“Good, good? Or just good?”
“Fuck, Pres, you pissed already?”
“I may have had a few too many.”
“Shit,” I mutter, shaking my head, “this is gonna get messy.”
As I walk into the bar, the music is in full flow. There’s cackling coming from across the room, and I see the ol’ ladies with Belle. They’re knocking back shots, and it surprises me that she’s joining in. I’ve never seen her drink, let alone shoot shots. I make my way over as she’s about to pick up another and place my hand over it. She glances up, frowning.
“Boooooo,” Rochelle slurs. “Leave the woman alone and go get yourself a whiskey.”
“Yeah, Clay, fuck off over there somewhere,” Red adds.
“I’ll be over there if you need me,” I growl, leaving her in the company of the only women in here I would trust her with. I take a seat at the end of the bar indicating to Hazel to get me a drink.
“Water, please.”
Drifter and Hazel exchange a confused look.
“Get the fucker a Jack,” Drifter slurs.
“Nah, I’m good. Someone’s got to stay sober,” I say, nodding towards Belle.
“She’s safe here, Clay. You know that,” Drifter says as he slides the glass of Jack Daniels across the bar to me. Hazel hands me a bottle of water, and I take it, ignoring the whiskey.
“Someone’s gonna have to carry her up.”
“You’ve fallen for her, haven’t you?” Drifter asks, bringing his own whiskey to his lips. I take a swig of the water, my eyes fixed on Belle. “I’ve seen that look numerous times,” he adds.
The door swings open, and Slayer announces his arrival as he always does.
“What’s up, fuckers,” he shouts as everyone looks up from what they’re doing. I roll my eyes. Brandy stumbles in behind him in her short red leather mini skirt and black lace crop top, which barely covers her nipples. Brandy is one of the club girls and a big earner at our strip club, but that girl is trouble. She’s pitted a number of brothers against each other.
“You’re fucking kidding me, right?” Belle yells. My head snaps in her direction, confusion marring my brow. She’s paler than usual, but I’ve never seen her so angry. She’s not looking at me anymore.
Belle’s glare is locked across the doorway, straight at Brandy.
The scrape of her chair is sharp and sudden as she shoots to her feet. Brandy’s lip curls in disgust, and I’m left wondering how the hell these two even know each other, let alone why Belle looks ready to rip her throat out. Belle’s fiery eyes snap back to mine.
“You’re fucking kidding me, right?” she says again, and I’m completely lost. I glance at Slayer, but he looks just as confused. Red follows Belle’s line of sight, her jaw dropping when she spots Brandy.
“Belle, don’t,” Red hisses, grabbing her arm.
Belle yanks free and marches straight towards me.
“Is this some sick, twisted fucking joke?” she demands. Everyone is now staring, so I place my hands on her arms in an attempt to calm her down.
“Get your fucking hands off me,” she spits before turning her attention to Brandy.
“So, first, you came for my husband, fucked his brains out, took my children. And for what, some sick joke?” Brandy smirks. “And now, what, you’re here to rub my face in it?”
My eyes widen in realisation.This is the other woman. Belle turns to me, her eyes filled with pain.
“And you,” she points her finger to my chest. “You fucking knew all along. You made me think you gave a shit about me. But you bring me here, let me believe you can help, then she turns up all smirks and tits. Why did you even stop me that night, Clay? You should’ve just let me jump.”
I reach for her whilst my brain catches up with this shitshow before me. She steps back from my reach. “Nah, I don’t fucking think so,” she snaps, before turning on her heel and rushing up the stairs two at a time.
“What the fuck just happened?” I growl, rounding on Brandy.
