Uppercut Princess (The Heights Crew #1)(49)

“The fights bring in the most money right now, you know. I’ve done a lot to grow the business.”

I steel myself, then move closer to him. “I bet you have,” I say.

He squeezes my leg until it’s almost painful, but I don’t move. I just sit there with an adoring gaze turned toward him.

It doesn’t take us long to get to the restaurant, and when we do, a knock on the door pulls Johnny’s attention away from me. He shoves the door open, and Lynette comes into view, two pairs of heels dangling from her fingers. One black and one silver. “I didn’t know what color dress you’d chosen, but black or silver go with almost anything.” Up front, Magnum turns the lights on in the back so Lynette doesn’t have to squint to try to see me any longer. “Ahh, I think the silver pair then,” she says.

Johnny grabs both pairs. “We’ll take both.” As soon as she steps back, he closes the door on her.

Magnum gets out of the car, closing the front door behind him, leaving us alone.

“Let me see,” Johnny says, motioning for me to put my foot in his lap.

I turn in the seat, pulling my foot up to place on his thigh. His hand starts at my thigh, smoothing over my knee and down my calf to the arch of my foot. He then picks up the silver shoe and places it on my foot. He does the same with the other leg until I wiggle my feet, admiring the heels I’m wearing. I’ve never worn anything but sensible half inch heels that went with my private school uniform.

“Maybe he was right,” Johnny says, voice throaty and full of want.

“About?”

“Waiting,” he says. “I can’t think of anyone I’ve wanted more than you.” He spreads my legs, moving his hands up my leg until he gets to my mid-thigh.

My heart stammers as his thumbs press into my skin there. He’s got a full view of my panties because my dress rolled up when he moved my legs apart. He edges a little closer until I snap my knees shut and move my legs off him, putting them firmly on the ground with my dress back down over my thighs. I draw in a shaky breath.

I’m turned on. And I’m mad that I’m turned on.

“You’re right,” Johnny says. “Bad idea. My balls are so fucking blue right now.”

I know what he means.

But unlike me, he’ll just fuck someone else.

He arranges himself in his pants and then throws the door open. A strong hand grips it, opening it farther. Johnny gets out, and I scoot over after him, the leather of the seats rubbing against my bare thighs. Before I emerge, I take a deep breath.

We walk through the crowded restaurant. Johnny turns heads. How he got all the power and good looks isn’t fair. A lot of evil things are wrapped up in pretty paper. The sky before a storm is beautiful, but it brings wreckage and destruction. That’s what Johnny Rocket does.

Johnny orders food for me like I’m incapable of doing it myself and then we settle in. I try to talk to him about what he does, but he keeps getting distracted by his phone. If I were really his girlfriend, I’d be chucking that thing in the fucking corner. You don’t bring a girl out on a fancy date and then not talk to her. Not appreciate the way she dressed up for you.

Instead, I keep my mouth shut and eat while he does business. He was right about the steak. It’s delicious. It almost melts in my mouth. It’s been a while since I’ve had food this fancy. Truth be told, I never used to enjoy it all that much when it was surrounded by my aunt and uncle’s polished friends. But because I’m being ignored right now, I just eat whatever and however I want.

Eventually, Johnny does put the cell phone down. “I’m sorry,” he says, cringing. “I’m not being a very good date, am I?” He lowers his voice. “Something’s going down tonight, and I’m being kept in the loop.”

I try to smile, but I’m doing a piss-poor job of pretending. I’m too lost in my own head tonight. I’m wondering when I’m going to meet Big Daddy K. I’m wondering how the fuck much longer this is going to take. Tonight’s just one of those nights where I don’t see the bright light at the end. Only darkness. It’s like I’m being pulled under with all of them. I thought it would be easy to go through the motions. It’s not. This world can be overwhelming. And if it’s not the world, it’s the people. Brawler, Oscar, and I—and yes, even Johnny—we’re drowning in the absence of light, in this underworld society where power and money talk. Well, power and money talk everywhere, but this shit is shady and dark and dangerous. Power had by any means necessary, and the same goes for money.

“You’ve got the cutest frown on your face right now,” Johnny says, quickly wiping his face with his napkin. “Are you not enjoying your meal?”

“I am,” I tell him, trying to smile once more.

“Good,” he says.

He misses the fact that my thoughts are pulling me under. They pull me into a dark space every now and then. Not dark like the Heights Crew, but dark like the absence of feelings. Depression. Anxiety. The feeling that I’ll never be able to escape this.

The waiter comes over to fill my water glass. Instead of placing his hand on the back of my chair, he places it on my shoulder. I jump. The waiter spills the water over my plate. “I’m so sorry,” he says, placing the metallic pitcher on the table and grabbing a napkin to start wiping it up.