Collapsed: The Elite Book Three, page 19
Hurrying down the stairs, we exit the building and shut the door. Getting back in the car, Prince-y beats me to the driver's seat. I roll my eyes but get in the passenger seat next to him. “Can’t handle my driving, Prince-y?”
“Fuck no!” he barks back at me as he turns the ignition over. The SUV roars to life just as a BOOM roars from above us, and the windows blow out of the upstairs, raining glass down onto the street. “Conrad, call the fire department so they can come contain the fire. We want to send a message but not hurt anyone else.”
“On it,” Conrad quips.
Prince-y pulls away from the curb and steers us onto the street, headed back to Reds.
We get back to Reds in time for Rainbow Sparkle to open the front door and welcome everyone. I don’t know why they call it a soft opening. Why not just open and start making the big money? Silly Americans think they need to open just to their friends and family first, then the public.
I will admit Rainbow and Lane did a fantastic job on this place. Not sure what it looked like inside before Ivan blew it up, but the bar is simple and crisp. Upstairs, Rainbow has turned what used to be Lane’s apartment into a burlesque lounge of sorts. I wonder if it does… well, if she’d like to expand? Perhaps I could turn another venue into a burlesque club but on a much larger scale. Where is my Rainbow Sparkles?
“Lexie! You’re back. Good, I want you at the bar inside. Nothing but the best for my best friend,” Rainbow squeals. She grabs my hand, drags me to the bar, and pulls me to stand behind it with her. I laugh at her antics, but I also see Malyshka behind the bar, serving drinks. I quirk an eye at my girl and then back at my new friend. “Oh, our bartender was a no-call no-show. Nat offered to jump in and help,” she informs me.
“I didn’t get to congratulate you on your upcoming wedding, Rainbow. I’m happy for you, but if Mr. Lane steps one pinky-toe out of line, I’m going to shoot him and then cut him up like a prime cut of pork.” I turn my gaze to her so she knows how deadly serious I am. Lane is a good guy, but if he hurts her, I’ll end him. The wedding promises to be an affair no one will want to miss. Rainbow is going to have a wedding like no other. I can picture it already. I wonder if she’ll let me play a role in it? I would make the best flower girl!
The night is going well. Everyone is laughing and drinking, but it’s time I take my Rainbow for a spin on the dance floor. Strolling over to her, where she stands with Prince-y, I grab her hand and walk her to the area where others are dancing. I throw my hands above my head and shake my hips from left to right rapidly as she throws her head back, laughing. She then plugs her nose with one hand and puts the other above her head, and waves it down, almost like she’s going underwater.
Wait ‘til she sees the moves I’ve been practicing from the YouTube. Putting my hands on my hips, I thrust my pelvis back and forth like I’m fucking the air. The lady in the videos I watched called this twerking, and I think I’m rather good at it. Rainbow giggles but copies my motions. Prince-y walks about behind her, looking annoyed. “You two look ridiculous,” he growls.
“That’s the point, grumpy cat. It’s called having fun. Do you know anything about that?” Rainbow sasses him, and he rolls his eyes.
“Yes, I know how to have fun.”
“Then prove it!” she yells.
Surprising the hell out of me, Prince-y puts his left hand in front of him and shakes his ass, using his right to act like he’s shopping. Then he bends one leg at the knee behind him, grabs his ankle, and moves that leg up and down like a crazed cat. Rainbow is cackling, and I must admit I’m staring at him with my arms crossed, taking in this Prince-y I’ve never met before.
“Those are quite the moves, King. Who knew you had skills like that, you’ve been holding out on us,” Rainbow praises.
We dance until we are all covered in a light sheen of sweat and breathing like we ran a marathon. I give up the title of dancer supreme to Prince-y and head back to the bar to drown my loss in vodka and Malyshka. She is still behind the bar talking to Katia, who is sitting on a bar stool. She looks so sexy and carefree tonight. I want nothing more than for her to look like this for the rest of her days. A devious plan forms, and now that I have the image of my plan in my head, I can’t stop thinking about it.
I strut behind the bar and wink at Katia before dropping to my knees in front of Malyshka. She’s wearing a dress tonight, so I easily grab the sides of her panties and pull them down her legs. Her pretty pink pussy is on display, and I tap her thighs gently. She automatically takes a step, spreading them just enough that I can lap at her slit.
I’m on my knees in front of the only person who could get me in this position. She is my life, and I will bathe in the blood of her enemies in order to save her from the pits of hell. I suction my lips around her clit and suck hard, hearing her gasp as she tries to control her demeanor. Katia giggles but is quickly cut off by the Boss man.
“Little Fox, you’ve been behind that bar working all night. Why don’t you come out and play with us?” he asks.
“I’m okay. Behind the bar is where I like to be. I’m having plenty of fun back here,” she replies. I want him to know the fun to which she speaks of, so I slide two fingers into her core and curl them as I pull out, only to repeatedly pump them into her again.
“Can I get a rum and coke with two beers?” Stryker requests.
“Yeah, umm, just give me a second, I have a craaa—” she tries to stifle the moan passing through her lips when I nip her little nub, but she can’t.
“Oh, I see,” Stryker chuckles. “You know what? I can wait. I rather like looking at you anyway,” he purrs. The kinky fucker is going to watch as I make our girl come on my tongue.
I pick up the pace, flicking my tongue up and down on her clit and adding another finger to her tight cunt. She tenses and clamps her thighs around my head as I continue to devour her pussy. Her cream drips from her onto my waiting tongue, and I clean her all up as she rides out the waves of ecstasy.
“Fuck! Alexie,” she whimpers when I kiss her clit before climbing out from under her dress and standing up.
“You were such a good girl, Malyshka,” I tell her while grabbing her chin to turn her toward me and planting a kiss on her pillowy lips. “I think it’s time we close this party down and head home.”
“After that show, I need to go home.” Stryker grabs Katia and Nat, dragging them to the door while they yell their goodbyes. Prince-y and Conrad jump up from their seats and follow. I had my time, so I’m going to go home to sleep, I think. I need to wash the stink of those dead bastards from my skin.
Before leaving, I stop in front of Rainbow Sparkles and hug her. “I’m leaving, girl, you’ll be safe, right?”
“Yes, I’ll be fine. But I wanted to ask you something. I got caught up in the night, but I can’t possibly wait another second before I ask.” She bounces from foot to foot in excitement. “Alexie, my newest but bestest friend. You get me and accept me as I am more than anyone else, minus maybe Lane, ever has. So, will you be my Man of Honor?”
A smile takes over my face. “You are serious?” She nods at me and chews her bottom lips nervously. “I did think I’d make a better flower girl, but the Man of Honor position… I will accept,” I tell her as she laughs and throws her arms around me.
I pull her off of me, and she hugs me once more before she runs over to Lane. “He said yes, Laney-poo!” Lane looks in my direction, laughing, and gives me a thumbs up. I nod to him before turning and walking out the door.
It’s time to go home and get our shit together. We had tonight to let loose and celebrate our best girl, but we have to get a step ahead of that shadowy cunt and take him down once and for all. Then we might get to be as happy as Rainbow and Lane.
Katia
I feel refreshed as I wake up. Being in this house has given me some of the best sleep of my life. Next to me, the bed is empty, as the guys almost brought the house down fighting over whose bed our girl was ending up in. Nat smiled the entire time they were arguing, but Conrad made his move and snuck her out while King and Alexie were having a hardcore battle of rock, paper, scissors. They didn’t even notice she was gone until they asked her to be the tiebreaker. I only laughed at them and gladly told the guys she had already been taken. To my surprise, they didn’t barge in there. Instead, they decided to take their frustrations out on another shooting competition in the backyard. I took my leave before getting roped into their nonsense.
The event at Reds was fun, but I tried to keep a low profile. Getting drunk was not an option, so I made sure to stick to ginger ale. Being surrounded by people I don’t know still makes me uncomfortable, and I wasn’t about to let my guard down.
I keep thinking about how beautiful Nat looked behind the bar. Watching her come undone, with no one on the other side of the bar any wiser, was the best part of the evening. The way she tried to keep her composure, but her eyes gave away what she was thinking. Her hands started to shake as she was handing out drinks.
My own hand starts to slide down my stomach until it reaches the waist of my pants. I let it dip underneath, feeling the slight prickles of hair growing back. Two fingers slide between my folds, already soaked from thinking about Nat. The way her body jutted forward, her chest hitting the bar, telling me that Alexie must have done something she really enjoyed. She tried so hard to stay perfectly still, but Stryker and I knew she was about done for.
Moisture pools around my finger, making it easier for one to dive inside. My finger moves in and out, but it’s not enough. I pull my finger out and start to swirl it around my delicate nub. Alexie had to have been licking or rubbing Nat’s nub. I pick up the pace, trying to feel how Nat must have felt last night. I feel my first spasm in my arms, and my toes start to curl. My fingers refuse to slow their pace. A moan escapes my lips as I think about the soft moans Nat couldn’t help but let out. When she finally started to come undone, her knees buckled, and she gripped the bar until her knuckles were turning white. I quicken my pace to finish myself off. Pleasure starts to swirl in my stomach and moves to my chest.
I try to imagine Nat’s face as she came; I want to cum with her. She looked right at me as she did. As I find my own release, I can't see anything else besides her big, green eyes. A louder moan escapes me, and my hand shoots to my mouth to stifle the sound. I’m not trying to wake anyone up with my morning solo act.
The shower after my personal performance felt amazing. I get ready for the day and leave my room. As I move through the house, no one appears to be up and moving yet. My stomach begins to grumble, and I decide to make my way to the kitchen.
Looking in the fridge, I see the groceries seem to be getting scarce, but we have bacon and all the ingredients for some pancakes. I start to mix up the batter, but it looks like math was clearly not my strong suit. My goal was to double the recipe, but it looks like I quadrupled it. Hope everyone else wakes up with a strong appetite.
The smell of bacon frying draws in the first person. Alexie comes into the kitchen dressed and looking fully rested. Perhaps he won whatever battle he and King concluded their night with.
“Good morning, my sweetest Katia,” he says as he walks by, giving me a kiss on the top of my head, a typical Alexie greeting that I’m used to. He snags a piece of bacon right out of the pan and pops it into his mouth.
The next to walk in is King, but unlike Alexie, he looks as though he went ten rounds with Mike Tyson. “Did you sleep well, Prince-y?” Alexie asks, with a bit of snark in his voice.
King only responds by flipping Alexie the bird and walking to the coffee maker. “Don’t be like that, Prince-y. It is not my fault you make piss poor decisions,” Alexie remarks.
When King doesn’t respond, I decide to investigate. “What poor decisions did you make this time, King?” As I ask, he spins around and stares at me, the dark circles under his eyes standing out even more.
“Your friend over here,” he points to Alexie with his thumb, “forgot to mention he is a bottomless pit for alcohol.” I immediately start to laugh because one thing you’ll never do is out-drink Alexie.
“I’m Russian. Vodka is like water,” Alexie explains to him.
“Alexie, you seriously did not trick him into a drinking competition?” I ask.
“Trick? Me? Absolutely no,” he denies. “I merely suggested adding a new element to a shooting challenge. If he was a better shot, he would not be in this situation.”
“I won the shooting competition, you dickhead,” King blurts out.
“And lost the drinking one,” Alexie responds. “So it looks like we are tied. How shall we break it, Katia? You decide the winner,” he tells me.
I throw my hands up. “Nope. Not getting in the middle of this one. I’m only making pancakes and bacon. You two can have your dick-measuring contest on your own.”
Alexie lights up. “A dick-measuring contest!” he shouts out. “What a genius idea, Katia. Let’s go Prince-y.” King lets out a huff but follows Alexie out of the kitchen. There’s no way they’re going through with that, right?
I continue flipping pancakes on the griddle, and Stryker walks in with a smile on his face. “You look like you’re in better spirits than King,” I tell him.
“Oh, those idiots. I left them when they went outside to have yet another silly competition,” he says.
Before I can tell him he made the right choice, we both jump as we hear the front door slam open with BJ shouting incoherently as she enters. She runs into the kitchen, panting, looking between Stryker and me. It takes her a few moments to catch her breath before she finally speaks.
“Are you feeding a whole damn army?” she asks, looking at the giant stacks of pancakes on the counter. I lock eyes with her and instantly notice her expression is tense and a bit sad. There is definitely something going on for her to storm in here.
“BJ, what is going on?” Stryker asks. Her eyes break away from the pancakes, and she looks at him.
She takes a deep breath and pulls a knife and a piece of paper out of her purse. Stryker walks over to her, taking the paper from her hands, but I have no idea what is going on. He starts to read the paper, walking out of the room. I can hear his feet running up the stairs.
“What happened?” I ask her.
“The worst thing imaginable,” she says with her usual dramatic flair. “My freshly painted door had a note stabbed to it this morning. I got up to try to sneak out of the house to get some coffee and bagels to surprise Lane for our successful soft opening, but there was a knife plunged into the door!” she shouts out.
“Oh my gosh, are you okay, BJ?” I ask her.
“NO!” she yells. “It took me forever to pick out the perfect door color. Something inviting yet bold and colorful to represent me. Canary Yellow. Perfect. That Ginger bitch fucked with the wrong door.”
Stryker comes back into the kitchen with Conrad and Nat close behind. “We’re meeting now!” Stryker commands. We all know that’s our cue to head into the dining room. I grab a tray and start placing my stacks of pancakes and bacon on it.
After I get everything loaded up, I walk into the dining room. Everyone is already in there except Marcela, but Stryker says she’s on her way. Conrad has the previous security footage of Ginger we’ve already seen. He then pulls up an image of the note BJ found on her door. I set down the giant tray of food in the center of the table. Everyone dives in but still pays the utmost attention to Conrad’s findings.
The party looked lovely, especially the hostess. Pity, I wasn’t invited. Tell your team they are moving too slowly and Ivan is on the move. You have 48 hours to handle your shit, or I will.
“It seems the little assassin has googly eyes for our fairest Rainbow Sparkles,” Alexie says as a chuckle escapes him.
“No way,” BJ says to him, but looking at the message, Ginger does talk about how lovely BJ looked. Maybe Alexie is right.
“I think he’s right, BJ,” King chimes in with a mouthful of food.
“Well, she has zero chance after brutalizing my door,” she says. “But…”
“Not to break up this potential missed love connection,” Stryker interrupts. “But we really need to get down to business. If this Ginger takes out Ivan, that could spell problems for us.”
“If she takes out Ivan, isn’t that a win for us?” King counters.
“The boss is correct,” Alexie says. “For one, I want to watch Ivan’s life drain from him slowly, but if Rainbow Sparkles’ suitor kills him first, the Bratva will go on the defensive. That will set back my chances of taking over. They will not take kindly to an outsider killing him. It has to be done carefully.”
“Holy pancakes!” Marcela exclaims as she walks in. She takes in the serious tone of the room. Marcela takes a seat next to BJ and starts to pile pancakes on her plate. BJ leans into Marcela and starts to whisper to her. “What the fuck? Stabbed your door?” she screeches. BJ simply nods her head and points to the image being displayed.
“Alexie,” Stryker directs his attention to him. “We need you to take the lead on how to lure Ivan out. Use any connections you have. We have forty-eight hours to wrap this up until our plan is shot to shit.”
“I will get in touch with Jaxxon now. He will know how to use Ryan to bring Ivan to us. No longer will we wait for him to find us. Ivan will be the rat we lure to our trap,” he says, standing and walking out the door.
Everyone looks around the room, a bit confused about Alexie walking out. Stryker never said the meeting was over, but Alexie walked out without seeing if there was anything else to discuss. I’ve been a part of this team for a short while, but even I know that we wait until the meeting is adjourned.
King throws his hands behind his head and makes a whistling noise. “Well, this will be interesting.”
