Page 6

Chapter six

Normally, the quiet between us is comfortable, but this time has my skin tightening. I’m sure she thinks I don’t realize she checked out after I started talking about Emmy Lou. If it wasn’t for the hurt I sensed coming from her, I would think she was just jealous. What I can’t figure out is why me talking about Em hurts her. She knows we’re only friends. Hell, I got over my infatuation with Em the first time I fucked Bailee.

We talked about it back when we were seeing each other.

Didn’t we?

Whatever. I don’t have time to worry about that shit. There’s too much other stuff going on.

Bailee straightens when I pull into the parking lot of Sinful Saloon. “Why are we here?”

“Goin’ to be your new home for the foreseeable future. Until we can figure out what’s happenin’, this is the safest place for you barrin’ the club. Someone will always be around. Got two apartments on the basement level. Reva, our bar manager, lives in one, and you’ll be takin’ the other.”

“Okay,” she says timidly, biting her lip and looking away.

Reaching over, I grab her chin in my hand and turn her to face me, using my thumb to pull her lip away. “Not goin’ to let anything happen to you, Hummingbird. Called me for protection, let me do what I can to give you that.”

She blows out a breath, the warm burst of air brushing against my thumb. My dick twitches, and I grind my teeth while I fight my response to her.

A puff of air.

A goddamn puff of air against my thumb and I’m about to nut in my jeans like a fucking teenager just introduced to a centerfold.

Bailee is fucking potent. She’s the drug that travels stealthily through my veins, bringing a high that makes me feel light and free, turning me into an addict who is hooked on her. Each hit leaves me strung-out and craving more until an endless hunger gnaws at my stomach.

Flames flicker to life in her eyes before she blinks and extinguishes them. “I know. I wouldn’t have called you if I didn’t trust you, Steel. You tell me what to do and I’ll listen.”

“Sit still. I’ll come help you out. Need to keep weight off your leg as much as possible.”

I grab my phone off the dash and pull up the camera feed for the strip club. I run through them all, checking every inch of the club to see who is on duty. None of the brothers seem to be working tonight, so we shouldn’t have any issue going in through the front.

Shoving my phone in my pocket and grabbing my gun from the console, I slide it into the shoulder holster under my cut before climbing out and making my way to the passenger side.

Out of habit, my eyes cut through the parking lot as I scan for any threats.

“Arm over my shoulder,” I order as I slide mine around her waist.

It takes a few minutes to get her to the edge of the seat because I try not to jolt her too much.

“Doin’ okay, Hummingbird?”

Her jaw is clenched, and her nails dig into my shoulder hard enough to break skin.

“I’m good. Keep going.”

The tightness in her voice contradicts her words, but I’m going to trust that she knows her limits.

Once her feet touch the ground, I move her arm around my waist, and she settles her weight against me.

Our trek to the door is slow-moving, and by the time we get there, her breath saws in and out of her lungs.

Tightening my hold, I carry a little more of her weight so I’m nearly holding her up.

Mario, one of our bouncers, holds the door open. “Boss.”

“How’s it goin’ tonight?”

“Busy. Surprisingly calm, though.”

“Don’t count on it stayin’ that way. Know it doesn’t get rowdy until after eight or so,” I warn as we walk past.

The hairs on my arms rise as the bass of the music vibrates against my skin the farther inside we go. Lennox is on stage doing a routine I haven’t seen yet, and any other time, I’d settle in and enjoy the show, but I’m not so much of an asshole that I’d make Bailee sit beside me while I watch another woman shake ass, tits, and pussy in my face.

Bailee’s body jerks against mine, and I catch her quiet cry. The club is packed, and unless I protect her, she’s going to keep getting knocked around.

Pulling us to a stop, I lean toward her so she can hear me over the noise. “Goin’ to maneuver you in front of me. My arms will be around you to act as a barrier. Lean your weight back against me. Make sure you don’t get knocked around.”

She nods and scoots in front of me with my help. Her plump little ass settles against me, and I clench my jaw as I fight the memories of tunneling my cock into its snug warmth.

It’s been three fucking years since I’ve buried myself in that tight hole, but neither my mind nor my dick has forgotten. Truth is, ain’t no ass since then that compares. Hell, no cunt has either, and I’ve yet to figure out what it is about hers that makes it so special.

Walking to the bar is awkward as fuck, but when someone runs into us, they bounce off me instead of colliding with Bailee.

I guide her onto a barstool and lean my elbows on the bar top beside her. “Want a drink?”

Fuck. She’s not supposed to be drinking on her meds, but before I get the chance to back out on the offer, she answers.

“Whiskey on the rocks.”

Reva stops in front of us and smiles, her twinkling amber eyes flitting between us before settling on me. “Hey, suge. Been a few days since I’ve seen your pretty face here.”

“Had shit to do. Beer for me, whiskey on the rocks for her,” I reply, tilting my head in Bailee’s direction.

Reva’s smile widens. “Well, hey there, firefly. Not used to seeing this one bring a woman in here.”

“Oh, of that, I have no doubt.”

Not missing the trace of bitterness in her voice, my hands curl into fists as I hold back a sigh. Until I put her through hell with my toxic bullshit, she was the most upbeat and positive person I knew. I didn’t take all her light, but I can tell I took some of it. Guilt claws at the back of my throat. It’s a useless emotion. I can’t fucking change what I did to her. I can’t fix the piece that I broke, because doing that would mean she’s going to be in my life longer than getting her shit taken care of with the Night Skulls. Be damned if I let that happen.

“Firefly?” Bailee asks.

“Your hair, it’s fire engine red, and you remind me of a fairy or some shit. Hence, firefly.” Her eyes roll over as much of Bailee that she can see. “Gotta say, though, you rock that shit. You’re fucking gorgeous, and if this one was inclined to share, I’d take you for a spin with him.” She leans closer to Bailee. “I can eat pussy as good as I can suck cock.”

I watch as Bailee’s eyes go hooded. “Good to know.”

“Our drinks,” I bark, breaking the spell between them as my cock weeps in sorrow.

Reva’s husky laugh dances between us. “Don’t worry, suge. I ain’t gonna steal your girl.” She makes quick time getting our drinks and setting them down in front of us. “If you two feel like playing sometime, you know where I am.”

While she deals with a few customers, I flip around and rest my back against the bar as I scan the crowd.

Most of the faces I see here regularly. Since we bought the place from Marco and shipped him out, business has picked up. We’ve made a lot of changes in here that have attracted new customers but have also lost us some. The first thing that went were the sexual services the girls had been forced to provide. The Dirty Mavericks don’t sell skin, and the only sex workers we’d ever have under our name are the women and men who choose to do it willingly. There have been one or two who requested they still be allowed to see clients, and after they were vetted thoroughly and passed a health check, we provided three rooms.

We made sure to offer them a higher wage in case that was their reasoning. We don’t ask for any of their earnings from that side of their job, but the women choose to give the club some anyway. They say it’s because we treat them like humans and provide protection when they’re with a client. Usually, it’s about twenty-five percent of what they make, but if they’ve had a good night, they’ll give us half.

Most of that money goes back into the club so we can make sure the girls are as safe as possible. Any new hires are informed that while it isn’t a requirement, we ask that they sign a non-disclosure agreement. Most people know we don’t hesitate to take out anyone who betrays us, but it never hurts to have additional protection in place.

Once there is a lull in customers at the bar, I nod for Reva to come and join us as I take Bailee to a booth in a dark corner of the room.

I help Bailee onto the seat before scooting in beside her and tossing my arm along the back of the booth while I continue to survey the customers and employees.

Reva brings us each another drink before sliding into the other side and leaning her elbows on the table. “What’s going on?”

“Bailee needs a place to lay low and blend in. Got people after her who can’t get their hands on her. Stowin’ her away here, stayin’ in the other apartment and workin’ here as a waitress while I figure out how to get her out of this mess. No one can know she’s here, Reva. No one. I’ll fill the club in when I get a chance, but until then, don’t say a word about her to them either.”

The words are sour on my tongue. I fucking hate not telling the club this shit, and I know they’ll likely see it as a betrayal and there will be hell to pay when they find out, but I’m not going to pull them in on this unless they’re needed. I ain’t going to let anything happen to my brothers or Bailee, even if it means going at this alone. At least, not until I know more. Divided focus with something so dangerous could have devastating consequences.

Reva leans back with a frown and shakes her head. “I don’t know, Steel. I work for the club, not just you. I can’t afford to piss them off.”

“Nothin’ will happen to you or the others. Give you my word.”

They all know around here that when we say something, we stick to it. Our words are all we have in this world, so we do our best to keep to them.

Guilt churns in my stomach when I think about how I’m keeping Bailee a secret from the club for now, but like I told Bailee, I won’t keep it from them for long.

My gut sours, so I grab my beer and suck the bitter liquid down to try to cover it up.

“I want it on record that I don’t like this,” Reva insists.

“Noted.” I take another pull from the bottle. “Put her on as a cocktail waitress once she’s able to stand and walk around.”

Reva smiles, and I know from experience that she’s fixing to cause trouble. I narrow my eyes in warning, but she ignores it and flutters her lashes.

“We’re down a dancer. No one would think to look for her up there in the spotlight. Plus, we’ll be able to hide her better.” She runs her eyes over Bailee. “Girl would make a killing up there.”

My grip tightens around the bottle. “Not fuckin’ happenin’.”

Reva smirks at my growled words, happy with the reaction she got from me.

Bailee isn’t so pleased.

“And why the hell not? I know how to dance, and it’s not like I’m shy about my body. I’m sure my dear father would be so proud that I’m using those dance classes to bare my body to a roomful of horny men.”

My body turns toward her, and my hand shoots out on reflex to wrap around her slender throat. I use my hold to tilt her head back until she’s looking up at me. Her eyes are carefully blank, but I don’t miss the way her tongue darts out to wet her lips.

“You’re mine for the time being, Hummingbird. No other man will see your body unless I give you permission to show them.” Leaning down, I skim my nose up her jawline until my lips are resting at her ear. “If you do, I’ll fuckin’ gut them and then fuck you on top of their bloody corpse until you remember who the fuck you belong to.”

I’m sure she doesn’t think I can hear the moan she lets out, but that son of a bitch goes straight to my cock. It throbs behind the confines of my jeans, and I’m half tempted to pull her onto my lap and make her ride me into oblivion.

The only thing stopping me is the gunshot wound on her thigh. Doesn’t stop me from letting her see all the wicked promises in my eyes when I pull back, though.

A small shiver takes over her body as a slow smile curls her lips. “And what about a woman?” she asks, her eyes traveling over to Reva before coming back to me. “Can I show them my body, bossman?”

Images flash in my mind of Bailee tangled up in a sweaty mess with Reva, and my cock drips in hunger. Never really been attracted to Reva. She’s fucking gorgeous, and I’m a man, so if she had tried to fuck in the past and I wasn’t hooked to Heather or Bailee, I’d have bounced her off my cock. But she never made a move, and neither did I. Even now, thinking about those two together, the only thing turning me on about it is watching Bailee and the pleasure she’d receive.

Would it be hot as hell watching her fuck Reva? Damn straight. Would I ever allow it? Possibly, if it’s something Bailee really wanted. It’s not something I’m going to actively seek out.

My Hummingbird is enough for me.

Curiosity gets the best of me. “Ever been with a woman before, Hummingbird?”

“A few,” she admits huskily. “I’m not picky. If I’m attracted to them and I’m free, I’m game to get a little dirty.” She moves her head closer to mine, which tightens my hold around her throat. “You like getting dirty, bossman?”

“Lucky we got more important shit to do, baby girl. I’d show you just how dirty I like to get here in front of fuckin’ everybody.” Heat flashes in her hooded eyes, and I chuckle wickedly. “Yeah, you like that, don’t you, filthy girl? Like the thought of me abusin’ that pretty little cunt while everyone watches.”

As soon as I hear her whimper of agreement, I pull her in so I can cover her mouth in a short but heated kiss.

“You’re so confusing,” she says when I pull away. “One minute, I’m yours, and the next, you’re pushing me away. We’re on another fucking merry-go-round, Steel.”

I drop my hand so fast, as if her skin has suddenly caught fire and burned me.

Fuck. She’s right. I’m pulling us right back into the toxic bullshit.

Sitting back, I turn away from her and back to Reva, who is now watching us with curious eyes set behind furrowed brows.

“No dancin’. She works the floor, or she stays in the damn apartment. Am I understood?”

Reva nods. “Understood.”

My phone vibrates in my pocket, and I pull it out, my bad mood worsening as my ex’s name pops up.

HEATHER

When r u coming? Lyric is whining for her daddy.

Even through the text I can hear the normal bitter snarkiness. Heather loves Lyric, but she’s resentful of the bond my daughter and I have. Don’t know when the fuck she’ll realize her daughter loves her as much as she does me. Heather’s just too worried about everything else to notice it.

STEEL

Be there soon. Have her ready.

“Gotta go,” I tell Bailee. “Reva will take care of you. Need anything, you have my number. Be back as soon as I can.”

Climbing to my feet, I toss a fifty-dollar bill on the table. I hesitate because Bailee still needs help to the apartment, but I know if I don’t get to my daughter, I’ll have to deal with Heather’s bullshit.

“Just go, Steel. I’ll get there on my own.”

“I don’t mind looking after her, boss,” Reva says.

Her tone has me jerking my head her way with a scowl. “Keep your hands, mouth, and pussy to yourself, woman.”

I shoot Bailee one last heated look before I stride away.

The possessiveness I feel for Bailee is a huge warning sign that she’s burrowing under my skin faster than she should, just like she did seven years ago.

Or she never left.

Which means I need to get the fuck away from her even faster.

The farther I get from her, the more my skin tightens and the more the itching escalates.

After climbing into my Bronco, I rest my head back against the seat. I work on shoving the feeling so far down in my psyche that my skin loosens and the itching suddenly disappears, giving me instant relief.

No bitch is taking my freedom again. I don’t give a shit what I feel for her.

It’s a lot harder to do with Bailee in my life again because she’s got a hold on me that, despite my previous thought, I’m not sure I want to let go of.

But I will because she doesn’t fit in this life.

She never has.

Goddammit.

I’m so fucking screwed.