I put my phone on the desk and turn my attention back to the professor, he has moved on from his TA and jumped right into his lecture. I keep my phone screen up so that I can see when it lights up. About halfway through my class, he messages back.
“Club says yes.”His next message is a price list for one bar and two bartenders vs two bars and four bartenders, with and without kegs, even broken down to if they supply the cups.How in the hell he managed to get all of those answers so fast is kind of shocking, the club must have already considered it after the party at our house.
I scribble the information on a piece of paper from my notebook and hand it over my shoulder to Caleb, after glancing at it he leans forwards and whispers in my ear, “That's way better than what we were paying! We will take it; can I tell the other presidents these numbers?” I nod my head yes and he continues, “I will get with you when it gets closer to set it all up. Thanks, Finley.”
"Alright, guys that's everything for today." The TA steps up to James and whispers something to him, “Finley Whelan, please hang back. Lex would like to have a word with you. The rest of you may leave.” Everyone starts to load up their notebooks and computers. I tuck mine into my bag and wait until most of the class is empty before I get up and go down the steps to Lex.
“I don't know what you did to get a private meeting with him, but you will have to let me know because I wouldn’t mind having some one-on-one with that man.” A girl that I study with sometimes whispers while she brushes by me.
Lex is leaning against the desk at the front of the room, his legs crossed at the ankle, his palms flat on the wood beside him. I can admit that he is pretty. Dark hair and eyes make him look mysterious, and his thin form is attractive enough. He is wearing dark jeans and a loose blue collared shirt. I know that he is lethal under his clothes, and I imagine that he has a weapon tucked into his clothes somewhere.He still seems too sharp around the edges for my taste, I prefer more grunge on my men than this.
“Something I can do for you?”
“Do you know who I am?” He asks instead of answering my question.
“Sort of. I know who you work for, but I don't know you personally, but I don't need to know who you are. As far as I am concerned your name is Lex and you are the TA of one of my professors. Anything outside of that is irrelevant.” I don't need to be this guy's friend; it would only raise questions as to how we know each other. The last thing that I need is anyone paying too much attention to me and the things that I am doing because I appear to be too close with one of my TAs.
“I just wanted to introduce myself. My boss thought that you should know that you have people here on your side should you need us. Your… family,” he chooses the word carefully, “is doing a lot to help us and we just want to do our part in keeping everyone safe. That includes you. There are a few of us around, some may even be closer than you think, we are trying to get this shit taken care of before it gets out of hand.”
“Yes, because a woman being raped and murdered isn't out of hand?” It might not be the best idea to be a bitch to him, being that I don't know where he stands in their organization, but he can't seriously think that things aren't already out of hand.
“I apologize. You are right, this has already gone too far, and we would like to prevent it from happening again. You don't have to share anything you find with me, but it could be helpful.” This man is good, I can tell by the way that he tilts his head and the tone that he uses, that he is trying to manipulate me. I would bet that he wants me to tell him whatever I know so that he can take it back to his boss and say that he figured it out, it would make him look good in the eyes of Mr. Rojas, and in turn, could make the club look incompetent.
“I will keep that in mind, but at this moment I don't know anything that you don't already know. I was only notified about the issue a few days ago and nothing has happened since then,” I think that having the club supply the alcohol and serve it is a good step at keeping girls from getting caught at a party, but I won't be telling him that.Any correspondence between the Club and the Mafia can go through pops and Mr. Rojas, I don’t need to tell Lex anything.
This man seems like a snake, and I don't trust him. Even if he is here to help protect everyone.Though I don’t know a whole lot of people in the Mafia, they might all have a snake-like attitude to them.
He nods his head but doesn't say anything, I take the chance to end the conversation and walk away. I don't have another class for 2 hours which is fine because I'm freaking hungry, and I want to call my dad.
“Someone dying this time?” He answers on the second ring.
“Not yet but I wanted to touch base with you. I won't be sitting this one out and I had a few thoughts.”
I can hear the smile in his voice, “Okay baby girl. Let's hear it.”
“I think that we should try to get all of Greek Row to use the club, they don't have to know it's coming from the club but if you tell them you will supply all the alcohol but they have to use bartenders and you don't allow anyone to get drinks for another person, I think we can cut out the risk of anyone being dosed at the parties. I know that DIK is going to use y’all, which is the frat that they think the drugs are coming out of, but I can get with Zoe and Chase and try to get them to convince everyone else to use you. It would mean giving up four men every weekend though.” We don't party every weekend but between all the houses on Greek row, I would say there is at least one a weekend. The club has plenty of members so I don't see it being a problem, but it might have to be something that they have to vote on.
"I think we can make that work. I know that Top and Hollow will be willing to come back, and we have a few prospects that aren't as roughed up yet," he fades off and I hear the scratch of a pin on his desk.
"You could use Pyro, but if you send Bell to this campus, he will murder someone."
"Oh, honey, Bell is already there," he chuckles.
"I know, Dad. He doesn't exactly blend in."
He seems to think about something, and my insides start to knot. Not once since it happened has my father acted like he knew something that I would rather he didn't, but that doesn't mean that someone hasn't told him something. Also, they volunteered to come here, he wouldn't have sent three of his officers if they didn't ask for it.
“Is there something you want to say?” I finally ask.
I am getting close to the cafeteria and the conversation that I am going to be able to have will be limited and mostly one-sided.
“Not really. I have some theories, but I don't think you and I have to have this conversation. You are an adult and I know that you will take care of anyone that hurts you. Just do me a favor?” My breath hitches and I try to calm myself. Here it comes, he is going to ask me to stay away from men in the club. I don't know what I will tell him but there is no way that I am going to do that.
“What?” I grind out between clenched teeth.
I swear if this man laughs one more time I am going to reach through the phone and strangle him.
“You are so tense. Loosen your jaw and stop worrying. My only request is if I am going to need to take care of three bodies and replace my officers, can you give me like a week's notice?” Several people turn and look at me when I start laughing uncontrollably. I hate that I got my father’s laugh because when something makes me truly laugh it is so loud that it’s impossible to not be noticed.