Free Joy and Pain by Celia Kyle Page B

Zeke is?
    “Really?” His eyes seem to light up a bit, like he knows exactly what he’d be getting into.
    So I nod and take a sip of water. “Yeah, there’s a little restaurant in your area. Gianni’s?” He nods and I continue. “We meet at twelve thirty. Patrick has reserved the back dining room for us. Just tell him you’re with the Callan party. He runs the local club and sets these up once a month for his friends.”
    “You’ll be there?”
    And he sounds like he really wants me to say yes. So I do. I had planned on running some errands, but being with Zeke, this giant of a man, seemed like more fun. Okay, honestly, I just wanted to stare at him some more. “Yup, I’ll...”
    I didn’t get to finish my sentence. Angry yelling and glasses breaking come from my left and I look over to find Marcus on stage. Nude. Fuck, but we’re not a nude club. We all know that, but I know he needs money which is probably what prompted him to go bare. He’d get fired, but the extra cash on the stage would probably be worth it to him.
    I watch as some of the idiots climb on stage, others breaking furniture. The bouncers swim in and protect Marcus while they try to calm the crowd, but it isn’t going well.
    This business...well, it isn’t always just pretty boys and dollar bills.
    Zeke rose from his stool, big man seeming to grow to six feet in front of me, and leans toward me. “You’re too good for this, Tevin. Too good for all of it.” His eyes are sparking, glaring, trying to make me see just how much he hates that I’m working at the club.
    He’s right. I know it. Won’t stop me from showing up for my next shift, though.
    Zeke gives my hand a gentle squeeze and then leaves me there, sitting on my stool, while he wades in, tugging men apart. He’s not violent, not looking to hurt people, just easing the tension and getting the idiots away from each other.
    The man’s a contrast. Angry and sweet, all within a second.
    His back’s turned, attention on the shouts and fists flying, so I hop from the stool, head toward the side door and to the sanctuary of the dressing room. It’s empty, Marcus’ stuff’s gone and I shake my head. There were a lot of things he could have done that wouldn’t have ended up with Luca’s place being destroyed by angry drunks.
    I grab my bag, slip the strap over my head and tromp to the back door, into the night.
    The darkness envelopes me and I let thoughts of the gentle giant, the man who could crush me without a thought, drift from my mind.
    I can’t afford not to.

Chapter Two
     
    I’d never told Zeke that I lived near Crestview, too. That I’m within walking distance of Gianni’s.
    The trek is quick, a few blocks at most and I’m walking through the door, enveloped in a big hug by Luca. He’s my boss, sure. But that’s at the club. Here, in the outside world, he’s a friend and sometimes play-partner.
    “I hear you invited our friend.”
    I roll my eyes. “No, I invited your friend, dork.”
    He straightens, glaring at me. “That’s Master Dork to you, puppy.” He swats me on the ass. I squeak and shuffle ahead of him toward the back room. The dining room’s gotten enough of a show.
    I try to keep my composure as I navigate through the tables. I know Luca’s following close on my heels and he’s sure to tease me a little more when we get behind closed doors. My only hope is to hide behind someone bigger.
    Preferably, Zeke.
    That thought nearly brings me to a standstill. I fiddle with the knob on the door, pretending that my halt is due to trouble with the handle and not with the fact that I’m a little more than attracted to the man. And scared shitless.
    I finally manage to get the door open and Luca leans over me, grabs the edge and holds it open. A gentleman through and through. Unless he’s pulling my hair and making me beg.
    But that’s not today.
    I slip in and step to the side. Just ‘cause I go in first doesn’t mean I want to be first. I wait for