Page 183 of Push

“Okay, tell me where, and we’ll—”

“Only you.”

“Nope. This affects Gwen. She comes, and then you tell her to her face what a worthless prick you are.”

“No… Not…not Gwen. She can’t… Only you.”

I frowned but agreed. We needed answers. “Tell me where to find you.”

My eyes narrowed on the text on my phone, checking the address for the third time. I glanced at the gold 152 above the doorway, but there was no way through without muscling past the no-necked dude in a black suit.

He grinned a wide, gap-toothed smile. “Afternoon.”

“Uh, yeah…Hi,” I said. “Is this…152?”

He nodded.

Okay, the address was correct, but… “What is this place?”

“This fine establishment is The Red Room.”

“The…Red…” I closed my eyes, braced my fist on my hip, and breathed through the anger twitching in every muscle of my body.

Liam had sent me to a goddamn strip club.

I dragged my hand down my face. He had to be kidding. I was a married man and in zero mood to see anyone’s boobs but my wife’s—ever. There was no way I was stepping one foot through that door.

Toby

This better be some sort of joke.

I’m not going in there.

The Prodigal Brother

Don’t be shy.

“That no-good son of…” I muttered, glaring at the bouncer when he wished me a pleasant afternoon as I passed. The claustrophobic death trap of a stairwell would have been pitch black except for the pale red glow of one light overhead. WhenI reached the top of the stairs, the music hit me first. Then, my panic.

I can’t do this. No way.

Heart racing, my breath stuck in my lungs, I turned around to jump back down the stairs when someone tapped me on the shoulder.

“Hey there, handsome.” A woman. I gulped, twisting away so I wouldn’t see anything. “Can I get you something to drink?”

No freaking way. “I’m just here to see the big, blond guy.”

“You and everyone else today.” She laughed. “This way.”

My eyes on my feet, I snagged a menu as we passed a table and used it to block the view. I had no idea where I was in the club until I heard Liam’s silky laugh and saw a hundred-dollar bill thrust into the woman’s outstretched hand. A chair was pulled out. That was for me. Frowning, I sat down, finally brave enough to lower the menu and lift my gaze off my feet.

Liam sat across from me, and even though he wore a tailored black suit, he didn’t look as polished as usual. His eyes were bloodshot, and he looked disheveled, blond hair falling over his forehead instead of slicked back. When he reached for the glass in front of him, the skin over his knuckles was red and grazed like he’d been two rounds in a bar fight.

“Tough day at the office?” I joked.

His hand faltered. “You have no idea.”

“So, I guess the secret’s out. You’re a boobs guy. Is that why Gwen couldn’t come?”

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