Page 85 of Promiscuous Lies

“What’s happening?” Paula asks worriedly. “We’re mid-show.”

“Close it all down. Now,” I order. Chaos erupts as the music is cut off, and everyone is ushered out. I walk out the back door, trusting my security guards. At least I know Bobbi is currently working with only two other guys.

I jump into my car, and as I pull away from the curb at lightning speed, I call Striker. He answers on the third ring.

“Which of your men are in my town?” I rhetorically ask him.

“Hi, Dutton. Yes, I’m good. How are you?” he replies sarcastically.

“I’m not fucking around. Unless you want me to send his head back to you. Your boy has overstepped.”

“Fucking hell. Try not to kill him.” I can hear a commotion around him. “I was only advised today that he’d left.”

“Yeah, well, he’s been pretty busy ever since paying Posie and then me a visit.”

He curses. “Dutton, it’s his kid.”

“He threatenedthem,and then he threatenedme.I don’t give a flying fuck about what agreements you have in place with my cousin.”

“You can’t kill one of my men.”

“What type of man is he, Waylon? And be honest.” My veins are flowing with ice, and I’ll fucking kill Striker as well if he tries to get between us.

“He’s one of mine,” he says.

“That’s not the answer I am after, and you know it.”

I hear some rustling and a door close before he starts talking again.

“He thought she would never leave him, and he went crazy when she did. Now that he’s found her again…”

“Because you fucking told him!” I accuse angrily.

“He had a right to know!”

“She’smywoman, Striker. So you better make him disappear and never return. Or you take his patch, and I end the fucker now.”

“I don’t answer to you,” Striker snarls.

“And I don’t let anyone touch what’s mine,” I bite back, then hang up on him.

CHAPTER 43

Posie

Ilower the bat and open the door. Dutton looks like a flustered mess. “He’s here,” I squeak, hating the vulnerability in my voice. Dutton’s gaze lands on my face, and a raging storm swirls in his gaze.

“Did he hit you?” He drops to his knees. “I’m so sorry I wasn’t here,Mostriciattola.”

Tears well in my eyes as I drop to my knees in front of him, confused as to why he’s the one apologizing.

“You didn’t do anything wrong,” I say, raising my hand to cup his cheek.

He shrinks into himself. “If I hadn’t brought you to that party, none of this would’ve happened. I knew Striker would be there, and I knew you had some connection to that gang, yet I didn’t understand the consequences.”

My eyebrows furrow. “What? You did this?” I snap, shoving him.

“I’m so sorry.”

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