Page 30 of Under The Greek's Protection

I suppose he’s right. Most of my weekend nights back then were spent at my condo. After heavily partying, it was more convenient to stay there, than drive all the way back here, but now I haven’t stayed at the condo since Hailey and Devyn moved in because I wanted to be home with them every night.

“Fine, I’ll ride with you.”

“Good, I’ll see you in an hour,” Zar states before hanging up.

Great, not only am I not spending the evening with my wife, but now I’m reduced to carpooling with Zar. Could this night get any worse?

There was no damn meeting. I should’ve known Zar had something up his sleeve when he suggested I ride with him. When we made it to the club, he parked in the front. I found it odd because he usually parks in the back. When I asked him why he was parking here, he replied, “I want to catch the staff off guard.”

I shrugged it off, and got out. The bouncers opened the door, letting the bass of the music drift outside as we approached. As we entered, the hostess, along with a few dancers standing in the entry, smiled and waved. We nodded to them as we continued down the short hall that led to the heart of the club. Rounding the corner, I stopped dead in my tracks as everyone yelled out ‘Surprise!’

Turning to Zar, I asked, “What the hell?”

“Surprise, little brother! You got married so fucking quick, you didn’t get to have a traditional Bachelor party, so I got with Xander, Mike, and the fellows, and we decided to throw you one,” Zar shouted over the music, as he held out a cigar for me.

Xander, Mike, Frankie, Hendrix, Tech, Lethal, and two other men in Mike’s crew we recently met, Blade, and Venom, came over to shake my hand and congratulate me, before the hostess took us over to the large VIP section. Bottles of different kinds of liquor sat on the table, as well as buckets of champagne.

Zar picked up one of the filled champagne flutes, holding it in the air. The guys each grabbed one, doing the same.

“Alistair, grab a glass,” Zar said.

I hesitantly picked one up, still in shock that they did this. I wasn’t ungrateful, but I would’ve taken being on a date with my wife over having a bachelor party.

“Since I was robbed of not being able to give a speech and toast to my little brother on his wedding day, I think it’s only fitting for me to do one now,” Zar chuckled.

The fellows laughed in agreement.

“Alistair, little brother, I just want to tell you how proud I am of you. You saw what you wanted and went after her, in your own crazy way, and now you’re happily married. I wish you and Hailey nothing but the best. Congratulations,” Zar proclaimed, tapping his flute against mine. I smiled at him as I took a sip, then pulled him into a brotherly hug.

“I love you, little brother,” he whispered in my ear.

“I love you back,” I told him, trying not to choke up.

When I let him go, I held up my flute to everyone, then downed the contents. My boys cheered me on before doing the same.

“My wife is going to fucking kill me,” I say to Zar two hours later. After multiple shots and denying countless lap dances, Zar, Mike, and me, the only three that are in committed relationships, were sitting in VIP nursing shots of Patron. Xander and the others had moved closer to the stage to get a better view of the dancers.

“She’ll be fine. I’ll explain to her this was all my doing,” Zar states, finishing off his shot. “We’re here celebrating you, I’m sure she’ll understand.”

“I hope you're right, because your fake meeting pushed our date night to the side. I’m going to take a piss,” I impart, as I stand.

“Well, if she stays mad then I’m sure you can find a way to turn her frown upside down,” Zar throws back. I wave him off as he and Mike laugh at his corny joke. Yeah, I think we’ve had enough to drink.

After weaving my way through the dancers, staff, and patrons, I made it to the men’s room to handle my business. Once done, I head to the bar to get a bottle of water. It was time for me to start rehydrating.

“Congratulations, Mr. Kourakos,” Ebony, the bartender, beams from behind the bar.

“Thank you, Ebony,” I return.

“What can I get you,” she asks.

Leaning against the bar, I reply, “Let me get a bottle of water.”

“Coming right up.”

I turn, resting my back along the bar, watching the crowd. I chuckle as Xander and Tech try to outdo each other by throwing money at the dancer on stage. Not too long ago, that used to be me and him. Honestly, I don’t know which one of us threw the most, but most times, I ended up with the girl at the end of the night. Funny how things change. Other than tipping our waitress, the bulk of my money is still in my wallet. As I stare at the women, I shake my head. None of them could hold a candle to my Hailey.

“Hello, Alistair,” a feminine voice greets from the side of me.

---