He didn’t even say anything. He just watched me guardedly.
“It’s that bad?” I asked, a pathetic try for a joke. Anything.
“He was in the hospital, Taryn,” he finally said, folding his massive arms over his chest As the door opened, he simply turned back and effectively blocked three girls from darting through. They just bounced off his back. When he turned back around the stared at me gravely.
“That wasn’t me. I didn’t do that.”
“No, but your psycho ex did.”
“Way I heard it, both of them visited,” I pointed out, standing uncertainly before him.
“And you were the reason they fought.”
“Right. Because they’ve had such a loving relationship all their life,” I said sarcastically, starting to get pissed. “Is he in or not?”
“What makes you think you’re welcome around here?”
“Jace does,” I answered him honestly. Jace would never turn me away. I knew that. Jace knew that. And Ben knew that. “Look, I just gotta ask him a question. One question, that’s all.”
Ben was unmoving. The door opened again and Grunt allowed two girls to go inside while a couple left. Moan was watching the exchange between me and Ben intently. All three of them were just massive and had tattoos scattered from their shaved heads, necks, to even their fingers. They didn’t intimidate me though. What would intimidate me is if Jace didn’t want me allowed inside.
“I can get in another way,” I finally said. I didn’t want to. I didn’t want to have to break in, but I was desperate to help Geezer.
Ben sighed, his hand moved to the rope, and he lifted it up, clearing the way for me. Ducking underneath, I held his gaze as I walked inside, seeing the concern in them—something I’ve never seen in his eyes before. I’d never even noticed they were a chocolate brown.
*
Jace was just as excited to see me. Actually, I didn’t know. It’s just what I felt as I was making my way down the back hallway. Two guards were outside his room and one of them knocked briefly. Instead of Jace, his second in command, Krein, poked his head out. “What?” he asked crossly.
The guard jerked his head towards me.
“Oh,” Krein murmured, rubbing a hand over his bald head looking suddenly tired. Stepping out of the room, I saw he was only dressed in jeans that were unbuckled. He was a little stockier than Jace—Jace had a body that was just cut, in every sense of the word, but he was leaner than Krein—still, Krein wasn’t exactly hard on the eyes.
“Jace here?” I asked softly.
“Uh…”
“Krein,”Came a moan from inside.
I grinned, rocking back on my heels. “Another playmate of Krein’s harem?”
“You know it!” he returned smoothly, smiling at me. “How you been, girl?”
“I’m here on business for a friend. I’m not here to chit chat or to catch up.”
“So things are good, huh?” he asked, not breaking a stride.
“Is he here?”
“Yeah. Ah…he’s in the club. Hold on. Ducking inside, he emerged a second later, pulling a shirt on and his holster. “I’ll show you.”
“I’ve been in the club before,” I murmured, but I waited anyway.
He bypassed me, now leading me towards the club. “I know, but tonight’s kinda more crazy than normal. Wouldn’t want you getting raped or something.”
“Shit…” Was all I said, before Krein opened a side door and all sound was drowned out by the pounding music. I could feel the beat through the floors against my feet. Some of the glasses on the counter were vibrating from the music.
I felt Krein grab my arm and pull me behind him.