He chuckles. “He’d be okay with you, but definitely not with me if I left you alone. Besides, it’s a bit early yet, and we need to get business over with.”
I nod, looking over to the table at the back of the bar, where El Jefe, Tipo, and Angel are sitting with Pedro and Alejandro. Angel didn’t say anything, but the guys told me what happened between him and Alejandro at the Pit. I’m really not looking forward to interacting with him at any point. I can’t hear what’s going on, I can’t even read their facial expressions, so I let myself get lost in the conversation with the guys, which is mainly listening to them flirt with the DRMC girls.
After what feels like hours, Angel finally approaches our table with a smile on his face.
“It’s a deal,” he says.
I breathe a sigh of relief and Tank and Pretty Boy cheer and shout, “Fuck yeah!”
“Thank God,” I say to Slim, who smiles at me.
“Good work, Beth,” he says.
“Yeah, good work, beautiful.” Angel leans down from behind me and kisses the top of my head.
“I’m just glad it’s all sorted.”
Angel pulls up a chair and takes a seat beside me as there’s no more room in the booth, though of course he gets as close as he possibly can.
“What about Frank?” Slim asks.
“Pedro said they’re gonna take care of him.”
He takes my hand and squeezes it, before bringing it to his lips for a kiss. He knows I’m not okay with this, that a part of me feels responsible. Logically I know I’m not, Frank’s actions are nothing to do with me, the deal was nothing to do with me, even Diablos Rojos retaliating isn’t on me, but being this close to it all is enough to make me feel like some kind of an accomplice. Murder isn’t something I can ever be okay with, no matter how much of an asshole Frank is. But it’s out of my hands, I’m not in a position to advocate for him, and ultimately I need to support Angel.
The fact that he’s being so calm about this is a reminder that before me, before the club went legit, this was his life. A life he’d been born into sure, but also a life he chose. They’re legit now, but he has a dark past, they all do. But with Diablos Rojos agreeing to the plan, and the deal with Frank at an end, their future doesn’t have to be dark.
“Anyway,” Angel says, “business is done, so that leaves you guys free to party.”
He grins as Tank and Pretty Boy each take a couple of girls by the hand and let them lead them away. Then pulls me to him as I get out of the booth to give Slim space to leave.
“I assume you’re both going to be okay?” Slim asks, and we both nod as he makes his way over to chat to a couple of girls who are waving at him.
Angel pushes me into the booth and slides in next to me, shielding me from the room before nestling his head between my neck and shoulder and inhaling deeply.
“I’m surprised you can smell anything other than booze and cigarettes.”
“That’s why I need to get so close to you,” he says, “I wish we could leave and get a hotel, but it would be rude when we’ve been invited to stay here.”
“It’s okay, I don’t mind staying. Although maybe we should try and get a room that’s far away from the others, I don’t want to be competing with multiple threesomes surrounding us.”
“Mmm, there’s no competition, princess. You sound better than all of them put together. But I am gonna go and ask what room we’re in. Wait here, okay?”
I nod, watching him walk over to the bar, but as soon as he’s gone, Alejandro appears in front of me. Shit. I roll my eyes, not needing this right now considering things are going so well with Angel again.
“It’s okay,” he says, “I’m going to stay a meter away with my hands raised. I just want to apologize.”
I gesture for him to continue and sit back, leaning away from him.
“I’m sorry for being such a dick to you when I was at the clubhouse, I know I came on way too strong, and I should have accepted your repeated no as an answer, I apologize.”
“Fine, apology accepted. You can go now.”
I turn away from him, not wanting him anywhere near when Angel gets back.
“I also wanted to ask you a favor.”
“A favor? After what you did to Angel… Diablo… are you fucking kidding me?”
