Teller
“This isn’twhat I had in mind for a bachelor party,” I grumble. In two weeks Charlotte and I are finally getting married. Wasting an entire night at Crystal Ball is the last thing I need.
“And you know I wouldn’t ask unless we really needed you there,” Rock says in his quit-your-bitching tone.
And yet, he’s not going. “Fine.”
“Bro, things are finally turning around,” Dex explains. “We’ve got Loco’s girls starting the early shift. Then amateur night at nine. Place will be packed. Blue and Butcher are out. I really need the help.”
“I already said fine.” I cross my arms over my chest, not giving a fuck if I’m acting like a petulant asshole. “I’ve got a ton of shit to do before the wedding, though.”
“Monday, I’m all yours,” Dex promises. “I’ll help you with whatever you need.”
I blow out a quick breath. “Thanks.”
“We’re not mind readers, knucklehead. If you need help, just ask,” Rock says in a slightly less annoyed voice.
“I’ll cover the champagne rooms,” Ravage offers, as if it’s a completely selfless act. “Tonight, I mean.” He glances at me. “Unless you’re setting up a champagne room at your wedding?”
I shoot a glare that wipes the smile off his face.
“Yeah, that’s a hard no, Rav.” Dex shakes his head. “I need you on the floor. Wrath, will you take the champagne rooms?”
Heh. At least Wrath got roped into this too. He hates hanging out at Crystal Ball more than I do.
“You sure about that?” Wrath lifts his eyebrows. “’Cause I’m in a mood tonight. A customer gives me lip, I might shove him through a wall.”
Dex shuts his eyes and slowly inhales through his nose and exhales slowly through his mouth. Must’ve borrowed one of Rock’s breathing tricks to stop himself from murdering us when we piss him off. “Yes. Your terrifying face should make anyone think twice about breaking the rules.”
Wrath, naturally, takes that as a compliment. “You owe me,” he says to Rock. Then he lifts his chin at me. “I can help you in the mornings this week too.”
“Thanks.” I glance at Rock, still feeling annoyed about this. “Z’s only two hours away, why not tag him in? He knows CB in and out.”
“He’s got his own club to run.” Rock tilts his head. “Do you need an ass kicking? Because we can go outside and I’ll beat that disrespectful attitude out of you and then send you to work at Crystal Ball for the night. Or you can just do what I fucking asked you to do and quit running your mouth.”
“Fuck! I already said yes.”
Wrath points at me, then Rock. “You two need a little daddy-son bonding time? Wanna go out back and toss around a football or something?”
“I’m gonna toss something around in a minute,” Rock growls, glaring at me.
“All right. Relax.” Murphy holds out his hands, one in Rock’s direction and one in mine. “I get why you don’t want to be there, bro. But that’s what the club needs tonight. Birch and Hoot are downstate, so we’re short on bodies.”
Ignoring the deft way Murphy’s trying to mediate between Rock and me, I nod to Dex. “It’s been a while. I might be rusty.”
“Just stand there and look scary. You see anyone put hands on the girls, discourage them once. Second time, throw them out.”
I hope a motherfucker gives me a reason tonight. Like Wrath, I’m in a mood.
“Remy promised to come help out this weekend,” Dex says. “I gotta train him and show him around the place a few times before I’ll trust him on his own, though.”
“About time they start putting the support in support club,” Wrath says.
Murphy sits forward. “They’ve helped us out a lot. Christ, Grinder’s had them landscaping Serena’s friend’s yard for fuck’s sake. What more do you want?”
Wrath rolls his eyes, as if landscaping isn’t in the support club description.
“We’ve been leaning on them a lot. And they’ve come through every time,” I add, agreeing with Murphy. “That’s a long ride for Remy. He got anyone coming with him?” I ask Dex.