Paradise Fought: Abel (37 page)

“Mr. Callahan,” she stopped me. “Your fans await. It’s part of the contract. You have to let her go, for now.” Ruthie’s voice softened. Her eyes took a look of pity. It wasn’t a look I ever wanted to see again, so I reached for the door and let the explosion of music draw me into the crowd.

The energy of the bar was overwhelming. I had never done well with crowds. The constant casual touches, the shouts in my ear, and the overall atmosphere was too much. I told myself I would give it an hour. Ruthie told me I had to give it two, but seeing as I paid her paycheck suddenly, I would play by my rules not hers.

I was finally able to perch on one of the VIP couches to the left of the dance floor and main bar. I was watching the girls dancing on the flashing neon floor. Lindee was absent, but Lucie, Maggie, and Sofie were working it. I sipped my drink surrounded by strangers, suddenly noticing that my best friend was suspiciously absent as well. I felt the presence of someone behind me. The girl next to me, who was trying to get my attention by rubbing up and down my thigh, was tapped on the shoulder. I didn’t have interest in the bubbly blonde hair next to me, but I was still upset that someone else wanted her attention. I turned to look over my shoulder.

“Hey.” I spun trying to keep my calm, but losing it with the nervous vibe of the bar around me.

“Hey yourself,” came the deep voice of someone I’d recognize anywhere.

Cain.

He motioned for the girl to move then he circled the couch and sat heavily next to me. He hardly sat down when a man in a suit approached us.

“Gentlemen, I’m Spence Draper, the manager. I’m hoping you two are finding everything to your liking this evening,” he spoke with a forced smile.

“I’d be liking it more if you’d move,” Cain replied with a wave of his hand, attempting to dismiss the man. “You’re blocking my view.”

I looked around Mr. Draper to see what drew Cain’s attention. Convinced it could be any one of the girls on the dance floor, performing for him in hopes to snare him, I was surprised to find Sofie Vincentia front and center. Her attention was anywhere but on Cain, though. Her back was toward our table as she moved. A soft cuff came to my head, and I turned to my brother, who tweaked his lip.

“Gentlemen,” Mr. Draper coughed. “I’m hoping there won’t be any funny business in here, if you take my meaning.”

“Do I look like a funny guy?” Cain barked, as I was about to cower and assure Mr. Draper we understood his meaning. He didn’t want an encore fight to take place in the bar.

“Mr. Callahan, you look like you don’t understand humor one bit,” Spence replied with a slight tug of a smile. Cain fumed next to me. His hand twitched on his lap. Ruthie materialized from somewhere.

“Is there a problem?” she interjected. Mr. Draper’s eyes drew to hers. He blinked once then shook his head. I turned to see my new assistant hold him in a death stare with her reflecting glasses and stern expression. Too bad I knew she could blush like a teenager. I couldn’t take her seriously.

“Enjoy the view,” Mr. Draper said, letting his eyes run up and down Ruthie. I stood while Cain grabbed my arm to hold me still.

“I meant that view.” Mr. Draper turned slightly to allow a better visual of the dance floor. It was a mistake. Cain was on his feet as well.

“Gentlemen,” Mr. Draper warned again. “A hint of fighting and you’re out.” Spence Draper was suddenly the one to look severe.

“Well, I’m simply having a congratulatory drink with my brother,” Cain said sarcastically, wrapping his arm around my neck in a familiar hold. The tattoo of his arm was front and center for Mr. Draper: I am my brother’s keeper, scrolled down the left arm enfolding me in a familiar, teasing chokehold.

“Let’s keep it that way,” Spence expressed to us, nodded at Ruthie, and walked away to greet people at the next table.

“Mr. Callahan,” she said and we both replied with a yes. I was about to laugh, but the charm was on from Cain.

“And who might you be?” Cain sneered, yet it was slightly flirtatious. If I knew my new assistant, which I didn’t, I’d bet she was three shades of red just looking at my brother. Unfortunately, with the pulsating lights, it was hard to tell what color she was other than a flash of royal blue, bright fuchsia or neon yellow.

“I’m Mr. Callahan’s personal assistant, Mr. Callahan,” she addressed Cain directly. Cain raised an eyebrow similar to me and turned his attention to look at me. I just shook my head and for the first time, my brother laughed. An honest laugh that I couldn’t remember hearing, even as a kid.

“Jeez, you worked fast, Abel,” he teased.

“Mr. Jacobson hired her, not me.”

I looked to see the slightest of flinch in Ruthie’s face. If I had known her better I might have thought I hurt her feelings. She came across like she was tough enough, except for the blushing.

“How’s Dad taking things?” I asked to change the subject.

“Let’s not talk about him,” Cain sighed. He looked up at Ruthie.

“Can you give us a few minutes?” Cain inquired, but it was more a demand. He wanted her gone. Looking at the other hangers-on milling around the couch and the private seating area, Cain dismissed people as well. He soothed the sting with the ladies by a subtle rub up the thigh or a tug of their hand. The returning smile of these women said they’d do anything he asked and more. I could almost smell the unhad sex amongst them as they stepped away one-by-one.

“This isn’t for you, Abel,” Cain began.

“Why? Because I don’t have your charm?” I laughed bitterly.

“No, because it just isn’t you. You aren’t a user, and these women will want to use you, Abel, not the other way around.”

“You don’t think I can use women?” I scoffed, defending my manly honor.

“I know you have, but this is different,” he said, leveling me with a stare. Cain knew of the prostitutes in my past, only because he received the same gift when he was sixteen. He laughed in my father’s face. He wasn’t a virgin then. The result was a back handed cuff to the cheek and a demand to appreciate the gift.

“You’re more a one woman kind of guy,” Cain said, shifting in his seat, as his eyes focused out in the direction of the dance floor.

“And what about you? Have you been a one woman kind of guy?” The accusation was present. I still couldn’t believe what I thought he said on our way down to the mat.

“I’ve been as faithful as I could,” he said, softly looking down at the drink in his hand. He swirled the liquid around in the crystal and then drank deep. He slammed it on the table before us and sat back. His left arm came to rest casually on the couch behind me. It was my turn to sit forward. Cain watched me move. I turned my attention to the dance floor this time.

“So nothing really happened with Elma?” I questioned, needing assurance again. He’d told me in the heat of the fight. She’d told me in the heat of a disagreement.

“I didn’t touch, Elma,” he said firmly.

“I saw you kiss her forehead the next morning,” I stated the fact. “What was that all about?”

“Abel, how do you think Elma got to your room that night? Do you think for one minute our father would let her leave mine without an escort?”

I swung my head to questioningly stare at him over my shoulder. I shook my head. It couldn’t have been possible. Cain walked Elma to my room?

“But after she left me, she still could have…or you could have…”

Cain looked away from me. I couldn’t get out the words anyway. I didn’t want to imagine him touching her, tasting her, having her like I had.

“Do you really think so little of me that I’d steal your girl?” he questioned, staring back at me.

“Did you think I’d stolen yours?” I retorted, suddenly remembering that my brother had an obsession with Sofie. More than an obsession with her, and with good reason, and no reason, he believed I’d developed a relationship with her.

“Yes,” he paused. “Yes, I did think that. But now I don’t.” His eyes remained on the chestnut beauty, who rocked her hips on the dance floor, ignoring the hard glare of my brother.

“Elma’s here,” I informed him.

“I know,” Cain replied, tearing his eyes off Sofie for a moment.

“You know?” I squeaked, a familiar fear traveling through me.

“How do you think she got here?” Cain answered. He leaned forward, bracing his elbows on his knees. “Just to be clear, she’s here for you. Not me.” With that he stood and stalked off toward the dance floor.

I returned to Lindee’s suite to find Lindee pacing the room. Her expression matched my heart. She looked broken. Was it from watching the fight? Was it too much for my friend? Did seeing Cain pounding his brother renew the memories of Cain’s beating of my brother? While I certainly had my own issues about Cain punching Abel, I was willing to set them aside for my friend.

“Lindee, what’s wrong?” I reached for her and she jumped. Her eyes opened wide and she stared at me startled.

“Lindee?” I questioned and she burst into tears. My arms enveloped her. Although I wanted someone to hold me, it felt good to hold someone else for a moment. Lindee sobbed into my shoulder. My strong friend was frightening me, and I told her as much.

“Lindee, what happened? Did something happen to you?” My voice grew higher, as I feared that the excitement of the crowd led to rowdy fans who believed they could act however they wished in the euphoria of a fight. I pushed Lindee back to assess her. Her makeup ran down her face. Her eyes were swollen from tears. Her hair looked disheveled, but I couldn’t see outwardly anything else that was askew.

“I…Creed…and I…I just…”

“Did Creed hurt you? Lindee, did he touch you and you didn’t want him to? I’ll kill him,” I growled, gripping the arms of my best friend.

“No…no nothing like that. I…I made a mistake.” Her shoulders heaved and a sob escaped again.

“Did you sleep with him?” My words brought Lindee’s eyes up to mine. The almond color glistened as she shook her head.

My eyebrows pinched in confusion. “Then what happened?”

“I wanted to,” she whimpered and began to cry again. I didn’t mean to, but I laughed. I didn’t understand how this was an issue.

“I’m sorry,” I said as she glanced up at me. “I didn’t mean to laugh. I don’t understand.”