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I’m sure I know even before I ask, but I ask all the same.
“What’s up?”
Instead of answering, he just turns his phone so that I can read the message.
Hoppers. One hour.
Short and sweet, I don’t need to look to know it came from Kratos.
As if drawn by a magnet, we both turn to look at Jade as she exits the store with Zander right by her side. The cup of food is now in her hands, and she continues eating with a smile on her face.
Her smile drops as if sensing the tension when she sees us both.
“What’s wrong?” She asks, the fork halfway to her mouth, all but forgotten.
“Nothing, we just have to go. We have to meet a friend. I forgot, so you're going to have to come along for the ride.” Rick tells her. His voice is calm and collected even though we both know this could turn out bad.
“Okay, no big deal. I mean, you guys gave up your whole morning to help me, so I don’t mind.” She replies easily.
Rick nods and pushes off the wall, headed for the exit. I lengthen my stride to catch up with him while Zander and Jade fall a few paces behind. Zander obviously decided to stay back with Jade’s shorter strides.
“We are taking her with us?” I whisper shout at him when I’m close enough for him to hear me. This is a terrible idea.
He shoots a look over his shoulder as if to make sure they won’t overhear us, and I roll my eyes because, really, does he think I’m an idiot?
Seemingly satisfied with the distance, he continues to walk while he answers me.
“We don’t have time to drop her off at the house and make it to Hoppers in an hour.” He says without looking at me.
“Just tell Kratos we have a stop first.”
He glares at me, and yeah, I know it’s a dumb idea because Kratos doesn’t like to wait. Froggie likes it even less, but in this situation, it’s necessary.
He’s shaking his head even before he answers, and I know I’ve already lost. I’m not sure I have ever met anyone as stubborn as Rick.
Well, maybe one other person, my brain supplies as I turn to make sure Jade and Zander aren’t falling too far behind.
“I don’t exactly trust her at the house alone. You’ve seen her. She can’t even do the most basic things. What if she burns the fucking house down while we're gone.” He waves his hands around in a chaotic gesture as he says it. Somethings bothering him if he’s this wound up about this. He’s usually calm and collected, so why would this be something that could get under his skin? It takes me a second to connect the dots, but then I get it.
He doesn’t want to leave her alone.
Damn it.
I didn’t think about it like that until now, but I’ll be damned if I disagree.
With afternoon traffic, the drive to Hoppers takes longer than I would have liked. We make it in our hour window, but just barely.
We park out back in one of our spots. The parking lot has very few other cars, but it’s still early. In a few hours, this place will be packed.
We exit the car and head to the back employee door. We’re not club employees, but we are Froggies guys, and that puts us high enough on the food chain that nobody questions us, not anymore. Not that I wouldn’t like to see someone try.
I chance a quick glance back at Jade and see her glancing around like her head’s on a swivel. Trying to take everything in around her just like she has been all day. I can’t stop from clenching my hand into a tight fist as I once again feel the rage she seems to lack for her situation.
I reach the door first, with Spencer behind me. Zander motions Jade in front of him and takes up the rear, ensuring she isn’t left open and unattended.
We head down the hall and take the stairs down to the lower level. The main floor is your average club and gets a lot of locals and college kids, but thats not what we're here for.
Froggie owns a few legal businesses, and this is one of his most lucrative. The two clubs we run both tie for his second best, something we take great pride in. The lower levels are more exclusive. There is a gambling room for the high rollers and a few private rooms for those who want to drink in peace and can afford to throw money around to do it.
