CUL-DE-SAC (On The Edge Book 1) (17 page)

CHAPTER 18

Xan looked at his room at the club and
shadows swept across his face.

It didn’t matter that he replaced the
shattered mirror and wiped the blood and debris of his frenzy off. He could still
recall the mess he left behind after his temper had gotten the better of him.

And even if he could forget about it somehow,
his hand was a vivid reminder.

Oh, it hurt like a bitch, but pain was not
as strong as the sense of shame accompanying the whole incident, along with the
fact that he had showed this side of his nature to Catalina once again.

They were doomed to replay the same
scenarios over and over again, it seemed.

Yet she still didn’t tell him to go to hell
and he wondered what had made her agree to see him again?

She had every right to hate him for all he
had put her through so far, but she not only didn’t use that right but even
offered him help when he knocked at her door bloodied and battered.

His condition wasn’t the result of one of his
fights, which could explain it somewhat. A fight she could
–
if not accept
–
then understand
perhaps.

He meant what he had told her; he could
show her around, but the thing was he would be only introducing her deeper into
his world, the side of Cali and people she wasn’t accustomed to.

However, Xan wasn’t sure he wanted to do
that, not only because it required trust on both sides, trust perhaps neither
one of them was capable of giving, but also for the fact she already knew too
much. And judging by her pictures and her inborn curiosity, she was leaning
toward unsafe and insecure as it was without anyone’s help.

No matter how far she was willing to go,
there was no doubt in his mind this was not her usual playground. As much as he
was all for expanding interests and broadening horizons, the idea of her in
danger didn’t sit too well with him.

And why did he care?

He didn’t, not really anyway, but he wanted
to have her and until then her well being was in his best interest as well, he
told himself.

He was convinced that she was used to men
fawning at her feet, taking her out to fancy places and dining with her in the
best restaurants and private clubs. It was one of the reasons he didn’t want to
do the same.

The other one was much simpler; it was not
his scene and although he could pull off a suit or a tie if need be, it wasn’t
his preferred attire.

What was the middle ground for them then?
He had no clue but it sure as hell wasn’t enough to sway him from the course of
seeing her again.

There was no better time than the present, especially
considering he was fucked as far as the subject of fighting went. He still
could use a training session with Kelton but he didn’t want to answer
uncomfortable questions about his hand so he canceled the meet as well.

Tony was beyond pissed but Xan didn’t care
about it, not any more than the club’s owner cared about Xan’s well being. He had
already heard that Dragon had taken his spot in the ring tonight so Tony didn’t
have to call off the whole event and blame one more thing on Xan.

Lately there was nothing but resentment
between them and Xan was happy that tonight was the last time he was going to
sleep in his old room before going back to his apartment, assuming he played
his cards right and he didn’t need to be back here at all.

The thought made him inevitably return to Catalina
again and he finally decided that they might as well pick up right where they
had started and he invited her over to the club. Not to the more shady part
where the illegal activities were taking place, but to the front part of
Cul-de-sac.

Xan imagined it to be more of Catalina’s
sphere while it still remained his territory.

Win
–
win, he thought.

The only thing he didn’t anticipate was
that she politely declined when he offered to pick her up and she asked to
bring her friend along with her. He wondered if she felt at such a disadvantage
with him that she needed a wing woman or if she wanted someone from her world
to measure him up and give her a green or more likely a red light.

The latter had the capacity to piss him off
and he was hell-bent on getting rid of the chaperone as soon as possible and
minimizing the damage her presence might cause.

Cat’s caution made perfect sense, but it
was going to complicate an already uneasy situation between them and he didn’t
think bringing a third person into it was the best way to proceed.

It was not the kind of a threesome he was
used to, he smirked inwardly, stepping under the shower.

***

Chloé folded her arms and looked critically
at Catalina.
“Didn’t you tell me we were going to a night club; as in drinking, dancing and
whatnot night club? Please tell me
this
is not what you planned to wear.”
She rolled her eyes and Cat tried her best not to take offense.
“What’s wrong with it?” She sighed, knowing she was going to give in eventually
and the faster the better.

There was no winning with Chloé when she
was on a mission like now.
“The dress is good and you look beautiful as always, but you want this guy to
swallow his tongue when he sees you, not to think you came straight from some
kind of a business meeting or after chairing a committee, right?”

Catalina looked at the spitfire that was
her friend and then at her own subdued choice. She knew that she could never
wear a barely-there red dress with such confidence as Chloé did and it never
bothered her.

Apparently not until tonight, she thought.

Now she wished she could be someone else,
the kind of a person who knew the rules of Xan’s world and could walk through
it as if she were a part of it herself.

She wasn’t, and no amount of pretending
otherwise was going to change that.

Oh, she had been to a night club before, of
course she had, and she had been a patron of Cul-de-sac once or twice for that
matter. But that was before and now she knew the place was more than it looked
at the first sight.

She wondered if Xan was more than he seemed
on the surface as well, or it was her wishful thinking alone in play.
“This would be good, but I called dibs on red tonight.” Chloé threw a skimpy
outfit aside, going through Cat’s wardrobe expertly. “Ooooh… try this!”

Catalina looked at the black material,
remembering the deep V generously baring her cleavage. At least it wasn’t
clingy, she thought.
“Fine, but it’s your one shot. After that we are leaving,” she announced,
stripping off her current dress.
“Okay, but only because I greatly approve of your undergarments.”
“A very beautiful model advertising it convinced me to try this one.” She
laughed because they both knew that Chloé was the face of this campaign. “Do
you still wake up some days thinking how much your life has changed?” Cat
glanced at her while stepping into the dress.

It hit her mid thigh and refused to reach
any further.

The low-cut wasn’t overly exuberant, but it
was definitely more than her every day choice, Catalina decided.
“That would feel like regret and I have none. I did everything and then some
more to be where I am today,” Chloé said.
“Nobody is denying that, but I meant something entirely different. More in the
letter of appreciating what you’d achieved,” Cat corrected.
“Ah well, then every day.” Chloé agreed. “Now Kitty-Cat, this is what I am
talking about. The guy is a goner and he doesn’t even know it.” She smiled
brightly. “Add this and we are set.” Chloé handed her over a thin, gold
necklace.
“Thank you.” She obediently put it on and smiled when the cool pendant touched
her skin, disappearing in her cleavage.
“Let’s take one car, unless you have… other plans for the night? But then we
would still need one car I suppose.” Chloé wiggled her eyebrows.
“I don’t and one car works fine in any case, thank you very much.”
“I think it’s time you live a little and that is all I am going to say about
it.”
“Oh? Are you sure that’s all?” Cat made a face at her.
“It costs me, but yes, however, I reserve a right to add something later.”
Chloé prompted.
“Talking like a lawyer, are you sure you chose your occupation correctly? It’s
never too late for a change you know.” Catalina smiled sweetly at her.
“Sarcasm doesn’t suit you.”
“On the contrary, I think it is a good color on me. Let’s go.”
“I hope the club is going to prove entertaining tonight; it’s not even the
weekend yet,” Chloé noticed when they took seats in her red Corvette Stingray.
“Cul-de-sac gathers a crowd no matter the night,” Cat told her.
“So why exactly are we going there and not to see his fight? I would love to
see one.”
“He is not fighting tonight.” And probably not any other night in the nearest
time, she thought but kept the knowledge to herself.

It was not her place to discuss it with
anyone, and as much as it was the truth, she wondered how it was possible he
inspired such loyalty in her, surpassing the one she felt toward a friend of many
years.

There was nothing logical in her reaction
to Xan from the beginning, Catalina decided, and it was not a heartening
thought.
“You still didn’t give me any details on your dinner, but since we are on our
way to meet up with him I assume it went well?” Chloé’s voice interrupted Cat’s
musings as they sped through streets of Santa Monica.
“Yes,” she said. “He is… different than anybody else I know.”
“Of course he is, and every good girl needs her fair share of a bad boy.” Chloé
laughed.
“Do you think that’s all there is to it?” She kept pondering this one herself.

Was her interest anything other than some
kind of a belated rebellious phase she didn’t go through as a teenager? It was
logical and possible; she couldn’t rule out the most obvious because sometimes
the prominent was exactly where answers could be found.
“What more could there possibly be?” Chloé glanced at her switching gears.
“That’s what I’m hoping to find out,” she admitted honestly.
“Well then, let’s find out.” Chloé parked the car checking her make-up in the
mirror.

Judging by the line formed outside the club,
it was a busy night at Cul-de-sac but as Catalina noticed before, it wasn’t a
rare occurrence.

She wondered how many people gathered here
tonight realized there was another part of the establishment and how many
participated in not-so-legal entertainment from time to time themselves.
“We are so not waiting in line,” Chloé muttered, heading straight for the
entrance.

Cat admired the way she was able to keep
her balance in the studded caged sandals from Alexander McQueen.

She approached the bouncer and Cat wondered
if it was her business card or the hundred dollar bill she slipped into his
pocket. No matter which one it was, it apparently worked because a minute later
they were inside.
“I was just going to text Xan and let him know we are here, but I guess your
method was faster.” Catalina commented and Chloé made a face at her.
“In that case, I see no reason why you shouldn’t pay for our drinks.”
“I can do that… if someone doesn’t beat me to it.” Wouldn’t be the first time,
Catalina thought.
“Let’s give them five minutes, then you can text your fighter.” Chloé decided,
choosing a spot at the bar.

It took about three minutes before the
first man approached them, devouring Chloé with his dark gaze. His friend sat
next to Catalina, not bothering to look her in the eye, all his focus directing
at her legs exposed by the short dress. Perhaps she should have taken it as a
compliment, she mused, but her reaction couldn’t be further from it.
“What is your chosen poison?” He asked and she was curious how many women were
accosted by him tonight in a similar way.
“I haven’t made up my mind yet,” was her answer, and she glanced at her friend
but she was busy flirting.
“Why don’t I decide for you then? I promise you won’t regret it.” He flashed
his pearly whites at her, but his smile felt too tacky to reassure her.

She took out her cell phone, ready to call
Xan, not even caring could it be viewed as rudeness since the stranger
apparently didn’t have corresponding objections regarding his own behavior.
“I’m sorry but I am actually waiting for someone.”
“What kind of a jerk would make a woman like you wait?” The guy leaned in
closer and breathed the question at her.
“I would be the
jerk
.” Xan’s voice sounded behind her and she nearly
fell off her stool when she felt his hand on her waist and his lips on her neck
in an intimate kiss.

Catalina glanced at the guy and he seemed
paler than before, which made her wonder whether it was due to Xan’s reputation
or his charming personality did the trick.
“Beat it,” he told the other male when he failed to move fast enough.
“I’m sorry man; I didn’t know she was yours.”

Definitely his reputation, Cat decided when
her admirer left them in haste. Not that his character or looks couldn’t ensure
the same result.

Xan wore a grey shirt and his jaw wasn’t
shadowed by the ugly bruise any longer, but stubble instead. His hand was still
bandaged but she noticed he changed the dressing, probably himself from the
looks of it.

He seemed broody and unsafe, but she still
would have taken his company over the other guy’s any day of the week, she admitted.

She wasn’t sure she liked being addressed
as
‘his’
but decided to leave it out for now.
“Well, that was subtle,” Catalina commented.
“But effective.” He shrugged, unrepentant. “You look amazing Kitten.” His gaze
slid over her body and returned to her face lazily.

His look felt like a caress while a similar
expression in the eyes of the stranger gave her the creeps before and felt
nearly offensive.
“Thank you. How is your hand?” She wanted to know.
“It’s fine.” He put her worry off.
“I was about to call you.” Cat smiled at him.
“Were you now?” His eyes were scanning the crowd but a moment later his focus
was back on her. “You seemed pretty preoccupied.”
“That’s not how it looked from my perspective.” She shook her head and the
movement drew out glimmers from the pendant nestled between her breasts.

He allowed his fingers to capture it, using
the opportunity to skim his knuckles over the delicate skin underneath it and
saw the sexy vein at the base of her neck picking up the pace in response again.
It fanned his own need and he wondered why he didn’t choose a more secluded
place for their date.

Catalina’s hand rested on his wrist and he
looked up in her eyes again wondering, was she going to stop him?

Her continual distance and constant resistance
should have felt irritating to someone like him who wasn’t used to it and was set
on winning at all costs on top of it. Perhaps on some level it had, but it also
didn’t fail to spike his interest, demanding him to learn her
better.
“What is it, Kitten?” He asked almost absently.
“Umm… this is my friend, Chloé.” She cleared her throat and he already knew it
was something she did whenever she felt flustered.
“Don’t mind me,” her friend said and he forced himself to take his eyes off
Catalina and focus on the other woman instead.
“Nice to meet you Chloé. I am Xan.”
“Likewise and I had no doubts you are.” There was laughter in her voice and he
found his own lips quirking at the corners.
“Do I know you? And no, this is not a pick-up line.” He smirked.

The dark, gypsy hair and eyes felt familiar
for some reason, plucking at his memory. She was stunning in the obvious kind
of way that forces men to take notice, whether she was actually their type or
not.

She was exactly the kind of women he was
used to himself, but when his eyes landed on Catalina again he couldn’t
remember why that was, because it was Cat who was absorbing his attention without
even asking for it.
“You could have seen her face on billboards.” Cat prompted and that refreshed
his memory.
“Ah, you are
The Insinuation Girl
,” he recalled.
“It’s just one of the campaigns I am a part of.” She pursed her lips and he wondered
if she was as conceited as every other model that had ever passed through his
life and… bed.
“I am sure of it,” he said only, closing off the subject. “Can you walk in
these shoes, Cat?” He looked at the sexy heels imagining her wearing them… and
not much more.
“Walk!” She scoffed. “I can even dance,” she informed him.
“Prove it!” Xan demanded offering his hand to her.

She took it without the slightest
hesitation and let him lead her to the dance floor, just when music changed its
rhythm into something slow and suggestive.