when she turns to leave I spot the last fucking person I want at this bar tonight.
Angel walks in in a pair of jeans and an old, washed out band tee. Her hair is already done and her make up so she’s not here for a fucking drink.
I want to break something.
She spots me and startles a little, then she pulls herself up and walks over to me with a straight back and a determined look on her face.
The second she’s within earshot I snap, “What the hell are you doing here?”
She clears her throat as she comes to a stop in front of the booth. “Diamond told me I had to work the party here tonight. She said it was do this or find a new job and I like The Boulevard.”
Fucking Diamond.
I should’ve killed the cunt last night, of course she changed her fucking tune. Axe probably fucked her until she caved, I need to go punch the asshole square in the jaw.
Angel twists her shirt in her hands, chews on her lip a little more before clearing her throat. “I just wanted to say thanks… for coming to help me. I know you’re just… protecting property or whatever but, yeah, thanks.”
Her eyes stay on the ground and my jaw locks up from all of the fucking clenching my teeth are doing. Does she even know what she sounds like right now?
Thanking me for dehumanizing her.
It’s the first of many signs to come that something isn’t fucking right.
I don’t see it that way though. I see it as a girl who’s trying to piss me the fuck off, get a rise outta me to chase this patch of mine and fuck if that isn’t the biggest fucking kick in the guts.
I want her.
She’s playing fucking games.
I’m going to end up losing fucking everything to a girl who’s named Angel, looks like just like one but has the fucking devil inside her.
She moves to turn around right as Jameson and his party arrive.
I lose my goddamn head for a second.
“What are you wearing tonight?”
She turns back to me and swallows. “I brought a few options. Speck… Speck said there’s different laws about dancing at this kind of bar so I’ve got a corset instead. Is that… okay?”
I shrug and stand up. “Show me. I’ll take you out back, you can get changed and if it’s not right you can put something else on.”
She bites her lip and jerks her head into a nod. “Thanks. It’s… been weighing on me. I don’t want to… risk the club or my job.”
Another warning sign.
Why the hell does she need the money this badly?
But that thought doesn’t stick in my head like it should. Instead, I walk out to the back rooms and I let her into the staff bathroom. Coulson, the bartender here, sees me and gives me a respectful nod. He’s a good man, the type who knows his place, and when Angel shuts herself up to get ready I lean against the wall opposite like some kinda chump he doesn’t say a fucking word about it.
“You want a drink, boss?”
Good man. “Whiskey. Just bring the bottle and if Rue gets in let him know I need to see him.”
Coulson nods and leaves without a word.
Three minutes later Rue stalks out, the whiskey in his hand, and a pissed look on his face. So a regular Saturday night for him then.
“Is there a reason you’re stalking the fucking bathroom, asshole?”
I shrug. “Diamond changed her mind. Sent Angel to dance.”
Rue groans and opens the bottle, taking a swig straight before handing it over to me. “And she’s in there? Getting ready to dance for all your fucking friends?”
My jaw clenches. “Guess so.”
The bathroom door unlocks and Rue curses, his eyes dropping down to the ground like he’d rather gouge them out than look at her. I know it’s not because he thinks he’ll want her. Nope, he’s so far fucking gone on Graves that he barely fucking notices tits on anyone else.
Nah, he’s respecting me and my fucking rage at the sight of Angel.
A fucking corset.
I didn’t even know what one was but there’s no fucking way, no fucking way, any woman of mine is walking out in that. Fuck, it’s worse than the pasties. White lace clinging to every fucking inch of her, accentuating her every curve, and I want to kill everyone.
“I just got here from the party and they changed their minds, Angel. You head on back to The