“There’re usually more women in g*y bars than normal bars,” Denny adds.
Tom’s eyes light up.
“No f**kin’ way!” I cut him off before he can speak. “We are not going to a g*y bar.”
Turning to Dave, I say, “Take us to Graphics.”
Dave pulls up outside Graphics and climbs out with us, giving the valet the keys to the car.
Graphics is a celeb haunt that used to be a favourite of ours. Especially Jonny. I have a lot of memories of this place.
Good and bad.
“Mr. Wethers, it’s been a while, good to see you again,” the host says as we approach the door. “You should have called ahead and we’d have secured your booth for you.”
“It was a last-minute thing.”
“Let me see what I can do for you.” He starts speaking quickly into his headset.
I hate this shit. It used to be cool when these idiots wanted to pander to me, but it got old, real fast. Now I wish I could hit a club without having to announce my arrival first, so that it doesn’t become some major f**king issue if I don’t.
“Look, don’t sweat it,” I say, when I see him talking into the headset. “Just sit us anywhere. The boys and me just wanna have a quiet drink.”
He looks at me, unsure, then nods. “Okay, we have a table ready for you now, please follow me.”
We follow him through the club to the VIP section.
I nod to a few people I know as I pass through.
I slide into the booth, and the waitress is at our table a second later.
She’s all tits and ass. The outfits here leave little to the imagination. I forgot that.
I used to like this shit. Used to love seeing women wearing as little clothing as possible.
Now with Tru, I get just as turned on seeing her in a pair of jeans and T-shirt as I do those sexy miniskirts she wears.
She always looks hot to me.
I order a round of beers for us and settle back in my seat.
Tapping my fingers on the table, wishing I’d had a smoke before I came in here, I see Jase Collins heading toward our table.
Jase Collins. Small-timer in the music industry. Big-timer in the drug scene. And once upon a time, one of my regular dealers.
Fuck.
“Been a while,” he says, leaning up against our table.
“Not long enough,” I reply dryly.
He laughs.
Does he think I’m joking or something? Fucking idiot.
“Tom, Den.” He nods at them.
The best they offer back is a couple of grunts in his direction.
I have to suppress a smile. To say they don’t like him is putting it mildly. He’s a cocky little f**ker who once served his purpose of scoring the best coke around for me.
Not anymore.
Right now, I want this f**ker as far away from me as possible. Just knowing what he’ll have in his pocket is scratching at my skin like sharp f**king needles.
I flick a glance in Dave’s direction. He’s at the bar, watching Jase like a hawk.
Meeting my eyes, Dave gives me a silent nod. If I need to get rid of him quick, Dave will see to it for me.
The waitress reappears with our beers. Stepping around Jase, she puts our drinks down for us.
“Thanks,” I say. I return my focus to Jase. “What can I do for you, Jase?” I ask, getting straight to the point. No sense beating around the bush, wasting my time on a piece of shit like him.
“Heard you’re getting married. Wanted to offer my congratulations.”
“Received, and thanks.”
He stares at me for a long moment, then, resting his hand on the back of the seat, leans over and says in my ear, “The boss is missing your business. I got some real good shit on me tonight that has your name written all over it.”
I push him away from me with a firm shove to his shoulder. “Not interested.”
“You sure about that?” He smiles. It’s a cocky smile. One that I want to wipe off his face.
“Never been more so. Now will you f**k off? I’m trying to have a night out with my buddies.” I pick my beer up, tipping my head back. I drink it, but I don’t move my eyes from his.
“I saw a picture of your girl in the papers. Trudy Bennett, right? A real English beauty you got yourself there, Jake. I hear she’s living over here now.”
Slamming my beer down on the table, I stand up, the force shoving the table forward into Jase. Tom and Den are on their feet in an instant.
I see Dave moving toward us, but I put my hand out, telling him I got this.
“Don’t talk about her, motherfucker. Your mouth is nowhere near clean enough to speak my girl’s name.”
“I meant no disrespect,” he says with a smirk, and steps back. “Just letting you know I think your girl is pretty. Real pretty.”
“I know exactly what you’re doing, motherfucker. And I think you’ve forgotten who you’re talking to.” I round the table, squaring up to him. “You know what I’m capable of, so don’t f**k with me,” I hiss in his face. “Forget you ever heard my girl’s name, let alone saw her face. You f**kin’ read me?”
“Loud and clear.” He lifts his hands, backing off. “Like I said, I meant no disrespect, Jake. Enjoy your night.”
I watch him go, blending back into the crowd. My body is thrumming with absolute f**king anger.
“You all right, man?” Denny asks as I sit back down.
I shake my head, taking a pull on my beer.
I’m smarting. Jase f**king Collins, laying a threat near my girl. Fucking bastard. I’ll take his head off.