Page 49 of Landon (In Safe Hands)
“Yep,Ethan’s staying at a friend’s house tonight, but I wanted him to know where I’dbe just in case.”
“Howis he dealing with everything?”
“He’sworried about Colin and what will happen when he gets out of the hospital, buthe’s a strong kid. He’ll be okay.” He’s been through worse. I hate it for him,but it is what it is. “He’s excited about moving and getting his license.”
“You’removing?”
“Oh!Yeah, I forgot to mention, I bought a house.”
Abright smile cracks his face. “That’s great! Is it nearby?”
“Northside of town. I’m having furniture delivered tomorrow. Maybe you could come bytomorrow night?”
“I’dlove to.” He veers onto an exit that’s nowhere near his hotel.
“Whereare we going?”
“It’spoker night at Dare’s place. I just want to stop by and let him know I’msitting this one out.”
Irest my hand on his thigh, the firm muscle under my fingers is enough to makeme want to get him naked. “You don’t have to cancel on your friends. We can gettogether tomorrow night.”
Hisocean eyes are illuminated by a streetlight. “I’m not letting you out of mysight. Besides, I want you to meet the guys.”
Iguess he’s serious if he wants me to meet his friends. “What am I supposed toknow about ISH?”
“Justwhat I told you before, that we track predators and report them. I’ll talk tothem later, but for now…”
“I’drather they not know I know about ISH’s extracurricular activities,” I assurehim.
Darelives in an apartment complex that makes mine look like a ghetto. Well, judgingby the gunshots and overall poverty of my neighborhood, I guess it is a ghetto.We drive by a large swimming pool and clubhouse before parking outside of asmall building. It looks like there are two apartments per building, and Landonleads me to the door on the left.
“Youassholes better have clothes on,” he calls out in lieu of knocking, and pullsme through the doorway. “I have my girl with me.”
“Whothe hell is that?” a voice calls from a back room.
“Looksand sounds like Landon, but he said he has a girl, so I can’t be sure,” Dare answerswith a grin. A large folding table with four chairs is set up in the center ofthe living room. Dare and Jeremy are seated on opposite sides, arranging pilesof bills and coins. Dare gestures to the couch across the room from them. “It’sgood to see you again, Zoe. Have a seat.”
“Holyshit, what happened here and where was I?” The mystery voice belongs to a blondman with a long, lean, muscular body. I know this because he struts in wearingonly a towel, a razor clutched in his hand.
“Justus,get some damn clothes on before I tear you a new asshole!” Landon demands.
“Ihad to shave. I have to perform in a few hours.” Good god, what kind ofperformance are we talking about?
“Well,take it back in the bathroom. Nobody wants to see that shit,” Jeremy gripes.
“Womenof all ages pay to see my shit,” Justus retorts, giving me a wink beforeretreating back to the bathroom.
“Don’tmind him,” Jeremy advises. “Strippers have no manners.” He regards Landon.“Justus is only staying for a few hands. Are you bitching out on us, too?”
Landonsits beside me, throwing an arm around my shoulder. “I have more importantthings to do tonight.”
“Andyou know I’ll take all your money,” Dare taunts.
“Gokick his ass,” I tell Landon, and he grins down at me. “I’m not in a hurry.”
“Justa few hands. I’m in a hurry to get you home and naked,” he murmurs in my ear,before joining his friends at the table.
Justusemerges from the bathroom, this time wearing jeans and a T-shirt. Dare gesturesto him to join the game, but he flops onto the couch beside me. “I’ll sit thisone out.” I’m met with a teasing grin. “I want to get to know Zoe. She’sgorgeous.”
