“You do know I’m standin’ right in front y’all?”
“We also know that you’ll make some dumbass comment that makes zero sense,” Shovel cuts in.
“What he said. Spitfire, you good out here?” I get her attention. She’s on the phone but gives me a smile as a response.
The three of us walk to the office, making note of shit we’ll have to replace before we can open, which ain’t happening tonight. Even if we got it all cleaned up, there’s still the furniture that’s messed up, the liquor is trash, and who knows what the storage room looks like. “Fuck, I’ll be right back. Gonna need Raven to call all the dancers and let them know we’re closed for the night and make a sign or some shit. Mack better be glad as hell he’s not here. My blade is itching something fierce.”
“Go deal with that. We’ll start on this, then drop Raven off at her place. You know Mack. He’s a creature of habit. He’ll be at one of two places—his house or the baby mamma’s house,” Ruger replies. He’s poking around on the computer, the one thing that isn’t destroyed in the office. I let the guys know what was going on last night between Raven, Mack, and her mom, along with the kid propped on her hip.
“Yeah, yeah,” I reply, nod my head at Shovel in agreement to the gleam in his eye before I head back to Raven.
Fourteen
Raven
I knew the minute we walked into the door to Diamonds in the Sky that shit was going sideways and that there was nothing I could do except alleviate some of the menial tasks, which is what I did. Probably a little too easily. After I called the cleaners, I sent a group text to the girls letting them know we’re closed tonight, which fucking sucks because it’s a money-making night.
“Hey, spitfire.” My eyes perk up at watching Maddox walking towards me. My thighs clench together. He’s wearing his normal clothes—T-shirt, cut, jeans, and boots—but knowing what’s underneath the exterior has my mouth salivating.
“Miss me already?” I tease. He’s only been gone fifteen minutes. I assumed things would take longer.
“Yeah.” He saunters towards me, stepping in between my legs, causing me to spread them for him. Our lips meet, softly, leaving me yearning for more. Maddox sighs as he pulls away from me. My hands go to his hips so he can’t retreat further away.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing, but about to pile on more work than you need. The club will pay you since you’re essentially out of the job for the time being.” He rubs his hand over his face in annoyance.
“I’m not worried about the pay. Tell me what you need me to do, then I’ll get it done.” It’s not like what I’ve done so far has been tough.
“You sure? Because it’s gonna be a lot. Then I’m taking you to your place for a bit while we fuckin’ figure shit out.” I can read between the lines. Maddox mentioned a few things last night in between our bouts of sex, one of them being when it comes to club business, it’s not a give or take. He’ll tell me what he needs to, but nothing more. I had a major issue with it because this seems to all be unfolding around me. He explained that they have their own rules, and I can take it or leave. Let’s just say he was really persuasive, and I’m taking what I can from Maddox.
“Yeah, already called the cleaners. They’ll be here in the next twenty minutes. That one is going to cost you though. I also went ahead and texted the dancers. We all have a group chat. Some have responded, some haven’t. Anything else?” I ask.
“Fuckin’ perfect, that’s what you are. Can you take inventory of the alcohol and then see what all else is trashed and needs replacing? I think we’ll be heading out in an hour. Gonna see what those two are doing in there, then I’ll drop you off at your place. Pack some more clothes. I don’t know what’s going to happen, but I damn sure don’t want any blowback on you.” My fingers delve beneath his shirt, feeling the corded muscles as he flexes them, coming closer again.
“Okay, it won’t take me too long to do the liquor order. The dressing room will be the hardest, and you might have to wait for the girls to come in to see what was ruined of theirs if you’re replacing it.” I’m not arguing with Maddox on this. For once in my life I’m allowing someone else to fight my battle, even if it goes against every grain of my being. What I do know is that something isn’t adding up. This can’t just be over my mother. It has to be worse than what I’m thinking.