That sobers me up. I open my eyes wide, needing Visine. And here it comes. Like dominoes, every piece starts to topple on me. Gia, Renee, pregnancy.
“I didn’t knock that bitch up. I don’t even remember her. Wasn’t she with Cash?”
“You fucked her. I remember. Wait, was she with Cash? Look, it doesn’t matter. She’s saying you’re the dad, and until that kid comes out and we can get DNA, you need to figure out what you want to do.”
I scrub my hands up and down my face. The sting of Gia last night not trusting me, believing the worst… Actually, it was more than that. I fucking needed her. We are supposed to be a team and she fell apart.
“She’s eighteen.”
Ammo looks at me “Are you telling me this or telling yourself? Because I love Gia, she’s got fucking balls, but this? Can she handle our kind of life?”
“I left her. Just fucked her, picked up my clothes, and left.” I lean my head back on the leather booth.
“You need a bump.” Ammo takes a snort, then hands me the vial. My head rolls to the side. As I take it from him, a couple of haggard-looking dayshift strippers stumble over.
“You want to party?” They smell like stale cigarettes and knockoff perfume. Rather than smell them, I snort the coke. There we go.
I blink as my eyes water for a second. “Fuck.” My heart pounds and I can’t see straight. All I smell is vanilla sun-kissed skin.
Ammo smirks. “Hello, Sunshine. Ready to rock and roll?”
“Fuck off.” I shake my head and run my hands through my hair. He laughs and turns his attention to the strippers.
“Thanks, gorgeous, but we’ve got to go. You gonna dance for us while we wait?” Ammo slaps the heavier one’s ass as she laughs and winks.
“I need to piss.” I stand and stretch. One of the numerous things I love about strip clubs is the anonymity. No one makes a big deal about who we are. They seat us in the corner and let us do anything.
“Granger.”
I blink over at the front door, squinting to make sure I’m seeing correctly.
“Axel.” I hold up my hands, my fingers almost beckoning him. The light from outside fades as the door closes.
“You motherfucker.” He charges at me. “You really thought you could fuck my sister and live?”
I don’t even get the chance to hold my hands up before I’m lying on the stale, crunchy carpet, while Ammo and a bouncer pull Axel off me.
“Take it outside,” the bouncer yells, picking me up as I smile. Yeah, this is what I need. I’ve been waiting for this.
I spit blood and shake off Ammo. “She’s mine, Axel, so fucking deal with it.” What few customers there are in this joint start yelling and filming as Ammo pats my shoulder and pushes me toward the door.
“Hey, Axel,” the bouncer says as he escorts him outside with me. “You give my best to Blade, man.” He lets go of Axel and walks back inside.
We stare at each other. “Look, I should have told you.”
“Are you kidding me, Granger? You fucked my sister, then knocked up another bitch?” he explodes. “You just don’t learn, do you? Gia’s coming home with me. Forget you know her, or I’ll kill you.”
“Axel, do you think you scare me? I don’t give a fuck,” I yell at him as the limo pulls up. “Gia’s an adult. She can make her own decision—” The sting of his punch makes my head swing to the right, and I wonder if he broke my nose. I don’t care. Physical pain always feels better than watching Gia cry.
“Goddammit, Axel, watch his face. He’s got to perform in an hour.” Ammo stands to my right smoking a cigarette, holding up his hand to stop Ace from interfering.
“That’s it, Axel?” I pound my chest. I need this, want this. My fist makes contact with his eye.
Rock God Twins is what they used to call us because we used to look alike, but as we beat the shit out of each other, I realize we look nothing alike. Axel is changing. His eyes have seen and done shit that I don’t understand.
“Enough.” Ace grabs my arm.
“She’s my sister, you fuck,” Axel bellows. “Have some respect. I should put a bullet in your head.”
“You’re so full of shit, Axel. You’re gonna put a bullet in my head because I’m in love with Gia?”
We’re both panting as he sneers, “Love. You don’t even know what that word means. You can’t make her happy. You must know deep down that all you’ll bring is misery, and I can’t have that.”
He shakes his head and scowls at me. “Dude, you and I both know you’re like Christie.” I take a step forward, but Ammo holds me back.
“Come on, brother. We have to go. We’re gonna be late.”