Total pages in book: 145
Estimated words: 142728 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 714(@200wpm)___ 571(@250wpm)___ 476(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 142728 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 714(@200wpm)___ 571(@250wpm)___ 476(@300wpm)
Good for you, buddy.
He throws a punch and I easily dodge it, shifting my upper body to the side and laughing. “That’s all you got?” I taunt.
He tries again and I weave the other way, avoiding the hit.
Throwing my fists up, I step closer, drop my shoulder and jab at him. Once. Twice. Jaw. Chest. I only throw a fraction of the force I’m capable of behind the punches. I want to teach him a lesson, not kill him.
He stumbles against the wall, then pushes away from it, launching himself at my midsection.
I only have a second to brace for the impact that drives me across the room into the other wall. This time, I fire off a left hook with more power behind it. His head snaps back. I let loose with another shot to his ribs. He stumbles to the side but stays on his feet.
“You had enough?” I ask, preparing to crack him again.
“I’m gonna sue you,” he mutters.
I roll my eyes. “I’m shaken to my core.”
“Your buddy’s waitin’ for you outside,” Malik says. I turn and he grins at me. “Gave up quick, that one.”
I wiggle my jaw, feeling something crack into place. “Great. Glad I got the feisty motherfucker.”
From his position on the floor, the guy stares at my knees, like he’s planning to tackle me.
“I wouldn’t if I were you,” I warn. “I’ve gone easy on you so far.”
“I got this.” Malik pats my shoulder and pushes past me, yanking the guy up by his collar and dragging him out the door.
“You’ll hear from my lawyer!” he yells as he passes by.
In the hallway, a bunch of dancers crowd around me, cooing like I’m an injured toddler. Several of them offer to fix my injuries “in private.”
“I’m fine.” I brush them off. “Go back to work.”
Ravage appears at the end of the hallway, thumbs hooked in his pockets, grinning like a fool. “Looks like I missed a good time, bro.”
I meet him and start walking toward my office. Pushing back my sleeve, I glance at my watch. “You’re early.”
“You sounded stressed earlier. So I thought I’d give you a break.” He jerks his head toward the front of the club. Stash waves at me from a barstool. “I brought reinforcements.”
“Reinforcement or distraction for Willow?” I ask.
“Good point.” Rav chuckles. He cocks his head as if he’s listening to the music, then wrinkles his nose. “What’s with all the pussy-licking music? You trying to give these guys ideas to take home to their wives?”
Since I hate everything that seems to be “bumpin’” right now, my opinion on the playlist is irrelevant. The girls and the DJ pick out their music. As long as they’re making bank, I don’t give a fuck what comes out of the speakers. “The girls know what music works for them. If they start pulling in less cash, they’ll switch it up.”
I point at one of the speakers overhead. “What’s the matter, that line about small dick energy rubbing you the wrong way?”
He snorts with laughter. “Speaking of rubbing dicks—”
I hold up one hand and squeeze my eyes shut. “Can we not. I have more important things to talk about.”
I fill him in on the Inga situation and a few other things, then take off.
Hoping like hell Emily’s willing to give us a chance.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Dex
Since we built the new clubhouse next to Crystal Ball, I’ve been spending a lot of nights there after work. It’s just easier to walk a few feet and crash than it is to ride the half hour out to the outskirts of Empire County to the compound where our main clubhouse is nestled.
Tonight, as I straddle my bike and steer toward the highway that will take me to Emily’s house, a rush of excitement washes over me. Night riding, when the roads are less crowded and the darkness surrounds me, has always been my favorite. The possibility of a deer jumping out of nowhere and splattering my body along the highway keeps the ride interesting.
I pull into her driveway and shut down the engine, sitting in the sudden silence for a moment. After the long ride, the ache in my jaw and knuckles is a relentless, annoying throb.
I pull out my phone and check to make sure there haven’t been any more problems at work, then shut the damn thing off.
Emily will have my full attention.
I’m keenly aware she could decide she wants to end things. Having your man work in a strip club isn’t something she’ll be proud to tell her friends. Or her little sister.
Don’t go worst-case scenario.
My boots seem to thunder over the concrete as I step onto the porch and knock on the door.
Emily
My stomach flutters as I approach the front door. Not the merry butterflies that usually swoon and dip every time I’m near Dex. No, this feels more like a swarm of carpenter bees drilling holes in the foundation of our budding relationship.