Page 46 of Wild Card
By the end of the night, all my brothers will be balls deep in pussy, while I lie in my bed pining for the girl in the room opposite mine, hoping that she’ll knock on my door and ask me to take her away from this madness.
I swear I’m hallucinating when I see her step through the door, looking at her surroundings warily as Esmé takes her hand and excitedly bounces toward the bar.
Instinctively, I get on my feet and make my way across to her.
“As–”
“What the fuck ya doin’ here?” I ask in a tone that's unwelcoming and short. It instantly makes the smile she had for me fade from her face, and I hate myself for it.
“It’s a party, ain’t it?” She giggles awkwardly as she looks around at all the people, and I watch the heat spread up her neck as she rubs the back of it, self-consciously.
“It was Esmé’s idea.” She looks to her friend, who must already be drunk because she's dancing at the bar, swinging her head from side to side and choking Moby with her hair.
“It was a bad one, you need to leave,” I tell Ruby. I don’t want her in my space right now. This is where I come to try and escape all that.
“We just got here.” She looks up, all confused and frustrated.
“Yeah, well, this ain’t the place for you.”
“Ash, why are you being a dick?” She laughs like this is some kinda joke, and when she goes to join Esmé, I side-step and block her.
“I mean it, I don’t want ya here.” I’m done with this girl taking up all the space in my head. I need to block her out. As soon as Hack’s sober, I’m gonna ask if he minds me crashing at his trailer for the rest of the time I’m here.
“We just came here to have some fun; the bar’s dead, Earl told me to take the night off. Are you seriously gonna send me away?”
“Course, he ain’t.” A voice comes from behind me, and when I turn around and see Byron, I feel my temper flare.
“Prez…I–”
“Since when do you call the shots around here?” he asks before looking back to Ruby and smiling. “As ya were, darlin’, you tell Cass your first drink’s on me.”
“Thank you.” She sticks her nose in the air and moves on to join her friend, who is looking like she could do with a ride home, instead of another drink. I don’t know how she’s standing on those legs of hers; they’re wobbling all over the place, and she’s pouring with sweat.
“You told me to stay away from her. I was just doin’ what you asked.” I turn back to face him and hold my hands up in defeat. I can’t seem to do right for fuckin’ wrong around here.
“She ain't doin’ no harm, and you should have better control of yourself. Go give Paris your attention, she’s been hot for you since ya got here,” he tells me, tipping his head toward one of the club whores.
“I’m good,” I assure him.
“Ya sure? Cause you sure as hell don’t look it,” he accuses me.
“I’m here to do a job and, rest assured, I’ll get it fuckin’ done.” I head back to my booth and do my best not to look over my shoulder to see what Ruby’s doing. Nothing she does should concern me. I need to start taking Hack’s advice, and I’m sure I’d feel a hella lot better with an empty ball sack.
I’m about to stand up and make my way over to Paris when I see him. Brett-fuckin’-Porter, looking all outta place in one of his fancy tailored suits as his eyes scan the room. He scowls like he’s angry when he sees his target, and when I notice him marching directly toward Ruby, I quickly dart in front of him before he gets to her.
“Can I help ya?” I ask, standing far too close and forcing him to look up at me.
“Get out my way,” he orders, breathing outta his nostrils. “Ruby, I’m taking you home!” he yells at her over the music, but she doesn’t hear him; she’s too busy trying to prop her friend up.
“Can’t ya see she’s havin’ a good time? We’ll make sure she gets home safe,” I assure him with a cocky grin that I know will wind him up.
“Get out of my fucking way,” he tells me again, getting more and more impatient.
“Or you’ll do what? Swing for me like you swung for her?” I laugh at the sorry son of a bitch, because he’s caught me on the wrong fuckin’ day.
“You're far too pussy for that,” I remind him.
“Brett.” Ruby’s startled voice comes from behind me, and she quickly barges her way in between us.
