You couldn’t even make this shit up, it was that ridiculous.
“Give me some of that,” I said, reaching for the bottle of whiskey from Gauge.
At least he liked me. He hadn’t stopped staring at me all night. Not that it would ever be more than that, since he was a disgusting pig, but the thought was still nice that someone there liked me. He handed me the bottle and I took a long swig of it. I hated whiskey. I hated the smell, the taste, and I hated the burn as it went down my throat. It reminded me of my daddy, of the Vipers, of everything I had wanted to get away from. Yet I took another long drink of it, needing desperately to get blind drunk and forget the mess of my life for just one night.
“Easy, darlin’,” Charlie soothed, taking the bottle from me and handing it back to Gauge.
Fighter still hadn’t said anything. He was just staring into the flames of the fire pit like he was hoping it would tell him his fortune. Or help him self-combust so that he didn’t have to go through with this. Go through with me.
God, I hated him.
I hated that he’d taken me from a life I’d known and understood and then released me back into a world I couldn’t make sense of.
I hated how offended and disgusted he’d looked by the thought of having me for his old lady.
I hated how he wouldn’t look at me now, and when he was forced to his gaze was empty and cold.
I hated how much I desperately wanted him to touch me, and yet he was like a ghost, his touch invisible.
But mostly, I hated how I didn’t know this man at all. Not like I’d known the dark angel he’d been when he’d taken me. When I couldn’t see his face and he’d had me tied to his bed and completely at his mercy. I’d seen less of him then and yet I’d had a connection with that man. I’d felt like I knew him. He’d made me stronger and brought out a side of me that I thought had died. But this man in front of me was a stranger, and it hurt. God, did it hurt.
I was pathetic and he was an asshole.
We were going to make a great couple.
I laughed abruptly and everyone’s gazes fell to me. I realized I must have already been on the way to getting drunk. I didn’t normally drink. Being the daughter of the Razuuk Benite meant I always had to keep my wits about me. But right then it felt good, so I didn’t care.
Fighter pulled out a joint from behind his ear and lit it, blowing a thick plume of smoke into the air between us. Somewhere in between the flames of the fire pit and the smoke from his joint, his dark eyes found mine, connecting with my soul in a way that no other person ever had before. Not even Scratch. I felt a tug in my chest, but it was torn away like an old Band-Aid when Fighter looked away from me.
“Battle should be back before morning. Apparently he got caught up in Atlanta visiting some of Quinn’s friends,” Gauge said, taking a long swig from the bottle of whiskey.
Fighter took another drag of his joint and downed the rest of his beer. “Sooner he’s back where he belongs, the better.”
“Agreed,” Gauge said. “Sooner this club gets back to normal, the better.”
Rider raised his glass of whiskey at that, and Gauge and Fighter did the same. “Hear fucking hear.”
“I’m gonna hit the road. Got a long day tomorrow.” Fighter and Rider looked up at Gauge as he stood and he shrugged. “What? Can’t a man go grab some sleep without people looking surprised?”
“No,” Rider laughed. “Not you, anyway.”
“Fuck you,” Gauge replied with a smirk. “I can be a good boy and go get an early night if I want to.”
“I’ll come with you,” Fighter grunted, standing up, the joint hanging between his lips. “Shit’s too quiet around here for me anyhow.”
I pouted and looked away from him.Asshole.
Rider slid Charlie off his knee and stood up. “You two heading to the Pit?” he asked, averting his gaze from Charlie’s scathing look. “I heard some of the Reverend’s boys had been spotted in there one or two times. You keepin’ an eye on that shit?”
“Yeah, we’ve got it under control. Think they’re fuckin’ smart, heading into our territory like we wouldn’t notice. Offering the girls twenty percent on top of what we pay. Lost two girls already.”
“Thought their club closed down,” Fighter said.
“Reopened under a different name. They’re closing in again, thinkin’ that they’re protected when they ain’t got shit.” Gauge looked angry and Rider nodded.
“They’ll get theirs.”
Charlie sat down next to me, downing the last of her drink.
