Page 37 of The Gentlemen's Club

“I… shit.” The color drained from Jay’s face, and something wild crossed his eyes. Chris realized he had made a terrible mistake when Jay shoved the table aside, grabbed the front of Chris’s shirt, and then pushed him down with his back on the couch.

This is where I die.

Jay’s long hair created a cage around them.

“How did he know I was on probation?” His low voice sent shivers down Chris’s spine.

“He…”

“Chris, how did he know?”

“He asked me questions when we were in the apartment. I was tied down, and he wouldn’t stop talking. He wanted to know why I agreed to do this, and I told him I’d made you end up in prison. He asked if you were still on probation, and I—”

Jay’s growl froze Chris’s blood. He stopped breathing, bracing himself for pain, but instead, Jay’s face crumbled. He slumped on top of Chris, who needed a moment to register the sound of sobbing.

What is happening?

He lay paralyzed, the big body on top of him shaking. Carefully, Chris put his hands on Jay’s back, who didn’t push him away. He knew that this could still turn violence, but he couldn’t ignore the terror that oozed out of Jay. Those sick inmates he had told them about were likely still there.

“You’re not going back,” Chris said, forcing confidence into his voice. “Jay, you’re not going back there.”

The sobbing stopped, and so did the shaking, but Jay didn’t move away. With his head on Chris’s chest, he quietly said, “I’m such a fuckup. Always playing with fire, always getting burned.”

“You and I both. But we’ll fight this.”

Jay raised his head, face flushed and wet with tears. The only other time Chris remembered seeing him like this was when he’d been arrested, and Chris came to beg him to take the blame.

“Is there a way out of this?” Jay asked. “Can you think of anything?”

“I…” He sighed. “Mickey’s dangerous, and so fucking smart.”

“Any chance he’s bluffing?”

“He doesn’t bluff. We’ll need to speak with Anthony.”

“No, I’m not—”

“Let him decide. If he ends up knowing he had the power to keep you out of prison—”

“He’ll never know.”

“Jay, I’m telling him what’s going on. I’m also telling Ethan because I’m sick of secrets. You don’t have to be there when I talk to them.”

Jay sat up and wiped his face. “You’re not talking to them alone.”

Chris moved to sit as well, still wary. “Mickey wants an answer in two days.”

“Then what?”

“He wants me to go with him to the club to speak with Tobias.”

“Anthony supposed to go too?”

“He didn’t say that.”

“Then we don’t need to speak with him until then.” Jay leaned back on the couch, his eyes bloodshot and troubled. “Tell Mickey you agree, then go with him to the club. Tobias might not even be interested, so no point talking with anyone until then. And if Tobias agrees but Anthony doesn't, we’ll just face whatever happens.”

“Okay. I’ll speak with Mickey.”

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