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He laughs. “Don’t be crazy.”
“Because if you are, I can help. They tell you it’s a family, but it’s not true. They’ll leave you the second shit goes down.”
“Relax, Mum, I’m not in a gang.”
I give a nod and try a different tactic. “I visit Eagle’s grave sometimes. I don’t know why. It’s just peaceful there.” I figure opening up might lure him to do the same.
“I was passing and saw your car. I haven’t been before,” he admits.
I brush his hair from his eyes, the way I used to when he was small. “For so long, it was just us. I didn’t think how it would affect you when we moved in here and I started working more. I just saw that you were being taken care of.”
“It’s fine. You were doing what you needed to.”
“Do you mean that?” I ask. “Because I feel like you hate me.”
He smiles. “I’m supposed to act that way, you’re my mum. But thanks for coming to pick me up tonight. Even if you did bring Albert.” He picks his phone up again. “Are you and him . . .”
I shake my head. “God, no. Imagine having him as your stepdad.”
He grins. “Yeah, imagine.”
ALBERT
I went all out for this date, calling in a favour to get a table at an exclusive restaurant that specialises in lobster. I sent a driver to collect Rosey, and as I finish my first glass of whiskey and check my watch, my mobile rings. It’s my driver. “She’s not here, Mr. Taylor.”
I frown. “What do you mean she’s not there?”
“Maverick said she left half an hour ago and he’s no idea where she went.”
“Great,” I mutter.
“He said she was quite drunk, and with Meli.”
I disconnect and call my brother. “Arthur, where’s Meli?”
“At home,” he mutters. “I’m at the office. What’s up?”
“She’s not at home, she’s with Rosey, and Rosey should be here with me.”
I hear him sigh heavily. “Let me track her.”
“Does she know you track her?” I ask, laughing.
“No, and don’t you dare tell her. They’re at Bertie’s,” he says. “I’ll meet you there.”
Arthur is outside Bertie’s speaking with the door staff. I head over, shaking his hand and following him inside. “Thought Meli would be on a tighter leash, to be honest, brother,” I say with a smirk.
“Let’s not pretend I own her, Bert. We all know she runs rings around me, but that’s half the fun.”
Meli yelps in surprise when Arthur slides in behind her at the bar. He gently tugs her head back and whispers in her ear right as Rosey turns back to hand her a drink. She catches my eye before turning back to the barman. I don’t know what game she’s playing, but it’s starting to piss me off. Arthur follows the women over to their table, but I decide to have a walk around the club. I’m regretting tracking her down and following her here like I’m her bitch.
Alex, my newest dancer, spots me, winking seductively and crawling across her stage towards me. I stop, letting her run her hand over my tie. “Mr. Taylor, can I dance for you?” I drop down into a seat and nod. Anything to take my mind off Rosey.
My body doesn’t react to the dancers like it used to. Maybe I’m immune, but when I first opened this club five years ago, I was a walking hard-on. Now, as Alex does her best to seduce me, I’m unaffected, glancing over to Rosey instead and wondering why she’s so fucking cut off from the world. Alex finishes on a split, biting her lower lip and giving me a sexy smile. I don’t usually pay for my own dances, but I pull out a tonne anyway and slide it towards her. She grins. “You’re supposed to hook notes in my knickers as I dance.”
“Yeah, well, that ain’t my style.”
I stand, and she swings her legs over the edge of the stage while hooking her arms into her bra. “What is your style?” she asks.
