Unbeloved (Undeniable #4)(47)

Startled, I could only nod in response. With an answering nod, Deuce disappeared.

“He’s hurtin’.” Blue nodded in the direction Deuce had gone. “Little girl shows up outta nowhere, and the two of ’em already got f*ckin’ history. She’s tellin’ him she loves him, givin’ him a taste of what he’s always wanted, and then poof, she’s f*ckin’ gone.”

“What the f*ck you talkin’ ’bout?” Cox asked. “You tryin’ to tell me Prez is hard up for Demon *?”

“You’re kidding me, right?” Miranda snorted, shaking her head. Leaning forward across the countertop, her breasts pushed up clear to her chin. “He doesn’t give two shits about that little girl.”

Ignoring her, Blue looked to Cox. “You a f*ckin’ dumbass? Preacher told him if he touches Eva again, he’s takin’ him to ground. So what does he do? He touches her again. And again. I call that hard-f*ckin’-up.”

“Then, f*ck her too,” Cox growled.

“Hello?” Miranda called out, sounding annoyed. “Anybody home? Eva was a dick distraction is all. Nothing more.”

Blue, looking exasperated, turned his attention to Miranda and gave her a toothless condescending smile. “You mean to tell me that if Eva Fox marched her sweet little ass back inside this club right this second, Deuce wouldn’t drop you like a burnin’ hot potato and take her straight to bed?”

Miranda’s posture went rigid, her expression hostile, but she said nothing.

Blue shrugged unapologetically. “Might be an old man, might not know what f*ckin’ year it is, but I know real when I see it and Deuce and Eva, that was some real shit. You’re the distraction, girl. Best get your head screwed on straight ’fore you f*ckin’ lose what little brains you got left up in there.”

I slapped my hand over my mouth, attempting to stifle my laughter, but I was too late. Everyone had heard me.

“What are you laughing at?” Miranda demanded, her nostrils flaring with anger. “You’re no better than I am! You want to talk about what’s real, Dorothy? Jase and Chrissy’s marriage, that’s real!”

My stomach did a nervous flip, bringing all my insecurities boiling back up to the surface, and my smile slipped from my face, falling away alongside my hand.

I knew I wasn’t like Miranda, was nothing like her. She didn’t love Deuce; she only loved what she could gain from being with him. I loved Jase, loved him with all my heart. And he’d promised me he would eventually leave his wife.

But . . . if all that were really true, why did a meaningless insult from a woman like Miranda have the ability to wound me?

With a satisfied smile, Miranda slid off her bar stool. “It’s about time you learned your place here,” she spat. Spinning on her heel, she marched quickly across the room, disappearing down the same hallway Deuce had.

“Pay no attention to that one,” Blue called out. “She ain’t ever cared ’bout nothin’ but climbin’ the ranks in the club. You ain’t her, Dorothy, you hear me, girl? You ain’t like her. I know good people when I see ’em, and I ain’t never seen nothin’ but good from you.”

“Yeah, f*ck her, D.” Ripper gave me another friendly squeeze. “She ain’t got a clue what’s she’s spoutin’ off about.”

“Fuck ’em all,” Cox grumbled. “Especially Kami. Stupid bitch.”

“Goddamn, dude, you’re actually feelin’ that stuck-up, good-for-nothin’-but-f*ckin’ piece of New York ass?”

Cox glared at him. “You gonna try and tell me you didn’t?”

Ripper shrugged. “Kami’s a f*ckin’ party. Bitch like that ain’t good for much else. ’Sides, she’s too f*ckin’ skinny. Gotta have somethin’ to grab, yeah? Fuckin’ anything at all. And that bitch ain’t got nothin’.”

“Then why the f*ck was I sharin’ her with your dumb ass?”

Ripper looked affronted. “Brother, I don’t pass up hot bitches offerin’ up free parties.”

“Fuck off and die.”

“You first, asshat.”

As the two of them had continued their usual arguing and incessant bickering, a new smile began to form and I’d felt myself relaxing once again. If anyone could make me forget my problems, it was the boys. Especially these two clowns.

“Why don’t ya both f*ck off and die, and lemme finish drinkin’ in peace!” Blue had yelled.

“Is that even possible?” Cox had asked. “I mean, dude, do you ever finish drinkin’?”

Later that evening, after a day of heavy drinking and feeling sorry for myself, I’d ended up drunk and alone at the bar. Just as I was getting ready to call it a night and head to Jase’s room, a large figure stepped out of the shadows.

“Ain’t no fun drinkin’ alone.”

“Hawk!” I exclaimed, putting my hand over my heart. “You scared me!”

Stone faced, Hawk continued his stride toward the bar. Sliding into the seat beside me, he gestured toward the row of bottles on the shelf.

“I’ll have two of whatever you’re havin’.”

And then he smiled.

It was the first time I’d ever seen him smile.