I lit a cigarette, taking a few long drags. Even though I was within just a few feet of Raine, it might as well have been miles. The bar was slammed and between training the new girl and Tre trying to jump her bones, I barely got a chance to talktoher.
“Hey, Ryder, you coming out tonight?” I froze. Abel was standing right behind me and I hadn't evennoticed.
How fucking long has he beenthere?
Did he catch me eyeingRaine?
I turned to look at him, arms crossed, glaring down at me. “To Secrets?” I asked, completely shocked that Abel was evenacknowledgingme.
Henodded.
“I wasn’t planning on it, didn't know if it was a thing for prospectstodo.”
“I’m telling you, you’ll bethere.”
I let out a deep breath. “Then I will bethere.”
He clapped me on the shoulder and waved to his daughter. Raine brought him his three fingers of whiskey with one ice cube in it. “Thanks, sweetheart.” He nodded to Raine, but her eyes neverleftmine.
Before ambling away, Abel slapped me on the shoulder. “See yalater,son.”
It was the most he had spoken to me since having me pinned againstRaine’swall.
Hopefully that’s a goodfuckingsign.
* * *
Strip clubs were so farfrom my thing, but if Abel wanted me to go out with the guys, that’s what I was going to do. No questions asked, it was my role, and I wore that patchproudly.
I posted up at the bar with Ozzy, taking a few shots of tequila to kick the night off a bit and make the whole experience a little more tolerable. The fat, dimpled thighs of one of the D-listers jiggled on the bar top as she danced, giving it her all. I couldn’t understand for the life of me how a big old broad like her could shake her ass like that, gyrating all over the place without slipping in her clear eight-inch hooker heels, a thong, andpasties.
Disgusting.
I threw backanothershot.
“I hate these places.” Ozzy slammed his empty shot glass down onto the bar, ordering up another roundforus.
“You’re preaching to the fucking quire,brother.”
He nodded over to the lounge area where the rest of our crew was posted up, watching two dancers make out on stage. “Abel hates this shit too. Always says Crickett’s got her shit on lock and that she’s the only chick his dick twitches for now, but all the other guys think it’s the best thing since blowjobs, so hereweare.”
I threw back another icy, clear, burning shot of numbing juice. “I just don't want a lap dance from some nasty ass snatch with gonorrheafallingout.”
Ozzy laughed before killing his last shot of tequila. “Ah, that one burned.” His eyes got a little watery as he wiped his upper lip with his leathersleeve.
Abel took the seat next to me. “Have youseenTre?”
I shook my head. “Not since he went into the back with that last dancer. He’s probably getting his knob washedagain.”
Abel waved over to the anorexic looking bartender in a bright pink corset and lace thong to match. “I’ll take a Bud please.” She smiled sweetly, grabbing it for him out of the fridgebehindher.
“Thanks, darlin’.” He threw a five down on the bar. After taking a few swigs, Abel looked down at his watch and sighed. “Go check it out, Ryder. He’s not known for hislongevity.”
I grabbed my beer and made my way into the poorly lit back area. The strobe lights from the front made it hard to see down the hallway. Pulling back the sticky blackout curtain, I had to jump into savior mode. Trent was on the ground, facedown and foaming at the mouth. He was shaking, soaked in his own piss, and the goddamned stripper was nowhere to be found. I grabbed Trent and pulled his pants back up, holding my breath from the stench of puke and piss. Throwing his arm over my shoulder while he moaned and spit, I carried him to thefront.
I waved over to Abel and all the guys rushed to me. “He’s fuckingODing,boss.”
Abel grabbed his phone and called Crickett. He said, “Meet us at the ER,” then hung up with just thosewords.
