Page 70 of Wrecked By a Devil

“You’re seriously going to throw me out over a whore?”

The room goes quiet and suddenly I stop caring that people are watching. I swing my fist at the guy, landing it on his face in a way that makes his bone make a loud cracking sound. I proceed to grab him by the collar, but by the time I get to take another swing, I feel a pair of hands pulling me away.

“Stop, Zeke,” Malachi’s voice breaks through to me. “That’s enough, security will take him out.”

“Let go of me,” I say to my brother in a calm tone. “Get that piece of shit out of here and make sure he never sets foot in this club again.”

Security proceeds to escort him toward the exit, while the man continues shouting threats over his shoulder. The music resumes a few seconds later, conversations picking back up as though nothing has happened.

“Zeke…” Riley approaches me, probably to tell me that I shouldn’t have done that and that she had it covered, but I don’t give either of us the chance to have that conversation.

“I’m busy,” I say quietly, already turning away and heading to my office.

If I stay another second, I’ll say something I shouldn’t.

Malachi follows me to my office, shutting the door behind us loudly. He’s furious, I saw it when he pulled me off that guy, and I can see it now. But I don’t care. I’ve stopped caring about anyone’s approval when I entered puberty.

“I’m not saying he’s not a piece of shit…” Malachi speaks.

“But what?” I challenge him.

“That was reckless, man!”

“He put his hands on one of our dancers,” I pour myself a drink without offering Malachi one.

“And you’ve removed dozens of clients for doing less,” he continues. “But you have never made a scene like that.”

“And?” I ignore him, opening the laptop and look up the security footage from earlier.

“What’s this really about, Zeke?” Malachi sighs, looking as tired from this conversation as I feel. “You’re acting irresponsible and that’s not like you.”

I find the exact moment when the guy grabbed Riley’s wrist on the security footage and pause to zoom in on her face. She looks mortified and seeing that look on her face makes my whole being ache.

“Zeke?” Malachi speaks again, snapping me from my thoughts. “You know you can talk to me.”

“Fine,” I close the laptop unable to spend another second looking at that security footage. “I care about her.”

“I know you do,” he rolls his eyes. “You care about everyone who works here, but that isn’t it.”

“Well, shut up and let me talk. I have feelings for her. Real feelings. She’s not just a booty call for me.”

“Why do you have to be so old fashioned?” Malachi makes a disgusted face. “No one calls it booty call anymore.”

“Okay, get off your high horse, you’re only two years younger than me.

Malachi winks.

I take a sip of my whiskey, leaning back in the chair. “So you’re not going to tell me that I’m crazy? Or to get over myself?”

“Why would I say that?” Malachi smiles, this time the smile genuine. “I know you well enough to know that you’re not someone who plays around with these things.”

“Really?”

“Yeah,” he responds. “In fact, if you allow me…”

“I don’t,” I’m not sure I want to hear what he’s about to say.

“I’m going to say it anyway,” Malachi continues. “You should go out there and talk to her after what just happened. I saw how you reacted when she approached you and it wasn’t cool.”