Page 52 of We The Depraved

I shush them and point to the phone and Damien gives me a disapproving look.

Fuck you too, buddy, I think as they disappear into the kitchen to find their brother.

I get nowhere with the phone call but by then Niki is shoving food into my hands and his credit card. It’s not until I’m pushing a piece of hot bacon into my mouth that I take in the fact that it has my name on it.

“What’s this for?”

“I have some things to take care of. Shop till you drop, but make sure you eat.”

“What?”

“Consider it an early marriage present,” he says. “I keep an extra car here as well, keys are hanging in the kitchen. Sage don’t think about doing anything stupid.”

His brothers chuckle behind him and then they all leave together. The house is quiet except for my thoughts.

When I’m finished with the food, I wash my dishes and then text Silver.

He got me a credit card, I say.

Laying back on the couch, I turn on the TV that I’ve found is actually inside of the floor. It rises up like a phoenix from ashes, already on and the volume down low. Maury’s on and I pull a blanket across me, getting comfortable.

When my phone rings again, it’s Yasmine and not Silver. This woman can dance on my nerves but I answer anyway.

“Hey boss,” she says.

“What’s up, Yasmine?”

“Nothing,” she says quickly. “We all heard about the fire. Are you okay? It’s been a few days since we’ve seen you.”

“I’m fine,” I tell her. “Just stuff, anyway, right?”

“I can…I can come by and check on you?”

Yasmine is trying to be helpful but she’s annoying me big time. “I’m just going to rest. But I’ll be in tonight. Everything’s been going okay at the club?”

Yasmine’s quiet for a few minutes. “Yes, everything’s fine.”

“Are you sure?”

“A few nights ago, a few guys came in….Gio dealt with them. They were gang members for sure. Flashing a lot of money. They got rough with Tasty. She quit…”

Christ. My mind begins to race.

This Row 27 problem is not going to fucking go away,I think.

Yasmine goes over the line up. Tasty was our best fucking dancer after me but I could make anyone a star on that pole.

“What about that new girl…”

“Who?”

“You know what….call an emergency meeting with the dancers!” I tell Yasmine, annoyed as hell.

Maury’s guests are going wild and running off the stage and I’ve got to adult and go into work and handle business like the fuckin boss I am.

I slip the credit card in the side pocket of the tights I’m wearing. I’ll take myself shopping after I get The Crescent back in running order.

CHAPTER16