The blonde screamed. I reached her first and shoved her forward. I shoved her hard, with all my momentum. She left the ground and flew. It was amazing to see. Clem brought the gun out and around, but the blonde hit him.
Gun went off. Bullet went wide, into the air. Clem cursed and Shadow screamed and covered her ears. He shoved the blonde away. She hit the ground, cursing a storm, screaming a bit.
I was on him. Despite the pain in my side, stabbing me like lightning. I brought the baton down on his gun wrist hard enough to break it. Heard the bone snap. He screamed and managed to fire the gun into the ground. Bullet ricocheted away and broke a window. I brought the baton up but the blonde girl was kicking and screaming and punching. Hitting the shit out of me. Pissed I’d used her as a human weapon. I couldn’t get a clean attack. Clem grunted, clutched his hand, and turned.
I smacked him in the shoulder. Hit him hard, but it didn’t have all my power behind it. The blonde girl got her fingernails in my face. Ripped down my cheek. I cursed and tried to go after Clem but the blonde grabbed me. He must’ve been one hell of a boss.
I shoved the girl off me. She hit the ground hard. Shadow stood there with her hands on her mouth staring as I sprinted past. Poor Shadow. I warned her.
Clem ran hard. Heading for the club. I chased and was on him. Ignored the pain. Ignored the danger. I didn’t give a damn about myself anymore. There was only revenge. I was a conduit for death. Clem staggered and turned in time for my baton to hit him across the face.
Teeth broke. Blood bubbled up from his mangled lips. I pulled my arm back but heard shouts.
Gunfire erupted. Bullets smashed nearby. I threw myself to the ground. Fucking Clem turned and staggered. Blood leaking from his ruined face. I crawled fast, knees ripped to shreds. I didn’t know where the gunman was and didn’t risk looking. I rolled under a car, shifted to another row, then crouched up behind it.
Spotted the shooter. Clem stood behind him. Clutched his face and held it together. The two of them were leaned over the back of a sedan parked near the front of the club.
It was over. Clem was hurt, but he wasn’t dead. I couldn’t get to him, not with so much distance to cover, and that guy with a gun. Short guy, but built like a linebacker. I tore myself away from cover and run flat-out to the Chevy. Dove in, started the engine. Shooter lit me up from behind as I pulled away. Asshole put some bullets into my girl. Clem would pay for that.
But he’d have to pay another night.
I caught sight of Shadow as the Chevy hopped the curb and roared away. Just standing there, hands over her mouth, staring.
Chapter 14
Capri
The Lowdown was dim and empty when I slipped in through the front door a few minutes past one in the morning. The bartender stood staring up at a Spurs game on a small TV. An old drunk was passed out next to a half-drunk beer. The stage was empty, and the booth to my right had three young guys, sharing a pitcher and a basket of pretzels.
Mal was in the booth on the far side of the bar, tucked in the corner. He leaned out and waved me down. I hurried over, heart racing, cheeks already pink.
I sent him a nude.
I couldn’t believe I’d done it. One second, we were texting, being a little flirty, and the next—he told me what to do, and I listened.
I obeyed. I liked it when he was bossy. Commanding.
I felt filthy while I did it. Felt free, and sexy, and light for the first time in a while. I forgot about Carmine and my dad and everything else and let myself have a little fun. I took a picture for him and was bouncing around with nervous energy.
Then he replied and said that thing about touching himself. I wasn’t sure if it was true, but I didn’t care. I slipped my hand between my legs and pretended it was.
Now, I slipped into the booth across from him. But he shook his head. Patted the bench on his side. “Sit here.”
I hesitated, chewing my lip. But I obeyed, just like I did the other night. I got up and sat next to him. Our thighs touched. I had on a short navy shirt and a white top with a deep neck. Just a hint of cleavage to remind him of the other night. I agonized over that outfit, and I caught his eyes moving down me, looking at my body with that hungry, appreciative stare that sent a wild thrill along my spine.