CHAPTER ELEVEN
Lulu
I squeezed Hunter's hand tighter as we neared the entrance to the club. This place was exclusive. Only the rich and privileged got to party here. Bret owned it, and after some digging by Neco, we discovered he was still very much under his father's thumb. This made the guys extremely nervous. But I knew how controlling his father could be and knew how Bret felt about the man. It was common knowledge among his associates that they didn't get on, which was the only reason Hunter was going ahead with the meeting.
I trusted Bret. He'd been my only friend for a lot of years. My best friend. We were thrown together a lot, and we'd looked out for each other. He'd hated his father almost as much as I'd hated Pierce.
When I'd called to ask for the meeting, he'd sounded as happy to hear my voice as I was his. He'd also made it clear we needed to talk in person, not over the phone. Knowing his family, this didn't surprise me.
We bypassed the line of people waiting to get in to the club and I felt their stares burning into me as we passed. Not surprising. We were seriously underdressed for this place. Both of us were in jeans. Hunter had on a T-shirt and leather jacket and I had on a plain black jacket and the best top I owned. It was royal blue and shimmery and hit mid-thigh. I'd loved it when I saw it on the rack. None of the women here would be seen dead in it. I knew this because once upon a time, I'd been one of them. I'd worn the designer clothes. I'd had the perfect hair and makeup. Pierce had made sure of that.
I'd hated it. All of it.
These were the young and wealthy. And, more than likely, the bored and resentful. They weren't my people anymore, never had been. I'd never fitted in. Hadn't wanted to.
Hunter didn't seem to notice the stares, or care.
I caught sight of Jude and Neco in the lineup, close to the front, and nearly stumbled over my own feet. They were both in suits, grinning and chatting to a couple of women. Hunter gave my hand a squeeze, silently telling me not to stare.
I gaped up at him. "How do they know those women?"
Hunter smirked and shrugged but didn't answer my question. I wasn't sure I wanted to know. At least that cleared up my question over how he was going to get backup into the club.
We walked up to the velvet rope and the bouncer guarding it, blocking the way in. The guy looked as if he ate steroids like Tic Tacs.
"Bret Tanners is expecting us," Hunter said.
He took our names then spoke into the headpiece attached to his ear. Another guy arrived a few minutes later and motioned us to follow.
We were led into the main club. The music was loud, and the place was already pretty packed. There was a main dance floor down stairs and a second level that was sectioned off-a VIP area. That's where we were taken. Hunter glanced down at me, and I could see he was on full alert. I could also see he was as confused as I was. I'd expected to be shown to Bret's office, not some table surrounded by people. Drinks and bottles littered the surface and several people were openly doing drugs.
Bret was sitting back, a woman pressed up against him on either side. When he spotted me, I noticed his eyes were glassy and bloodshot. A lazy smile spread across his lips.
He was high.
I took him in, having a hard time recognizing this Bret.
My old friend disentangled from the women beside him and headed our way, lifting his arms as he approached, his grin getting wider.
"Lucinda. God, I've missed you. It's been too long."
His hands went to my shoulders and he pulled me in for a hug. He was sweaty and gripped too tight, but I knew how worried he'd been about me, so I hugged him back just as tight, happy to have my friend back.
"I've missed you, too," I said against his shoulder.
Hunter didn't let go of my hand, pulling me back in close as soon as Bret let me go. I looked up at him brow raised. He wasn't looking at me-his eyes were locked on Bret.
"You didn't say you were bringing a friend," Bret said, eyeing Hunter right back.
I quickly tried to steer this meeting in the right direction. "I was hoping we could go somewhere quiet and talk?"
He sniffed, wiping the back of his hand under his nose, eyes darting around the club. "Yeah, sure. Of course."
I hated seeing him like this; he'd always hated drugs. I was starting to doubt he'd have anything useful for us, but I had to at least try. Maybe after today we could spend some time together, maybe I could get through to him, help make some changes in his life.
He turned and led us to a door at the back of the VIP section. I saw Hunter slip his hand inside his jacket pocket. I knew he had his phone in there, that it was a simple as hitting a button to alert the other guys if he felt something was off.
Knowing Hunter was worried sent nerves spiraling though me. They only shot higher when that same hand went under his jacket, to the gun on his opposite hip. Surely he didn't think Bret would try and do something to me?
Bret punched in a code when we reached the door and tilted his head, silently telling us to follow. We entered a short hall and he motioned us into his office. "In here."
That's when a toilet flushed opposite us.
The bathroom door opened. Derek, Pierce's man, walked right on out.
Derek froze, and Hunter cursed.
Everything happened in a blur after that. Hunter shoved me behind him then slammed his fist into Bret's throat. Bret dropped like a stone as Hunter pulled his gun and aimed it at Derek before I was fully aware of what was going on.
"Hands where I can see them."
Derek did as he was told, and Hunter started to back us up to the door we'd just come through. The sound of feet pounding came from the other end of the hall, and Derek smirked. They were coming for me. Oh God. Was Pierce here?
A loud thud behind us made me jump. Hunter jerked me out of the way a second before the door flew open. Jude stood there breathing heavily. Hunter grabbed my hand, and we were running. We took the stairs to the lower level. Jude was in front of us, clearing a path with his massive shoulders like a human bowling ball.
We hit the street and Hunter picked me up and started sprinting. The lights on his SUV flashed as we drew near. He opened the passenger door and shoved me in. He was in the driver's side a second later. Something hit the back of his car. Were they shooting at us?
Jude was still outside returning fire, then he dove into the back and we took off.
I twisted in my seat. "What about Neco?"
"He's fine," Jude said. "He's gonna try and follow Derek. Maybe he'll lead us to Pierce."
I started shaking. "I can't believe it . . ." I shook my head. "He was a sweet kid. Sad and mixed up, but we were friends, best friends." I turned to Hunter. "I didn't think he'd . . . he'd betray me like I'd never meant anything to him."
"You had no way of knowing Bret would do that." He reached out and gave my thigh a squeeze. His jaw was tight, the fingers of his other hand flexing around the steering wheel. "Whoever's supplying him drugs more than likely owns him."
Hunter obviously hadn't missed Bret's condition. "He won't give up, will he?" I turned to Hunter, feeling numb. I was glad of it, of the numbness. If I thought too hard about what just happened, what could have happened, I'd enter full-on meltdown mode. "Pierce . . . he won't stop until he has me."
"That's not going to happen," Hunter said, voice so low and fierce it made it hard not to believe him.
I just hoped he was right.
Hunter
We walked into the apartment. Van looked up from his phone, frowning. Van had volunteered to babysit. Since Josh seemed to like his uncle a whole hell of a lot, Lulu had been okay with the arrangement.
"That Neco?" I asked.
"Yeah." Van shook his head. "Nothing."
Lulu yanked her hand from mine. "I'm going to . . . I need a shower." Then she all but ran across the living room to get away, tousled hair flying out behind her. Shit.
I turned to my brother. "Josh asleep?"
"Yeah."
"Can you stay a little longer, just in case he wakes?" I needed to talk to Lulu without interruption. I needed to hold her, reassure myself that she was okay. Tonight had been a fuck-up of epic proportions.
Van gave me a chin lift. "Take as long as you need."
I wanted more than anything for Lulu to lean on me. Needed it probably more than she did. She'd been dealing with so much shit on her own for so long, I didn't think she knew how to do anything else. My girl was scared out of her mind. I got that she was afraid to let me back in. I understood it. Fuck, more than most.
But knowing what she'd been through while I was locked up, what Pierce had done to her . . . yeah, I needed her to lean on me. I needed her to see me as her man again, be the one she turned to. She needed to work through all that had happened. On top of all that, she was carrying guilt over the time I'd done, blamed herself when she'd had no choice. None.