I turn back to him. “Can you work the bar for a couple of hours so I can catch up?” I polish off my drink. “Or maybe I will just off myself since I have a life sentence of being alone ahead of me,” I can’t help but add, needing him to know how truly angry I am about him causing a scene.
“You’re going to trust me and Myriah together on the bar?” He cocks a cheeky brow.
I inhale deeply, wishing for some sort of patience so I can deal with my life. “I’m going to trust you to do the right thing because you’re a mature adult who knows how to make good choices. Maybe you,Jagger, Cruz, and Malachi can award me the same honor since I’m about to turn twenty-fucking-five,” I snap back at him before stalking off in the direction of my office.
I’m grateful for his help tonight, but fuck, I’m so disappointed. I was having fun talking to Reef Wilder, the cute surfy boy originally from California. I sigh heavily as I swipe my card to let me through to the back room. Looks like it will be me and my hand again tonight. At least I will have a new hot face to imagine as I get myself off.
Chapter 3
Twenty-fiveisjustanumber, Sloane, it doesn’t define you in any way.I repeat the words swirling through my head as I pace back and forth over the Persian rug in my office.
I’m hiding out, away from the gathering of my friends and family who have booked out my club for the night to celebrate with me and Cruz. Except with the overwhelming dread that’s filling me all the way to my Prada heels, I know twenty-five is more than just a number to me. It’s a number that feels like a weight I can’t shake, a constant reminder that I’m living a lie in my own world. I’m the motherfucking owner of the best elite sex club and day spa in all of Ravens Hollow. A successful businesswoman, respected and feared by all. But I have just one little problem. I’m a fucking fraud. And if anyone found out the truth, my reputation would turn to shit in an instant. I would quite literally be the laughingstock of the town and my club, I’m sure of it.
A heavy knock comes at the door. “Sloane, everyone is waiting,” comes Onyx’s low voice, sending another wave of anxiety through me. Of course he’s right there waiting.
“I know,” I snip back. Rushing to my sleek marble desk, I pull open the top drawer to find the bottle of pills I’m looking for, and with a flick, I pop a couple of little white pills in my mouth and swallow them down with a swig of my whiskey. I just need something to take the edge off to get through tonight. I’ll stop tomorrow when I’m officially twenty-five. I move over to the mirror and straighten my shoulders while I re-apply my peach lipstick, ready to face the party. I look like a million bucks in my powder-blue, off-the-shoulder party dress. My makeup was painted to perfection by the girls from my day spa next door, Nestled Serenity Spa. They pampered me today, giving me the full treatment for my birthday, and I left feeling ready to party. But as soon as my family and friends started to arrive, it all got too much for me.
As I reach the heavy black door, my head spins, and I feel like all breath has been sucked from my lungs. I can’t do this. My head rests on the solid door of my office. Deep breaths, Sloane. It’s just a fucking birthday party. Smile, dance, drink, and pretend you want to be here, because you do, you love these people. It’s simple. I shake off the awful feeling, standing up straight and turning the door handle. I can do this because I’m Sloane Stryker and I can fucking do anything.
I smile tightly when Onyx, falls into line beside me. He was waiting by the door for me. Like he always is. My dark shadow.
His hand brushes my back, the contact barely there. “Everything alright, trouble?”
I broaden my smile. “Of course, why wouldn’t it be? It’s my birthday, and I’m ready to celebrate.” I have been faking it so long it comes naturally.
He moves in front of me, blocking my path. His dark eyes lock with mine in a way that makes my heart race a little faster. Man, he’s beautiful. Dark and broody, rough around the edges, but so damn beautiful it makes my heart hurt. Mostly because I know it doesn’t matter how much he makes my heart race, he will never feel the same way about me. I’m a job for him. A reason to stay working under my brother and part of the Iron Strykers gang. I’m his meal ticket, that’s all. I quickly avert my gaze, my heart pounding withfear of what I might do if I look at him any longer. I’m feeling reckless tonight, and I might just go through with the fantasy of kissing him.
As I try to pull away, his hand closes over mine, his touch warm and insistent, pulling me back. “Sloane.” He looks me over, his forehead creasing in that way that makes him look every bit his thirty-eight years. Another reason my silly infatuation will never be anything more. He’s more than thirteen years older than me and has been in my life since he was sixteen, when he started working with my family.
“If you have something to say, then say it, Onyx.”
His eyes rake over me, taking every bit of me in. The way they do makes me feel all warm inside. When he still doesn’t say anything, I pull out of his hold and shove past him, pushing through the doors to my club. He’s been doing this for weeks. Making me feel like something more is going on when I know it’s not.
As I enter the main club, Asher calls my name, his voice a powerful roar of celebration that cuts through the pulsing music. He’s standing on the bar, a bottle of violently shaken champagne in his hands, spraying the cheering crowd of his adoring fans below, like he’s a fucking rock star or some shit.
Meanwhile, Jagger and Cruz have taken it upon themselves to clear one of the tables and look to be playing some sort of card game with a stack of cash piled up in the center of the table. Jagger spots me and nods in my direction. Cruz grins, his lips twisted up at the sides in that menacing way that tells me he’s up to no good. It is his birthday as well after all, and the game was most likely his idea and he’s about to cheat Jagger out of thousands. That’s on Jagger, he should know better by now.
With a hesitant step, Sally, my manager and close friend, comes to my side, her face wearing a guilty expression, even though she’s dressed to party in a white cocktail dress that shows off her long,tanned legs. She might be in her mid-thirties, but Sally is a stunner. Her long, chocolate-brown hair frames her face, and her dark, smoky eye makeup gives her a mysterious vibe tonight. I have no idea how the girl is still single.
“Looking good, baby,” I compliment her.
She smiles cheekily back. “Not so bad yourself. You should wear color more often.”
“Harley talked me into it. Guess she was right.” I shrug. “Nice to see the party started without me,” I huff, not at all surprised. I was in my office trying to get my shit together for well over a half-hour.
“I tried to stop them, but you know your brothers.” She rolls her eyes dramatically. After years of dealing with them, I’m sure they have given her more reasons to quit than stay working with me, but something keeps her around.
“That I do.” She joins me behind the bar where we find Myriah pouring shots. “You’re not working tonight,” I say over her shoulder, letting her know she’s off the hook.
“Hey, girl. This one’s for you.” She hands me a Fireball Whiskey shot, beaming with excitement like the party girl she is. She looks adorable in a cute little silver sequined number that shimmers under the low light of the chandeliers, her caramel-colored hair out and deadly straight. It’s a good look on her.
I throw the shot back and slam the shot glass down on the marble counter. “Give me another.” I grin slyly, suddenly getting in the party mood.
“Yesss! Sloane’s going to let loose for once. I knew it was a genius idea to shut the place down for the night.” Myriah smiles smugly at Sally.
“I never said it wasn’t a good idea.” Sally throws back a shot of her own. These two are the best staff a girl could hope for. I have had themby my side for years, and I know they have my back in every situation possible.
As I take my second shot and throw it back, I see Harley and the Moretti boys arrive through the main doors. Harley completes our girl gang. I haven’t known her as long as these two, but since she got into a little trouble last year, the two of us have been inseparable. She’s my sister from another mister, and I wouldn’t admit it out loud, but I love her to bits. Even if she has an entourage of her men always buzzing protectively around her.