damian

“Talie is gonna work at the club?” Ash asked in disbelief.

I sipped my whiskey. “Yes. I already had the NDAs drafted for all the employees to sign before she comes in.”

Rhyett stared at me from across the table with a hint of a smirk. “How’d she talk you into that?”

“Things have changed. She doesn’t completely hate me anymore.”

Ash barked out a laugh. “Holy shit. You slept with her, didn’t you?”

His question earned a glare from the women who were at the table near ours. Ash shot them a polite smile before focusing back on our conversation. We were at an upscale restaurant in the city, having drinks before I had to meet my father.

“Where is she tonight?” Rhyett asked.

“With her sister.”

Ash arched an eyebrow. “You don’t know where she is?”

“I’m not her keeper. She’s my wife,” I ground out. “I know she’s not getting herself in trouble.”

“Fuck,” Ash muttered, reaching for his wallet. “You did sleep with her.”

Rhyett had a shit-eating grin on his face when Ash shoved a thick wad of bills onto the table. Rhyett grabbed it and made a show of counting as Ash caught the attention of the waitress to order another round of drinks.

I watched their interaction with a frown. “Did you two bet on when I’d sleep with her?”

Rhyett scoffed. “Hey, I lost thousands five years ago after you two got married. Back then, I’d given it only a month.”

I scrubbed a hand down my face. “Keep my marriage out of your damn bets.”

“Is it real?” Rhyett asked quietly, meeting my eyes. “Or are you two still playing your games?”

Ash snorted. “When wasn’t it real? The only two who didn’t realize it was Damian and Talie.”

“Yes, it’s real,” I sighed. “At least I hope so. She still isn’t ready to let me all the way in.”

I had to admit the last week since we talked, she had opened up more than I expected. Though she wasn’t fully happy—and I had a feeling she wouldn’t be if we stayed in this life where she didn’t have the freedom she craved.

Ash shrugged. “She will. You two would have ended up together, even if the marriage didn’t happen.”

His confidence made me chuckle. Before I could respond, a shadow fell over the table, and I turned to see Percy standing there. My good mood faded in a heartbeat, and I leveled him with a hard stare.

“What do you want?” Rhyett asked bluntly.

Percy glanced at the empty chair at our table, shifting on his feet when none of us offered it to him. He pursed his thin lips, pulling the chair out and sitting down, anyway.

Setting down my whiskey, I crossed my arms. “What the hell are you doing here?”

“I was at the bar when I saw you three,” he said, lifting his chin. “I thought we could chat, since I never see you at the club anymore.”

My jaw clenched. “I’ve been busy. You have my number.”

“Can we talk?” His eyes darted around. “In private?”

Rhyett grumbled something under his breath while plucking some bills from the cash Ash had given him. He tossed enough on the table to cover the bill before the three of us stood up.

“Wait,” Percy sputtered, jumping to his feet. “I meant only Damian.”

We ignored him, striding toward the exit.

Percy followed behind us, his quiet arguments only shooting bitter annoyance through me.

He knew better than to approach us in public.

The crisp night air hit when we stepped outside where the valet was.

An employee quickly walked over, giving us a smile.

Sliding my hand into my slacks pocket, I pulled out the ticket stub, handing it to him.

Ash did the same while Rhyett was openly glaring at Percy.

“You have until my car gets here,” I said, turning my attention to Percy. “What do you want?”

His eyes flashed with anger, and he straightened his spine. “You think you can disrespect me?—”

I checked my watch. “You’re wasting your time. Spit it out.”

“I haven’t seen the books in months,” he forced out through clenched teeth.

“No reason for you to see the books,” Ash drawled. “You get your money.”

“I helped build that place,” Percy snapped, his hand curling into fists. “You can’t push me out.”

I arched an eyebrow. “No one is pushing you out.”

“I want us to open a second club.”

My eyes grew cold as I stared at him. “I already gave you an answer. It will never fucking happen. If that’s all?—”

“I can ruin you,” he hissed in a low voice, getting in my face. “If your father found out, what would he do? Or better yet—your father-in-law. I might not know the details, but I’m aware how important it is that they don’t find out.”

Anger scorched my veins as I leaned closer, forcing him to tilt his face up to hold my glare. “Try it. Then you know what happens? The money you siphon from our fucking hard work will dry up. Then where will you be?”

Ash and Rhyett remained silent, standing on either side of me.

It was the three of us who got Club Facade to where it was—not Percy.

Years ago, when he loaned us money, I figured that would be it.

I should have known the sleazy fuck would drag it out and blackmail me for all he could get.

Now, I wondered where the hell he got the money we borrowed, because it became quickly apparent he wasn’t the super wealthy business tycoon he portrayed himself to be.

“Stop fucking threatening me when you have nothing,” I warned him in an icy tone. “You’ll keep getting your money if you keep your mouth shut.”

His nostrils flared. “I want more. I know the club is doing well.”

Ash scoffed, his eyes trailing over Percy in disgust. The club was doing more than well. Ash did the books, and this year we’d nearly tripled our profits. If we wanted, we could open a second club, but if it ever happened, Percy would never be a part of it.

“Get fucked,” Rhyett hissed, his patience already snapping. “You get more than enough.”

Percy licked his lips, his face turning red. “Be careful, Damian. You’re not untouchable. I know why you’ve stepped back from the club. That little piece of ass who came home?—”

I grabbed the collar of his suit, yanking him close before my brain caught up with my actions. Even then, I didn’t give a fuck who was watching. Red edged my vision as Percy sputtered out demands to let him go. My SUV pulled up along the curb behind him, but I only tightened my hold on his collar.

“Talk disrespectful about my wife again—or talk about her at all—and I swear on fucking everything, it’ll be the last thing you do,” I growled menacingly.

Fear slid across his face as he grabbed my wrists, attempting to break my hold. “You can’t hurt me. I want my fucking money,” he stammered out. “Or I’ll ask your wife for it.”

He cursed at me when I shoved him back, slamming him into the side of my car. He choked out shallow breaths as I fought to stay in control.

“I’ll sue,” he rushed out. “Get you arrested. Then I’ll take the club.”

I leaned down, making sure he heard every word.

“Do it. I’ve tolerated your bullshit for years, because you aren’t worth my time.

But for my wife? I’ll happily sit my ass in jail for dealing with anyone who disrespects her.

Stay away from her. This is your only fucking warning.

” My voice dripped with threat as I continued.

“If you try to get rid of me, the club goes down too. It’s nothing without me, and you know it. ”

His Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed thickly, his glare filled with fury. I took a step back, finally releasing his collar. He adjusted his suit before messing with his slicked hair, his eyes darting around.

“We have a problem, Percy?” Rhyett drawled.

“No,” he snapped, already scurrying away until Rhyett moved in his way.

“No more coming to the club,” I ordered. “You’ll get your money, but you don’t need to be there for it.”

He jerked a nod, not looking at me as he rushed back into the restaurant. The valet employee slowly walked up to me, dropping the key into my hand without a word. I quickly pulled out cash, giving him a large tip. Ash let out a low whistle, sliding his hands into his slacks pockets.

“I’ve never seen you lose it like that.” He let out a small laugh. “You have it bad for your wife.”

Rhyett scoffed. “When hasn’t he?”

I shot a glare at both of them. “You realize we weren’t together for five years. If I have it as bad as you two think, I wouldn’t have let so much time pass.”

Ash raised a brow. “Bullshit. You didn’t bring her back because you wanted her to be happy. Don’t try to lie to us when we’ve been the ones by your side since we were kids.”

My phone dinged, and I pulled it out of my suit jacket, reading my father’s text as a frown formed on my lips. He was already waiting, which meant he was going to be in a mood when I arrived.

“I have to go,” I grumbled. “I’ll see you two at the club tomorrow night?”

“You’re bringing Talie?” Ash questioned, still looking unsure about it. “I know you two are working things out, but you can’t blame me for worrying a little.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “If you do anything to get her mad again, she’ll take more than your money. The club is everything to you.”

“She won’t,” I assured him. “I won’t give her a reason to get angry again.”

Rhyett snickered. “Oh, you will—let’s just hope you don’t piss her off as much as you did back then.”

“Before I forget,” Ash spoke up, his eyes glittering with excitement. “That favor you asked about a couple weeks ago? It’ll be done by the end of the week.”

I met his gaze, a smirk tipping my lips. “Thanks, Ash.” I unlocked my SUV as I rounded the hood. “Make sure you tell Kal about Percy. I was serious about him not going to the club anymore.”

“Thank fuck,” Rhyett mumbled. “I can’t stand that dick.”

None of us could. Before last year, he had been tolerable, but now he wouldn’t stop demanding more and more. I was fucking done with it. One way or another, we were going to have to push Percy out. Especially since Talie was now involved. He wouldn’t be going anywhere near her.