Three

C lint exchanged an uneasy look with Cochise as they pushed through the entrance doors and into the dark entryway. The main club was dim, the only light coming from the stage area and the bar. There was no bartender in sight and the stage was vacant.

"What're we doing here?" Clint asked. "Where is everyone?"

"I told you," Axel said. "The club is closed to the public for tonight."

" Why is it closed?" Clint's dark premonition intensified.

"Max said we could use it."

"Use it for what?" Cochise growled.

"For our surprise."

Get out now! Clint looked back at the exit, then at Cochise. "I think we just walked into a trap."

The Egyptian nodded.

"Wait!" Axel grabbed Clint by the arm when the two men tried to make a break for it.

Kane caught Cochise before he took more than a step or two.

" Relax." Axel laughed. "This isn't a trap… per se."

"So, it is?" Clint muttered.

"Okay…" Axel shrugged sheepishly. "Maybe it is… a little."

"There is no little," Clint growled. "Either it is, or it isn't." Whatever the little shit had planned, Clint knew he wanted no part of it if he had to be tricked into coming there.

"Well, we kind of had to, or you wouldn't have come with us."

"And what does that tell you?"

"Um…" Axel chewed his lower lip thoughtfully. "… that you're stubborn? And if I want your cooperation, I have to use trickery?" He squinted and smiled sweetly.

Clint shook his head, knowing full well that Axel was playing on Clint's inability to resist him. "What is the surprise?"

"This." Axel gestured to the stage.

Clint frowned. "What…" he started, when two club boys walked out on stage, shirtless and wearing skin-tight black leather pants. Turning slowly to Axel, Clint snarled, " What… is this?"

Cochise stared at the strippers with the same savagery as pumped through the cowboy's veins just now.

"Well… it's like this…" Axel sidled up to Clint and playfully plucked at the front of his shirt. "I thought it might be a good idea to, um…" He cast a quick look at Kane. "… practice for our bachelor party."

The two gangsters exchanged a look of mild alarm. "Practice?"

Cochise craned his head at Kane. "Practice what?"

Axel and Kane glanced at the stage where the two club boys passed the time dancing together, swaying and gyrating against one another.

He's joking—he has to be. Clint watched the dancers for a tense moment. He can't be fucking serious.

"It's time to go," Clint insisted, his tone brittle. " This…" He gestured vehemently at the stage. "… is not happening." He turned on his boot heel and headed for the exit. Cochise's heavy footsteps weren't far behind.

"Wait. Wait." Axel caught up to him and grabbed his hand, halting the cowboy before he passed into the entryway. "Okay. I'm sorry for being sneaky. But it was the only way we could get you guys here. And we need to do this."

Clint exhaled hard. " Why?"

"Because…" Axel sighed and smiled small. "… you know that Cole and Gabe and the others will insist we dance on stage, like they did at their bachelor party. They won't let us leave until we do. And…" Axel inched closer, pressing his hips to Clint's crotch. "… I want to blow them away . They won't be expecting you and Cochise to provide much of a show. How shocked—and delighted—would they be if we did give them a show? A hell of a hot show."

Clint grunted. "There's very little I wouldn't do for you," he muttered. "But this…" he shook his head. "Sorry. Ain't nothin' getting me on that stage. Gabriel and his boys have another think coming if they think they're getting us up there."

The Egyptian nodded his agreement.

Axel gazed into Clint's eyes for a moment, then sighed and stepped back, hanging his head as he cast Kane a defeated look and a shrug. "You were right," he mumbled, genuine disappointment etched across his face. "We should've known they'd never go for it."

Kane smiled weakly. "We tried."

Walking to the edge of the stage, Axel spoke to the dancers. "Sorry, guys. It's a no-go. Thanks, anyway."

"What?" The taller of the two— Ricky , Clint thought was his name—hopped off the stage. "Seriously? But this would've been so much fun."

"I agree," Axel murmured and shrugged again. "But this isn't their thing. We shouldn't have even tried."

The boy's defeated expression niggled at Clint's heart.

No—not this time. He's just going to have to deal with the disappointment.

Kane stood beside Cochise, hands clamped weakly on his hips, eyes down, his earlier excitement drained away. Clint shifted his focus to the Egyptian who stared at his fiancé, face taut and brow pinched firm.

Stay strong, brother.

"Guys…" Ricky the stripper sauntered toward the men, hands splayed. "… come on. You'll have a blast. And it's just us. Nothing to be afraid of."

His face twitching, Clint wasn't keen on admitting he was scared to try something this new. Cochise stared at the stripper in silence, eyes narrowed to slits.

"Have you ever danced on stage?" Ricky asked Kane.

Kane laughed nervously. "No, of course not."

"But you're willing to do this—for your man?"

Kane swallowed and nodded. "Absolutely. I'm sure I'll make a fool of myself," he chuckled anxiously. "But I'd rather get through the awkward stuff now, when no one is watching, than later… at our bachelor party."

"Exactly." Ricky winked.

"It doesn't matter," Cochise growled. "No one is getting me on stage at the bachelor party."

Ricky and his partner—Levi?—cackled loudly. "You don't know the Phoenix boys as well as you think you do, then. Cole, Gabe, and Dane, especially, will haul you onstage, if necessary. They are relentless."

Clint remained steadfast. "Let ‘em try."

"Forget it," Axel said quietly to the boys. "It's over. They're not doing this. Thanks for coming down here."

"Seriously?" Levi whined. "I was all pumped up for these lessons."

Axel gave him a feeble smile. "Me, too. But it wasn't fair for us to trick them into coming here."

The cowboy grumbled inwardly and turned away from Axel as his heart began to hollow out.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

Axel returned to Clint and took his hand. "Let's go home," he whispered and headed for the exit.

God dammit.

Clint halted and yanked Axel to an abrupt stop. He let out a stiff breath. "Wait."

"What?" Axel stared at him.

Clint shot Cochise a tense look. The Egyptian's face twitched and he slowly, reluctantly nodded.

"Clint?"

"Uuh," Clint groaned and rubbed his face. "Okay. We'll… do it."

"You'll…" Axel was stunned, and he glanced at Kane who exhibited equal shock. Sighing, Axel shook his head. "You don't have to," he murmured. "I was wrong to do this, and I don't expect you to—"

"Stop arguing with me, boy," the cowboy muttered, "before I change my mind."

Axel smiled uncertainly. "But why…?"

Clint scowled. "For that right there, you little shit," he growled and tapped Axel's smiling face.