AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I had a feeling.”
“A feeling about what?”
“The night Danny went after Sandy and came home with a few too many bullet holes in him.”
“What about it?”
“I saw Sandy arrive. There were six of them. The paper reported only five bodies in the shooting.”
“And you didn’t think to share?”
“No,” she says over a laugh. “Not until it was confirmed. I tried plying Higham but got nowhere.” Her hand goes to her tummy. “Look, Rose, I’m not stressing out over something that will be dead before the end of the week.”
I blink, surprised.
“You shouldn’t either.” She nods at my chest. “One hint of worry and your boobs spring a leak.”
I look down. Exhale my exasperation. “I need to get home.” I drop a kiss on Beau’s cheek. “Coming?”
“I’ll wait for James,” she says, looking past me to the boys around the table. Calm. God, she’s so together.
“Creative meeting soon?” I ask, yawning, tiredness catching me. It’s been a long day, and I’m functioning on next to no sleep.
“Sure.” She smiles. “Pearl’s really into this project.”
“I know. Maybe it’s the distraction she needs.” I make my way over to the men, frowning when they slowly rise from their seats in unison, all attention pointed past me. And when I look over my shoulder, Pearl’s by the corridor, a disheveled mess, eyes brimming with tears. What the hell?
“It’s Brad,” she says. It’s all she needs to say. The men fly out from the booth like bullets and race across the club, rage leaking from every pore of their bodies.
“You stay exactly where you are,” Danny orders, giving me a look I would never dare challenge.
“Right there, Beau,” James grunts as he stomps past.
I hurry over to Pearl and take her arm, bringing her to the bar and sitting her down. “Anya,” I call. “Vodka. Neat.” Poor thing is shaking like a leaf.
Mason springs over the bar and runs out to join the men as Anya slips a drink toward Pearl. I don’t have a chance to put it in her hand. She grabs it and throws it back. What the hell is going on?
“Oh my God!” Allison is soon with us, eyes wide, looking at Pearl. “What happened?”
Pearl turns her stare onto Allison, swallowing her drink hard. She doesn’t say a word. Just stares. Shock? I don’t know, but I do know Allison the lawyer definitely should not be here. I take her elbow and lead her away, and she looks back constantly, both to Pearl and to where the men all just ran. “You should probably get out of here.”
“Where’s Brad?” she asks. “Is he okay? What’s happened?” She appears panicked, truly worried for him, as she struggles to free herself from my hold. Fucking hell. I should be comforting Pearl, not battling with Brad’s new lady friend, who has absolutely no idea who we are. That’s Brad’s problem to solve. Not mine. I look back and see Beau with Pearl wrapped up in her arms. My worry worsens.
“Brad’s fine, but he said to tell you to go home.”
“Rose, will you please just tell me what’s happened?”
Fuck. “He’s been having issues with dealers in the club,” I blurt out, scratching around for more. “Pearl just encountered one in the restrooms. Quite an unsavory sort. The men are just dealing with it.”
“Drugs?”
“Yes, drugs.” I take her elbow. “The police have been called. It’s all fine, but I’m sure you don’t want to get mixed up in it. Brad’s going to have to rearrange your dinner date.” I guide her out the front of the club and find Des and Drake looking edgy. “Taxi for Allison,” I quip, smiling like a crazy woman, telling them all they need to know with my awkwardness and an urgency I’m trying to play down. “He said he’d call you.”
Allison nods, letting me hand her over to Des, who raises one of his beefy arms, hollering a taxi.
“Hope to see you again soon,” I say, sounding genuine. I’m not. I go to Drake. “Whatever you do, do not let her back in the club.”
A nod. “What’s going down?”
