“No, I haven’t. And if polite conversation is flirting, then bring in Tundra, Evict, Chain, and any other brother who works here so they get the same talking-to.”
Volt sauntered to the desk and propped a hip on the corner. “You’re right. You don’t flirt any more than the rest of the brothers.”
“Glad you see that, Prez.”
Volt crossed his arms on his chest. “But we’re all concerned about where your head is at with Ava. You lost your shit after the attack, you spent all your free time at the hospital. Once we knew it was Prime behind it, you offered to get arrested to seek vengeance against him. Last night, you threw down so hard, I thought it was because they wanted to frame you… but you calling her your woman got everyone’s attention.”
Punc swallowed hard just thinking about last night. He’d been so swept up in his rage, he didn’t even remember the things he’d said. He met Volt’s dark gaze. “She and my sister are thick as thieves, Volt. She’s family, and you got no idea how much I wish I’d stopped her from dancing. If I’d done that, no matter how pissed she’d have been, she wouldn’t have been beaten to hell and back.”
Volt nodded. “Yeah, quit thinking that shit. If it hadn’t been her, it’d have been another dancer.”
“Wouldn’t be so sure,” Yak muttered. “Prime’s text to Ghost said Punc was the perfect mark for her murder because Prime saw him hanging with her outside the Platinum’s. Add to that, Ava single-handedly packed the house that night, and dozens of men are countin’ down the weeks before she hits the stage again if the TikTok comments can be trusted.”
Punc twisted his face toward Yak. “She isnotdancing again.”
Yak shrugged.
Turk shook his head. “That’shercall when the time comes. And if there’s nothing going on with you and her, then it damn sure isn’t your call. I’ll remind you, again, there’s no fraternization with the dancers.”
Punc struggled to keep his temper in check. “I haven’t fraternized with any of the dancers, Turk. Flirting isn’t fraternization.”
Volt straightened from the desk. “Technically, you’re right, Punc. It isn’t. Bottom line, keep it professional with the women.”
By some miracle, he kept his tone neutral. “No disrespect, Volt, but are Tundra, Evict, and Chain gonna get the same spiel? Singling me out when I haven’t done a damn thing wrong is whacked.”
Volt’s head tilted in concession. “They’ll get the same message.”
Punc lifted his chin, but couldn’t keep himself from asking, “If for some reason, shit changes, what then? Are you gonna fire her? Do I lose my patch?”
Volt crossed his arms and heaved a sigh. “We don’t strip patches for shit like that. But you need to see this from a woman’s perspective, Punc. Not hard for them to construe something as harassment when you thought it was something harmless.”
“She’s family, Volt. I’m protective of her, so I won’t harass her. Especially not with all the shit she’s been through,” he said in a tight tone. His stomach twisted at the idea of Savannah being harassed by anyone.
A sense of relief stole over him knowing he wouldn’t lose his patch if he “fraternized”with Savannah. That posed the ultimate challenge. He intended to protect her. Sleeping on her couch the past few days put him in such close proximity, every night, he fought the temptation to climb into her bed. After catching five hours of sleep with her this morning, he’d be even more tempted.
He locked eyes with Turk. “Full disclosure, I’ve been sleeping on Savannah’s couch since she got out of the hospital because Iwasn’t going to leave her and her sister alone when the asshole who beat her could still be out there.”
The satisfied expression on Turk’s face was just shy of full-on gloating. “Now that Prime has been taken out, and Ghost is in jail, you won’t have to do that any longer.”
He bit his tongue in an effort to keep himself from speaking or reacting in any other way. Rather than give Turk a chin lift, he turned to Volt. “Is there anything else?”
Volt stared at him longer than necessary, like he knew there was more to Punc’s story than met the eye. He dragged a hand down the side of his face. “No.”
Yak pushed forward from where he leaned against the wall. “You got today and tonight off. Catch up on your sleep.”
12
She's Dancing
Savannah
Present day, five weeks later…
MykeysjangledasI rushed into the kitchen for my insulated water bottle and cell phone.
Catalina blocked the front door. “Are you going back to Platinum’s?”
“I’ve helped Desiree and Lucy with their routines for the last five weeks, Cat. Today’s no different.”
