Page 65 of Marcus: Sins of the Father

I frown, my head twisting to follow the direction of his gaze.

Brandy stands just inside the door, her gaze scanning the crowd. She’s in a soft pink sweater that stretches across her breasts, emphasizing their size. Her jeans hug her curves like a second skin. I can’t stop the lurch of my heart in my chest. I’m afraid to hope what her following me could mean.

I turn away, my hands twisting the glass, the rag working more vigorously while my brain tries to figure out all the reasons she could be here, but it keeps coming back to just one.

Cole slams his beer down, and I jump. He stares at Crash with a quirked brow. “You gonna do it, or am I?”

My gaze shifts to Crash. What the hell’s Cole talking about?

Crash lowers his own beer and stares back at Cole. “You’re shittin’ me, right?”

As if he’s just been challenged, Cole starts to straighten from his bar stool.

“Sit down, Prez.” Crash stands and digs in his pocket, pulling out a set of keys and with jerking, angry motions, yanks off a single key and slams it on the bar top. He slides it toward me. “Here, kid. The sheets are clean.”

I stare at the key gleaming in the dim light of the neon beer signs, and my eyes shift to my sponsor’s. “For real?”

His brows raise. “Better fucking take it before I change my goddamn mind, prospect.”

I grab it, then swivel to the door. Brandy is still standing there, but I know with this crowd she won’t be alone for long. I toss the bar rag down and slip the key in my pocket. “Thanks.”

Crash catches my bicep as I move around the end of the bar. “Don’t forget, you have gate duty tonight.”

“Yes, sir. I got it.” I stand looking at Brandy, unmoving.

He slaps my arm. “Well, don’t just stand there, kid. Go get the girl before one of these boys beats you to it.”

He doesn’t have to tell me twice. I shoulder through the crowd until I’m standing before the woman I’d started to think of as mine. “What are you doing here?”

“I came to explain.”

“Nothin’ to explain. I saw you and Holt.” I fold my arms, my chin lifting with my pride.

“Can we talk? Please?” When I hesitate and look over her shoulder like I’m not going to answer, her hands land on her hips. “Or are you going to be a stubborn ass?”

Goddamn. This woman. “Fine. I know a place we can talk.” I lead her through the crowd and up the stairs. She follows willingly, but I see her gaze flick around the room as we climb the steps.

We reach the second floor, and I lead her down the dark hall to the room at the end. I pause at the door with the frosted glass on top and the stenciled words that read Vice President.

“Where are we?” Brandy asks, rubbing her arms.

“Crash’s room. He’s not using it tonight and gave me a key.” I slip it in the lock and swing the door open, walking in, but Brandy stands at the threshold, her eyes on the bed. I cock my head. “You changin’ your mind, girl?”

Her gaze shifts to mine, and her shoulders stiffen. “Nope.” The word leaves her mouth with a pop, and she strides inside.

I close the door, and my eyes hit her back. The sweater dips low, really low. I let my eyes sweep over every inch, admiring all that bare skin revealed to me. I feel my dick harden. “So, what did you want to talk about?”

I stay where I am with my hand on the doorknob, my back slumped against the wood. Don’t fucking get your hopes up, Marcus. You know what you saw.

She turns to face me. “He gave me a ride home. I wanted to take an Uber, but my mom and dad wouldn’t hear of it.”

Her words have the iron band around my chest loosening, but I remind myself how gutted I felt when I saw them together, and how much her father wants that union. I pace a step toward her. “And so you decided to let him into your place?”

“He said he had to pee.”

“I bet he did. And what about Daddy? He doesn’t want you with me.”

She slams her hand to her chest. “What about what I want? Doesn’t that matter?”

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