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Lifting the cover, I snorted and shook my head. Cash. Alotof cash. Along with the inscription, “Happy birthday, M.”
Who the hell was this guy and why was he so damn confusing? I’d never had such a hard time getting a read on a person before, but there he was, annihilating that track record. He’d gone from slamming me against walls and damn near strangling me, demanding information about drugs, to giving me presents and caring about shit like my birthday. No one else cared. Hell,Ididn’t even care. So why did he?
But true tomyword, I did not resume the narcotics trade under Misha’s nose. Aside from not wanting to shit all over his goodwill, I didn’t need to, which is exactly what I told my supplier when they called to see if I wanted another shipment. Business at the club was booming. Between the ridiculous raise and the tips, I was making more than I had dealingandhustling. For the first time in my life, I actually turned down a client. Aniceclient, to boot.
Was it too soon to think maybe my life had turned a corner? Things might finally—finally!—be looking up?
* * *
My front pocket buzzed again,reminding me there was a world outside of Delirium and it didn’t give a shit whether I was happy or not. Matter of fact, it seemed to prefer when Iwasn’thappy.
After the third phone call, I figured I’d better see what was so goddamn important at two in the morning.
As soon as I saw Brianna’s name on the screen, I went numb. Delirium was still in full swing and the bass thumped along inside my head as I answered. “Bri? What’s wrong?”
“It’s Axel!” she sobbed. “He’s not waking up!”
My pulse skyrocketed. Covering my ear with my other hand, I strained to hear her. “How long has he been out?”
“I don’t know! A couple minutes? I heard him fall and I came upstairs and he was out. I don’t know what to do! Crystal’s not here and I don’t know if he’s breathing or not! Marek! I don’t know what to do! Tell me what to do!”
“I’m on my way,” I said, rounding the bar and heading for the back door. “Keep trying to wake him up. Pour water on him, hit him, whatever you have to, Bri. Do you hear me? Once he’s up, don’t let him sleep again. Is there still Narcan at the house?”
“Yeah. I think. I don’t know! I haven’t seen any since Levi. I don’t know if Crystal used it or if it’s even good anymore.” She cried harder. The music covered the rest of her mumbles and sobs. I distinctly heard something about 911, which sent another wave of anxiety spiraling through me.
“No! Don’t call them! See if you can find the Narcan. Ok? Bri, listen to me! He’s going to be fine. I’ll be there soon,” I lied, knowing damn well it would take me forty minutes to get there—longer with traffic, even on a bike that could hit 150 MPH.
Hayden stepped in front of me and I drew up short before I slammed into him.
“Going somewhere?” he asked, eyeing my phone with an arched brow.
“Yeah. It’s an emergency.”
He looked at his watch and shook his head, tapping the face of it. “We have another two hours until we close.”
“Do I look like I give a fuck right now?”
“You will when the boss finds out you walked out on your shift.Again.”
“I don’t have time for your shit,” I snapped, shouldering past him roughly.
He grabbed my wrist on the way by, swinging me back around to face him. “If you walk out that door again, you’re gone for good. I’ll make sure of it. And good luck getting hired anywhere else in this neighborhood.”
I shoved away from him and spun once more, nearly crashing into someone walking up on me. It was Misha. Fuck! Could tonight get any worse?
“Problems?” he asked, glancing between Hayden and I.
“He’s trying to leave early,” Hayden replied quickly.Fucking rat.
“I have something I need to deal with right the fuck now and I don’t have time to dick around with either of you,” I yelled over the music, throwing a glare at the snitch behind me.
Misha nodded and turned slightly, gesturing toward the back door. “Then let’s go. We can take my car.”
I made a face but hurried past him, not about to turn down a free ride. My Ninja was faster but his Escalade was usually a hell of a lot closer than the city lots I parked in. Plus, in the event we actually had to take Axel somewhere, an SUV made more sense.
By the time we reached the back door, Anton was pulling up in the alley. I yanked the door open and dove inside before indecision smacked me in the face.
The interior was set up like a limo with the rear bench seats facing each other. Did I sit with my back to the driver? Or did I take the “normal” side? And where did Misha usually sit?
