A hand shoots over her head, and within seconds she has another woman standing behind her. “W-would you like for Tiff to serve you all night?”
“So you can keep sticking your tits in everyone’s faces? No, honey. We’ll stick with you. I’ll take another mojito.”
She leaves to make my drink as Tiff walks further down the bar to help someone else.
“This is why we don’t let you out in public very often.”
Zoe chuckles as I look over my shoulder at Pete. “Me? I don’t think I’ve seen you away from the damn gate since I was twelve.” He cringes once again, likely remembering Lynch making him go to town to purchase one of every feminine product in the store when I got my first period.
“Sneaky shit you pulled the other night. I could go without getting punished. If you’d take that into consideration the next time you gals try to pull another fast one, I’d be grateful.”
Cringing, I scrunch my nose. “Did Professor hurt you? I really didn’t think you’d get in trouble.”
“It was pretty fucking brutal.”
Zoe gasps, reaching out for him in shame.
“Brutal?” Kai pish-shaws with a whip of his hand. “He made you watch Carrie twice. Doesn’t really count as torture.”
“That shower scene.” Pete makes a gagging noise, and it wouldn’t be funny, but I’ve had a strong drink, and his eyes are legitimately watering with the throat action. “Jesus, I need a drink.”
We turn back to the bar just in time for the bartender to pass across my second drink.
“Pete here, would like a Bloody Mary,” I quip.
The bartender watches Pete’s back as he rushes away in the direction of the bathroom.
“Wow,” Zoe says with a hard laugh. “It’s really that bad?”
“He threw up like ten times during the movie. He was so dehydrated by the time it was over, I think getting his face beat in would’ve been his choice.”
“That’s awful.” Genuine sadness washes over Zoe’s face. “What if Lynch was home? He would’ve hurt him.”
Shaking my head, I place my hand on her forearm. “Lynch would’ve torn your ass up for being sneaky. I mean, if we had gotten hurt, Pete would be hanging in the yard, but we only got tattoos, which means your ass spanking is still coming.”
“Speaking of—” Zoe’s eyes light up at the mention of punishment from Lynch as she looks past me at Kai. “How did it go with the Professor?”
“Awful.” His arms cross over his chest as he sticks his lower lip out.
“Getting whipped not so much fun this time around?”
“I wish. He’s doing the whole orgasm denial thing.” His eyes roll. “It’s worse than it’s ever been.”
“So you just fuck someone else in the meantime.”
We all turn to see the blonde TJ was infatuated with join us near the bar.
“This girl has the right idea.” Kai laughs, but I’ve seen how he is with his man. He’s not going to compromise his relationship with Professor.
“I’m Kaci,” she says with a quick wave like she’s a cheerleader sent to get us motivated. “I see you guys have a designated bartender. Can I be your best friend for the night and hang out, so I don’t sober up between drinks?”
“Aren’t you here for one of the guys?” Zoe asks.
“I don’t know anyone here. I got an invitation in the mail. I’m here for free drinks and dancing.” She wiggles her hips for emphasis.
Her green eyes are absolutely gorgeous, even though they’re a little foggy already. I wonder how many drinks she’s had.
“A little unsafe to be here alone, don’t you think?” Kai asks with clear concern in his voice. “It’s like walking into a lion’s den with a steak tied around your neck.”
“The danger is what makes it so fun.”
Kaci and Kai start talking like they’re old friends, and as I look out across the bar, I see TJ with his eyes still drilling a hole in the back of her head. I hope she’s careful because that lion has claws and likes to draw his own blood from pretty little things like her.Chapter 26Briar
The meetings with all the guys under Parker were surprisingly awesome. Each and every one of them, with the exception of the direct street dealers, were dressed in nice slacks and button-down shirts. It was a nice change from the group of thugs we were working with a couple months ago. They may be selling dope in the slums of the city, but they’re doing it with professionalism, and business-like accountability.
The get-togethers were over yesterday, but Lynch still hasn’t said anything about heading home. After the incident in Parker’s house four days ago, he hasn’t said much to me. The tension is almost as unpleasant as the time he nonchalantly informed me that the only reason I’m the club’s VP is because Professor turned the position down.