Page 7 of Fighting

Nothing is that funny.

Fake.

They are all fake.

Well I suppose I do have that in common with them. I’m here to play the doting, loving fiancé. The sweet, regal, docile, arm candy. I am anything but that.

Damn, I wish I cold have a drink. I make my way to the bar, dodging a few “accidental” ass grabs. They are lucky I’m quick on my feet. If one of them had succeeded in touching me, I would have had their ass on the floor, and their testicles stabbed by my stiletto. Huh, I hadn’t thought of them as a weapon. Perhaps there is a use to wearing them after all.

I order a coke from the bartender just as Grady appears out of nowhere. “Fucking ridiculous.” He grumbles as he chugs back my coke like it’s a shot of tequila.”

The bartender is quick to replace it. “Agreed.” I reply as I grab my drink before Grady can a second time. I sip it and ask. “Now what did I agree to?”

Grady asks the bartender for his own coke and gives a laugh. “The level of ass kissing. It's ridiculous.” He looks over his shoulder. Then looks down and does a spin.

I try to see what he is looking at, but I don’t notice anything wrong. “What are you doing?”

He does another spin, this time looking over the opposite shoulder and spinning the other direction. “Looking at my ass.”

He says it with such seriousness. It only confuses me further. “Why?” I ask before I take another sip.

“Trying to see if I have any lipstick on my ass. I just bought these pants.” His statement catches me off guard, and I laugh. I laugh so hard, soda starts to come out my nose. I scramble to get a napkin. Before I can, one is placed in my hand, and an arm snags around my middle. I freeze for a moment, my muscles coil and prepare to attack. A moment later, I recognize Killian’s cologne. He’s is so lucky.

The smile on Grady’s face and the nod at the figure behind me, further allow me to relax. Killian gives me a kiss on the neck. “Sorry my dear.” He says, playing into our role as a happy couple. “My cousin wanted to discuss business.”

“Everything okay?” I ask, as I spin in his arms, and bring my hands to the back of his neck. It looks like an intimate moment, when really it’s an excuse to get close enough to talk without risk of someone overhearing.

“Fuck no. I got away as soon as I could.” I give a laugh at his playful pout. “Did you find your father?”

“No, I think he's below deck. He should be out soon. He always likes to make a toast. You know shake hands, kiss babies.” I nod in understanding.

Suddenly a commotion breaks out on the other side of the room. Killian’s asshole cousin is clinking his glass. Begging for attention. “What the fuck is he doing?” Grumbles Grady. Killian goes to make a move towards his cousin. Grady stops him with a hand to the shoulder.

It takes us both a moment to realize Grady had spotted trouble before we did.

Hands behind his back, gun to his head, Killian’s father is led to the cousin’s side by some ugly goon. Greasy hair, ill fitting suit. Looks like a damn drug addict getting anxious for his next hit.

“Son of a bitch.” Growls Killian. Right before several more gunman appear around the room and begin to circle around the crowd. “Secure an exit.” He whispers to Grady, who gives a barely noticeable nod before he's gone. Like literally disappears.

“Did you know?” I ask.

“I had a hunch.” He says. I figured as much. Killian had spent far too much time in meetings the last two days for him not to have been making contingency plans for this trip.

“We ready for it?"”

He gives me a wink and a smile. “Of course. Why do you think none of my men are here?”

“And yet you brought me along.” I tease, knowing even though he hadn’t let me in on the plan, that I had a role to play in the game. I’m not worried. I trust Killian.

“Would you have wanted to miss out on the fun?” Fucker knows I wouldn't. I would have bitched his ass out if he came home with another knife or bullet wound and I hadn’t been there.

Turning my focus back to the gunmen. “Are we going to try to save your father?”

He looks to his dad. He loves his father. Knows he did his best to hold the family together after they lost Killian’s mother.

From across the room, his father makes eye contact with him, then gives a small shake of his head, before squaring his shoulders, his head held high. “If I can.” Killian replies with conviction.

I’m only partially listening as his cousin begins a speech about how business has been failing. “There needs to be a better leader. One who isn't afraid to take risks. One that will bring in new business. There is an opportunity for us to expand our reach. Deepen our pockets.” That's when Killian’s father starts to fight back. He breaks the nose of one guard, then rams his knee into the junk of another. All while working his way backwards towards the railing on the side of the ship.

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