Page 41 of Filthy Devil

“I have to go to the strip club and then run a couple of errands. Is there anything you need while I’m out?”

This is a first. This is the first time in my entire life I'm asking a woman if she needs anything from the store. I’ve heard my son ask Shawn. Hell, I’ve asked Shawn when I’m visiting. But I’ve never been with a woman in any capacity that I would have a reason to ask her.

Until now.

I’m so fucking gone for this woman.

CHAPTER

SIXTEEN

JAMES

Day one wasn’t toobad hanging around this clubhouse. I kept myself busy by putting all my things away in Nash’s room and moving some of his things around. I waited for him to complain when he walked into the space, but if he noticed, he didn’t say a word.

I also familiarized myself with the kitchen and was happy to discover that it wasn’t turned into a restaurant with a bustling staff at night.

But now we’re going on day seven, and I’m bored.

So damn bored.

I’ve played around on the internet, watched a bunch of trash television, I’ve even used some of the gym equipment, and now I just need to do something. All the guys have given me a wide berth except for the man who is always posted at the end of the bar. He hasn’t said anything, but he hasn’t avoided me either.

Nash has been in and out, mostly out. I don’t know what he’s been doing, but it’s clear that whatever it is is weighing on hismind. Our little safe haven bubble is slowly leaking air. I’m just not sure if there is anything I need or can do to fix it.

The sex is still amazing, and when we’re together like that, I know I have all of him, but when the act is finished, I watch as he goes somewhere else. I can’t describe it. I can just see it in his eyes.

With a heavy sigh, I move down the staircase, and I decide that today, I’m going to do something a little more exciting. I’m going to introduce myself to him. I just can’t sit in silence any longer. If I can’t go outside and do what I want, I’m going to at least make a friend, and this one seems to not be scared of me.

Walking up to the bar, I climb onto the stool that is one away from him, giving us both a little space. He doesn’t even flinch at my arrival. There is a bartender who lifts his chin at me, which I’m sure means that he wants me to order.

“Just a water, please,” I call out.

That gets the attention of the man beside me. Slowly, he turns his head, his eyes finding mine, and I watch as his brows shoot up. “Water?” he asks.

He’s got his fingers wrapped around a beer that sits in front of him. “It’s ten in the morning,” I murmur.

He tilts his head as if to ask me if that is a problem, then he clears his throat. “You got somewhere to be today?” he asks.

I don’t have anywhere to be any day, but I don’t tell him that. Instead, I introduce myself to this gruff old man at the end of the bar.

“I’m James,” I announce.

He snorts, lifts his beer to his lips, and takes a pull from the bottle. “Know who you are, babe. Whole fucking club knows who you are.”

It’s my turn for my brows to lift in surprise. I’ve only spoken to Bugsy and Rev as far as men go. Even when they all showedup in that room at the strip club, nobody else talked to me. But I’m here now, in their space, and it’s like I don’t exist. It’s lonely.

“Well, nobody has said a word to me,” I state.

He lets out a guffaw as the bartender slides a bottle of water in my direction. Thanking him, I twist the cap off and turn to this man. He is still chuckling and then actually wipes away a few tears that have fallen, his hilarity having overtaken him.

“Yeah, babe, I would imagine not.”

He doesn’t expand, and I frown as I stare at him, waiting for him to say something else, to explain why he’s said that. But he turns back to his beer and takes another pull as if he’s got nothing else to add to the conversation.

“Why?” I ask.

He turns to me again, his eyes holding my gaze. “Because, James, your man has made it very clear if anyone even looks at you, they’re fucking dead. And since Nash is… well, Nash, they didn’t take his words as a threat but as a promise.”

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