The walls were painted a modern slate grey, and the chairs and tables that were strewn throughout the room were made of industrial metal, identical to the stools lined up next to a brushed-steel bar that ran up one side of the room.
The overhead lights, the type you’d find hanging over pool tables, helped brighten the cool, dark room, which only added to the sleek, edgy vibe. It reminded me of a trendy New York basement bar which had been decorated in the industrial style,and as a budding architect, I could see the beauty in every stick of furniture and lick of paint.
My attention was caught by a girl hooting out a loud laugh as she clambered onto a table and started gyrating in time to the music. The bikers circling her looked up, laughing and shouting words of encouragement as she whipped her top off and began to shimmy her naked boobs in time to the music.
Heat burned my cheeks, and I lowered my gaze to avoid the suspicious looks being thrown my way, mostly by the women. It was crazy how I’d spent years being raised in a bar, but when it came to this place, I felt completely out of my depth.
We headed through a set of double doors at the far end of the bar into a corridor, and I spied what seemed to be a large kitchen at one end. Bootneck nodded in the opposite direction and led me down the hallway, passing some offices and rooms with the doors ajar and the lights turned off.
“Pagan’s in his office at the end,” Boot informed me, holding up my bag. “I’ll take this up to his room.”
“Thanks,” I said, smiling nervously and continuing past him until I reached the last door. Raising my hand, I knocked, waiting for Pagan’s grunt before pushing it open.
I opened my mouth to call out an enthusiastic hello when my gaze fell on Saskia sashaying toward me.
My mouth gaped.
Well shit.
“Hey, Aislynn. Long time no see,” she greeted with a smirk as she breezed past me.
My lip curled, and before I could think, I bit out, “Fuck off, Saskia.”
“A joy as usual,” she said, her tone full of sarcasm.
“Wish I could say the same,” I muttered, my eyes sliding accusingly to Pagan as she left the room.
He studied the closed door for a beat, and then his stare came to me. “I assume by that reaction, you’re not a Saskia fan?” he asked dryly. “What’s the beef?”
My eyes narrowed on him. “Don’t play dumb. You know the beef, and the reason I know that you know the beef is because you don’t miss anything. You’re like a damned hawk.”
He sighed. “Okay, you’ve got me, but the first I heard about it was the day after the Shamrock party. By then, it was too late. She was already in.”
“She hurt Maeve,” I snapped.
His mouth thinned. “So I’ve heard.”
“Mae threw Callum out,” I ranted. “Their marriage is probably over because of Saskia and my cousin’s stirring. My mam’s stressed, Callum’s a mess, and Maeve’s so hurt, I’m not sure she’s even gonna be okay. And through it all, we’re still grieving my dad, who died a matter of weeks ago.”
He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his desk. “It’s why I called the bitch in here. Told her if she starts that shit in my club, or with you, she’s out.”
“Snakes might shed their skins, Aiden,” I went on. “But underneath the shiny new exterior, they’re still snakes.”
He sat back again and crooked his finger. “Come here,Dubheasa.”
Every cell in my body screamed at me to tell him to fuck off and walk out that door.
“Baby. I said come here,” he repeated, his tone harder that time.
I dumped my purse on his desk and walked around it until I stood between his legs, looking down at his face.
He reached out, wrapped his hands around my waist, and pulled me onto his lap, his hand sliding up my thigh to keep me in place. “What happens in my club is my business,” he grated out. “Who I hire, who I let in, and who I throw out isn’t yourconcern. If we set up home one day, you’ll have authority there, but never here, Aislynn. Stay in your lane and don’t get involved in my club, and we won’t have any problems. If you do, you’ll be the one who’s out. Do you understand?”
The chill in his voice set my teeth on edge. I went to scramble off his lap so I could grab my purse and get the fuck out of there, but he forced me back down, his hand gripping my knee to keep me in place.
“You gotta understand, runnin’ a club needs tact,” he explained in a softer tone. “Do you think every brother out there’s my best bud?”
I glared up at him and shook my head.
