She doesn't look happy. "Hi."

My brow furrows. Whoever made Tina upset will be getting b.i.t.c.h-slapped. It takes a lot to upset Tina. You just don't do it. "What's wrong?"

Nik sighs. "Tina was using the downstairs bathroom and saw women doing drugs in there. She's upset someone brought that stuff into the club."

That's understandable. I look up at Nik. "Can't you do something about it?"

He shrugs. "I can't go into the girls bathrooms. I'd need to hire a female staff member to man the area. And I'm not sure if it would pay to do that."

Felicity bunches her face in thought. "Can't Max do it? Just stand by the door?"

Nik shakes his head. "He does a lot on the actual floor. We'd miss him there. Besides, what could he do standing by the door? It'd be a waste of his talents."

Because I'm special, I raise my hand. "I'll do it."

Tina blinks. "You'd do that?"

My shoulder jerks up lightly. "Sure."

Nik eyes me for a moment, looking to be thinking hard. "I don't know. Sorry, babe. You just don't look aggressive enough."

Nat grins. "Oh, she's aggressive all right." She clears her throat. "For instance, I could tell you about a little poster she keeps in-"

Before she's even finishes the sentence, I throw myself across the table, tackling Nat to the ground. I grit my teeth as I wrap her in a headlock. "You say one more word and you're dead!"

A laughing Nat chokes out, "See!" I tighten my hold on her a wee bit harder and she cackles. "Get the f.u.c.k off me, b.i.t.c.h!"

From somewhere behind me, Lola singsongs, "Helena, I can see your undies!"

Trick mumbles in a daze, "You don't see a lot of women wearing those types of undies."

Then I hear him. "Dude, I said the same thing."

I hear Ash grumble, "When'd you see her undies?"

Max responds without thought, "I've seen 'em a few times now."

As Nat pushes me off her, I look up in time to see Ash pounce on Max, catching him in a headlock. Ash hisses, "I'm gonna kick your a.s.s!"

But Max chokes out an amused, "It was worth it!"

Ash releases Max and pushes him away. "You're not worth ten-to-life."

Nat stands then helps me up. Nik asks, "You serious about working here?"

Max cuts in with a surprised, "What?"

I nod, panting from exertion. Choking your sister is hard work. "Yeah, I need the money."

Max asks a confused, "You need the money?"

Nik nods, smiling. "You're hired." He takes his black badge from around his neck and places it around mine. "I don't think you need an orientation. Your pay is thirty-six an hour and you'll work four hours a night, Sat.u.r.days only, for now. How'd you like that?"

I'm astounded. "I dig it."

Max stands in front of me, looking p.i.s.sed. "You need money and you didn't tell me?"

I roll my eyes. "Of course I need money. I'm a human living in New York." I narrow my brows at him. "What's all this att.i.tude about? I thought I was going to be kissed and hugged and squeezed and all that jazz."

His face softens. "Come here." I walk into his open arms, sliding my arms around him, and he wraps me up tight, running a hand up and down my back. Burying his nose into my neck, he mutters, "This dress."

I grin, asking innocently, "What about it?"

He nips my neck. "You're killing me, cupcake. I have to work while you're wearing this. f.u.c.king torture."

Mimi snorts. "First, you don't like him, and now you can't keep your hands off him!"

Max lifts his head from my neck, catching my mouth in a firm kiss before turning me in his arms so I can face the crowd. Lola smiles at us and coos. "You guys! Adorable, I swear." Playing with her straw, she asks curiously, "C'mon, Helena. Tell us why you didn't like Max. I'm dying to know."

Max grunts, "You're not the only one," and I elbow him in the gut. He flinches then lets out an outraged, "What?"

I open my mouth to refuse them, but Felicity's already there. She laughs out loud. "Oh man. It's a doozy."

Nat gasps. "You know?" She turns to me. "Why does she know? You never told me."

I open my mouth to speak a second time, but it's too late. Felicity utters, "Well, it all happened at your wedding. I'm surprised you don't know."

I lean over to Flick and hiss, "Shut. Up!"

Max covers my mouth with his hand, urging her on. "No, no! Don't stop. I want to know!"

So she begins, "Well, Helena had here eye on Max from the very first time she saw him."

My cheeks heat, and I dip my chin to fight my embarra.s.sment. Max asks me quietly, "Is that true?"

I shrug lightly, not willing to answer. Felicity continues, "And it's a wedding. C'mon, you girls know what I'm talkin' about, right?"

All the women wear a knowing look on their faces, nodding and smiling slyly. We're women. Weddings make us emotional. Emotional and h.o.r.n.y. I don't know why, but those are the rules. My mind flinches.

Now you're even talking like him!

Before I can stop her, Felicity takes it there. "So Helena's ready to make a move on our handsome Max. She's been watching him all night as he flirts with everything with a heartbeat, and she's built up the courage to ask him to have a drink with her. And she does." She turns to Max, shaking her head at him. "And he doesn't even look up from his phone. In fact, he completely ignores her."

The women's mouths gape. Max's arms tighten around me.

Tina looks sad. "Max, you didn't."

But before Max can say anything, she finishes up, "Oh, he did. And that's not the worst part. After he ignored her, he dismissed her." She pauses for effect before adding, "Then he called her Helen!"

The women gasp in disgust while the men let out low sounds of discomfiture.

Oh yeah.

Tonight sucks a.s.sholes.

Chapter Thirty.

Max My gut sinks. I didn't do that! ...did I?

I let out a long sigh. Chances are I did. I hurt Helena. f.u.c.k me.

But, d.a.m.n it, I'm gonna make up for it somehow.

Helena Nat leans over looking p.i.s.sed and smacks at Max's leg, muttering, "d.i.c.khead."

At the very same time, Nik slaps Max across the back of the head, mumbling angrily, "a.s.shole."

Max squeezes me tight, defending himself. "I don't remember that! I swear!" He looks over at Nik. "You think if Helena threw herself at me, I'd say no?" Nik makes a noncommittal noise in his throat, looking down at his brother in contempt.

I bunch my nose. "You calling me a liar?"

Max turns me in his arms. "No, I'm not, baby. I'm just saying I don't remember that happening." He dips his head, shaking it lightly. "No wonder you hated me. I'd hate me too." He looks up, his golden eyes sincere. "I'm sorry, cupcake. Never meant to hurt you."

And just like that, it's forgotten. He looks truly ashamed. I reach up to cup his cheek. "I know that. Now. And it's done. We're good. I promise."

He leans into my touch, eyes closed. After a moment, he groans, "Are you f.u.c.king kidding me?" When his eyes open, he looks pained. "I could've had you all those months ago and I f.u.c.king choked?" He groans again, mock-sobbing. "G.o.d, I am an a.s.shole."

Chuckling, I stand on my tiptoes, pecking at his lips. "Yeah, well, suffer." I turn to face Nik. "I'm going downstairs to check out the women's bathroom. What do I do if there are people in there doing nasty things?"

Nik takes his two-way off his belt and hands it to me. "Just call it in. Security will be right outside the door waiting for you. Don't lay a hand on 'em. You're not trained for that, and as an employee, you could get us sued. If you find you're liking the job, I'll get Ghost to take you on a short security and crowd control course."

I nod, smiling. "Cool. And noted. No touchies."

Felicity walks down with me, hitting up the bar as I walk into the bathroom. It's empty, and I'm fine with that, because I really need to take a whiz. I head into the stall and do my business, flushing the toilet and moving to open the door, but as I do, three women walk in. I peek out of the crack in the door. I can't see everything, but I can see enough.

"The pickings are slim tonight," mutters a short brunette.

The taller brunette whines, "Where are all the hotties? I really need to get laid."

When the third woman speaks, I perk up. I perk up, because I know that voice. The tall, slender redhead utters, "Oh, please. None of the men here are good enough to even look at me."

The redhead is Portia. I shake my head at her comment. She said me, not us. Her poor friends.

The shorter brunette smirks, "You're just sore because that guy who works here gave you the brush-off."

The taller brunette asks, "Who cares if he has a girlfriend? I'd still hit that."

Portia sneers, "The girlfriend shows his taste. I don't want him if he chooses to be with a woman like that. He obviously has low standards."

The f.u.c.king mole! I bite my tongue and ball my fist in an effort to not go out there and show her a thing or two about manners.

The short brunette grins. "But he is rich."

Portia pauses. "Well, there is that. And he would be nice to look at, for a while at least. But to deal with him, I'd have to deal with his kid too."

My heart races as my anger singes my insides.

The tall brunette asks, "What's wrong with that?"

Portia makes a face, her lip curling. "I don't know. She's r.e.t.a.r.ded or some s.h.i.t."

I don't know how it happens, but the stall door opens and suddenly I'm on top of Portia, clawing at her face while pulling her hair. As she squeals, I hiss out, "You f.u.c.king b.i.t.c.h! You G.o.dd.a.m.n wh.o.r.e! She's just a little girl!"

Portia shrieks out, "Get security!"

Then, we're alone. I throw her to the ground, standing. Panting, my body shakes with rage. The inside of my mouth tastes of metallic rust and I know I'm bleeding. I look down at a shocked Portia's red-marked face and utter a hushed, "You're disgusting. You're nothing but a pig."

The doors to the bathroom burst open. Nik, Max, and Asher all rush in to see me looming over Portia.

Max looks at me in confusion. "What the f.u.c.k?"

Portia looks over at them and shrieks, "She attacked me!"

I can't tell him. If I tell him, he'll be devastated.

Nik sighs. "Are you kidding me? A b.i.t.c.h fight? f.u.c.kin' h.e.l.l, Helena."

Ash looks over my shaking body and states, "Something happened."

He always knows.

I look over at Max then Nik. "I'm sorry." I walk out of the bathroom and somehow end up back upstairs.

When Nat looks over at me, smiling, her face turns shocked. She jumps up and rushes over to me, searching my body. "What happened? Lena, tell me what happened!"

But I can't. She walks me over the bar, sitting me down on a stool, and a gla.s.s of waters appears in front of me. Nik stalks over to us, looking p.i.s.sed with a capital P. He booms, "I don't believe this. You hit her! After I specifically told you not to touch anyone!"

Max comes up behind him. "Shut up, Nik." He kneels in front of me, looking up into my eyes. "What happened, cupcake?" I don't answer, so he asks, "Did she bait you? What happened?"

Nik rolls his eyes. "She baited you and you fell for it. You realize she's planning to take us to court, right?" He grits his teeth and roars, "f.u.c.k!"