“Yanno,” Ace began. “That man right there,” he pointed to Casey, “has killed more men and women in his seven-year stint as a Ranger protecting a country that abandoned him when he was injured, than any other man I know. You’d be smart not to insult a woman he’s obsessed with. I can only imagine the damage he would inflict then.”
They watched as she ran away, her legs shaking. He should feel bad. He wouldn’t kill her, just play with her a little bit. Let her know she needs to show some respect to the people around her as well as herself.
“That was mean, you two,” Ev reprimanded them.
“She deserved it,” he tried to defend.
Shaking her head, she got up. “I have one more set in about thirty minutes. Do you think you two can behave until I’m done?” When did they turn into the naughty kids?
“Yes, mother.” Ace saluted her.
She just shook her head again and walked away from them. The outfit she was wearing ground his gears, and it took everything in him not to cover her up. Had they been at home, he would have loved to see her dressed in the barely-there sequined bra, hip-hugging boy shorts, and sky-high heels, but in the club, he always had to force himself to calm down, or he might end up in jail.
“I don’t know how you do it, man,” Ace commented as she walked away.
“What?” He turned to look at his friend.
“Let her walk around like that. Let her strip. Hell, just being in this place.”
“I don’t let her,” he told Ace. “Dancing gives her peace from the other shitty things she’s dealt with. If I told her to stop, it’d crush her.” As long as she was happy and safe, he’d let her do anything she wanted.
“You should get her a pole for home,” Ace commented.
Casey was about to tell his friend to shut the hell up when the words registered in his brain. Get her a pole, huh? Then she could dance just for him. Nude. Yeah, he was on board.
“Not a bad idea,” he replied.
“You find Marcus?” Ace asked him after they were silent for a while.
“Yeah, he’s in ROSP. He ain’t gettin’ out.”
“Shit, it’s too bad some of those guys don’t know he likes to force women to do whatever he wants.” There was a sadistic gleam in Ace’s eyes that he chose to let go. He knew exactly what his friend was about to do.
“Too bad, indeed.”
“So look, man, I know you and Dom have been wondering why I’m still here. This is the thing; I’ve kind of been in limbo. I was dating this girl, and she got all stalker c
razy. I had told her before I came out here with Creed that she needed to go.” He seemed sheepish with his confession.
“Let me guess.” Case chuckled. “She didn’t listen?”
“The bitch moved all her shit in!”
He couldn’t help but laugh at the amazement on Ace’s face. “Doesn’t wanna let you go, huh?”
“A buddy of mine finally forced her out, but dude, this chick is batshit crazy. Completely insane! Anyway, it doesn’t matter. I’m heading up to Canada in a few days.” Ace took a sip of his beer.
“What, why?” Did they sound as gossipy as he thought?
“My cousin’s dad was in an accident. He needs some help on the farm, and I need a change. I feel like I’m suffocating. Nick, my cousin, he’s a sheriff in Golden, BC and is also looking for a deputy. I think I’ll be there for a good while.” Case detected some relief in his voice.
“Everything alright, Ace?”
Their eyes met, and he saw secrets hiding there. “Things have been intense lately. Nick and I, we grew up together. He’s more brother than cousin. We both want to settle down.”
“Okaayyy…” He wasn’t quite sure where Ace was going.
“We, uh, we want to share a woman.”