Chapter Four

 

Drew

 

 

     I look around the restaurant, impressed by Sketch’s choice. “Did I go a good job?” He asks, grinning at me from across the table.

I send him a wink. “You did great.”

Tonight is date night and after the week I’ve had at the salon, I’m really enjoying being able to just sit back and relax whilst someone else cooks for me so I can spend time with my man. Sketch seems to have chilled out after his mini freak out the other night, so I’ve been able to unwind even more so. 

Sketch leans forward, so I do too. “Have I earnt a present for myself?”

I can’t help but laugh, and it’s so loud that people on the nearby tables glance over. “I think so.”

“That’s what I like to hear babe.” He sends me a cheeky wink this time and it stirs a need inside of me. I clench my thighs together as I stare over at him, my sexy tattooed biker. I think about standing up right now and ordering Sketch to take me home so I can have him naked, underneath me while I ride him.

“No.” Sketch shakes his head, a naughty sparkle in his eye.

“What?” I ask, wondering if I said all of that out loud or not.

“I know what you’re thinking,” he lifts an eyebrow, challenging me. “You want me to take you home, so I can get you naked and have you under me.”

I bite down on my bottom lip, trying to hold back my laughter. “Close enough.”

“As much as I want to babe, we still have dessert to go.” He nods towards the waiter who comes from behind me and places a chocolate fudge cake with custard in front of me and my mouth waters. Yeah, sex can wait!

We both eat and it’s so delicious that I make more noises than necessary, but I can’t control it. I lick my lips to get all the goodness. Eventually, Sketch gently nudges me under the table. “You wanna calm down a little?” He quietly adds, “You’re giving every man in here a fucking hard on.”

I pause, looking around and sure enough men are risking a glace over every now and then and the women that are sat with them are glaring over at me. I sit up straight and take a sip from my drink, smiling at everyone as I set the glass back down. Sketch’s phone rings.

“Prez.” He looks up to me before answering, letting me know who it is and I watch him, a nervous feeling spreading through me. As he talks with my dad, I see Sketch’s body language go from relaxed to rigid in a matter of seconds. Fuck this isn’t good.

I almost knock my drink over when Sketch jumps up from his seat, people stare and I grab my bag to get ready to go. “I’m coming now.” He confirms before hanging up and giving me a sympathetic look.

“Come on then.” I stand, as Sketch pulls out his wallet and puts down a wad of cash on the table. There’s more than enough there, but it seems I don’t have time to complain. Sketch takes hold of my hand as I stare longingly at the chocolate cake he had left behind, and leads me out of the restaurant.

“Well, that was nice while it lasted.” I sigh as we quickly walk over to the car.

Sketch stops before he opens my door, and takes hold of my hands in his. “Shit, I’m sorry babe.”

“It’s fine.” I force a smile. “It is club business, right?”

Sketch nods and quickly opens the door for me, ushering me inside. When Sketch gets in beside me, he starts the car and is driving before I’ve even clipped my seat belt in.

“One of the strip club’s has been raided.” Sketch growls as he drives, his eyes glaring at the road ahead.

“What the fuck?” I scream, all thoughts of the chocolate fudge cake long forgotten. I watch Sketch and I can see the stress and worry eating at him. “The club is ok, right?”

Sketch’s Adams apple bobs up and down as he swallows hard. His eyes snap to me for a second before he returns to the road. “Yeah.”

I know he’s lying. I fucking know it, but I have to sit back, like the fucking good girl I am for my man. I’ll just patiently wait, it will all come out soon but I just hope nothing bad happens to anyone before that. “Mmmm.” I mumble under my breath.

Sketch clears his throat. “I’m gonna take you home.”

“I may as well come with you!” I argue, we have to pass all three strip clubs before getting to my apartment. It seems stupid for him to take me home and then go back on himself.

“Absolutely fucking not!” He growls, making me jump. I wasn’t expecting that.

“Sketch.” I snap. “I’m guessing you need to be there right now. You’ll only be longer if you take me home.”

“I’ll take you to the clubhouse then.” He quickly returns and although the clubhouse is closer than my apartment, it still seems silly of him, but then again this is Sketch and he’s always concerned about my safety.

“Just go to the fucking strip club, I’ll be fine.” I roll my eyes, I don’t understand why we’re having this argument.

“The clubhouse is only around the corner, I want you safe.” Sketch’s eyes snap towards mine again and instead of annoyance, I now feel sympathy. It doesn’t mean I’m going to cave though. He needs to be there as soon as possible because a raid could have involved anything and anyone could be hurt or scared.

“Sketch, you need to be there as soon as possible. What if someone is hurt or your brothers need you but you were too fucking late because you were taking me home?” I growl, staring daggers into the side of his gorgeous face. I can see him understanding my reasoning, so I push further. “I will stay in the car, I know you have a gun under your seat and mine.”

He looks at me in shock and then let’s go a long and stressful sigh. His phone begins to ring again and my brother, Devlin’s name flashes on the screen. I reach for it and answer.

“We’re on our way.” I say as soon as I hold it to my ear.

“The fuck!” Devlin roars.

“Yeah thanks for ruining our date.” I point out, ignoring his anger.

“D, you better be fucking joking with me.”

“Look, don’t you start as well. It makes sense because it’s going to take Sketch longer to take me home and then come back. I’m coming and I’m going to stay in the car like a good little girl.” I wait for him to answer, but all I get is a long sigh. “That’s the right attitude.”

“Just tell Sketch to fucking hurry up.” Devlin adds before ending the call. I smile over at Sketch as he looks over to me.

“See, told you it was the right choice.” Sketch glares at me and then his eyes return to the road, he doesn’t look happy at all and I knew he wouldn’t be but it’s the right thing to do.

We slow down as we come to the entrance of Popping Cherries, one of the three strip joints that the club owns. Sketch parks up and as the car engine cuts, he turns in his seat to face me. “I’m going to lock you in, I want you to stay here and wait for me. If you see anything, call me and I’ll be right out.” Sketch’s eyes wander all over my face before he leans in for a harsh kiss. “Please don’t do anything stupid.”

I giggle, but Sketch doesn’t find it funny at all. “Promise.”

He gives me one last kiss, whispers that he loves me and hands me the keys. Sketch doesn’t leave until he hears me lock the car and he gifts me with a smile before he walks towards Popping Cherries and disappears inside. The doors look as if it’s swallowed him whole, and I’m left alone in the darkness. The car begins to feel really fucking cold and I begin to feel a little uneasy. I square my shoulders and dare to look around. I can’t see anybody or anything suspicious, but then again the late afternoon lighting has turned dark and I’m not able to see anything from my reflection staring back at me through the window. After looking at myself for a couple of seconds, I turn away and reach under my seat for the gun that I know Sketch keeps under there. I don’t know why, because I’m not in any danger but I’m already starting to feel bored.

Suddenly, a loud bang comes from behind the car and I jump out of my skin. “What the fuck was that?”

I look around, trying to see if I can catch anything moving but everything is still and I grip the gun tighter. What if whoever raided the strip club is still here, watching the place and me? With that thought, I don’t like being here alone anymore and I’m eager to be back with Sketch. I decide to stay where I am, because I promised Sketch to stay put but after five more minutes I’m paranoid and bored. Should I just go in there?

I stare at the door, daring myself to get out of the car and just go in there. I don’t think there’s any danger, inside the building anyway, because I’m not enjoying it very much out here. I feel like I’m being watched, it’s probably all in my head but I don’t want to be alone in this car for a second longer. I take a deep breath, open the car door and quickly make my way to the large double doors of Popping Cherries, hitting the lock button on the car keys as I go. I feel eyes on my back the whole time and it creeps me the fuck out.

I yank open one of the doors, and try to be as quiet as possible as it closes behind me. I know I shouldn’t be here, but I’d rather face the anger of Sketch than sit in that car all alone for a minute longer. Seeing as though we came here straight from a date, I’m wearing high heeled boots so I try my hardest to not draw attention to me, but it’s not long until there’s crunching under my feet and I look down to see broken glass all over the place. I look around, finding it weird as fuck with no music on. When I’ve been here in the past, the place was full of people having a great time with beautiful women dancing on the stages and the music so loud you had to shout at the person next to you. It’s always busy and the other strip clubs are just the same. I just don’t understand why anyone would want to raid this place and potentially hurt anyone. Could it have been a jealous ex of one of the dancers who work here?

I enter the main area, where you can see the two stages that are currently empty, but what horrifies me is the blood. It’s on the stage area and even on the floor right next to where I’m currently standing. What the fuck happened here? I’m beginning to feel really worried about what’s happened here and to the club, but I’m also pissed at Sketch and the rest of them for keeping something from us. We know not to ask too many questions, but when our lives are potentially in danger then we all deserve to know what’s going down. Especially after what the club has gone through in the past.

I begin to hear voices from one of the back rooms, I know the men belonging to those voices very well and all of them sound real fucking pissed. I make my way closer towards them, trying to dodge as much glass and blood as I possibly can but considering how much there is littered all over the place, it’s impossible and I’m dreading the state of my new boots after this. The sobbing of women reaches my ears.

“This is an act of war!” I hear Devlin yell and it makes me jump back. The cut glass crunching loud under my feet.

“What the fuck was that?” Comes Sketch’s voice and I freeze. Shit, now I know I’m going to be in trouble.

Loud footsteps come my way and I look around helplessly, there’s nowhere to run or hide. So I stand tall, crossing my arms over my chest and act like I belong. They have their guns pointed towards me as they charge in, but as soon as they see it’s me they lower them immediately.

“Drew?” Sketch asks. “What the fuck happened to you staying in the car?”

“Shit!” Devlin shouts. “I knew this would happen.”

“You shouldn’t be here baby girl.” My dad marches over, kissing me on the forehead before giving me a disapproving glare.

“I wasn’t going to stay in the car for a minute longer.” I argue. “It’s cold and I was bored.”

Sketch comes over to me, wrapping his arms over my shoulder. “You scared baby?”

I thump his side. “Fuck no.” He gives me a look that tells me that he doesn’t believe me. “I heard some strange noises.”

My dad signals for two of his men to check it out. “Well, looks like the place is clear. Drew, make yourself useful and check in on the girls.”

He gestures to where I can hear the sniffling and I make my way over, a prospect following me to make sure I’m safe. I see two of the dancers, crouched on the floor and both of them are crying into their hands.

“Hey girls.” I approach them carefully. I’ve had experience with damaged and upset women whilst I’ve grown up in the club, so I’ve learnt how to deal with them. They both look at me, both of them brunette, one blue eyed and the other’s brown. I recognise the brown eyed one, her name is Suzy and she comes into the club every now and then. She’s not exactly a bunny, but she may as well be.

“Hey Drew.” Suzy sniffles, holding her silk gown tightly around her. At least they’re both covered. I notice that she has a splash of blood on her cheek and I ask the prospect to grab something to wash her face with.

“How we doing?” I ask them, glancing back at the men after hearing them mumbling between them. I don’t mind making sure Suzy and her friend are ok, but my dad obviously gave me this task so that the men can talk amongst themselves.

We all freeze as a gunshot sounds. The girls shriek and cuddle up to one another. Sketch, Devlin and my dad hurry towards me as more shots are heard, their backs to me and their guns aimed high, waiting for anything to happen. The doors open and heavy feet approach. I release a sigh of relief when Duke and Ryder appear, their guns in hand.

“Drew was right, three men were out there but they shot at us and ran.” Duke informs and my dad doesn’t look happy.

“Fuck!” He shouts.

“They were fucking watching us Prez!” Ryder growls, obviously furious.

Sketch turns to look at me, fear written all over his face. He wraps me in his strong arms. “I’m so fucking glad you didn’t listen to me.”

I hold him just as tightly. “Me too.”

“I hate to think what could have happened.” Sketch grumbles.

My dad approaches, smiling at me as Sketch lets me come up and breathe. “You gonna stop keeping things from the women now?”

As I tease Sketch, my dad barks orders to get more men out here and to check the perimeter. “We need to check that no other fuckers are still here.” My dad snaps.

After all of that crap, I would like nothing more than to go home but safety first and all that. As the men talk, I stand awkwardly and bored. At least if I had my own weapon I could be protecting myself right now.