CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
ALEXA
“OH MY GOD, I’m stuffed.” Jasmine sighs, leaning back in the booth.
“What are you ladies doing this Friday night?” April asks.
“Nothing.” I groan, also feeling like I ate too much. It’s my one night off this weekend from Crown. The great thing about the nightclub is that I make so much that I don’t have to work every damn day. But then a thought hits me and last night might have been my last night now that Grave and her are back. Another thing to add to my list of questions for Cross.
“I’m free. What’s up?” Emilee wonders.
“I could really use a girl’s night,” April answers. “Not a get dolled up and go out kind of girls night. But one where we wear pajamas, drink wine, and eat pie in the living room while watching a movie kind of girls night.”
“Count me in.” I raise my hand.
“Yes!” Emilee agrees. “That sounds amazing.”
“Sure.” Haven nods.
Jasmine sucks down what’s left of her mimosa. “I’ll bring vodka too.”
We get up and start to say our goodbyes. Everyone needing to get on with their day. “April, may I speak to you?” I ask nervously.
“Of course.” She says, sitting back down in the booth as the girls walk out of Empire. “Everything okay?”
I push my hair behind my ear. “I just wanted to apologize.”
“For what?” She frowns.
“Cross told me that Grave knows you lied to him.” She sighs heavily. I reach out and grab her hand. “I’m so sorry. I should have never asked you to lie to him. I know that was a mistake now.”
“Alexa …”
“I was being selfish and …”
“Alexa!” She stops me. Her ice-blue eyes soften, and she gives me a smile. “You have nothing to apologize for.”
“I just don’t want him mad at you. Or to cause a fight between you two,” I rush out.
“You didn’t. I promise.” She pats my hand. “Grave and I have some things to work through, but they have nothing to do with you or Cross.”
I nod, pulling away, not feeling any better at that statement. I just pray that they can get through this. Grave and April were made for one another.
_______________
I PULL UP to my house and walk inside. I’m exhausted. Those two energy drinks are already wearing off, and my body is fading fast. I haven’t stayed here in two weeks. Ever since I started at Crown. After I get off, I go to the Kings Royal Suite to be with Cross. And the nights I don’t work, I’ve stayed there, and he wakes me up when he gets off. It’s exhausting dating a King. The sex is too good to pass up even when you’re running on fumes. I had to run by here after breakfast to grab some new clothes and a few other things. I’ve tried not to be that girl and just move myself in with him over the past two weeks, but I think I have more of my clothing in Cross’s closet than my own.
“Alexa?” I hear my name being shouted from the front door.
“What the fuck …?”
“Alexa?” I see my brother rushing into my house.
“What are you doing?” I ask concerned.
“Where in the hell have you been?” he snaps. “With that bastard?”
I roll my eyes and turn my back to him. “I don’t have time for this, Derek.” He hasn’t spoken to me in weeks and he shows up at my house out of nowhere throwing insults at my boyfriend. That’s no way to get on my good side.
He grips my upper arm and spins me around. “Did he do this? Did you break up with him or something?”
“No.” I rip my arm from his hold and roll my eyes. “Go home, Derek. You haven’t cared about what’s been going on in my life. Why now?”
“Because Lucky’s was set on fire,” he snaps at me.
His words make me pause. He said set on fire. As in on purpose. I watched the news. They said it was accidental. Even though the fire marshal said it wasn’t, they want the public to think so because Cross wants to take care of it himself. How would he know …
Cross and Bones suspected it was Mitch, but Mitch said that Derek told him Lucky’s was in trouble. So, what if my brother did it? What if he’s the one trying to frame Cross because he hates the Kings so much? He knows I went into business with Bones and Jasmine. Derek knows more than Mitch has to.
“I’m fine,” I say gently. “See?” I spin around, with my arms out wide. “I wasn’t even there.”
“Thank God.” He pulls me in for a quick hug. “Where were you?” he asks, pulling away.
“With Mitch,” I lie. I don’t want him knowing I was with Cross. Right now, I have to tread very carefully with him.