Part 15 (1/2)
A hand comes to my arm, and I look to Princess.
”I get that you're freaked out. This isn't the life you were a part of before. This is our life. This is how we settle scores. If someone comes after us or ours, then we take them out.”
Princess proceeds to tell me several stories. One is of her fighting for her son Cooper when he was kidnapped by his biological mom, which shocked me. It ended with several dead. One is where the old president of the club was gunned down and the retaliation that took place. Then there were the things that happened to Blaze that are beyond terrible. However, the thing that sticks out to me most is that each of those men had each other's backs. They may put the club first, but they never hesitated to take care of the women and families.
”I don't know what to say.” I sit there, speechless, playing all the new information in my head over and over again.
”You are part of this life now. Dagger is your father, and we have enemies. Don't be surprised if you have protection of some sort.”
”What?” I breathe.
”There seems to always be s.h.i.+t going down or coming up. Protection happens, and with you not knowing this world, I'm sure Dagger will be extra cautious with you and your mother.” She raises her brows. ”What's going on there?”
I shrug. ”No clue. I've got enough going on.” I'm not sure how I feel with Dagger getting close to my mom again. I don't know where that would leave any of us in the long run. ”We'll be leaving as soon as we get the okay and Mom is better.”
”You're really going to go home?”
”Of course, why wouldn't we?”
She eyes me, and I feel a bit freaked by the inspection. ”Because you're sitting ducks up there.”
”We'll have to go back for the funeral.” That reminds me. ”I don't even know when that is, but surely my mother would need to go.” I make a mental note to do a Google search.
”You need to talk to Dagger about whatever you choose to do.” She eyes me skeptically.
”What?”
”Why do you want to leave? Guy at home or something?”
My mouth gapes. ”No. I wouldn't be with Rhys if I did.” Princess laughs. ”Seriously. I'm a hair stylist, and I need to get back to work for cash. I'm not hurting, but being off too long isn't going to do me any good.”
”Really?”
I nod.
”I could use you at the club,” she says.
”What club?”
”X. It's a strip club. Gotta have someone to keep the girls looking good. The better they look, the more money we make.”
”You own a strip club?”
”The club does, but it's my baby. I built it from the ground up. Blaze helps me run the place. I'll take you there sometime soon so you can see for yourself.”
I don't know whether to be flattered or run the other way. ”Thanks?” It comes out as more of a question than a comment.
”You sure are innocent. No wonder Rhys is drawn to you.”
”I told him what you said about him having someone else in his bed. I told him that I don't do that. It's either me or not.”
”s.h.i.+t,” Princess grunts. ”Oh, well. Good for you. I hope for your sake that it works out that way.”
I'm a bit confounded, but power on. ”You think he can do it?”
She shrugs. ”No idea.”
Bang, bang, bang comes to the outside of the door, and my eyes dart to it.
”Princess, open the f.u.c.k up. I need Tanner.”
Rhys. I don't know whether to be nervous or excited. He has me all twisted in knots.
”Come in,” Princess yells, and the door flies open, cras.h.i.+ng into the wall. ”d.a.m.n, be careful. Cruz hates to have to replace doors.”
”You're lucky all I'm doing is blowing your door off,” he growls, and with the s.h.i.+ver going down my back, I don't know if I'm excited or afraid.
”I know. I know. Tanner already told me. At least it's out of the bag, and you both know what you're getting yourself into,” Princess says as he stalks into the room.
He points at Princess. ”I'll have Cruz deal with you.” Those eyes meet mine as he pulls me from the bed by my hand. ”Come on,” is all he says as I wave bye to Princess, and she stifles a giggle.
He pulls me down the hallway.
”Rhys, where are you taking me?”
Two seconds later, we are in his room, and he has me up against the door, his lips on mine, devouring me. I melt into him. s.h.i.+t, he can kiss. What was I supposed to be thinking? Forget it.
The hardness of the door behind me makes this feel erotic and different. I've never had a man who needed me so badly he had s.e.x with me against a door because he couldn't wait. This would make twice that he's blown my mind doing these things.
Down on all fours, he takes me hard and rough. I love every second of it. So much so, I pa.s.s out.
”HOLY s.h.i.+T,” I whisper, walking into Studio X, the strip club that Princess runs. She insisted that I come with her tonight since the guys had club business and asked Ma and Cooper to stay with my mom. I didn't balk at the idea, because truth is, Princess is kind of scary, and I'm glad I'm on her good side.
The entire place is blood red and black. It gives off almost a cla.s.sy feel, if that is possible for a strip club. Men line the floor around the stage. A woman with only a thong and a small sc.r.a.p of fabric over her b.r.e.a.s.t.s works the huge stage while other women work the small side stages on either side of it. They line the whole back wall of the place. A huge bar with tons of people lining up to get orders is on the other. Small tables and chairs fill the s.p.a.ce, and lights flash every which way with a spotlight on the dancer on the big stage.
”Welcome to my baby,” Princess says, pulling me out of my amus.e.m.e.nt. ”This is X.” The smile on Princess's face is huge, showing me her pride in the place, and I can see why. Men hold up money like it's sc.r.a.ps of paper they found lying on the floor. Some are even throwing it at the dancer as she moves near them.
Between the whistles and the music, my ears are thumping hard.
”Come on. Let's go see if Blaze in the back.” She walks toward the back of the s.p.a.ce as I follow quickly through a heavy, velvet curtain where a guy nods at Princess and looks me up and down, a.s.sessing.
”You new here?” he asks in a deep voice, and my eyes widen.
He thinks I'm coming to strip here? No way. I would never have the guts to get out there in front of all those men and expose myself. Between my a.s.s and t.i.ts, I'm not sure I would fit the profile.
”No,” I say, making his smile falter.
”Shame. With an a.s.s like that, I'd love to give you a ride,” he says just as Princess steps in his face.
”Doug, this is Rhys's woman.”