Page 16 of Blade

“What the fuck for? Grant Nicholson is an asshole.”

“I know that. And you know that. Apparently, she doesn’t know that.”

“How did that even happen?”

“She ran into him at Manny’s. I guess they went to school together.”

“Wait, so you went to school with him too?”

“No, he must have moved here her junior or senior year. I was gone by then.”

As far as Becca knew, I was already ‘dead’.

“She already likes you. Just talk with her tonight.”

I turned to look him in the eye.

“Keep the other fucks around here away from her. Get her to let you put your number in her phone. If she goes out with Nicholson, she’ll need someone she can call when he gets out of line.”

And he would step out of line, the shmuck.

“Ok, I’ll stick close tonight. Keep the guys from getting out of line. You know she’s gonna think I’m interested in her.”

“Just make sure she understands that interest is friendship and nothing more.”

“HEY, BLADE! MY OFFICE, NOW!”

Letting out a deep breath, I slid from my stool.

“What’s up King’s ass?”

“Could be anything with him,” I called over my shoulder as I headed toward King’s office.

I stopped to check in the kitchen to make sure Becca was ok with the club girls. Those girls could be vicious to someone they perceived as getting between them and whatthey thought was theirs, and they believed my brothers belonged to them.

Setting my sunglasses on my face, I pushed the door open, surprised at what I found.

“Hey, Beck, can you grab that pot over there?”

“Sure, Brandy. Give me a sec to put this pan in the oven.”

“Beck, can you show me how to wrap this tight like yours?”

“Absolutely, Amber. Let me just give this pan to Brandy and I’ll be right over.”

I watched Becca flit around the room, going from girl to girl, helping them with various things. When she noticed me, she stopped.

“Blade, do you need something?”

I tore my eyes from Becca and looked at Rachel, who tilted her head, waiting to hear what I was gonna say.

“No, just checking in to see how things were going in here. Wondering what’s for dinner that smells so good.”

“You just take your wondering and get out of here, Blade. You know the rules.” Turning at Grams’ voice, she gave me a look that said she knew exactly why I was in the kitchen, and it had nothing to do with the food they were cooking.

“Alright, I’m going. Can’t wait for dinner though. It smells incredible.”

One last look at Becca and I backed out of the room. She watched me leave, and I saw the curiosity in her eyes.

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