Jay opened up something that Richard had tried to ignore. He loved sharing a woman, and with Jay, it would be the perfect way to start a relationship that excited him. Every other time, sharing a woman, the sex had been amazing, but something had always been missing. He and Tempe had a connection, Tempe had a connection with Jay, it could work.
Parking at the underground parking facility, he saw there were several of the club members already there.
Making his way toward the main bar, he found Lewis, John, Blake, and Jackson at the bar drinking. Russ and Anna were also present.
“Hey, Richard,” Russ said.
He gave the men a nod, and made his way up to the bar, taking a seat. There was no sign of the women, and he glanced around the main room, seeing it empty besides the men sitting there.
Anna rounded the bar, and gave him a smile, her rounded stomach showing signs of her late pregnancy. “What can I get you?”
“You’re a barmaid now as well?” Richard asked.
“Just for tonight. Sean, Jamie, and Malcolm are keeping the rest of the women busy.”
“Russ is not keeping you busy?”
She laughed. “Not this week, no.”
“How come?” Richard’s curiosity got the better of him.
“Enough, Richard,” Russ said.
“What? It’s a perfect reasonable question. Why do you have to bite my head off?”
“It’s personal. Leave it alone.”
“What can I get you?” Anna asked.
“An explanation would be good.” Richard folded his arms.
“Why are you being a dick?” Russ stood up, and turned to face him.
“I thought we shared this kind of information.”
“Ignore Richard. He’s got his own issues. He fucked his PA this evening,” Lewis said.
Turning to the other brother, Richard glared. The drama tonight was starting to piss him off. “Does Mandy know who you are yet?”
“You hit below the fucking belt,” Lewis said, getting to his feet. The stool clattered to the floor, and Richard stood as well. “What the fuck is your problem?”
“My problem? I ask a reasonable question, and that fucker is going on the defense. I remember a time when we could ask this kind of shit—”
“Stop!” Anna said, yelling to be heard. “We’ve had a little complication, and the doctor has advised that I take it easy. I’m not to strain myself or have sex. That’s all I’m going to tell you. Please, don’t irritate Russ anymore. It has been … tough.”
Richard was the world’s biggest dick. No, he wasn’t a good friend, and he was an asshole. “Shit. I’m so sorry.”
Anna’s eyes filled with tears. “I’m going to go lie down.”
She left, and Richard wanted to beat the shit out of himself, which was hard to do.
“Fuck! You just couldn’t let it go, could you?”
Running fingers through his hair, he looked at his friend. “I’m sorry, man. What is going on?”
“She’s having problems, and I brought her here to relax, and because we had a club meeting tonight, which you missed.”
“A club meeting? I didn’t know we had a meeting.”
“I couldn’t get through to your cell, and I told Tina to let you know.”
“Shit. I left my cell at home. Tina didn’t give me any fucking message.” Running fingers through his hair, he looked around at the club brothers, staring at him with disapproval. He got that, and he understood their anger.
“Can I go and apologize?” he asked.
“Yeah, but don’t upset her anymore.”
Richard nodded, and before he left, he turned to Lewis. “I’m sorry, man. I shouldn’t have said what I did. I’m an asshole.”
“That you are, and I appreciate the fact you know the truth, and that you are an asshole.”
“How is Mandy?”
“Confused, scared, terrified, and she wakes up at night, screaming, not knowing what the hell is going on. Whatever those fuckers did to her, I hope she never remembers.”
“Has she seen her family yet?”
Lewis shook his head. “No. She doesn’t want to see them. I try. At the moment I’ve been able to get her in a room with a two way mirror, where she doesn’t see them, but they can see her. Not to talk to her, just to know that she’s alive, and she’s doing okay. They’re trusting me to take care of her.” Lewis snorted. “I can’t take care of her. I couldn’t even stop her from being taken.”
“You can’t blame yourself for that shit. It was years ago.”
“It doesn’t change the fact she was still taken.” Lewis took a sip of his soda.