Mayhem (Deathstalkers MC #5)(51)

He grabs my hand and shoves it down his pants. "Get me off right here, right now. Show me why I should keep you around. I can guarantee you if you don't perform well, you'll be out on your ass. Homeless and living on the streets where you belong. No one would ever take you in, men can sense weakness and failure. Sweetheart, you fucking reek of it."

I do as he says knowing that he's right. I have never been able to please Dylan. I always mess something up and one day I am sure that he will get sick of me. I need to keep trying to be better, be perfect. 

I jolt awake.

I reach out but find nothing but cold sheets. I look around the dark room, feeling alone and wondering why he left. Before I jump to conclusions like I normally would, I grab some pants out of the dresser and then in a move that is much more Jaz than Jasmine, take one of his shirts. It smells like him as I slip it over my head, I breathe deep, loving the fact that his scent is so familiar to me.

It's quiet when I creep out of his room and I head downstairs to find him. The room is mostly empty, but a few people are hanging around the bar, drinking and talking. The jukebox is playing a mellow, slower tune. I tread on something soft, and lift my foot slowly to see what it is.

A bra.

I'm not even going to think about how that makes me feel. I step off the last stair, my eyes searching the room for Cutter.

I freeze.

He's pulled on a T-shirt and jeans, but wears only socks on his feet. The shirt he has on is wrinkled. It's clear it's been snatched up off the floor. He's sitting at the bar with one of the other guys, but that's not what sets me on edge.

One of the club girls is standing on his other side, her hand resting on his arm, her long manicured nails dragging up and down his skin, her overly made-up eyes firmly on him. Someone must say something funny because she throws her head back and laughs like a three-year-old, her eyes coming to land on me. She smiles, and I'm about to return it when she leans down, bringing her bright red lips to Cutter's ear, whispering something to him.

Jealousy and anger fill my body. My chest feels like someone has just taken a whip to my heart.

They give you any shit, you give it back. If you don't, they'll walk all over you, and they'll be assholes about it.

This is going to take every ounce of confidence I have, but Cutter is worth it. What we're building is worth it. Taking a deep breath, I walk up to the bar. Her eyes haven't left me since the stairs so I know she sees me. There's about four feet between Cutter and me when she leans in and licks her lips.

Oh hell no.

All thoughts of remaining calm go out the window as I bolt the last few steps, reach out, grab a handful of the slut's hair, and drag her away from Cutter.

She yelps, her talons clawing at me, trying to get in a swipe, but I use momentum to swing her in the direction of the pool tables. The commotion draws attention to us, and the men turn in their seats. By the time she gets to her feet, I'm standing in between her and Cutter.

"You little bitch, I just got my fucking hair done!" She adopts a screechy tone that I swear only dogs could hear.

"You should get your money back 'cause it looks like crap." I cross my arms over my chest, trying to hide how quick I'm breathing.

"Oh, you're gonna pay for that."

She kicks off her heels and charges toward me. I step back with one foot, bracing, but before she can get close, Cutter intervenes.

"Venus, back the fuck off. You got what was comin' to you. In fact, you're lucky Jaz stepped in because a second later and I was gonna throw your ass out of here. I already told you to stay the fuck away from me." He turns to me and smiles. "Hey, gorgeous."

I breathe a sigh of relief knowing that he had already told her to back off. Seeing her hands on him hurt. In only a short time I've had to learn a lot, and it scared me that he'd be one of the guys who still messes around, even after he claims someone.

Venus looks like she's going to say something, but then turns, snatches up her heels and stomps off. Another one of the club girls looks back and forth between us before racing after her.

Looks like I've made two new friends tonight.

Cutter turns toward me. "I think I'm gonna like this new you." He kisses me. "She's feisty."



       
         
       
        

I laugh at his expression. "I woke up and you were gone."

"Yeah, I got a text and had to come down and go over a few things. I was actually gonna head back up once I finished with Wrench." He nods back toward the bar and I see the guy he was sitting with. He lifts a chin at me and I smile back.

"Should I not have come down?" I don't know the rules of being an old lady. I know the girls said you don't get to know club business. Maybe I should have stayed where he left me?