Part 4 (1/2)
”Magnally was just up here, said you invited him.”
Dexter shrugged. ”I might have said something in pa.s.sing. I saw him at the gym this morning. He scouts around there.”
”Was he there for you? You going to switch to fighting in the cage?”
”Itll pay a h.e.l.l of a lot better than the ring and my job at the radio station. h.e.l.l, I might even be able to take more than two cla.s.ses at a time if I make enough money.”
”I told you Id help. You dont have-”
”Its fine.” Dexter waved away his words. ”Im just thinking about it, going to train with them to start and see how it goes.” He grabbed Leona and pulled her down beside him as she approached.
”Does Leona know?” Gages voice was hard with disapproval.
The tension between Dexter and Gage was almost suffocating as they stared at each other.
”What?” Leona questioned, smile dropping as she watched the brothers.
”Yeah, she does,” Dexter said, turning to her. ”That Im going to train with that UFC team.”
”He told me. Why do you care so much?”
I was wondering the same thing, but I was familiar with how much control Gage use to have over Dexters life. I a.s.sumed this was him having a hard time letting go.
”Just dont want him to get hurt.”
”Me neither.” Leona raised her brows, daring Gage to say otherwise. ”But if he wants to do this, then Ill support him. Just like I supported him boxing.”
Dexter kissed her red lips deeply, neither of them caring about messing up the lipstick now.
Gage picked up his drink, nearly emptying it, drowning out the responses I knew he wanted to make.
I slid my hand to his shoulder and squeezed. ”h.e.l.l be okay. Its their life.” I couldnt stop the little voice in my head that questioned if we would be okay. I sipped on my tea and for once wished it were something stronger.
Calling the server over, I requested a margarita, ignoring Gages stare. Dexter and Leona put in their own order before she left.
”That girl bends over too much.” Leonas words slurred into one another as the server walked away.
”I think theyre trained to do that. Its in the job description.” Dexter dropped his eyes over Leona with a grin. ”You could get a job here and look a heluva lot better bending over than her.”
His words soothed Leona, and she sat up smiling. ”I could, too.”
When the server returned with our drinks, a silver haired man in a suite accompanied her.
”Mr. Lawson, I hope youre enjoying your night.” The man greeted Gage. ”Im the owner, Preston Marx. Welcome and thank you for choosing my club.”
Gage rose to his feet, shaking the mans hand as the server pa.s.sed out drinks. I couldnt make out what they said to each other, but then they both sat to continue their conversation.
”Yes, The Dollhouse in New York. Congratulations, I heard you took over that establishment.” The man smoothed his tie down.
”I was considering upgrading it to something like this. A high end club, instead. Or perhaps opening a new place altogether.”
My body sunk in the seat, weighing me down. What did he think he was doing? It wasnt his club to renovate.
Aliya bounced onto the seat by Leona. ”Where the h.e.l.l have you all been? Come on, lets go back to the dance floor.” She tugged at Lees arm, and then her eyes brightened as she spotted me. ”And you, you have to come this time. Im not taking no for an answer.”
I looked back to Gage, stomach twisting at the smile on his face while he listened to the other man speak.
Touching his knee, I captured his attention. ”Im going to dance.”
He glanced around our group. ”Dexter, are you going with the girls?”
Dexter nodded, already standing to follow.
”Have fun.” Gage squeezed my leg in farewell, and then slid right back into conversation with the owner.
His quick dismissal had me hot. I picked up my margarita and drank deeply. The sour drink was cool sliding down my throat, liquor warm as it wrapped around me. I only hoped it took the edge off. I kept drinking till it was empty, afraid Id splash any remainder over Gages head. It was crazy to be so angry about him talking, but it was only a stick added to an already burning fire, another time he put that stupid club in front of me.
Aliya cheered me on, arms raised as I took my last gulp. ”h.e.l.l yeah, now were ready.” She hooked her arm through mine. ”Lets go, chingon”
I lost myself in the music, letting the beat drown out my anger. But it couldnt cover the thoughts that constantly plagued me or the tingle of fear caused by the crowd. The only thing keeping me there were my friends faces around me.
I hadnt noticed that the man dancing behind Aliya was one of the guys with Magnally earlier, the one that was shorter than Gage. Id only noticed that she was having fun, until he tried to pull her away, and she struggled to break his hold on her wrist.
”Let her go.” I stepped between them and he dropped her arm. I scanned the crowd, but didnt see Dexter anywhere.
His gla.s.sy eyes barely focused on me, and he swayed on his feet as his finger jabbed the air. ”Little-miss-Lawson.” He laughed, turning his attention back to Aliya. ”Is this your friend? She can come to the after party too, if you want.”
Aliya stepped back further, hands on her hips. ”Im not going anywhere with you, never was.”
He straightened, frowning, like he didnt understand a word she said. ”Youre a tease.”
His friend, the taller one who had glared at Gage earlier, grabbed his shoulder, keeping him from stepping towards Aliya. ”They aint worth it. Plenty of other girls.” He curled his lip as he looked over the two of us. ”These s.l.u.ts prefer b.i.t.c.hes.”
I stopped Aliya from slapping out at the man, even though I wanted nothing more than to hit him too. But I wanted them gone more, and they were about to walk away.
”You better watch your f.u.c.king mouth. You dont know who were here with. They would f.u.c.king kill you, you worthless-”
I pushed Aliya back, trying to drag her away as she let her words fly in a drunken rampage.
But the crowd was thick, our escape slow, and the men followed.
”Talking about Lawson? I heard that rumor he killed people, part of shady business. But I saw what a b.i.t.c.h he was tonight. Pretty boy probably bought his t.i.tle.”