Riding the Line (Devil's Knights 2nd Generation #2) - Winter Travers Page 0,53
go to work, but I think the reason why that was okay was because she literally worked across the street. Hero spent his days at Hair of the Dog while Easy was chasing Luna and Greta around.
Luna and Greta weren’t supposed to be going anywhere, either, but it was just a known fact that Luna was going to do whatever she wanted and Easy better be there watching her.
We walked into the building, and I turned in a slow circle. “This place is huge,” I gasped.
“Isn’t it!” Meg called. “It’s a blank slate, and I can’t wait for Pole Stars to take it over!”
Meg gave us the tour of the space, and I got more and more excited with each idea she threw at us.
“This is really happening,” I cried.
Meg put her arm around my shoulders. “We’ll make you the best studio, and you’ll teach the masses of Rockton how to shake their asses.”
“You need to put that on a billboard,” Royal laughed.
Meg pointed at Royal. “And that’s why you’re in charge of marketing. Can’t really have you whirling around on a pole when you’re nine months pregnant.” Royal planned on being another instructor, but that wasn’t going to happen until she pushed my little niece or nephew out. Until then, she was going to do everything she could to promote the hell out of Pole Stars.
Royal’s phone rang. “It’s Grit. I better take this.”
I rolled my eyes and wandered around with Meg. I had come to terms with the fact that Grit wasn’t ever going to fully be out of my life if Royal was in it, but that didn’t mean I had to stand by and listen to her talk to him.
“We’re gonna put floor-to-ceiling mirrors on these two walls, and there will be enough for twenty-two poles in this studio.” Meg moved to the middle of the building and held her arms out in front of her in a V. “Studio A this way. “She turned to the right. “And Studio B this way. We’ll be able to have—”
Royal’s blood-curdling scream ricocheted off the walls, and she dropped to her knees. “No!”
Meg and I rushed over to her, and I tried to pull the phone from her.
“No, please, no. Don’t do this. He didn’t do anything!” Royal sobbed into the phone.
I snatched the phone from her hand and stabbed the speaker button. “Who is this?” I yelled.
“I’m sorry, Royal. I tried to fix it. I just wanted to make everything right.”
I realized it was Grit. His voice was weak, and his breathing was shallow.
“What’s wrong, Grit? Where are you?” I shouted.
“I’m sor—” A loud bang sounded and shook me to the core. Meg jumped, and Royal sobbed uncontrollably while I tried to keep my grip on the phone.
I clutched the phone in my hand and tried to figure out what the hell was happening. “Grit!” I shouted. “Grit, can you hear me?”
A loud booming voice filled the deafening silence. “Inform Mr. Banachi the deal is off, and I’m coming for what belongs to me.”
The line went dead, and I dropped the phone. I grabbed Royal by the shoulders and gave her a shake. “What happened, Royal? What did they say when you answered the phone?”
“He’s dead, Indy,” she sobbed. “They killed Grit because Marco did something. They said they were fucked over, and now, I was going to pay for it.” She struggled to breathe and gagged. “I don’t know what happened. I don’t know why they killed Grit!”
Meg’s eyes connected with mine. She pulled out her phone and headed out the front door.
“What the fuck is going on?” Frost shouted.
I gathered Royal in my arms and just held her.
Meg gave Frost the quick rundown of what little we knew, then slipped out the door.
Frost couched next to us and laid a hand on my shoulder. “Let me get her, darlin’. You guys don’t need to be on the dirty floor.”
Royal clung to me, her crying uncontrollable, and sobs ripped from her lips. “He didn’t do anything,” she shouted. “Why?!”
Frost managed to pull her from me and gathered her in his arms. I grabbed the phone from the ground and chased behind Frost as he stalked back to the clubhouse.
A black town car with blacked-out windows pulled up to the front door, and Marco jumped out.
“What the fuck did you do?” Frost thundered.
King and the rest of the guys burst out of the clubhouse and stood toe to toe with Marco.