Casper was a big guy. He towered over Dom and me. Neither of us were small. Casper was just that big. Tattooed and known as the King’s enforcer, I had no interest in beefing with him.
“No worries. Let’s go shoot some pool.” I motioned for him to lead the way.
While Casper took the lead, Dom fell into step behind me, trapping me between the two of them. Sipping from what was left of my drink, I meandered along, weaving through the crowd behind Casper as he made his way toward the basement door at the back of the living room.
Dom hovered so close I felt the warmth of his body against my back. That minty aroma wafted around me. God he smelled divine. Such a shame that he checked all my boxes. He was the enemy. I would never forget that.
We descended into the basement to find a huge rec room filled with two pool tables and several old school arcade games. Weed smoke hung heavy on the air. Everyone’s voices meshed together into one cacophonous noise.
I spotted Rebel’s redheaded wife and her friends playing a few of the arcade games. That guaranteed the other Kings were nearby. As Casper had said, they were gathered around a pool table.
Rebel took his shot as we approached. Easily sinking three balls. He glanced up to find me with Casper and Dom, his expression changing into one of pure malevolence.
“We need to have words with you,” he said, tightly gripping his pool cue in one hand. “Care to explain what happened earlier tonight? I hear you fucked up an important deal for us.”
I held up a hand, shaking my head. “Hey, I didn’t know shit about your deal. I was there to do a job.”
“You saw Dom there first. You chose to interrupt.” Rebel batted the pool cue between both hands, his gaze locked on me. “I know the two of you like to pull this shit with each other, but this was not the time or place. If you know anything about the man you chased off, you better start talking. We have to find him and get this deal back on track.”
I studied Rebel for a moment, noting the way his hands clenched around the pool cue every time he moved it back and forth. Blue eyes flashing with rage. He had to be thinking about smashing me over the head with that cue.
Dom and Casper stood on either side of me while Rebel, Auryn, and Stray completed the circle. They were doing their best to appear intimidating. Not that they had to try very hard. The Kingswereintimidating. That had never stopped me though.
“I may have some information,” I said, choosing my words carefully. “Even if I share it with you, that doesn’t change the fact that I was hired to grab this guy. I’m supposed to deliver him to a specified location once I get my hands on him.”
“That can wait,” Dom jumped in. “We need to get our deal in place and have everything up and running first. Then you can have him.”
“How long is that supposed to take?” Refusing to let him set off my temper, I calmly observed him while sipping my drink. “I can’t drag this out forever.”
“It takes however long it fucking takes.” Dom turned to better face me directly. “Do you have a problem with that?”
I nodded, continuing to maintain my cool composure. “I do. If it takes me too long to grab this guy, they’re going to find someone else to do it. Wouldn’t that also fuck with your plans?”
Dom shoved closer, bringing us chest to chest. He glared hard into my face. “Stop trying to be such an antagonistic cunt and start telling us what we want to hear.”
“Or what, Dom? Are you going to find an excuse to put your hands on me? We both know how much you enjoy that.” Knowing exactly what I was doing, I winked.
As expected, Dominik lost it. He punched me in the face, adding to the damage on my already sore and swollen nose. I stumbled into Casper who stopped me from falling.
Since Dom expected a fight, I refused to give him one. Not this time. I did nothing to fight back.
Dom nodded. “You’re right. I did enjoy that.”
“No fighting.” Someone behind us shouted. A moment later, two of the frat guys that lived in the house emerged from the crowd. “Anyone who wants to fight has to take it outside. There’s a fight ring out there. If you scrap in the house, you get kicked out.”
“Sounds good to me.” Dom nodded towards the stairs. “Let’s take this outside.”
Scratching my chin, I pretended to think about it. “I don’t think I’m in the mood right now. Maybe some other time.”
Dom gaped at me, his expression becoming downright dangerous. “Don’t give me this shit. Get your ass up the stairs.”
I shook my head, calmly finishing the last of my drink. “As much as I’d love to beat your ass, you want it too much. And I’m not in the business of giving you what you want.”
I turned around to walk away, smirking to myself. He made this too fucking easy and enjoyable. Bracing myself for it, I was ready when he grabbed my shoulder and spun me around.
“You don’t get to walk away from me,” Dom snarled. “I’m not finished with you.”
Before he could take another swing at me, Casper grabbed his arm, pinning it behind his back. That only made my smug smile grow.
