Page 77 of Living Without

Dallas grunted. “Will do.”

“Which means, some of you will hav’ta pick up his job while he’s gone.” Some groaned. “Fuck off pussies.” Dodge glared. “Also, Fang called earlier. He’s been takin’ care of shit at the strip clubs that got hit by the fires and said they’ll be finished with the renovations in about two weeks. Teasers has been expanded, which means we’ll be bringing in more clients. We’re gonna need to hire more girls to dance, and Julian is comin’ down to teach them some new moves.” He eyed us all. “What I’m also gettin’ at is the place will need more security. Handle, you work it out with two other brothers. I want three on rotation. Even with the bouncers from the firm Talon uses, I want extra protection.”

“The women must have golden twats or somethin’,” Gamer said.

“This place will be the most upscale strip joint in all of Victoria. Every prick will want to go there to see the best girls there are.”

“Hell, can I live there?” Knife asked. For some reason, I glanced to a silent Beast sitting next to Knife, and I saw the scowl on his face directed at Knife. What it was about I didn’t have a fuckin’ clue. Though, somethin’ inside of me told me I didn’t really want to know either.

Dodge, ignoring Knife, went on, “Beast, since Dallas will probably be away still when the club is ready, I need you to install your equipment all over it.”

Beast gave him a chin lift. I’d often wondered why the brother wouldn’t talk, but it seemed no one knew. We all accepted him the way he was, and he’d somehow get his point across with a look or a text. Even if those were only few, it seemed he just didn’t like to communicate.

Shit, we all had our demons. It was up to him to share them so we could help.

“Anyone got anything else they need to add?” Dodge asked. The room was silent. “We’re done then.” He slammed the gavel down onto the table once again.

The room started to clear out. I got up and went to where Dodge, Pick, Billy, and Dive were.

“Nary was here. The women want to head out for a few drinks tonight. You all in?”

“Sure. Drunk Josie is a hell’va fun.” Billy smirked. Pick rolled his eyes, but he did so smiling.

“I’ll ask Mena when I get home, see if Jason or Blue’s ma would mind Koda. Let you know later,” Dive said with a chin lift before he left the room.

“I’m down. I’ll throw the kids over to Dive’s and get Jason to mind them. His girl and him love lookin’ after the kids.”

“Right. Gonna head back to see what shit my woman bought to make the apartment all girly.”

Dodge snorted. “You didn’t advise her not to go overboard before she left?”

Shrugging, I said, “Nope. I don’t really give a fuck what she changes, as long as she’s happy with it.”

“Fuck. How’d we all get so whipped?” Pick asked. “Actually, don’t answer it. I already know.”

“Yeah.” Billy grinned. “Love of a good woman.”

* * * *

The music was pumping. The place was crowded, and usually that shit would drive me crazy. That night it didn’t because I was watching my woman enjoying herself with her girls.

I stood at the bar with my brothers as we watched the women out on the dance floor moving their bodies to the music. Actually, I didn’t have a clue what all the women were doin’. I only had eyes for mine. She had her arms up in the air while her hips and arse swayed back and forth to whatever fucked-up song was playin’.

They’d been at it for the last hour. My dick was goddamn hard.

“How long we been here?” Dive asked. His woman had thrown herself into the girl group well. She looked at ease with them, and they seemed to love havin’ her around.

“Too bloody long,” Dodge groaned. I glanced to see Low dip and shake her arse with her head turned and eyes on her man.

My brothers and I had only a drink or two because we all drove, so we weren’t really feelin’ it. Still, we’d stay as long as the women did because we wanted them to have a good time.

“Fuck off, Fang,” was screamed off the side of us. We all looked there to see dickhead Jerimiah gripping a woman’s arm and spinning her to face him. Before he got to say anything, she opened her mouth and yelled, “You left the club. You have no right to say what I can and can’t do. Now leave me the fuck alone.” She pulled her arm free and darted off through the crowd.

Jerimiah ran a hand through his hair and then glanced our way. His eyes narrowed on me, and he let out a curse before sticking his middle finger up my way.

Chuckling, I shook my head and even though I wanted to bite something back, I could see the concern in his eyes for whoever that woman was.

“You good?” Dodge called.

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