“Oh, that’s okay. No need for that. I was going to catch a cab or the subway home anyway,” she replied.
“You’re not taking the subway home this time of night,” Logic chimed in.
“Excuse me,” Antonio said and then took her hand and pulled her a few feet away. Logic couldn’t hear the conversation. When he saw Antonio pull her close, whisper into her ear and let his hand slide down her back to nearly her ass, he felt sick, angry, but then Alda reached back and stopped him. She wasn’t into the guy. Thank God.
He kissed her cheek goodnight.
“You’re sure.”
“Yes. I am. I’ll speak to you over the weekend,” she said to him.
“We’ll get together. Something nice. Just the two of us,” he said and then eyed over Logic.
What an asshole.
Antonio left and Alda stepped back toward the bar.
“Guess the call was important,” he said to her.
“I guess so,” she said and took a sip from her wine.
“His loss, my gain,” he said to her and reached out and pushed a strand of hair from her cheek.
“Don’t think so, Logic. Maybe you should head back over to where your friends are so you can be with those women I saw all over you as I walked in here.” She went to move and Logic just stared at her as Brew came up at that moment and placed his hand on her waist and slid in next to her.
“Alda,” he said, and leaned down and kissed her cheek. She didn’t turn away, instead she tilted her head up toward Brew and accepted his kiss.
“Brew,” she said his name and Brew slid his arm along her waist but Alda stepped back and leaned against the bar. She looked at Logic and gave him an annoyed expression.
“I was just talking Alda into staying here and having a drink with us since her date had to leave early,” Logic said to Brew.
“Great, another glass of wine?” Brew asked.
“I think I’m done,” she said to him.
Brew stared down at her lips and then over her body. Logic hid his grin.
“No, you’re not done. You’ll have a drink with us,” he told her and she looked intimidated, yet her cheeks went flush.
She was silent and Logic watched her closely. Brew handed her a glass of red wine and then lifted his glass of brandy toward her.
“To your date leaving you here with us,” Brew toasted and held her gaze.
“He didn’t leave me,” she said to him.
“Sure he did. That’s why you’re here with us,” Logic stated, stepping closer. They were both caging her in and she looked affected, like he felt.
“Something came up that was important,” she countered.
Brew stroked her hip. “If you were out on a date with me, nothing would tear me away from you, Alda,” he said, shocking Logic. Alda laughed and then took a sip from her wine glass. Brew chuckled and then took a sip.
“Lines like that actually work for you, Brew?” she asked, smirking.
“When my good looks and amazing personality butter them up first,” he said to her. She laughed again, and smiled, the sound affecting Logic’s heart. Holy shit, this was different.
“What, you don’t believe me?” Brew asked.
“Oh, I believe you. I’ve heard stories, too, and remember when I walked in and you had a couple of women throwing themselves at both of you and Ziek, too. I guess in your line of work it rains women,” she said and took a sip from her glass as if bored with the subject. Was she insulting them, jealous, uninterested? She couldn’t be. He was so damn attracted to her and so were his brothers. This had to be different, and real.
“As I assume in your line of work it rains rich, snobby men looking to land an intelligent, sexy, model with body and brains,” Brew told her and she stared at Brew.
“Model? I think not, but nice try again. Brains? Definitely, which is why as soon as I’m finished with this glass of wine, I’m heading home,” she told Brew.
“Not alone,” Logic added. She looked at him.
“You too now, Logic? Hmm, I suppose the whole tag team thing probably works on most women you associate with. Not me, though. Remember, I’ve been around you guys for months. I’ve seen you in action.” She took a sip from her glass of wine.
Brew slid his hand along her belly and Logic stroked her chin.
“I don’t think you’ve seen us in action, Alda. You’ve seen us getting through life, accepting who we are and what we deserve,” Logic said to her and she held his gaze.
Logic moved his mouth closer to her lips and she turned just as his lips touched her cheek.
“Invite us to come home with you,” Brew said to her as she turned and his lips covered Alda’s. Logic pulled back, his body completely aroused like nothing he ever felt before as he watched Brew kiss Alda. He slid his hand under her hair and kissed her deeply then slowly released her lips and pulled her against his chest.
“Let’s go,” he said to her and Alda gripped his arms, pulled back and stared at Brew then looked at Logic. Her lips were full, lush and inviting. He wanted to taste her, too. Hell, he wanted to strip her from this dress and fuck her until she was out of his head. Obviously Brew wanted that, too.
“I don’t think so, Brew. Remember what I said about knowing you guys so well.” Brew looked at her face, her lips as he remained holding her. She pressed from his embrace.
“I also know women you and your buddies have used. Hell, have screwed. I won’t be just some other woman you’ve gotten to spread her legs. I deserve better than that. I’ve got more class, more respect for myself than that, no matter how good those kisses of yours may feel,” she said and reached up and stroked his jaw.
Brew gripped her wrist tight. “You playing games with us?”
“No, Brew. You’re the one who is into games. Into no commitments, and not taking any woman and emotions seriously. I get it. It’s your life and your buddies’ lives.”
“You feel the attraction, Alda. To all of us,” Logic stated firmly. She looked at him and clutched her purse.
“Yes, I do, but you’re all wrong for me. I don’t sleep around, and all of you do. I don’t play games, but you see every woman as a game, as a challenge to get her into bed. Do you seriously insult me and put me into the same category as those women? Good night, and thanks for the drink,” she said and walked away from them.
Logic was shocked, but Brew looked even more perplexed. He grabbed his drink and finished it. He stared straight ahead at the bar and Logic did the same, not saying a word for some time.
“She thinks we’re a bunch of male whores,” Brew stated some time later, his mind obviously going over what happened as well as what he’d done with his life. Logic was doing the same thing.
“She sees us for what we are, Brew. Enforcers, soldiers, made men for the Coglonie family. We fuck people up, we take care of business, we’ve had shitty lives up to the point where we got involved with this life.”
“Women are all the same. They’re after something. She’s no different,” Brew said, spitting his venom which was so Brew. He fought emotions. Hadn’t been trusting since Cassie years ago and serving time for assault. Logic couldn’t blame him. Their childhoods sucked until Abigail.
“I don’t think so, Brew. I actually liked that she told us what she was feeling and was straight up with her impression of us. She admitted to the attraction. It’s our inability to show any desire to commit to one woman, and date. She’s right. We’ve never dated a woman. Hell, we’ve used them for our needs and not even that often,” Logic stated.
“Speak for yourself,” Brew said and Logic chuckled.
“So you’re offended by the truth? By the fact that she knows women who you screwed and it makes her jealous and pissed off, and untrusting?”
“Fuck yeah.”
“Well, put the shoe on the other foot, bro. Doesn’t the thought of another man fucking her drive you insane? Make you want to lose your shit?”
“Been there, done that, and served my time
because of it. In the end, what did I find out? It was all a fucking game. How do we know Alda isn’t full of shit?”
“We’ve been around her for a while now. We know her friends and none of them are whores looking to land a guy or guys. In fact, they each fought their attractions.”
“This is different, Logic. We don’t do commitments. We don’t trust anyone but one another. We’ve never dated, or played that whole scene. We live dangerous lives and have hurt people with our bare hands. These hands can’t be gentle. Our hearts are so hardened there’s no way we can be empathetic or care for one woman and one woman only like that.”
“Then why the hell do I feel this emptiness now that Alda walked away from us? Answer me that? Where the fuck are these feelings coming from? Why did I care so much seeing her with that dick she was with? Why are Royce and Train concerned for her too and why the fuck did you kiss her?”
Brew was silent a moment and then he spoke.
“To try and get her out of my head. If I have her, maybe I could walk away.”
“From her? Never going to happen. I think we all realize that and it scares the fuck out of us. She’s gorgeous, and that body, those eyes, the way it feels when she’s close. It’s all different, Brew. Fucking different.”
“Well, different isn’t good. Different causes problems. We got a good life, a good way of handling things. We don’t ever have to be lonely.”
“Sex is temporary satisfaction, Brew. It sure the fuck doesn’t fill the gap. Not by a long shot,” Logic said then slugged down the remainder of beer and twirled his finger for another round. He was going to need lots of alcohol tonight to numb this feeling.
* * * *
“What do you want us to do?” Matt asked Antonio.
“Get her cleaned up and out of there. Dope her up more and then dump her. How is Tatum?”
“Raging. If we didn’t come into the room he could have killed her.”
“What the fuck happened? How did this happen?”
“He took something, Antonio. Something new, he said.”
“Fucking moron. I’ll be there in thirty minutes to deal with him. Get the others and make sure nothing is left on her for anyone to figure shit out.”
“We will. We’ll be extra careful.”
“Good.”
Antonio disconnected the call and looked out the window as his driver headed to New Jersey. He was so pissed off that he had to leave Alda. Now he wondered if he should even let Tatum see her. Why the fuck did he take drugs? What the hell was Tatum thinking? Fuck!
Chapter 5
Alda completely ignored Brew, Logic, Train, and Royce since she arrived with old co-workers over an hour ago. She was dancing with them now, laughing and having a good time even as some guys joined them on the dance floor. Donata and Alessa were there too and talking to a couple of guys when Alda decided to head off the dance floor and get a drink. She walked over toward the bar, and some guy was watching her. A big guy, who looked a little drunk. She slid her hands along the deep green dress she wore. It had one shoulder showing and the other had one strap and the shoulder covered. It was sexy but comfortable.
A few seconds later Alessa joined her at the bar.
“I love this dress on you. You got it at Milly’s boutique, you said,” Alessa asked her.
“Yes, I did. I love that store. I’m going back this week. The owner said they’re having a sale so I’m sure they’ll be a bunch of spring things out,” Alda said to her.
“Maybe we can go together. I need a few new dresses. My cousin Joanie is getting married in few months and it’s in South Carolina so I want something sexy and totally New York style.”
“I’m sure you’ll find something amazing. Does she know her colors yet?” Alda asked just as some guy bumped into the back of her. As she turned there were a few men there talking and then the one big guy placed his hand on Alda’s hip.
“Hey, gorgeous, come on out and dance with me,” he said to her and pulled her close. She grabbed on to his arm.
“I don’t think so, buddy. Let go,” she said to him.
“She doesn’t want to dance,” Alessa said, stepping away from the bar. It was crowded there.
“I think she does. She fits perfectly in my arms,” the guy said and Alda felt his hand squeeze her ass.
“Hey,” she yelled and then shoved at him.
“Let her be. She’s having a drink and then she’ll dance later maybe,” some guy said to him and as the guy released her Brew slammed his hand on the guy’s shoulder.
“There a problem over here, Alda?” Brew asked, looking so angry it scared Alda. She thought he might kill the guy.
Alda touched Brew’s arm, felt the thick, hard muscles under his sleeve. “It’s okay, Brew, he’s leaving now. It’s fine.”
“It didn’t look fine,” Brew stated firmly.
The big guy looked at the other guys behind Alda and near Alessa and the bar.
“My mistake, man. Sorry,” he said to Alda and she nodded.
Brew released him and then looked over Alda. “You okay?” he asked.
“I’m fine, Brew.” He moved closer to her, wrapped his arm around her waist and walked her back closer to Alessa.
“They come back over or you have any problems, make a scene,” he ordered. She nodded. He slid his hand away from her body and walked away.
“Holy crap, Brew was going to tear that guy a new one. What the hell?” Alessa asked Alda as she reached back to the bar to take a sip of her drink.
“I know, that was scary. He was so pissed off.”
“Well, you have been ignoring them all night.”
“Alessa, I told you why.”
“Yeah and I think you’re crazy. Brew kissed you.”
“He was after a good time.”
“No, it’s more than that.”
“Oh really. Maybe you should take your own advice and let Lenox, Cobra, Roman, and Ziek take you to bed,” Alda challenged and Alessa rolled her eyes.
“They don’t exactly fit into my family’s ideas of the perfect relationship for me. A ménage, no less? I’m on bad terms with the family as is. The only reason why I got invited to the wedding is because my cousin and I remained close.”
“Isn’t she marrying two guys?”
“Yup. That was a shocker for the Preston family.”
“I’m sure not as much of a shocker as you leaving law school to go to baking school,” Alda teased.
“Are you two ladies okay?” a guy that was dancing with Alessa earlier asked. Alessa pushed her hair behind her ear and smiled.
“Yes. Thank you.”
“Guys can be such assholes,” he said to her.
“Yes, they can,” Alessa stated and then Alda looked away and toward the bar across the room where she saw Brew, Royce, Lenox, Cobra, and Harley standing. A lot of the guys were there tonight. She then looked away so they wouldn’t think she was checking them out or anything. On the dance floor Donata and the girls were having fun and Alda excused herself to go back out there. Alessa was enjoying a conversation with the guy and gave her a thumbs up. Alda walked away and the other guy took her place by the bar.
As she danced and enjoyed the music with her friends she thought about Brew’s reaction and how quickly he got to her. That meant he had been watching her and she couldn’t help but feel giddy about it. She ignored the attraction, not wanting any of the problems that would come along with it. A few times she glanced back toward the bar and now Alessa and the guy who was with her were walking toward the side hallway. She noticed Alessa lose her footing and the guy grabbed her around the waist. Her gut clenched. Something wasn’t right. She hurried through the crowd, pushing by people just trying to get to her friend. As she got to her right before the side exit door she knew her gut was right.
“Hey.” She grabbed on to the guy’s shoulder and Alessa looked drunk. She went to hold her. “What’s going on?”
“Oh, your friend is a little tipsy. We were going to go outsid
e for some fresh air. I got her. Don’t worry,” he said and the guy pulled Alessa close against his side.
“Alessa, are you okay?” she asked her.
“No. Something is wrong,” she said.
“Nothing is wrong. She’ll be fine with fresh air.” He pulled her along and Alda grabbed on to the guy.
“No. Something is wrong. What did you do?” she yelled and then shoved at the guy. She remembered Train and Royce’s advice about making a scene.
“Let go of her. Help!” Alda screamed. The guy shoved at her and tried to pull Alessa to the exit.
“What’s going on?” Donata asked and two of the other women approached, too.
“He’s trying to take her. He gave her something,” Alda said as Donata and the girls pulled Alessa into their arms. The guy pulled out a knife.
“Stop right there!” Alda turned and saw Brew, Royce, Lenox, Ziek and others coming to help and the guy grabbed Alda around her waist and pulled her backward. He had the knife against her neck. Brew, Royce, and the men all looked fierce.
“Let her go, man. Right the fuck now!” Brew yelled and stepped forward.
“No. I’ll cut her,” he yelled, backing up. Alda was shaking and looking at the men and her friends and then Alessa passed out.
“Alessa!” Alda screamed just as someone came up behind the guy with a gun or something and as he released her the blade cut her dress and skin on the side. She covered it with her hand as Royce pulled her into his arms and Logic decked the guy. In a flash they were moving him out of the club and down the hallway.
Royce hugged her and Brew pressed up against her back.
“You’re okay, baby. You’re okay. You did the right thing and yelled for help,” Royce said to her. She lifted her chin up, felt the tears roll down her cheeks then looked at Alessa. Cobra was carrying her through the crowd.
“Alessa? Is she going to be okay?” she asked.
“Come on. We’ll all go upstairs and get to the bottom of this.”
“The guy?” she asked and looked over her shoulder.
Brew had a hand on her hip. “Harley, Roman, and Ziek will find out everything. You’re safe. That’s what’s important,” Brew said and kissed her shoulder.
Made Men 8: All or Nothing (Siren Publishing Menage Everlasting) Page 8
