Chapter 34

CHAPTER

THIRTY-FOUR

SPENCER

I stare at my reflection. I don’t know if this is what they meant when the girls said girls’ night, but I hope so because I feel hot. I’m wearing a little black dress, and when I say little, I mean little.

It’s short and tight.

The bust has a square neckline with thick enough straps that I can wear a regular bra beneath it. On my feet, I wear spiked red heels. My hair is styled in beachy waves down my back, and my makeup is light, except for my red lips.

“You can’t go out like that,” a deep voice grumbles behind me.

I don’t even have to look. He’s the only man in this house, but also, he’s the only man who would ever care what I looked like, aside from maybe Humble. Although I’m not sure if he would ever really notice what I was wearing. Humble has always been oblivious to that stuff.

I turn to face the familiar voice, my lips curving up into a grin. “I am wearing this,” I state. “Girls’ night means no men, just girls. Even if there were men, you’d have nothing to worry about, ever.”

He laughs softly, his shoulder leaning against the doorjamb. His arms crossed over his chest, his head tilted to the side, and his eyes on me and nowhere else. If we were in a crowded room, I would feel like the only woman in said room. This man right here knows how to make me feel desired and desirable all at the same time.

“I’m not worried about you, beautiful,” he says, pushing off the wall as he straightens himself.

Slowly, he makes his way toward me. One step after the other, his gaze never leaving mine. I am frozen in place, pressing my thighs together as I attempt to alleviate the ache between them.

Evan lifts his hand and places his palm against my belly before he speaks. “I’m not worried about you,” he repeats, his voice softer. “I’m worried about them. If any man even glances in your direction, I’m going to find them and kill them.”

His words come out on a growl. My heart skips a beat. This should not be as romantic as it feels. I know it’s crazy as hell, but I don’t care. I love it because I know he’s not being dramatic or exaggerating.

This man would kill for me.

And that is sexy as all sin.

“I don’t think there will even be any men there. Sal’s is closed, so we’re going to hang out there. Drink a little, eat a little, dance a little.”

At the mention of dancing, Evan’s brow arches. “Dance?” he asks.

I hum. “No men, just girls,” I remind him.

He gives me a grin. It’s sneaky and sexy. I love it. “Will you record it for me?” he asks.

I burst out laughing, mainly because of the way he said it. It’s clear that he’s just like every man in the world, and the thought of me and another woman dancing on that pole is exciting to him.

“If anything exciting happens, I’ll record it, but I’m telling you, nothing exciting is going to occur. It’s going to be us drinking, snacking, talking, and maybe dancing. Bren and Ophelia will be there, so I’m sure they’ll be giving out lessons again.”

He grins, nodding a couple of times before he takes a step backward. “When you’re ready to go home, you call me. I won’t be far.”

“Ophelia can probably take me—” I don’t get the rest of my sentence out. Because he interrupts me. He holds his hand up, effectively shutting me up. Then he leans forward, and I think that maybe he’s going to kiss me and mess up my lipstick, but he doesn’t.

“I’ll pick you up, beautiful. I want you tipsy and on the back of my bike in that dress.”

Well then.

Okay.

“Okay,” I breathe.

A few moments later, I’m sober and on the back of his bike in my dress as we head straight for the bar. Sal’s comes into view, and it looks a little ominous without the lights being on. There are a few cars in the parking lot. Evan pulls up to Ophelia’s, and I climb off his bike.

He doesn’t get off, but he also doesn’t let me walk away from him yet. He reaches out and wraps his fingers around my wrist, tugging me closer to him. Lacing his fingers with mine, I sink my teeth into my bottom lip as I look at him, watching him and waiting for what he’s going to say.

“Don’t forget,” Evan murmurs. “Anything sexy, record it,” he says.

Rolling my eyes, I shift my attention back to him and release my lip. “I’ll get right on that, but I’m telling you there won’t be any videos because we won’t be doing anything like that.”

Evan laughs and tugs me forward again as he shifts and then touches his lips to the center of my throat. “Text me when you’re ready, and I’ll come get you,” he rasps against my throat.

A shiver of desire slides down my spine. It’s been less than eight hours since he’s been inside of me, and I want him right now. I ache, my body is sore, but I still want him all over again.

Taking a step backward, I lift my hand and wave my fingers before I turn and head straight for the front door of the bar. I need to get away from him right now, or I’m going to climb into his lap and beg him to fuck me right here in this parking lot. I would feel zero shame at all. That is how he makes me feel.

I reach for the handle of the door, tug it open, and stop, turning my head to look over my shoulder at him. He’s watching me, his gaze focused on me and nowhere else. I feel like the only woman on earth right now.

When I give him a smile, he jerks his chin in my direction, and I slip inside the building. If I don’t go inside right now, I might not ever, and I’m excited about a girls’ night. Stepping into the bar, I am not surprised to see it empty, but there are only a few lights on around the bar, and that surprises me. I don’t even know why.

Moving through the space, I make my way toward the back of the club. Turning to the strip club room, I stop in the doorway. There is construction happening at the end of the hall, but it’s all blocked off, so I know this is where they must be.

Stepping into the room, I smile. Everyone else is in there. They’re sitting around and talking, drinks in their hands, music playing just loud enough in the background to be heard, but not too loud that anyone has to yell over it.

It’s perfect.

Observing them, I wonder if this is real life.

Do I finally have friends?

I never thought I would have a group, a posse of women. But I do. I move into the room and smile as I make my way toward the girls. As soon as they sense my presence, everyone stands and hugs me in greeting.

This is real. These are my friends, and I can finally breathe. I belong.

brEW

Starting my engine, I flick my gaze to the side of the building. As I jerk my chin, my lips curve up into a grin. There are two prospects standing guard. I know they won’t go inside. They wouldn’t dream of doing anything that could possibly jeopardize their position in the club.

They’ve had extensive background checks, like everyone else in the club. After the Loner fiasco and his being the grandson of the Southern Mafia leader in Shreveport, we decided to check everyone. That means there is a file on all of us, including me.

I feel safe enough leaving the women here with the prospects for the evening. On my way to the clubhouse, I decide to get some much-needed work done. I have schedules to do, and it seems as though my workload has quadrupled recently with all the new additions to what is going on with the Southern Mafia, keg deliveries, and warehouse transportation.

When I walk into the bar, I’m surprised to see that there isn’t much going on. A couple of guys are drinking, a few are playing pool, and only a couple of the whores are moving around. Nobody is naked yet, although the night is still young.

Wordlessly, I walk through the bar and into the conference room. A prospect brings me a beer and water before I can even sink down into a chair. I give him a two-fingered wave before I turn to the table and my iPad.

As my device powers up, I run my palm down my face. I really don’t want to do this shit at all. A few hours into my planning, there is a knock on the door. I don’t look up. Doesn’t matter who it is. I continue working, finishing up the last month I’m working on.

For the first time in what feels like a year, I’m three months ahead in everything but loan collections. I can’t go ahead with any of those without Clink since he’s the treasurer. Fuck. I miss that bastard.

“You got all your shit done?” Atomic asks as he slowly sinks down into the chair across from me.

I shake my head once. “Collections. I don’t know where we stand without Clink’s input.” Atomic jerks his chin, his gaze holding mine.

“I got all that. I’ll email you the latest standing. That all you need?” he asks.

I open my mouth to tell him yes when I hear glass breaking in the bar. We both jump to our feet and rush out of the conference room. Stopping just outside of the door, I stare in disbelief at what the fuck is going on.

What was a calm and easy night has exploded. We’re being raided. All of the men are on their stomachs, the women too. And there are cops surrounding them, guns and Tasers drawn. The shock wears off the moment one of them turns their gun on me and Atomic.

“Hit the ground,” the cop with the gun shouts.

They aren’t Pineville police or sheriff. They aren’t feds, and they aren’t fucking DPS either. I’m not getting down on the floor for anyone unless I know who the fuck they are.

“Warrant?” I ask.

I cannot believe our brothers are on the fucking ground without seeing a warrant. They’re better than that. We all are. Atomic snorts beside me, and I can feel him shift. He crosses his arms over his chest, allowing me to take the lead, but I have no doubt he’s ready to pounce if need be.

The cop takes a step closer to me, and I realize that he’s HIDTA, High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area. They’re fucking helping the DEA and ATF. Goddammit. God- fucking -dammit. What the fuck? Where did they come from?

“I don’t need a warrant. I have probable cause. So get the fuck on the ground.”

“Where the fuck do you come off with probable cause?” Atomic growls.

And then I realize what the fuck is going on because the door to the bar opens and in walks Jasmine.

What the actual fuck?

“Good evening, Brew,” she purrs.

The cop smirks, obviously loving the expression of shock I’m wearing on my face. I don’t know what the fuck this bitch could have said. I never told her shit, but she’s been around for ten years, so she no doubt watched and picked up on things. I’m just not sure what the fuck she’s been picking up on.

“What the fuck?” I ask.

She makes a tsking sound with her mouth, then stops right at the edge of the cop circle, across the room from me. It’s a good thing she’s not closer because I am beyond ready to slap the fuck out of her right now.

“This is you getting what you deserve,” she purrs.

Flicking my gaze to the cop who has his gun pointed at me, I snort. “You’re going to believe a scorned woman?” I ask.

“Look around,” Atomic states. “We got nothing to hide.”

The cop arches his brow, and I watch as his confidence wavers a bit. Everything on my iPad that’s sitting out is in code. All of it is tied to the keg business, and to the onlooker, they wouldn’t know that it included anything other than kegs of beer being delivered.

They are not going to find shit, and I hope to fuck that Jasmine goes away for making a false report. I smirk, thinking about it. I can’t imagine a group this specialized and busy would appreciate a false report.

I am going to laugh when they haul her ass away instead of any of us because I know that is how it’s going down.

I’m going to make sure of it.