Page 21 of Bear
I nod stiffly. “They were out here for the fight?”
“Just for a couple minutes.” He gestures with his chin toward the back hallway. “They were well hidden. I was watching for them, or I don’t think I’d have noticed.” Mason scans the crowd. “Oh, fuck.”
My jaw locks up at his tone. “What?”
“That bitch Morgan. Look at her. She keeps looking from us to your dad and Tristan.”
Out of the corner of my eye, she smoothly moves closer and closer to Tristan and my dad, wearing a smile like the cat who swallowed the canary. “What the fuck is with that look on her face?” She stops only about a foot from my dad with her hands clasped behind her back, pushing her breasts out in what I’m sure most people would agree is an enticing manner. But when it’s my old man she’s putting herself on display for, it hits a whole lot different. “What does she think she’s doing?” I growl under my breath.
Mason huffs out a disturbed laugh. “I have a fucking guess, but it’s going to piss you off and make you want to vomit all at once.”
Stunned, I search his eyes, glance at Morgan, then at my dad, and finally Tristan. “Oh, hell.”
“I bet you when Lennon told that entitled, crazy bitch to get the fuck out that she went directly to Derek and Tristan and pouted about it until they gave her some”—he pauses to make a yuck face—“reassurance.”
“She probably blew both of them to make herself feel better.”
Mason snorts with laughter. “Well, if that’s what it takes, at least she wasn’t pounding down your door.”
“Truth.”
“Ah, fuck. Your dad is waving us over. He seems… displeased.”
“Well, that’s great because I’m not pleased with him, either. I want to know what he said to Lennon yesterday.”
Mason’s teeth clench. “I get that. But is it worth knowing? Or is it only going to piss you off?”
“Both. Come on.” I throw my towel around my neck, hanging onto the ends with both hands and stride purposefully over to where my dad and Tristan wait for us, out of the way of the exiting crowd. One thing about these fights, they happen and then people make haste with their winnings or gripe on their way out the door about their lost money. Either way, they don’t stick around.
I can’t tell from the tight set of my dad’s jaw what he’s thinking, but Tristan is eyeing me like he may want to take my head off. What’d he do? Bet against me? Lose a shit ton of money?
There’s a dangerous glint in my dad’s eye when we join them. “Son. Nice fight.” He turns to offer Mason a bob of his head before his gaze rolls right back to me.
I can’t make heads or tails of what the fresh hell is going on.
Beside him, Tristan gives me a tight smile. “Yes. Good job out there. Liked that armbar at the end. Thought you could have gone after him a little harder, though.”
My control for the moment must be pretty good because I keep my eye roll in check and instead simply lift my brows at the suggestion. What’d he want me to do, break the guy’s elbow? Warily, I size him up, knowing it’s best to save my comments for the shit that’s surely coming our way, judging by the smug look on his face. But I can’t fucking help myself. “Thank you, sir. But what good would it do to have embarrassed him further? Or for that matter, why would I risk injuring myself?”
He presses his lips together, completely ignoring both questions as his eyes scan the emptying warehouse. “My son couldn’t make it tonight, huh?”
I glance quickly at Mason, whose brows have pinched together. It’s always best not to lie unless absolutely necessary. “Actually, he’s here. He’s with Lennon in my dressing room.”
Dad raises a brow, a look of unmistakable interest slipping over his features. “Is that so? Huh.”
My blood begins to heat.Oh no, old man. Get thoughts of her out of your fucking perverted head.I draw in a calming breath, eyeing him carefully. “One, I think you already knew that they were here, whether you saw them or not.” My jaw twitches as my gaze lands on Morgan for a fleeting second. She seems perfectly happy to stand near these two wealthy men and witness this exchange when she has no real reason to be here.
Dad nods with a wicked smile. “And two?”
“What the fuck did you say to her yesterday?” I growl. “There’s a reason why she’s not out here. She didn’t want to have to deal with you.” Out of the corner of my eye, I watch Mason pull out his cell phone. I hope like fuck he’s telling Duke to get Lennon out of here. His gaze slides to mine, and he gives me the barest nod.
“Respect, son. Watch your mouth.” He shoots me a steely glare. “Unless you’re going to tell me that she’s not already involved with at least one of you, then I didn’t say anything to Lennon that was unwarranted.” He beckons Morgan to his side.
“Did you need me, Mr. Pierce?” she practically purrs as she shoots him a smile, and my stomach turns. Why the fuck does she seem so comfortable around him?
He loosely collars the back of her neck, pulling her close to his side. He leans down, whispering something in her ear that makes her flush from head to toe.
What. The. Fuck. I blink rapidly, trying to wrap my head around this development.
