Page 6 of Room Twenty-Four: Under Their Hands

Marco grunts. I don’t know what’s wrong with him. His dark hair is just as perfect as it always is. His dark eyes are so bored and closed-0ff it physically hurts.

I don’t like seeing him like this and I know that Bruno doesn’t either.

“Fine. Rhythms it is.” I nod my head and smile at him even as I’m shooting Bruno a surreptitious brow lift and head jerk.

“We’ll see you in about an hour. I have to go get ready.”

“Yeah, I’m sure that ugly mug does need some makeup,” Marco snorts but he walks out of the room and strides quickly down the hall.

“Does he seem really down lately?”

“Yeah. I think so. I wanted to get him to Club Sin tonight. Let him work off a little bit of whatever the hell is going on with him. But I’ll be happy just to get him out.”

“You and me both. Let’s get ready. Maybe we can hire a couple of girls to keep us company tonight?”

I shrug my shoulders and growl, “I guess it’s worth a shot but I don’t think that’s going to take care of the problems that I see growing larger with him every day.”

“I know. But I feel like we have to do something.”

“I know that,” I huff, stomping off. I’m at a loss. I know that Marco doesn’t want to get married but lately it seems like he’s drowning in a sea of ennui, so bored out of his mind that he doesn’t even seem interested in what makes a man feel good. A lovely woman under him, moaning like he’s a god as she welcomes him inside her.

As soon as I’m ready, I duck outside to check that the car’s ready. Usually one of us would drive to Club Sin. Cuts down on who knows what in the organization. But since this is just going out dancing and drinking, we’re taking one of the bigger vehicles. The limo is one of the cars that was his father’s. We don’t use it very often.

Bruno’s already standing outside by the car and he grins at me, smoothing down his crazy pompadour. I roll my eyes. “Dude, seriously. When are you going to get a haircut? You’re starting to look like one of the cast of an old movie.”

“Ummm, yeah. Not happening,” he smirks. “The ladies like my hair.”

“The ladies might get their hand stuck in it.”

“Pfft. You’re just jealous.”

“At it already? Let’s get this over with.” Marco comes out of the door, dressed in one of his trademark pin-striped suits. He’s a lean, tall man that makes the suits look good. Bruno on the other hand is wearing an open silk shirt that shows off his shaved-smooth chest and a huge gold medallion. He shaves for fights. The man’s a monster.

I press on my chest, smoothing down my own button-down in a soft green that is my favorite color. My dark blond hair is a mess already, falling across my forehead.

I open the door and wave my two closest friends inside. “Get in, assholes.”

Bruno flips me off but we all hustle into the car. Settling on the seat, I smile at the driver, one of our security, Cannon. “Hey, Cannon. Long time no see.”

“Where are you guys going?” He says, his drawl more pronounced.

“Rhythms.”

“Ah, got it. Shouldn’t take long to get there.” I nod and close the dark panel between the front seat and us.

“Now, I want to make sure that you’re ready to do this. I mean, it’s been awhile. Everybody needs to have a little fun.”

“We’re just going to check out the dancers and have some drinks. Nothing more than that. I think I can handle that,” Marco scoffs.

Fifteen minutes later, we’re pulling into the parking lot and up to the door. The front door slams and then Cannon comes around, opening the door. “Boss.”

Marco steps out and then me and Bruno. The doorman glares at the car until he sees who steps out and then he pales. “Gentlemen. So nice to see you tonight.”

“Problem with the car?” I ask smugly. I know I’m being kind of an asshole cause he looks like he’s about to shit himself but I just can’t help it.

“No, no,” he demurs quickly. “It’s all good. If you need to leave it parked there, that’s fine too.”

“No. He’ll come back. We’re gonna be here for awhile.”

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