Page 27 of Only The Strong

Conor pulls a flask out of his back pocket. “What’s any great war started over?” He holds out the flask.

I accept it and take a sip, whiskey warms my stomach immediately. “Can’t be territory, the Segretos operate in Sicily.” I hand the flask back.

He takes a swig from his flask. “Yeah, but in a less literal sense. A woman.” I nod, feeling a sense of familiarity with that statement. I’m ready to wage war to protect my girl.

“Conor, let’s crack on. We need to get back.” Killian speaks over the small chatter happening between everyone. Conor shakes our hands and walks back over to the classic beauty. We watch them leave, and then we head back to the warehouse to drop off the vans and put the money in the safe. If we ever get raided, the clubhouse is the first place they’re going to check, our places of business as well, but since the hidden basement isn't on any floor plans, it’s the safest place to stash cash until it can be paid out to members.

25

REESE

After Callum leftI ran back upstairs to get ready, in Allie’s last minute text she said that the theme for Sophie’s birthday tonight was Little Black Dress. I asked Mason if he would go back to my apartment and bring me the only LBD in my closet. I don't own a lot of black and since he’s close to my age I trust him to know what clubbing attire is. I style my long copper hair into big loose waves and apply my makeup dark and dramatic with thick false lashes and a red lip.

When I’m halfway through with my hair Mason knocks at the bedroom door. “Princess, I got your dress!” He yells through the door.

I walk to the door and open it, he walks through and lays the dress on the bed, and places my black heels with the thin straps on the floor beside it. “Thank you. Good call on the shoes, I completely forgot I didn’t bring any heels here.”

He shrugs. “I wasn't sure and they look like the shoes girls normally wear to clubs.”

I walk back into the ensuite and put the finishing touches on my makeup. “They’re the ones I would have chosen.” I meet his eyes in the mirror. “How's my apartment?”

Mason leans against the bathroom door frame and crosses his arms in front of his chest, his expression neutral. “Normal seems untouched and was locked up tight when I got there.” I nod, letting out a sigh. “I brought pizza back, do you want me to bring you up a few slices?”

I smile at him, Mason and I had become the closest between the four prospects. We just have more in common since we're the same age, and although I know he takes Callum’s threats seriously he isn't too scared to be friends with me. “Sure. Who can say no to pizza?”

He pushes off of the doorframe. “You got it, Princess.” He puts his hand on my shoulder, making eye contact through the mirror. “Callum’s gonna get you home as soon as he can. The whole club is working to find this prick.”

I nod. “I know. Thank you for always babysitting me.”

He walks out of the door, laughing on his way. “Anything for the Princess of The Devil’s Outlaws!”

I inhale my pizza and then slip on the short black dress. It’s really simple, just a plain black dress with thin straps and a deep v-neckline. I walk down the stairs, carrying my heels to put them on downstairs. Wyatt and Mason are both wearing neutral colored tee shirts with jeans, boots, and their cuts. Their cuts are a lot like Callum’s, only instead of the devil’s skull with the snake and the name of the club and state, theirs are plain with only a small prospect patch on the front and a larger one on the back. We drive to The District in mostly silence, and when we get to Mickey’s the guys stick close behind me, watching me like my own personal secret service; I get a lot of scared looks from the other clubgoers, but at least they stay away from me. Everyone is already here when we arrive, it’s pretty easy to make out our group since it’s several girls wearing different variations of short black dresses and some guys dressed in black dress shirts or black tee shirts; Sophie is the only one not wearing black, she’s in a painfully short, strapless, silver sequin dress that hugs her curves beautifully. She’s laughing and dancing on the dance floor with her ex Logan. I use the word ‘ex’ loosely though because everyone, including them, is hoping they get back together; they just have to figure out their issues first. I walk to the table that Allie and Emma are standing in front of and give them both hugs and introduce them to Wyatt and Mason. I notice Allie’s light blue and green eyes sparkle with interest when Mason shakes her hand, and Wyatt’s eyes linger on Emma’s exposed flawless dark skin, not in a creepy way, just interested. What a bitch, she’s always had perfect skin, but poor Wyatt, there’s no way Emma could forget The Devil’s Outlaws long enough to even get to know him. Mason looks at Allie with wide eyes and I file that away to ask him about later. “ROXANNE” by Arizona Zervas starts playing through the loudspeakers and Allie drags Emma and me out onto the dance floor, the guys watching us from a table next to the one we had been standing at. Sophie screams when she sees me and pulls me into a bone crushing hug, releasing me to let me hug Logan after. Sophie’s naturally tan skin beams against her sequined dress, with her dark hair freshly highlighted and pulled into a high pony. Allie starts rapping the song perfectly and Emma laughs next to her, her kinky curly bun bobbing on top of her head. I missed this so much, just having fun with my friends and forgetting my guy drama and the stalker. I needed this. When the song ends we go back to our table and Logan brings us drinks.

When I catch Allie staring at Mason again I finally say something. “Stop undressing him with your eyes and go talk to him, Al.”

She flicks her mid-length platinum hair over her shoulder. “He’s very cute but I've got my sights set a little higher.”

I stare at her in confusion with my head cocked trying to figure out who she’s talking about. She smirks and winks, not letting anything slip about this mystery man.

“Invite him! You look too hot tonight to miss!” Sophie leans across the table.

Allie shakes her head. “He’s working tonight.” She yells back over the music.

“Go see him after then.” Sophie counters. “A little black dress is like a weapon. Wield it.”

Emma laughs. “That was a good one, Soph.” We all laugh and Sophie shrugs.

I watch Mason get up from the table with his phone to his ear and walk towards the front doors of the bar. Wanting to make sure nothing is wrong with Callum I pull my phone out and see one new message.

Callum: I like that dress. I can’t want to see what you’re wearing under it.

I scroll above his message to see the mirror selfie I sent him of me in the dress. I decide to mess with him a little bit, hoping he won't call my bluff here in the bar.

Reese: What if I said nothing?

His reply is instant.

Callum: Fuck.

---