Tyson’s not the kind of guy who wants you to think he rules the world. No, he’s the type of man who doesn’t give a fuck who does. He’s not afraid to go toe-to-toe with anyone. And I’ll bet on him every time.
He nods his head a few times, and I watch Alex and Jenks turn back around. Alex places his wrist under a keypad, and the door pops open. They enter, and I watch my husband fall into the driver’s seat, start up his car, and drive off as Colton and Jenks go to a black Escalade.
I turn on my lights and find a parking spot as close to the back entrance as I can and head inside.
“Hey,” I say to Beau over the thundering bass.
He turns to look at me. “Oh, thank god, Lake. We could use the help.”
I figured. I’m going insane being locked up in the house. At least here at the apartment, I had the club downstairs. I don’t want to just sit around the house waiting for my husband to come home. I can help him out here.
Beau turns and picks up his cell from underneath the bar and types out a message, then nods to me. “When will you be ready?”
Smiling, I remove my jacket, and he grins back at me when he sees I’m dressed and ready to go.
* * *
The club is packedlike usual. I’ve got my section plus half of Nicki’s. She had to go home because she was sick. If I’m being honest with myself, I’m not feeling all that well either. I’m just so tired. My body exhausted.
It’s been three days since Tyson fired Bethany, and I’ve overheard him talking on his phone about how hectic it’s been here. With her gone and another sick, they’re all having to pick up the slack.
I’ve been here for an hour and haven’t had a chance to breathe. I’m ordering some drinks from Beau, sweating my ass off in the packed club.
“Lake?” I hear my name being called out.
“Yeah?” I turn to see a blonde who I don’t know standing behind me. “Can I get you something?” I ask, wondering if she’s sitting at one of my tables.
“There’s a woman in the bathroom asking for you.” She points back at the hallway toward the women’s restroom.
I frown but leave my tray and turn to follow her. We make our way to the women’s restroom, and I open the door to see a familiar face standing in front of one of the sinks. “Bethany?” I ask, going over to her. “Are you okay?” My hands go to her arms. Her brown eyes meet mine, and she’s got a black eye along with a cut lip. “Jesus, what happened to you?”
“I need to speak to Tyson.” She crosses her arms over her chest, running her hands up and down her arms nervously.
“He’s not here,” I tell her, and she begins to cry. “What’s going on?”
“I messed up.” She bows her head, and her shoulders start to shake.
“What did you do, Bethany?” If she knows she did something wrong, then it must be bad.
“I’m … I’m sorry,” she cries, burying her face in her hands.
“How about we call him?” I offer. “You can talk to him, okay?”
“He won’t talk to me.” She sniffs.
“We’ll call from my cell. It’s in my locker. Come on.” I grab her hand, not letting her say no, and pull her out of the restroom into the flashing lights and pounding bass. We make our way down the hallway to the locker room, and we step inside. I open my locker and pull out my cell. “Here.” I pull up his contact, press call, and hold it out to her.
She sniffs a few times, trying to calm her breathing. Putting it to her ear, she shakes her head and hands it back.
I put it to mine. “You’ve reached Tyson. Leave a message.”
Beep.
“Hey.” I turn my back to her and take a few steps away to put some distance between us and lower my voice. “Don’t be mad, but I came to Blackout tonight to help while you’re out and I don’t know what’s going on, but Bethany is here and wants to talk to you. We’re calling from my cell, but I’m going to put it back in my locker, so when you call back, call the club. I’ll have her sit at the bar and wait. She’s crying and very upset.” I hang up and turn to face her.
“I told you he won’t talk to me.” She rubs the tears underneath her eyes.
“He’ll call back. Come sit at the bar while you wait to talk to him.”
