Page 54 of Wicked Angel
“That’s over now.”
“But it’s all over the headlines,” he pointed out. “Maybe that’s why Cary bailed.”
“You also married a woman, then completely fucked up that marriage,” Lex pointed out, “and then she ended up happily married to one of the most successful musicians in town. That’s gotta be bad somehow.”
“That was also years ago. A fucking lifetime.”
“He’s right,” Shane agreed. “You have kissed a lot of princesses, Johnny.”
“That’s three strikes right there, that we know of,” Lex pointed out.
“I’m liking you guys so much less than I did this morning.”
My friends chuckled, as if I was kidding.
Then a group of girls walked in and headed straight for us across the club. My sister and two of her best friends. Angeline, and Larissa—Trey Jones’ little sister.
Fucking great.
When my sister came over, she gave me an I-know-you-don’t-want-me-here-but-deal-with-it hug, and I grumbled at her, “Keep her away from me.”
“Which one?” She glanced at her friends, confused. They were talking to Shane, who was gathering drink orders. The guy should’ve just been a fucking bartender already. Serve up drinks, get laid; perfect life for him.
Unfortunately, Shane Madrigal was so good looking, he didn’t have to serve up drinks to get laid.
“Trey’s sister,” I told her. “I’m fucking drunk. Just hang out over there.” I gestured across the nightclub.
“Oh-kay,” my sister said, dumping her purse on the table.
I stopped her as she went to follow her friends—and Shane—up to the bar.
“And stay away from my friends.”
Shayla made an offended noise. “I’m just here for the drinks and the music.” She smiled at me, with a warning in her eyes. “Butyoucan certainly stay the hell away from mine.”
Then she sauntered over to Shane and I watched as he wrapped her in a big, warm hug.
Dick.
* * *
Later, the club was filling up around us. Dane had gone home. Lex was on the verge of leaving. I was pretty sure we’d talked about other things along the way, but somehow my friends were once again discussing all the ways I’d fucked up with women.
Specifically, all the women I’d touched who they seemed to think I shouldn’t have.
I didn’t realize what experts they were on this subject.
And they didn’t even know half the women I’d touched.
My eyes strayed over to Angeline. She was at a table on the other side of the VIP area. The girls could’ve sat with us, despite my attitude, but Trey Jones had arrived a while ago and they’d joined his table. Trey hung out at the Ruby so much, he should’ve just bought the place.
I kinda forgot about that when Shane suggested we come here.
Really should’ve gone to the strippers.
Actually, I probably should’ve headed over to Trey’s table, kissed his ass. According to my friends, I might need to, just a little. Yash had called me back, told me that his chat with Trey had gone “okay.” We still had a record deal, but apparently JC was starting to raise a stink about Breakneck continuing on without him. Which meant Yash now wanted us to consult with our legal team about next steps. Meanwhile, Noah said he’d talk to JC, too, see if he could get him to calm down, be reasonable; let Breakneck be Breakneck, even if he didn’t want a part in it anymore.
Trey had come by my table to say hi when he arrived, but we didn’t get into any business talk in front of our friends. I’d been nice enough, but I definitely wasn’t planning on kissing anyone’s ass, least of all a record company exec’s, no matter what was at stake.
