I gape at him. “How did you know?”

Everest sets my muffin and coffee on the table in front of me and leans down until his face is level with mine. “I pay attention.”

“Really?” I whisper.

“Yes,” he whispers back. “Now, give me a kiss because I got shit to do.” Without waiting for a response, Everest claims my mouth with his. The kiss is quick but no less toe-curling. A second later, his mouth is gone, and so is he.

Once I know we are alone, I turn back to Promise, who is fighting her own grin. I roll my eyes. “Shut up.”

She holds up her hands. “Hey! I didn’t say a word.”

I snatch the bag off the table and retrieve the muffin from inside. “No, but I know what you were thinking.”

Promise reaches over, tears off a piece of my muffin, and pops it in her mouth. “You have been giving me a hard time for years. Now it’s finally my turn.”

Later that afternoon, I’m lounging around the clubhouse with the girls.

Because we are on lockdown and there’s nothing else to do, we make margaritas and gossip while Jo’s daughter, Sawyer, and Tequila’s niece, Sydney, watch the little kids in the television room.

At the same time, poor Catcher is sitting in the corner of the room, looking like he’d rather be elsewhere.

I don’t blame him. No man should bear witness to the kinds of things girlfriends say when they are bored and have been drinking.

“I don’t care what anyone says, strippers are hot,” Tequila says, sprawled out on the sofa, putting her two cents in. “I always did want to learn how to pole dance, but unfortunately, these feet were made for boots, not stilettos.”

I wave her off. “Anyone can learn. I’ll be happy to teach you some moves.”

Piper perks up. “Ooh, can you teach me too?”

“Wait.” Luna signs. “I want to learn too.”

“Don’t forget about me,” Jo adds.

“Hell, yeah.” I raise my drink in the air. “I vote that next girls’ night should be at the Pink Palace. I’ll introduce you guys to Tony and the girls.”

There is a round of cheers from the girls just as the guys walk into the clubhouse.

“Awe, shit. They’re into the margaritas,” Wick drawls. “That can only mean one thing.”

In the corner, Catcher murmurs, “You don’t want to know.”

Promise giggles when Nova strides up behind her and tugs her ponytail, making her head tip back. “What are you all up to?”

Over on the sofa, Tequila pretends to inspect her nails. Across from her, Luna’s face turns red, and Piper bites her bottom lip beside Luna as Kiwi eyes her skeptically.

“What makes you think we’re up to something?” I tease Nova with a smirk.

Beside him, Everest crosses his arms over his broad chest. “Maybe because every time you women get together, one of you gets a hair-brained idea to do something stupid, and the rest of you fall in line.”

“No. What happens is we try to have fun, and then you all come in with your caveman attitudes and spoil it,” I argue.

Lucky for us, Riggs cuts in. “All right, brothers. We got shit to do, so whatever the women are cookin’ up, we’ll have to deal with it later.” I watch as Riggs strides over to Luna and steals a kiss before disappearing out the back with Fender and Wick.

“Pain in my goddamn ass,” Everest grunts, then stalks off with Kiwi and Nova.