Max returned a few minutes later, kissing me and telling me he'd see me later. I vaguely remembered muttering something to him before I buried my head under the pillow. I needed to rest up because if this was only a preview of tonight's main event, I was going to need the energy. And a bartender who adored me enough to water down my drinks. Tonight was not the time for a bad case of whiskey dick.
Chapter Eight
Enzo
While I didn't thinkTony hooked up with Max because of where he worked, now that we were all together, I realized there were benefits to dating one of the bartenders. Because everyone knew Tony and Max were a thing, despite Tony's insistence they weren't a couple, we were ushered past the line of fans waiting to get inside for the show. Once inside, Jordan, one of the other bartenders, caught our attention and let us know there was a table reserved for us to the side of the stage, far enough back we wouldn't have our eardrums ruptured by the speakers, but close enough to enjoy the show.
But the biggest benefit was revealed to me throughout the night. Early in the evening, drinks magically appeared at our table, always mysteriously paid for by someone else. The waiter never said who, but when I glanced over my shoulder and caught Max looking at me, I knew.
A few songs into the band's first set, our party decreased by one. I leaned to my left, close enough that Freddie would hear me over the shrill riffs of the guitar. "Peter okay?"
"Yeah, he... Uh... He had something to take care of," Freddie stammered. Like the rest of us, he was a shit liar. Something was going on, but if Freddie thought we needed to know, he'd tell us.
I turned my attention back to the band, dancing along to the beat. I hadn't heard of this group before, but Max had been raving about them all week. They definitely lived up to his hype.
As the lead singer thanked everyone for coming out, there was activity to my right. When they noticed me watching them, my brothers and Levi huddled closer, cutting me off from their conversation. Weird.
"I'm going to get another drink," I told no one in particular since Tony was off either flirting with Max or taking a leak.
Freddie's hand clamped around my arm. When I looked back, he looked nervous. "Where's Tony?"
"Hell if I know," I shot back. "Not my night for Tony watch."
"Shit!" he snarled. "You need to find him. Quick."
"What's going on?" Now I was getting nervous. Peter still hadn't returned, my brothers were all acting weird, and Freddie was practically vibrating with anxiety. "Did something happen at home? Is Mama okay?"
"Yeah, she's fine," he reassured me. "Just trust me, you need to find Tony and get him back in that seat in the next two minutes."
"No pressure, right?" I scoffed. "Seriously, you going to tell me what's going on?"
"Nope. Sorry, but you need to trust me on this one," he pleaded. "It'll be worth it."
I shoved my way through the bar, muttering the entire way because this was bullshit. Freddie could've left the domineering bullshit at home for the night. If this was what the rest of the night was going to be like, I'd much rather sneak out the back door and send the guys a text saying I'd meet them back at the apartment. It was hard enough trying to remember I couldn't reach out and touch Max or lean over the bar for a quick kiss the way Tony did when he handed me a drink, I didn't need my brother's shit too.
"Hey, you okay?" Max asked when he stepped in my path, sliding his hands down my sides. I stiffened briefly, relaxing as Max leaned close enough to whisper in my ear. "Settle. I can see all the guys and none of them are looking this way."
He stole a quick kiss then pulled me into the hall. I rested my head against his chest, grateful for his calming presence. "Have you seen Tony? Freddie's got a burr up his ass and is demanding I have Tony back in his seat within two minutes."
"What about me?" Tony asked, stepping out of the employee restroom. Add not standing in line when you have to piss to the list of perks.
"Freddie's losing his shit because you're not out there," I told him. I leaned in, pressing my lips to Max's one last time before heading back. "Thanks. Sorry, I freaked for a second."
"Totally understandable," he reassured me. "Get out there and enjoy the rest of the show. Jordan's offered to close so I can join you once it slows down a bit."
"You don't—" Max cut me off before I could finish my sentence, sealing his lips over mine.
"I know I don't have to, but I want to." He gave me a gentle shove and swatted my ass. "Now go, before your brothers come looking for you."
I led Tony back through the sea of people, most of whom were taking advantage of the intermission to refill their drinks. Tony and I took our seats, and I tried to ignore the way the rest of our group eyed us.
The stage lights came to life, but there was no sign of the band. I looked around, trying to figure out if this was some sort of technical issue, when Max ran onto the stage, reaching for the microphone.
"If I can have your attention, please." His voice boomed through the room and the music from the jukebox came to an abrupt halt. All eyes turned to Max, who was walking directly towards us. "Tony, Enzo, it's a little early, but it was important to your brothers you all be able to celebrate together. And they've asked this wonderful woman to join you for the rest of the night's festivities."
He turned back to the audience, holding up a hand to silence the cat-calls and whistles. "Ladies and gentlemen, please put your hands together and give a warm welcome to tonight's very special guest, Miss Marilyn Monroe!"
The noise grew to deafening levels as Marilyn glided across the stage with her perfectly coifed blonde wig and diamond drop earrings glinting in the light. Max held out a hand to her, escorting her to the center of the stage where he carefully removed her faux-fur stoll, revealing a low-cut, skin-tight gown. While it was probably what would be considered champagne or something similar, under the stage lights, the dress appeared the same shade as her skin, the rhinestones shimmering.
