“People you don’t want to get mixed up with.” Grim leans in close, taking the opportunity to keep talking with me whilst Beast has a conversation with the Breakers and Jeb. Now that Malik and his bodyguards have walked away, the tension dissolves further. The rest of the gangs resume talking as more girls come pouring out from the corners of the warehouse. I tense. Grim notices.
“They’re not here for sex. Just to serve. None of my girls fuck these men, unless they want to, of course,” she says, as more drinks are poured, and drugs consumed.
“I’m not with the Skins because I want to be…”
“Yeah, no shit…” She sighs heavily, looking at me as though making a decision. “Fuck sake, I’m getting soft. Those damn delinquents have screwed me up for life.”
“Delinquents?” I frown. What’s she talking about?
“Don’t worry about it. Look, I can get you out of here right now,” Grim offers, but I shake my head. As much as I’d love to run, I can’t, for Lena’s sake. I need to see this night through. I need to face whatever Jeb has planned for me because even though I’ve managed to dodge a bullet, there’s a whole load more aimed at me and I have a feeling more than one is going to hit their mark sooner rather than later.
“That won’t help me in the long run,” I reply.
“That bad, huh?”
“Yeah. That bad.”
She nods. “I can make shit difficult for them…”
“What do you mean?”
“Jeb’s an opportunist, I’ve never liked him. He likes to use kids to do his dirty work just like another wanker I used to know.”
“No one likes him,” I say, with a hint of a smile.
“All the more reason for me to take him down. He stepped on a few toes recently and whilst I’d normally keep the fuck out of bullshit like this, I will step in if I have reason to. Lately I have reason to.”
“No offense, but you don’t know Jeb. He’s a fucking maniac.”
“I don’t need to know Jeb. I’ve dealt with men like him all my life,” she says looking at me intently. “I see you have too. Am I right?”
I nod. “Yes.”
“What’s your name?” she asks me, changing the direction of the conversation.
“Pen. I’m Pen.”
“Well, Pen. You ever need a friend. You come find me.”
My stomach swirls with apprehension. I’m not sure of her motives, not at all. She might appear to be someone I can trust, but I’ve not lived the life I have to throw myself at the feet of someone I’ve only just met. Fuck that. Instead, I proceed with caution.
“Friends can turn their back on you without a moment’s hesitation, so forgive me if I don’t jump at the offer.”
I expect some kind of caustic reply or a revoking of her offer, but all I’m given is a wide grin. “Yeah, I like you, and because of that I’ll make sure Jeb doesn’t fucking touch you tonight or any other time he brings you to my club.”
“Thank you,” I respond.
Not that it’ll make much difference. If the leader of the Skins wants to fuck with me, he can do that at any point. Gritting my jaw, I make my way back to the table ready to face the Breakers and Jeb.
7
Pen
Keeping my shoulders back and my head held high I approach the table aware of the heated gaze of every single one of the Breakers, as well as Jeb. I don’t make eye contact with any of them, all my concentration is on placing one foot in front of the other and keeping myself upright. I need to eat. I need to sleep. But most of all, I need to cry in the privacy of my own room. I blink back my tears. Showing weakness here isn’t an option. I need to hold my shit together for a little while longer. Just a little longer.
Beside me, Grim folds her arms across her chest, looking directly at Dax. I’m grateful for her presence, even if I’m not sure whether I trust her yet. “You seem to enjoy being in the cage, don’t you?” she says.
Dax grunts, still too wound up to respond beyond that guttural, dismissive acknowledgement. It’s the wrong thing to do because Beast snarls, stepping into Dax’s space, chest to chest. Dax doesn’t flinch, his lip curls up in distaste.
“You’ve already pushed your fucking luck tonight. Answer Grim, right the fuck now!” Beast scowls, his thick finger pressing into Dax’s chest. They’re equally matched in size and fierceness, but there’s an edge to Beast that I wouldn’t want to test. The guy is named Beast for a reason, and I’m betting for Grim he’d go all out monster if the need arose. I bet he’d never walk away from her. “Are you listening, shithead?!”
Dax lifts his gaze slowly, nonchalantly, and I see his need to let it fucking rip because he doesn’t step back, and he sure as fuck doesn’t back down. Tonight, he has a death wish. My throat closes up as York and Xeno step forward, backing up their best friend even with the knowledge that they could all be shot. Even Zayn shifts in his seat, ready to jump in. Their loyalty to one another cuts me deeper than I’d ever care to admit. I feel their loss acutely at this moment. The past three years without them have been hell.
“Back off, dick,” Dax bites out.
“Dax,” I whisper on an exhale of breath. “Don’t.”
The only person who seems to hear me is Grim. I feel her fingers rest on my wrist. A gentle touch that belies the firm look on her face. There’s understanding in her touch, but also a warning. Don’t get involved, it says. I’m not stupid enough to ignore it.
“Beast, stand down. His actions will be settled in the ring at a later date,” Grim says to both men. A muscle in Beast’s jaw twitches, it’s the only sign he’s struggling with Grim’s demand. I half expect him to ignore her, but his nostrils flare as he takes in a sharp breath before stepping back.
“What do you have in mind?” Beast asks, a wicked smile curling up his lips as he looks at Grim with respect and very obvious love. It’s potent and unashamedly there. He loves Grim and he doesn’t give a fuck who knows it. There’s a strength in that I admire.
“Seeing as you’re intent on causing shit,” Grim says to Dax who has now focused on her, “And are stupid enough to face off with Beast, then I’m suggesting a fight between the two of you. Three weeks today, here at the club. Loser owes the other a debt that can be cashed in at any time. That’s if you’re up for it?” Grim challenges Dax.
“Fuck!” York mutters, his concern evident. Owing a debt is not something to be taken lightly, I should know.
“Think about this,” Xeno grinds out, his jaw tight as he places a hand on Dax’s shoulder.
Dax shakes Xeno’s hand off. “What’s there to think about? You know I never back out of a fight. This old man is mine,” Dax retorts, cocksure. My heart pounds in my throat at the thought of him fighting Beast. They might be evenly matched in size, but Beast doesn’t look like he’s ever been on the losing side of anything.
“With age comes wisdom, son, so I suggest you start training. I’m undefeated and I sure as fuck won’t let some little upstart like you take my record,” Beast counters with a smirk.