Page 47 of Rising from the Ashes

Groaning, he follows me out the door so we can navigate our way to Club Renaissance.

Chapter sixteen

Shado

Pulling up to Club Renaissance, I am hesitant to enter this building after seeing the amount of people crowded around. I don’t do crowds, especially with Calista drawing attention to herself dressed like that. Not one person is going to be able to keep their eyes, let alone hands, off of her. That dress should be fucking illegal.

“We’re going through the back entrance. Drake is here.”

Rolling her eyes, she snarks, “Oh, your little buddy?”

“Cal. Don’t start. He’s helping us.”

I pull a jeweled pin out of my pocket and lean across the center console to pin it to her dress.

“You’re bugging me?”

“It’s in case we get separated. Don’t talk back.” I say as I finish clasping the tiny red heart to her dress.

Placing my ear piece in my ear, I tuck my hair around it so it's less noticeable to wandering eyes.

“You sure are in rare form tonight,” she retorts. “Don’t ruin my fun tonight.”

“We’re only staking out the scene, that’s it.”

“Ugh, you grumpy ass. YOU can stake out the scene. I am going to have a little fun,” she says, as she opens the door and hops out of the van.

I’m glad I kept it for instances like this. There would be no way she could maneuver her bike in that dress that barely hides her pussy from anyone's imagination. The thought alone of other men's eyes on her is enough to make me want to gouge them out.

Control yourself. It’s just a swanky club.

I exit the van, and walk across the street with Calista, my hand possessively placed on her lower back. We bypass the long line at the front entrance and walk around to the dark alley behind the club. Aside from the blinking of neon signs, it’s dark and eerily lit. I know Drake is in the shadows waiting for us, so I use the phrase that I know will bring him out.

“When it rains, it pours,” I say out loud, the steam from my breath floating in the air. Calista looks at me confused, until she hears footsteps heading towards us.

In front of us, I can see the outline of a man walking in our direction.

“Took ya long enough, pretty boy.” Drake says as he gets closer, eyeing me up and down. He turns his gaze to Calista and she shifts uncomfortably next to me.

“Calista, it’s nice to meet you.” Drake holds his hand out to her, “Any friend of Shado’s is a…”

She abruptly cuts him off by holding up her hand and scoffs. “Is not a friend of mine.”

“So, because I didn’t kill him,” she gestures pointedly to me, “I’m supposed to just forget you wanted to kill me, Reign?”

Her small frame bows up to Drake as if she is a chihuahua in a rottweiler’s body.

“Fuck off,” she snaps.

Spinning away on her heels, she walks toward the back entrance where a man dressed in black looks at her. Drake nods at him and he lets her inside. The music begins bellowing outside in the alleyway.

“I better go inside and catch up with her. Sorry about that.”

Drake shakes his head, “No apologies needed, man. Stay safe tonight. Holler if you need.”

He turns away and walks back down the alley, disappearing into the dark night.

Quickly, I enter the club. It’s dark with purple and pink flashing lights and dance music booming out of speakers. I spot Calista pulling up a seat at the bar, already leaning over and flashing her cleavage. Jealousy roars through me as the bartender licks his lips. In my ear piece, I can already hear her ordering an espresso martini.

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