This Time Around (Maybe) (22 page)

Reid and I walk the girls out, and I open the door for them, but pull
Taiya aside just as she’s about to get into the limo.

“Are you okay?” I ask her, my eyes searching hers.

She nods. “Yeah, I’ll see you later tonight.”

I lower my head to give her a possessive kiss, reminding her who she belongs to.

“Message received,” she mumbles before she gets in.

I elbow Reid who is making out with
Summer, but he ignores me and keeps kissing her. She finally pulls away, and she slides in after Taiya. I close the door, and watch as the limo drives away.

“Let the fun begin!” Reid says, ring
ing up a taxi to come get us. I sigh, and stare at the limo until it’s out of sight.

*****

“You sure you don’t want another drink?” Tag asks me as we leave the second bar. Bar hopping. I can’t remember the last time I did this. We closed Knox Tavern for the night, because everyone was going out. I really need to hire at least one new employee that isn’t one of my good friends. I stare at Reid who is grinning at something Dash said, and Xander who has been suspiciously quiet all night.

“No
, I’m good. Where are we going next?” I ask Tag.

He shrugs, and asks,
“Reid, where we going?”

“Strip club,” Reid replies, turning to look at us.

“What strip club are we going to?” Xander asks, his lips tightening.

“
Wait and see,” Reid says. We all get into another Taxi, and drive for about fifteen minutes until we reach our destination. Reid pays the taxi driver, and we all get out and stare at the building. We walk to the door, and Reid gives his name and the bouncer lets us in. Xander is the last to walk in, looking like he’d rather be any place than here.

“Are you okay?” I ask him, slapping him on the back.

“Yeah, ummm…” He looks like he wants to say something to me, but we walk further into the strip club and the loud music cuts him off. A woman dances on stage, wearing nothing but those stickers that cover her nipples and a thong. I notice Reid not even looking her way as he orders drinks from a passing waitress. Why did he even want to come here? He doesn’t care about any other woman besides Summer, and if he did, I’d punch him in the face. I have a feeling he’s doing the big brother thing, him trying to let me experience everything, not wanting me to miss out on anything. Even something stupid as this. We’re here just for the sake of being here.

We all sit at a table, Xander dragging his feet, the last to be seated. Tag stares at the stage, watching the woman dance for a second.

“Well, this is overrated,” he says, and I burst out laughing. My thoughts exactly. I wonder what Taiya’s doing, how their night is going. That’s where I’d rather be, wherever she is.

“You’re not going to make me get a lap dance are you?”

Reid laughs. “No, let’s just have a few drinks and enjoy ourselves before we go home.”

Sounds
like a plan. We’re talking about getting Dash a lap dance when something catches my eye. Not something, but someone.

My sister.

My fucking beautiful little baby sister.

She’s wearing a tight top that shows off everything, and short shorts, standing by the stage, talking to another dancer. She walks
past a table, and a guy grabs her arm and pulls her onto his lap.

I stand. Reid sees where I’m looking and stands up too, his face contorting in anger. Xander curses. Tag and Dash are staring in shock.

The man tries to kiss her, while she tries to squirm away.

I see red.

I stalk forward, ignoring Sephie’s gasp when she sees me. Xander grabs her into his arms, taking her out of the way, and I punch the man right in the nose. Tag and Dash are holding Reid back, but just barely. A bouncer comes to grab me, and then Reid pushes Tag and Dash off him, and hits the bouncer in the jaw. A typical Reid Knox punch, the bouncer’s head snaps to the side before he crumbles to the floor. More bouncers run up, four of them, and Tag and Dash face off with them. Reid grabs the second guy on Tag, while I take on the second on Dash. When they are all down on the floor, the four of us eye each other. I look around for Xander and Sephie, but it seems Xander took her out of the building, for which I’m grateful. Last thing I want is my little sister hurt in the crossfire.

I hear Reid curse and
follow his line of sight, staring at the entrance where two police officers are walking in.

Fucking great.

And that’s how we all spent the night in jail.

Chapter
Thirty

Taiya

I’m having the best night ever. Summer took us all to this male strip club, that’s more like a show. We’ve been sitting at the table, drinking and catcalling all night. None of these men have anything on Ryan, but it has been a fun night out. I declined the offers for a private lap dance, instead content laughing with the girls. We’re just leaving the strip club, ready for home when Summer gets a call from Xander. I hear her curse before she looks at me and cringes.

“What’s wrong?” I ask her, instantly worried. Did something happen to Ryan?

“What is it?” Jade asks, stepping closer to Summer. Isis takes my arm, as if bracing for bad news.

“The guys got in a fight. They have to stay in jail overnight,” she says, her eyes watering up.

“What the fuck,” I growl, not expecting anything like this to happen.

Summer sighs. “Xander said they are fine, not to worry
; they will explain everything. Then he tried to make light of it by reminding me about the first time we officially met.”

“What happened?”

Summer cracks a smile. “I had to pick him up from jail. He spent the night in there for fighting. Xander’s the only one not in jail this time because he had to look after Sephie.”

“I thought
Seph was at work?” I’m so confused right now.

“I’m sure there’s an explanation. Let’s just get home,” Isis says, rubbing her arms for the cool breeze.

“Isis is right,” Summer says. “Let’s all go home. Do you guys want to stay at my place? Then we can go get the guys together in the morning.”

“Sounds good,” I tell her, grateful that I didn’t have to spend the night alone worrying about Ryan.
We call a taxi and wait for them to pick us up. We then head to Summer’s. I try to go to sleep but all I can do is think about Ryan. What the hell happened tonight?

*****

Ryan’s been home for an hour, and I’m still trying to process what he’s just told me.

“So you went to a strip club, and
Sephie works there? As a stripper?” My voice pitches higher with each word.

“Yeah,” he says, his voice cracking a little. I look at the bruise on his cheek, the only evidence of him being involved in a fight.
Sephie, a stripper? I really didn’t see this one coming, that’s for damn sure.

“Where is she now?” I ask him.

He swallows hard. “I haven’t spoken to her yet.” Poor Sephie, who knows what’s going on in that head of hers right now. I cover my face with my hands, sliding them down and resting them on either side of my neck.

“Go talk to her
, Ryan,” I encourage him softly.

He sighs. “I know
. I will. I just… come here,” he says, opening his arms. I lean into him, closing my eyes, so happy he’s back.

“I missed you last night,” I whisper.

“I heard you had a sleep over. I’m guessing yours was better than ours,” he says, startling a laugh out of me. “How was your night?”

“It was good, until my husband got arrested,” I say as I trail my lips up his neck.

“I’m sorry, Tay. I just saw her there and lost my temper.”

“
I know.” I reach my hand up and touch his bruise with my fingers. “Does it hurt?”

He grins. “No.”

As if he would admit it if it did. “Are you too injured to make love to your wife?”

“Never
, beautiful. Plus, I just got out of jail…”

I start cracking up laughing. “That one night in jail made you really horny
, huh?”

“Well
, I was hard all night picturing you in that school girl outfit, and what I was going to do to you, so yes.”

“I can put it on again for you,” I say, nibbling his ear lobe.

“Now?” he says, sounding extremely eager.

I decide to use this to my advantage.
“No, not now. After you talk to Sephie.”

He growls, “Are you bribing me
, wife?”

“Yes, is it
working?” I ask, batting my eyelashes. He stares at me with an intensity that makes me want to rip all my clothes off and beg for him to take me.

“I love you
. You know that, right?” he says, his gaze holding mine.

My entire face softens as I look at him. “I know.”

“You still love me, even if I’m an ex-con?” he jokes, hiding his smile in my hair.

“I’ll a
lways love you, no matter what,” I say. “Even if you’ve done time.”

He laughs. “You’re amazing.”

“I try,” I say, my eyes still on his bruise.

He exhales. “I better go sort things out with my sister.”

I inch away from him as he stands. “Be dressed in that uniform and waiting for me when I get home.”

“And if I’m not?” I reply, lifting my chin up.

“Then you find out what happens to naughty girls,” he says, his eyes sparking with mischief. He kisses my forehead. “Do you want me to bring you anything on my way home?”

I look down towards his lap
.

Ryan laughs, “What am I going to do with you?”

“I have a few ideas.”

“So do
I,” he says, kissing me before he walks out of the apartment.

Is it suddenly hot in here or what?

Chapter Thirty-One

Ryan

I don’t think I’ll ever understand women. I watch as Seph paces the small confines of her apartment. Throwing an evil glance at Reid and me every now and again.

“Why are you mad at us again? We just found out that you’re a stripper and you’ve been lying to us about working in a café. I’m pretty sure it’s us that should be pretty pissed off right now.”

Reid grunts his agreement. Seph stops her pacing to glare at me. If looks could kill… let’s just say, I’d be dead on the floor right now.

“You overbearing jerk! I’m not a stripper! I’m just a waitress there,” she says, her chest heaving in anger.

I exhale in relief. Not an ideal job, but a million times better than a stripper. “It’s not safe to work there. That man was putting his paws all over you,” I say, trying to contain my anger.

“You’re not working there anymore,” Reid states, his tone deadly serious.
Sephie gapes and I cringe. Way to go caveman.

“Well
, you guys got me fired anyway,” she says, flopping down opposite us on the couch. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you, but what was I meant to say? I’ve worked there for about two years now and I knew you wouldn’t like it, or you would judge me for it, so I just kept it to myself.”

“We just want you safe,”
Reid says, his tone now gentle.

“I get that,”
Sephie says, “but I really need the money. And no you two aren’t helping me out financially.”

“You would rather work in that sleazy bar instead of letting us help you?” I gape, my fists clenching.
Stubborn infuriating woman.

She interrupts my mental rant.
“If it’s so sleazy, why were you even there,” she says, back to scowling.

I pinch the bridge of my nose. “Work at our bar. We will pay you what you’re getting now
, or we’ll double it. Whatever. How about that?”

She closes her eyes, thinking it over. “Fine.”

I could jump for joy, but instead, I nod at her and try to school my expression. “What was with Xander?” I ask her, curious as hell about what’s going on with them. Xander didn’t want to go into that strip club, and I have a feeling he knew she worked there. No wonder the two of them have been all weird with each other. As if Xander would want his woman working in a place like that.

Sephie
visibly flinches. “He somehow found out I worked here, told me to quit. I told him to leave me alone; he doesn’t control my life. We weren’t even dating… I mean… we were just starting to hang out together. I thought he would have told you. I was waiting for you to come and yell at me, but you didn’t.”

“Because Xander never told us anything,” Reid says, looking over at me.

“He was just doing as I asked. Don’t be mad at him,” Sephie quickly says, standing up for Xander. Interesting. I want to be angry at him, but I can’t. He wouldn’t have betrayed her trust, and he’s not the kind of guy to snitch.

“We aren’t mad at Xander,” I say, my eyes moving to the paintings on her walls.