“Why do you look like someone ran over your puppy? It’s your fucking buck’s night!” Reid says, walking in carrying two bottles of alcohol. Summer walks in behind him, dressed in the same sort of outfit as Taiya, but a less slutty version.
“Hey Ry,” she says, kissing me on the cheek.
“Hey Sum, you look pretty,” I tell her. I turn to see Taiya standing there, giving me a strange look. She couldn’t be mad about Summer, could she? Summer is like family to me. She has no need to be jealous. I remind myself to have a talk with her about it when we’re alone. Taiya and Summer start chatting and Reid pours me a drink. About an hour later, the girls’ limo pulls up, and Summer and Taiya head out. They are picking up the rest of the girls on the way, except for Sephie because she said she had to work.
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, ringing 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.