I have to let him tag along to dinner with my mother. He’s standing here giving me no damn choice and he doesn’t even realize it. “Fine. Come on, but you’d better change.”
Leo takes a step back and furrows his brows, “Change? Where the fuck we goin’ anyway?”
“To Frasca.” I reply, not making a big deal about it.
Immediately, he grimaces. Guess he knows where it is. “That stuffy Italian place downtown? The one where you have to dress in black tie?”
I nod, “That would be the one. But, you know, if you don’t want to tag along you don’t have to.”
He smirks before rubbing a hand over his mouth, trying to hide his ever-growing smile. “I see what you’re doin’ here, baby, playin’ dirty. I’m comin’ to dinner with you and your momma. You can bet on that.”
Shrugging my shoulders, I go grab my purse. “Suit yourself. Do you have something here you can wear, or are you going to need to grab something while we’re out?”
“I’ll bring my wallet,” Leo huffs out. He could just decide not to come, but from what I know about him proving his point is much more important than spending five hundred dollars on a new ensemble.
“Perfect,” I mutter, following him out of his bedroom we go to the front part of his club where I find Trix, grinding up against some guy. She seems to be having a grand time, leaning her head back, her hair hanging down in the process.
“I’m going to tell Trix I’m leaving, that way she doesn’t wait up or get worried.”
“Sure,” Leo replies, heading off to the bar to talk to a couple of the guys there. I make my way through the crowd of people and just about get my hand on Trix when some guy I’ve never seen before butts in between us, pushing me back until my ass hits the floor.
“Don’t know who the fuck you are, but get outta my way. I got my eyes on this one.” Scanning over him, I see he’s not wearing a cut. In fact, he doesn’t have any sort of rival gang colors, cuts, or anything. Could he really be just some average dude who walked in here to party? The possibility doesn’t seem likely.
Shocked for a split second, I’m rising when Leo shoots over. He offers me a hand first, not even acting like this guy exists. I take it and he pulls me up. “You okay?” His tone is soft, showing me firsthand how this isn’t some ruse. He’s genuinely asking if I’m alright.
I nod, “Yeah. I’m sure my ass will be bruised, but I’m fine.”
Leo’s expression runs stone cold, like every bit of humanity has left his body. “I’m gonna have one of the guys walk you and Trix outside. Give me your address and I’ll be there within thirty minutes. I need to handle this one,” Leo proceeds to give me his cell number and I immediately text him my address, just like he asked.
Before I can say anything, Leo has his hand wrapped around the guy who pushed me’s throat. “Party’s over motherfuckers. Get out!” Leo roars, his voice filled with wrath.
Trix looks at me, completely yanked from her drunken haze while one of Leo’s guys comes up. He escorts us out of the club like we’re royalty and walks with us. “Where’d you park?” he asks.
“A couple blocks away,” I answer honestly.
“‘Kay. You need to drive her. She’s sloshed.” Most guys wouldn’t give a rat’s ass about a woman being drunk, but I have the weirdest feeling like these guys operate a little bit differently than most clubs.
Chapter Twelve
Leo
I don’t like assholes. I don’t like people that treat girls like shit either. I’m not exactly sure where this motherfucker came from, or what the hell he’s doing here but now isn’t the time to find out. I’ve got other plans for the evening. Plans to find out more about Toni and if that means meeting her mother then I suppose that’s what I’m about to do.
“Did you put your fuckin’ hands on my girl?” I ask the asshole in front of me.
“She was in the way,” he growls, balling his fists.
“Is that right? I don’t even know who the fuck you are and at this point I’m not sure I give two shits either. You ever step foot into this clubhouse again I’ll end you,” I tell him in a deadly serious tone. He eyes me, wanting to fight. I know that look and I’ll gladly let him take a try but I know that he isn’t shit. I smirk as he pulls his fist back and slams it into my face. I blink rapidly before I laugh and move in. Fists fly, mainly by me until I’m being ripped off the motherfucker. I roll my shoulders as the guys drag him to his feet and Grinder chuckles.
“That looked fun and all but you gotta go if you don’t wanna be late,” he tells me.
“And this fuck?” I ask nodding toward him.
“I’ll take out the trash, brother. Don’t worry.” I nod my head and turn on my heel walking into the bathroom to clean myself up. I wash the blood from my face and hands then I look into the mirror. This is fucked. My eye is already bruising so there’s nothing I can do to hide it.
“Fuck me,” I grumble before heading back out into the main room. I toss a wave over my shoulder at a few of the guys and walk outside climbing onto my bike.
It doesn’t take me long to get a suit at one of those upscale shops and be on my way. I head over to Toni’s feeling like a fucking jackass wearing this. It’s not comfortable and I sure as hell don’t know how guys can wear these things all the time.
Shaking the feeling off, I climb off my bike after killing the engine and walk up the steps to her door. Before I can even knock it flies open and Toni stands there in a dress that hugs her body. My eyes move over her, taking her in. She’s fucking gorgeous.
“Are you going to eye fuck me or say something?” she says. My eyes keep traveling over her from head to toe.
“I’m not sure yet. You look sexy as fuck in that dress,” I say huskily.
“You like it?”
“I more than like it, babe.” I reach for her, hooking my arm around her waist and pulling her into me. Before she can react, I’m kissing her like she’s never been kissed before. My tongue dances with hers as I devour her mouth with mine.
“You’re going to mess up my makeup.”
“You don’t need all that shit on your face. You’re fuckin’ gorgeous without it.” A smile tugs across her face before it disappears.
“What the hell happened to your face?”
“Was my kiss that good that you’re just seein’ it?” I tease. I know she isn’t playing. I can see the look in her eyes.
“Had a little issue with the fucker that ran into you,” I admit.
“Did you lose?” I know she’s playing with me. I can hear the tease in her tone but either way it makes me smirk.
“What kind of man do you think I am? I don’t fuckin’ lose, Toni. At anything.”
“Is that right? So, you truly think I’m going to take you to meet my mother with a black eye and a cut lip?” She asks, placing her hands on her slim hips as she glares at me.
“Your mother needs to know that you’re with a man that can handle whatever comes his way. My eye proves as much.”