Chapter Twenty Three
Drew
We’ve all planned to meet at a local bar around the corner from the clubhouse the following Saturday night. Tonight I’ve chosen a red mini dress and Maci is wearing a black skirt and white top, we leave in our taxi to meet the rest of the girls. As soon as we enter the bar Lauren, Tasha and Elise run up to us, their arms raised towards us.
“Girls!” Elise cheers. “Where have you been?”
“Our taxi was late.” Maci explains as I watch Lauren drape her arm over Tasha. She smiles widely at me.
“Hey Lauren.” I grin and she waves back.
“Hey babe.” Lauren giggles back.
Tasha looks me to, rolling her eyes in humour. “Mothers night off, apparently.” She laughs.
Maci leaves to get a drink from the bar, Elise and Lauren eagerly follow her. “Ah, leave them to it. They deserve some fun.” We watch the three of them leave and then I face Tasha. “You feeling better now?”
“Yeah.” Tasha beams. “Just, a little bug.”
“Ok.” I nod, watching her carefully because something seems off. “You wanna get a drink?”
“I’ve had one already.” She shakes her head as we walk to the bar.
We join the rest of the girls at the bar, and I place my drink order along with theirs. Once we’ve received them, the five of us make our way to the dance floor and form a tight knit circle, dancing together. Elise wiggles in front of me, poking out her cute little butt towards me and we dance together, teasing onlookers around us. Something we’re professionals at from our years of clubbing together. After a couple of songs, Lauren and I want to freshen our drinks, so we ask the girls if they want another too. Elise and Maci accept our offers, but Tasha declines.
“You sure?” Lauren asks her and Tasha nods.
Elise tilts her head as she observes Tasha, working her magic on figuring out the unspoken words. A talent Elise is very good at and it is sometimes useful. Even in her tipsy state she can see something is up with Tasha.
“You have to be thirsty.” Lauren points out.
“I’m alright.” Tasha shuffles on her feet, looking a little uncomfortable as we’re all quizzing her. “I had a lemonade when we got here.”
“A lemonade?” I ask, narrowing my eyes at her. What the fuck is happening here. Tasha is usually the wildest one out of all of us!
Elise pokes me in the side, her eyes widening as she tries to tell me silently what she’s figured out. Lauren watches Tasha and I see her eyes travel down to her stomach and my heart stutters. I look back to Elise and she can see that I’ve figured it out. A smile appears as she nods and by the looks of Maci, she has no clue. Maci is looking at all of us, wondering what is going on. She looks to me and as Lauren asks her another question, I look to Tasha’s currently flat belly and Maci’s eyes widen, finally figuring it out.
“I’m just having a good time sober.” Tasha shrugs.
We all look to one another, smile widely and then look to Tasha. It’s quite funny as Tasha looks at us all, looking just like a deer caught in the headlights. Her eyes go wide and her cheeks blush so much that she looks adorable.
“Shit.” Tasha giggles. “Nobody knows yet.”
“So you are?” Elsie gasps, pointing down to Tasha’s stomach and when Tasha nods we all jump around squealing.
Tasha laughs, looking happy as fuck as we all congratulate her. We’re acting like idiots but we don’t give a shit. This is fucking great news! I’m going to be an auntie again and I’m so happy. For a second though, I think about telling Sketch because he will share my happiness and in that moment my joy comes crashing down. My heart feels like it’s being squeezed, I’m in so much pain right now.
“Devlin just wants to keep it between us two for now.” Tasha adds. “However I did tell him that you girls would figure it out sooner.”
At that we all laugh, including me. My initial shock of thinking Sketch is still alive is beginning to wear off and I’m slowly returning.
“Nothing gets by us.” Lauren laughs.
“I see that.” Tasha shakes her head, looking a little bewildered.
We all surround her, cuddling Tasha and celebrating with her. A new song begins and it happens to be one of my favourites. Lauren and Maci disappear to the bar, while the rest of us dance together because the night has turned into a whole new celebration.
“Another baby.” I squeal into Tasha’s ear later on into the night, I pull back as see tears in her eyes. “I’m so happy for you both.”
Tasha really does deserve this, after everything she has been through and I am so thrilled for her and my brother. They will be great parents. I just know it.
We resume our dancing and having an amazing girl’s night. We’re all a little tipsy. Some more than others and Tasha’s understandably sober. A very handsome man comes from behind Maci, working his way closer and closer to her. He whispers into her ear, making Maci jump and at first she’s a little pissed, but the sexy stranger turns on the charm and makes her laugh. They begin dancing together and I can’t help but think good on her. Why shouldn’t she dance with him? All too quickly, the friend of Maci’s good looking new friend approaches me after realising his friend is missing.
“Hey.” He greets and I smile back in return. He’s nice looking with his short blonde hair styled in a fashionably way. You know, the new man bun craze they’re all going for now. His bright blue eyes strike me and manage to pull me in. “You wanna dance?”
“Sure.” I agree, beginning to move to the beat together. He’s not my usual type, but what’s wrong with a little dance?
After a couple of songs, Maci and her friend say that they’re going to the bar for a drink and we follow. The flirting continues as we wait for our drinks and I soon find out that my new friend is called Joey and he turns out to be quite funny. So funny, that I don’t even notice Maci and her dancing partner have returned to the dance floor.
“Come on.” Joey holds his arm out for me to take hold of once our glasses are empty. “I know you wanna go dance.”
“How can you tell?” I ask, wrapping my arm through his.
“You’re feet keep tapping and I wanna have an excuse to do this.” Joey spins me so that my back is to his front and his hands are on my waist. He pulls me in close so I can feel all of him and we move together to the beat of the song. I notice that Maci and the man she’s with are in a very intimate position and looking very close.
This is not what I had aimed to do when I agreed on a girl’s night, but now I am, dancing with a man in a way that I haven’t since Sketch. It’s weird, I’m not going to lie but I don’t feel awful, like I thought I would. Is that awful? I’m beginning to experience moments in time when I don’t feel so trapped in my grief and I’m able to live freely again, but that doesn’t mean I don’t miss Sketch. That won’t ever go away. I will always love Sketch.
Joey and I carry on dancing, but when I look over at my friends, I miss having a laugh and a giggle with them. Besides, Joey’s hands are starting to get a little more daring and I don’t feel comfortable with him anymore. Joey’s hands start to rise and I just know he’s going to try and grope my breasts, so before he can move any further I pull away from him.
“Where are you going?” Joey laughs, pulling me right back into his grasp.
“Hey!” I shout, slapping at his hands as he tries to reach me. “Don’t try that shit with me.”
“I like it when girls play hard to get.” Joey laughs, quickly standing in front of me and grabbing my face. “Give us a kiss sexy.”
I cringe as I try to fight him off. I hear the girls behind me as they notice what’s going on between us. Just as I think Joey is going to land a kiss, he’s suddenly gone, yanked away so hard that Joey almost brings me down to the floor with him, if it wasn’t for the strong hands capturing me.
“Easy princess.” I hear Zane from behind as he helps me stand steadily on my feet.
“Get up you piece of shit.” Cyrus growls and I look up to see him standing over Joey as he stumbles to stand.
“Cyrus?” I ask and he tears his eyes from Joey. His face transforming from pissed to flirtatious in a second as he looks at me.
“Just give me a second darling.” Cyrus winks, then looks back to Joey and watches him stand but as soon as he does, Cyrus grabs him by the collar and pins him up against the wall. His eyes glaring into Joey as he growls. “When a woman doesn’t want you to touch her, you fucking step back!”
Joey does the worst thing and just laughs in Cyrus’ face. “She wanted it.”
“Oh shit.” Zane snickers, taking the words straight from my head.
Cyrus steps right into Joey’s face. “If I catch you anywhere near her again, I promise you that I will fucking kill you.” My spine shivers from the menacing tone when Cyrus threatens Joey. Even Joey’s smirk fades when he realises how deathly Cyrus is. “Trust me pal when I say I’m not playing. I like to keep my promises, especially when it involves getting my hands dirty.”
The girls ask if I ‘m ok, but I just nod because my sole focus is Cyrus. Maci’s dance partner joins Joey’s side. “You wanna take your hands away mate?”
I then see Baby appear from the shadows, storming over to stand by Cyrus’ side. How long has Baby been there?
“Just fuck off!” Baby shouts in the friends’ face, but both Joey and his friend stay still, which is until Baby roars. “This is Kings property and you’re no longer fucking welcome! Now as I said before, fuck off!”
Joey and his friend’s eyes widen and I turn to see more Kings Members step forward, all of them looking as angry as the next. Scrappy, Grim, Devlin and Bomber are amongst them, glaring over at the two men, who smartly turn and run out the doors without turning back.
Tasha laughs as we watch the two of them literally run for their lives. I turn to face all the men. “What are you all doing here?”
Grim walks over to Lauren and holds her close. “You really think we wouldn’t wanna keep an eye on you all with everything that’s going on?”
I’d be lying if that thought didn’t go through my mind when Elise first suggested that we go out tonight. I had thought that my dad would demand we cancel or that we take some men along with us but here we are.
Grim then begins to kiss Lauren, leading her into a dance that’s too sexual for me to watch. Bomber is very much doing the same with Elise. Devlin picks Tasha up, kissing her and taking her some place where they can be alone.
“You alright?” Cyrus asks, standing close and placing a caring hand on my arm. “Thank fuck Zane was beside you or you might have landed on top of that dick head.”
“Yeah I’m fine.” I giggle. “How long have you all been here?”
“About an hour after you.” He laughs. “Scrappy and Ryder were here before you and he sent a text out to tell us what was happening with you. I was with Baby and I came with them.”
“And so many others.” I look around at what seems to be roughly ten other men standing around.
“Fucking hell.” I hear Maci snap and I look over to see Baby standing very close to her. I’m not even going to see what that’s all about.
“Let’s dance.” Cyrus announces.
“Really?” I ask whilst laughing.
Cyrus frowns. ”You think dancing with me is funny?”
“I’m just shocked.” I explain but the humour stops when Cyrus wraps one arm around my waist and yanks me into his body. “You’re serious?”
“Darling.” Cyrus smirks, glancing down at my cleavage before returning to my eyes. “I’m deadly serious. After watching you dance with that dick for so long, it’s time for my turn.”
“You were watching?” I gasp.
Cyrus scowls slightly as he nods. “As I said, it’s now my turn.”
He keeps his arm wrapped firmly around my waist as we return to the dance floor. The song is a typical dance tune, so the dancing starts as a fun type but eventually it starts to turn heated. I’m well aware of the saying about how dancing with a man can give you a hint of how he is in bed and that’s all I could think about as our bodies rub against each other. Let me tell you, if that’s the case then Cyrus should be amazing in bed! I even felt his fucking bulge and that doesn’t help me one bit. Out of the corner of my eye I see Maci and Baby dancing, but I’m far too busy and tuned into what’s happening with Cyrus and me as our dancing turns up a notch. Cyrus turns to face me and if I thought we were intimate before, I was so fucking wrong because now we’re on a whole different level. Cyrus gives me such powerful eye contact that I just can’t look away. He guides my arms to wrap around his neck so he can pull me in even closer, my breasts pushing up against his chest and my breath hitches as Cyrus glances down at my mouth. My cheeks heat and my heart beats a thousand times as something passes between us. Cyrus’ jaw clenches and I feel his arms tense around me. I’m swept away in the moment, not caring who is around us and as I think we’re about to take it up another notch, Maci storms past me in a cloud of rage. I watch her run outside, but none of the other girls have noticed.
“Go after her.” Cyrus whispers in my ear and I know he’s right, but I really don’t want to end whatever was going on between us.
“Thanks.” I go on my tip toes and give him a small kiss on the cheek before running out to follow Maci. But just as I’m about to turn and leave Cyrus, he pulls me back and cups my face, looking deep into my eyes and returns the favour. Hip lips lingering on my cheek after.
“Go.” He orders and I manage to move my feet to go and find my friend.
“Mace?” I ask as I step outside, the cold, bitter wind causing me to wrap my arms around myself.
“I’m here.” She waves me down from one of the small tables from behind me. She looks like she’s freezing.
“Come on, let’s go back inside.” I approach her.
“I’m waiting for my taxi.” She shakes her head.
I take a seat beside her. “What’s happened?”
“Same old shit.” Maci sadly smiles up at me.
Dread fills me. “Baby?”
“How did you guess?” Maci sighs and when I open my arms she falls onto my shoulder.
“What did he do this time?” I dread to ask.
Maci laughs bitterly. “He said that I looked beautiful, right as one of his sluts started calling him and do you know what he said?” She asks and I shake my head. “He asked if I wanted to go and meet the whore with him!”
I’m going to fucking kill him!
“Don’t go home.” I order her. “You need to go back inside and flirt with anyone you can.”
Maci laughs. “No, I’m just going to go home.”
“Then I’m going with you.” Maci shakes her head, and is about to argue when I point in her face. “Don’t argue with me woman!”
I send the girls and Cyrus a text, quickly explaining just as the taxi pulls up and I get in with Maci. I can’t leave her alone after my shit head of a brother has hurt her like this. I haven’t let him off. Not at all!
The girls keep texting me as Maci and I ride back home in the taxi. She looks angry and annoyed but I can see the upset is there too. Baby has hurt her. Yet again, and he’s going to hear from me in the morning. The girls let me know that Baby left as soon as we did and now they’re all making their way home too.
“I’ve ended everyone’s night.” Maci snaps as we get out of the taxi and make our way up to the apartment.
“No you haven’t.” I argue back. “I needed to get going anyway.”
“Why?” Maci asks as we walk through the front door.
Locking the door behind us, I throw my bag on the sofa and sit down. “Before I did something I might regret.” Maci stands by her bedroom door and gives me a certain look. “With Cyrus.”
Maci’s eyes jump further up her forehead. “Really? I saw you dancing. It looked pretty hot.”
“So hot that I felt on fire.” I admit and Maci fans herself with her hands.
“Do yourself a favour and let it happen.” Maci advises. “Right, I’m off to bed. I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Ok.” I nod and Maci hovers in the doorway. “I’m sorry, I would stay up and have a drink but I just wanna lie down.”
“Don’t bother apologising.” I glare over at her. “You go to bed. I’m a big girl.”
Smiling, Maci blows me a kiss and then disappears into her bedroom, closing the door behind her. I’m not really that tired. My blood is still warm from the effect of Cyrus, so until then I go to change out of my dress and into my pyjama shorts and vest top. As I’m pulling my hair into a loose pony tail, there’s a knock on the door and considering the time, I’m confused. It has to be someone I’m close to though because they’ve gotten past the security codes.
“Who is it?” I ask, leaning on the door.
“Me.” I smile at hearing Cyrus’ voice and I open the door.
“What are you doing here?” I ask, letting him in, my face heating under his gaze as he takes in my new outfit.
“I must say darling.” Cyrus smirks as I close and lock the door. “I do like your change of clothes.”
“Shut the fuck up.” I laugh, leading him into the kitchen area and making us both a drink. Cyrus asks how Maci is and I give him a little run down. “I’m going to kill him.”
Cyrus laughs. “Please let me be there.”
“Make sure you’re at the clubhouse in the morning.” I flash him a wink and we make our way to the sofa. “So, you never said why you’re here.”
“Can’t a friend drop in?” He asks and I think about how we were dancing just an hour ago. I think we’ve come on a little from the standard friend zone.
“Sure you can.” I smile, taking a sip from my drink.
“Now we’re alone, we can have a private dance.” Cyrus leans back into the sofa and I try my best to ignore my fast beating heart.
“My dancing legs are tired.” I giggle, although I would like to accept his offer.
“Look Dee,” Cyrus seems to have turned serious and I panic a little. “I’m a dangerous man.”
I can’t help but laugh. “Almost all the men I know are dangerous.”
“I’m different.” Cyrus shakes his head. “If I hadn’t gotten so close to you already I would tell you to stay away from me.”
“I’m not scared Cyrus.” I make that very clear. “Are you trying to,” I take a deep breath. “Put me off?”
“What?” Cyrus spits. “Fuck no.” He shakes his head. “I just want you to know who I am.”
I put my drink down and turn to face him on the sofa. “Look, I’m going to be brutally honest here Cyrus and I don’t know if it’s because I’ve been drinking or not, but here it goes.” I take in a deep breath. “When I lost Sketch I didn’t think I’d ever be able to move on, but these past several months have been fucking hard and it kills me to say that I’m doing ok now. I feel like I’m betraying him when I’m happy.” I feel a tear slip down my cheek, but I carry on. “I didn’t ever think I’d even smile again, and I didn’t until you walked back into my life. My friends and family have been amazing, but I honestly think it’s you that pulled me through the dark fog I was trapped in.”
Cyrus looks deep into my eyes and clears his throat. “As soon as I saw you I knew I was in trouble.” He smirks. “I don’t wanna do anything that hurts you, but I’d be fucking lying if I said it’s been hard to keep back when everything in my head is telling me to do the complete opposite.” Cyrus slides closer to me and places his hand on my knee. “I will protect you with my life Drew.”
We sit in comfortable silence for a few minutes. It’s nice, but now that I’ve come face to face with my feelings, I’ve started to feel tired.
“If things were different.” I add and Cyrus nods, understanding me completely. “It’s just too soon I think.”
“I get it darling.” Cyrus kisses me on the forehead. “You get to bed, and I’ll meet you at the clubhouse in the morning.”
We have a little cuddle at the door before he leaves and as soon as I lock up I go straight to bed. I’m a little shaken by our conversation. I didn’t think I would ever tell him how I’ve been feeling these past months, but there you go. I get into my bed and look up at the ceiling, noticing a blob of red paint on the ceiling and a little giggle escapes me. That was Sketch’s mistake when he was helping me repaint. I went crazy when he missed it and even more so when he kept forgetting to fix it, but now I’m glad it’s there. A sudden rush of anger floods through me, and I just know that I have to get my vengeance for his death soon. I just can’t let those fuckers get away with it. No fucking way! In order for my plan to go ahead, I need Suzy to tell me when the next underground fight is so I can follow my plan through. I just need to make sure nobody at the club finds out what I’m planning, because it might just get me killed but I have to do it for the man I love. I just have to.