4

Raif rubbed his hand over his face, releasing a sharp laugh. “I apologize, Tyler. I thought I could help you, but I haven’t, have I?” He shook his head, staring at the ceiling when Tyler didn’t answer. “Go. And try to keep out of trouble.”

Grabbing his clothes, Tyler headed to the other side of the room to put them on by the bar. He wasn’t playing, so he might as well have a drink before he took off. A petite, dark skinned Domme who’d become a regular since last fall and usually manned the bar after midnight on the weekends, came over. Her dark red lips curved as Tyler slumped onto one of the stools.

“What can I get you, hon?”

“Vodka and OJ. And no, I’m not playing.” He tongued his upper lip at her level stare. Right, no need to be rude. “Sorry, Ma’am. Tonight’s been all kinds of fucked up.”

“Call me Deisha. And I’ve had nights like that, so I understand.” Deisha placed a clean glass on the bar. Hesitated. Tyler was sure she was gonna ask if his Mistress would mind his drinking, but instead she held out her hand. “I’m all for letting loose, but you gotta hand over your car keys first.”

Fair enough. Tyler plucked his keys from the pocket of his jeans and passed them to her. “Not a problem. I’ll catch a cab or something.”

“Or something. I’ll get you home, pal.” Scott slapped Tyler’s shoulder, rolling his eyes when Luke came over and grabbed the drink Deisha had just fixed for Tyler. “Looks like I’m the designated. Where’s Ramos, Luke?”

“Amia was being fussy and Jami didn’t want to ruin Silver’s night out, so he went to see if he could help get her back to sleep.” Luke handed Tyler the glass after having drained half of it. “He let me stay to make sure Tyler was all right.”

“I’m fine.” Tyler brought the glass to his lips, sipping even as he looked over at the dance floor. Raif wasn’t there, but Becky and Pearce still were. Good. “Hey, Scott, how come your man’s hogging your woman?”

“They missed their last date night because Casey got sick. We all got to play together, but I told them the rest of the night is for the two of them.” Scott smiled fondly at the couple, who both looked pretty goofy dancing to the harder techno music now playing. Then he turned to Luke. “What about Casey? Jami’s watching her too, and Becky was worried it would be too much.”

“Casey’s sleeping real good, last I heard.” Luke winked at the bartender as she slid a glass of vodka and OJ across the bar to him. Without being asked, he handed her his keys. “Guess this leaves the three of us free to do whatever the hell we want.”

“Which means staying here and getting drunk?” Tyler kinda liked that idea. Except for the fact that Chicklet wouldn’t be too happy seeing him like that. She didn’t nag at him on the rare occasions he drank—not unless he did something stupid. She just didn’t wanna see him messed up.

Luke shrugged, eyeing Scott. “Pretty sure our boy won’t wanna go anywhere.”

Scott frowned at Luke, then at Tyler when he nodded. “How do you figure?”

“Zovko’s here,” Luke said, looking around, likely trying to spot him. “So’s Pearce. Pretty simple.”

“Yeah, and you seemed pretty pissed when you left the locker room,” Tyler added, thinking too late that Scott might not have wanted to share that bit of info. He gave Scott an apologetic smile. “Sorry.”

Scott made a dismissive gesture with his hand. “I wouldn’t be here if me and Zach hadn’t worked it out. He hasn’t given me any reason not to trust him. I overreacted. It’s just weird, knowing Zach has an ex who’s still hung up on him. But that’s Zovko’s issue, not mine or my man’s.”

“Maybe you should make nice with Zovko. He won’t hit on Pearce if you’re his friend.” Luke smiled as he drained his glass. “Me and Ford are cool.”

“Ford never tried to get Jami back.” Tyler finished his drink. Deisha served him and Luke another. It took facing Scott to regret pointing out the difference between Raif and Ford. Like he didn’t already know. “Shit. I didn’t mean—”

“But you’re right.” Scott stared at the bar. “I just wish he’d back the fuck off. Zach acts like they’re just friends, but it’s fucking obvious that’s not what Zovko wants. But he’s all pleasant and shit and if I say anything, I look like a jealous asshole.”

The club had a three-drink limit, but Deisha wasn’t skimpy with the vodka. So Tyler was feeling damn good by the time he polished off his last drink. They’d shifted the conversation away from Raif for a bit, but the man kept creeping back into Tyler’s head and he knew it was just because he wanted to help Scott deal with the man.

About an hour before closing, he got an idea. He grinned at his best friends and pushed off the barstool. “We should send Raif a message.”

“Yo, why do you call him ‘Raif’?” A lazy smile slid across Luke’s lips. “Or is it personal?”

“Shut up, it doesn’t matter.” Tyler shoved his hands in his pockets and focused on Scott. “He wants to take something of yours. How about we take something of his as, like, a warning?”

An evil slant to Scott’s lips told Tyler his plan was the perfect slap shot hitting the back of the net. Scott jerked his chin toward the exit and Tyler and Luke followed him to coat check, then outside. A bitter chill had Tyler hunching over as he crossed the parking lot, but the alcohol kicked in and chased away the cold, slowing his strides as something distracted Scott.

“Did you know Zovko gets to keep the cars he drives in all those commercials? He’s got a wicked collection—it was even featured on some car show.” Scott walked right up to Raif’s white 1971 Challenger, running his hand along the side as though admiring the smooth lines. “This is his only old one. Think he’d mind if we ‘borrowed’ it?”

Luke burst out laughing. “Do you care?”

“Nope.” Scott rubbed his jaw and cocked his head. “No alarm. This is his winter car, so I was thinking…”

Tyler knew exactly what Scott was thinking. A little prank, kinda illegal, but Raif hadn’t been properly “welcomed” to the team anyway. The look on Raif’s face would be worth the risk. Tyler’s brain was a little fuzzy from the vodka, but he would have loved the idea completely sober. Raif had been in the league long enough that he’d figure out what had happened to his car real quick.

No cops. No issues. Just a bit of fun.

“Have you ever stole a car before, Scott?” Tyler decided Scott was awesome and could do pretty much anything. He could get the door open and hot-wire the car and they’d go for a little ride. Wait an hour and text Raif to let him know where to find it. “Will be easy, right?”

“Really, Tyler?” Scott raked his fingers through his dark blonde hair. “I was an asshole, not a criminal.”

A whiff of tobacco and the three of them turned to the sound of a rough laugh. Ford shifted his cigarette to the edge of his lips as he spoke up. “Why? You need one?”

Scott’s lips thinned. “You’re not a criminal anymore, man.”

“No, guess I’m not. But I’m in a good mood.” Ford let out another puff of smoke and leaned his hip against the car. “And I owe you for making sure Cort looks good in front of the judge.” His eyes looked a bit glazed, almost like he was high. Tyler was pretty sure he didn’t do drugs anymore. But Ford wasn’t acting like the responsible businessman he’d been for a while. It got worse as he kept talking. “I’m not fucking blind, Scott. I’ve seen the way Raif looks at Zach. And I saw him looking at Cort tonight. Whatever you’re doing, I’m in.”

“We’re stealing his car,” Scott said. And he wasn’t drunk, so if he was willing to do it, Tyler was in too.

“Oh yeah, and how were you gonna do it without me?” Ford smirked at the silence from all three of them. He pressed his hand against the window and it slid down a few inches. “Thought so. Well, these old cars aren’t hard. I’d tell you where to go if it was one of the asshole’s new ones. See if you can get your arm in there, Tyler.”

Tyler stepped forward and slid his forearm into the opening. Got stuck at the elbow. “Can you get it down any more?”

“Sure.” Ford took a folded knife out of his pocket. Jabbed the solid metal into the window, shattering it. He didn’t seem to notice Tyler gaping at him when he unlocked and opened the door. His voice was muffled as he slid into the car and ducked his head under the steering wheel. “And Scott?”

“Uh, yeah?” Scott folded his arms over his chest, then unfolded them to grab Luke who tripped sideways.

Fiddling with some wires, Ford got the car started. He got out and punched Scott’s shoulder. “We’re even.”

After Ford went back inside, Tyler stood beside Scott, exchanging glances with Luke, really wishing he could have another drink. This was crazy. Reckless. He wanted to do it, but he didn’t want Luke and Scott getting in trouble.

But he didn’t think anyone would get in trouble. Raif was cool—well, most of the time anyway. They’d pay for the window and everything would be all right.

“We doing this?” Scott threw the front seat forward and shoved Luke into the back. “I gotta get him home, but if you’re not okay with this, Tyler—”

“This was my idea too, Scott. No way you’re taking all the credit.” Tyler went around the car and got in the passenger side after Scott unlocked the door. This was crazy. But right now, it made sense. He was pissed off and he had to do something. And this was it. “Let’s go!”

I need discipline, Raif? Well, ya may be right. Tyler rolled the window down all the way, howling into the night as Scott sped down the street. But you’re gonna wish you were wrong.