up, baby! You owe me.”
I reach into my purse for my wallet. Or at least, I would if I weren’t forced to fumble with a much different model than my trusty knitted bag—a leather clutch of Mara’s. Its glossy black matches the dress she let me borrow. Said dress suspiciously resembles the one she wore the first night we came here—only on me, the effect isn’t quite the same.
My appearance could be summed up with one word. Gangly. Every few seconds, the straps threaten to slide down my shoulders in rebellion of the lack of cleavage they have to support.
Mara, of course, looks stunning in a red mini, her hair swept into a loose knot at the nape of her neck, and her muted makeup flawless. I’m once again struck by her confidence over all else. I swear, every guy within a ten-foot radius has his eyes on her, and her sly grin betrays that she’s well aware of that fact. Taking my arm, she drags me through the crowded dance floor and nearly lunges across the bar counter to get the bartender’s attention.
“Hey, Tony!” she calls to the man in question who leans against the counter, wearing a black uniform. “Load me up!”
Minutes later, she’s happily plied with her third shot when she frowns, her eyes narrowing at something behind me. “Dammit. I swear, chick, you have the worst luck when it comes to clubbing. You must be an asshole magnet or something.”
“Huh?” I follow the line of her gaze over to a different set of private booths from the area we’d been accosted in last time. It’s larger, furnished with a broad, leather couch, and a bar ledge stocked with liquor bottles.
A lone figure dominates the space, and this time, he’s without the entourage. Regardless, he sits like a king, with his head cocked and his posture sprawling. The firm set to his jaw paired with those piercing eyes commands attention from nearly every woman who isn’t here with a date.
I hate myself for watching him longer than I should. For noticing the tight fit of his shirt and how his short sleeves display his muscular, tattooed forearms. I hate myself even more for glancing at his fingers that are braced on his knees—I know I’m blushing.
And I especially hate the wry smile shaping his pink mouth as if he’s aware of every rebellious observation sneaking into my head.
“I come here all the time, and he’s rarely here,” Mara says defensively between sips of her drink. “Though, he does own the place so—”
“What?” Only then does the club’s name truly resonate. Dragon’s Head. The same symbol that seems to crop up everywhere he goes. I’d been a fool not to put the pieces together before.
“Yeah,” Mara says, rolling her brown eyes. “One of the reasons he gets so much ass. Desperate skanks.” She eyes a group of scantily dressed women strategically dancing near his booth and scoffs. “Though…he is sexy, even if he is a total man-whore,” she admits, her eyes drinking in the muscle straining against his shirt. “Sexy, loaded, and ripped.” With a sigh, she turns back to the counter and slams her hand down. “Bartender, I need another drink, please!”
The summoned figure approaches our section. “Hey, Mara.” He hesitates before leaning in, shooting me a wary glance. “Look, don’t go spreading this around, but you might want to get out of here. Word is Gino’s boys are on the prowl, looking for trouble. They might head here next.”
“Dammit.” Mara’s face pales, and she nods solemnly. “Thanks, Tony.”
He shrugs. “Sure thing. My shift’s almost over, so I think I’ll be heading out too.” He winks and rakes his hand along his neon green Mohawk. “I’ll make your drink first, though.” He returns to the row of liquor on the other end of the bar.
The second he’s out of earshot, I turn to Mara and attempt to appear more curious than alarmed. “Gino?”
“An asshole.” She wrinkles her nose, waving me off. “It’s nothing. Just dumb, wannabe gangbanger shit.”
I feel my eyebrows shoot up. “That doesn’t sound like nothing.”
I picture Rafe and his uncanny confidence. His knack for violence. Gangbanger seems to be the most accurate term.
Mara sighs, leaning her hip against the bar. “God, bringing you here, I feel like I’m corrupting an innocent or something. Gino runs a club across town. One of those tittie bars that preys on young girls desperate for extra cash.” She rolls her eyes. “I know a girl who worked there