“That doesn’t mean we aren’t enemies,” I sighed. “I’m choosing a side in a war between these two clubs. I’m backing Las Balas.”
“Why? We both know how secretive they are. We don’t really know what they get up to.”
“Because my dad’s in the club,” I said, avoiding her eyes. If anyone knew about the strained relationship I had with the man, it was Piper.
“And someone has to be the bad guy in this story. You don’t want it to be him.” It wasn’t a question.
“He’s not always a good guy. I know that,” I said. “But I’ve heard that Outlaw Souls kill people. They don’t just attack Las Balas, they are a plague in La Playa with their drug running and the other shit they get up to. My dad always told me growing up that they were like a gang terrorizing the town. Blade can be as charming as he wants, but if he is a part of that, I don’t want anything to do with him.”
The truth was, I felt conflicted, but it was easier to shun Blade than to turn my back on everything I’d ever known. It was driving me crazy to be near him, and I turned that into anger. I could deal with anger, but this needy desire that Istillharbored for the guy was another story.
Piper took us by her apartment before we went to the bar so that she could change into something more suited for picking up men. I wasn’t worried about that, but she shoved a little black dress into my hands and insisted I put it on. I agreed, pulling it over my head, and checking myself out in the mirror, I saw it fell down about mid-thigh and looked good with my boots. I liked it.
When we went to the Copper Bar, it was busier than I expected for a Tuesday night. The parking lot was half-full, and we walked inside to see that there was a large group of people that had pushed a bunch of tables together. They seemed to be celebrating something, and most of them were men.
I went straight to the bar, ordering a shot and a Long Island iced tea. I tossed back the tequila, not bothering with the lime chaser. Piper ordered herself a drink beside me, sticking to beer.
“Starting off kind of strong, aren’t you?” She asked.
“I’m here to drink.”
“Then, allow me to buy that for you,” said a man’s voice from behind me.
I swiveled the barstool around to see a tall man with wavy blonde hair and blue eyes standing there. He looked like a representation of the perfectly typical white, American man. He was probably the quarterback of his high school football team and homecoming king. He just gave off that vibe.
Not my type, but if I could avoid handing over my cash, I would. Besides, I wanted to go home with someone tonight to get this need for Blade out of my system, and the guy that looked nothing like him was probably a good candidate.
“Thanks,” I said with a smile. “I’m Kat.”
“David.” He held out his hand, and I shook it. There was no electricity between us, but I didn’t have to have that with every guy I slept with, right?
“You with the party?” I asked.
“Yeah, it’s my friend’s birthday, so we figured we’d grab a few drinks.”
He spoke as if they were stepping outside the box by coming here. I wondered if it was because it was a seedy bar or if the day of the week was the issue.
“So, that’s why you’re here, buying me drinks?” I asked with a flirty smile. “Figured you’d take a walk on the wild side to celebrate this special occasion?”
“I’d like to.” He smiled, and I saw two rows of perfectly straight, white teeth.
I sipped my drink while we talked. It was nice and strong, exactly how I liked it. Which was good, because David might be physically perfect, but he was dull, and after making small talk with him for ten minutes, I needed the alcohol to keep enjoying myself.
I looked around and found that Piper was on the dancefloor, grinding between two guys that were also a part of David’s group. I finished off my drink and ordered another shot, enjoying the way the burn of the alcohol seemed to spread through my whole body. I slammed the empty shot glass down onto the bar and got off the barstool. The dress I was wearing rode up my thighs, but I didn’t fix it.
My head swam once I was on my feet, all the alcohol that I’d consumed quickly taking effect and making everything seem somehow more vibrant and muted at the same time.
“Let’s dance,” I said, grabbing David’s hand and leading him to the dance floor.
My long hair was down, and I whipped it around as I closed my eyes and let my body move to the music. David was with me, and I could feel his cautious touch as his hands rested on my hips. The music was coming from big speakers on each side of the stage, and the volume was so cranked up that I couldn’t even hear myself think. The heavy bass made my bones vibrate.
Suddenly, there was another set of hands on me, pulling me back into a hard body. My eyes flew open, but I knew who it was before I even saw him. It was clear in the way that every nerve ending in my body lit up like a firework. A rolling heat that was shockingly similar to the warmth I got from my tequila shot licked up my spine, and I arched my back so that my ass was pressed into Blade’s erection. I loved knowing that I got him so worked up.
“What the hell, man?” David said, stepping forward.
“Back off, All-American. She wantsme.”
I did, and my hazy mind couldn’t seem to hold onto the good reasons why I shouldn’t. I turned around in his arms and looked up at him. The lighting in here was dim, but I could see him clearly. His eyes were burning into mine, and he looked almost angry.
