Game Of Risk (Risqué #3) (18 page)

‘If you guys want to be alone I can go,’ Layla said, gathering up her notebook and pen.

‘No, don’t be silly,’ Lyssa said, seating herself on the couch opposite Layla. Colt continued into the space, but with her back to the room, Layla didn’t see exactly where he went. ‘What are you up to?’

‘Making plans,’ Layla said, waving her notebook in the air.

‘It seems to be going around,’ Lyssa said. ‘Blaser and Ruger are discussing the future too.’

‘We don’t know that,’ Colt said, appearing in the periphery to hand Lyssa a bottle. ‘Do you want a drink, Layla?’ She shook her head and Colt walked off again.

‘You’ve caught the family in a real transition phase,’ Lyssa said. ‘It’s exciting that you’re taking on your own ventures too. I suppose that means you’re part of the transition.’

‘Transition?’ Layla asked.

‘I’m going next door,’ Colt said, passing them and departing.

‘This is like the ladies waiting room,’ Lyssa said. ‘We get planted in here while the men make plans in Blaser’s office.’

‘And you’re ok with that?’

‘I’m only kidding,’ Lyssa said. ‘If I thought Colt was keeping me out of the decision making, or expecting me to defer to him, then I would put him in his place quick-smart. But the brothers need each other and with all the bumps in their relationships, it’s important that they use this bonding time now. So Bri and I try not to get in the way of their man time.’

‘That’s considerate of you.’

‘You’re doing it too, just by letting Ruger leave you here.’

‘It’s not the same,’ Layla said, slipping her notebook and pen back onto the table. ‘I’m not… you know. You and Bri are family, I’m just…’

‘What are you, Layla?’ Lyssa asked, lowering her chin.

Aware that Lyssa’s tone had taken on a curious edge, Layla wondered if she was being analysed now. ‘I’m a distraction.’

‘Do you want to be a part of Ruger’s future?’

‘The future,’ Layla said. Taking a deep breath, she rubbed her fingers across her cheeks. ‘Everyone is obsessed with the future. I don’t know what tomorrow is going to bring, I can’t think about where I’ll be in three months or three years.’

‘Like I said, the family is in a transition phase. I suppose we’re all looking to the future at the moment. Now that Blaser is going to be a father, he’s giving up Risqué and moving to a family home near his parents… as soon as they find it.’

‘That’s sensible, he and Bri have a future. They have a child to think about.’

‘He’s over there right now offering Ruger the position.’

‘The position?’

‘Taking over the management of Risqué,’ Lyssa said and Layla had to laugh. ‘That’s funny?’

‘I passed judgement on Bri when I heard about what Blaser did. I couldn’t imagine any woman being comfortable with her man managing an establishment full of naked women. I said something like that to Ruger.’

‘And now you feel vindicated?’

‘No, oh, no,’ Layla said, sorry that her words had been misconstrued. ‘I don’t think that Bri has forced Blaser out, their circumstances have changed. I laughed because now I’m the woman seeing a man who manages a strip club.’

‘There’s no guarantee that Ruger will accept,’ Lyssa said. ‘If he knows you have a problem with it then he may refuse. Blaser has other options. One of his security men, Dax, he has the ability and the capital to get involved. I know that one of the head dancers, Crystal, she has taken on a lot of management with regards to the dancers. So don’t worry, if you’re uncomfortable with Ruger in the position, he won’t take it.’

‘Family is important to him,’ Layla said. ‘And he should take the position. He would be ideal. He’s personable, comfortable with the women, and it will give him direction, which I know he’s struggled with since giving up his other vocation.’

‘You’re important to him, Layla. Don’t underestimate that. Blaser and Colt know how to prioritise the women in their lives. Ruger may well follow their lead, and his brothers will understand that.’

‘You can’t live your life for another person and make your decision based on their commands.’

‘No, but you can live your life with another person and make your decisions together. You just have to think about how you feel about Ruger managing Risqué and assess what your real objections would be. If it’s an insecurity in your relationship, well… I can help you with that, both of you.’

Layla relaxed into her smile. ‘Ruger would love me for that, if I told him we were going to land on your couch.’

‘I’ve been trying to get Ruger onto my couch for a long time.’

‘You think he’s screwed up?’

‘No,’ Lyssa said. ‘Sometimes people need help and there’s no shame in that. I have skills that can help people, and when I see people I care about suffering, I want to alleviate that.’

‘Do you ever use your skills on Colt in the bedroom?’ Layla asked, widening her smile and Lyssa reciprocated.

‘I’ve taught him a few things,’ Lyssa said, wearing a sly look.

‘I bet you have.’

‘He’s more open-minded now,’ Lyssa said.

‘In bed?’

‘Oh, no, he’s always been happy to try anything there,’ Lyssa said wearing her own smirk. ‘But when it came to people, he could be a bit judgemental. He took issue with Bri and Blaser in the beginning, and when he found out about Ruger and what he did to earn his money… being understanding wasn’t his default position. But I helped him work through it and now he’s more accepting.’

‘But Ruger is giving up that aspect of his life, he’s going straight.’

‘Yes, he is, and I know he’s taking that very seriously. He wants a clean break. His reason for going next door wasn’t to hear Blaser’s offer, it was to make an offer of his own.’

‘An offer?’

‘To Dax, the man who stepped in last night when Padget showed up,’ Lyssa said. ‘Dax has a past and he has connections, so Ruger wants him to clear out the warehouse for a percentage.’

‘You know everything. How do you know all of this?’

‘Colt and Ruger are close, they always have been. Ruger kept what he did a secret and I think it’s something he regrets. He feels like there is ground to gain in regaining Colt’s trust… While Colt feels guilty that his baby brother felt the need to keep the secret in the first place. Yet, Colt knows he would have been too judgemental to accept it before…’

‘Before you?’

‘Not to blow my own trumpet,’ Lyssa said, pulling her feet up onto the couch. ‘I could sit here and pull apart all of their motivations all night. Needless to say, we’re all moving forward now. Ruger wants to get rid of the items in the warehouse he used when he was engaged in illegality. Blaser wants to pass on the mantle of this club to free himself for fatherhood and to give Ruger purpose.’

‘And Colt?’

‘Colt wants his brothers settled. He’s always been the responsible one. He was a cop, married, and believed that he had the respectable life, but he lost it all.’

‘Then he found you.’

‘It’s amazing what love can do to you, Layla, if you’re open to it.’

‘Blaser is learning that too, now that he has Bri and a baby on the way,’ Layla said, not wanting to face the knowing expression the doctor wore. ‘He told me that being together wasn’t a foregone conclusion for him and Bri.’

‘They have a complicated past and have overcome obstacles, but it’s made their relationship stronger.’

‘And how do you feel about the baby and all?’

Displaying no resentment, Lyssa inhaled and lifted her shoulders before she let them fall. ‘It’s no secret that Colt and I have been trying to get pregnant,’ Lyssa said. ‘But I don’t resent Bri and Blaser’s happiness. They deserve it, and it won’t lessen our joy when we are expecting.’

Layla believed the doctor who maintained eye contact and smiled as she spoke. Finding out that someone else had reached her goal must have had some impact on Lyssa’s confidence. Yet, she didn’t show it and Layla could sense that the goodwill was genuine.

Because she didn’t want to poke a sore spot, Layla moved the conversation on. ‘What about the apartments?’ Layla said. ‘Doesn’t Blaser manage the apartment complex he lives in?’

‘At the moment, he does,’ Lyssa said. ‘But the apartments belong to Mattie Warner, a cousin who Blaser hasn't had the best luck with. He won't be sorry to say goodbye to that job.’

‘So he's going to leave his cousin high and dry?’ Even if the men didn't get along, it seemed spiteful to walk out without warning. 

‘No! Mattie's brother Gus lives there. He’ll take over the management full time along with Suzette. She lives there too.’

‘In Ruger's apartment. She's your best friend, isn’t she? What does she have to do with it?’

‘Well…’ Lyssa said, her eyes slunk left and right, then she settled her saucy smile on Layla. ‘If you can keep a secret?’

It seemed like no one could keep a secret around here. The brothers told each other everything and they shared it with their women. Except Lyssa was a doctor, and she knew when discretion was required. So leaning over the table, Layla nodded her head.

‘I can keep a secret,’ Layla said.

‘Suzette and Gus are seeing each other,’ Lyssa whispered. Layla opened her mouth in an “Ah-ha!” Lyssa clasped her hands, brought her feet from the couch, and bowed to lean closer to Layla. ‘Suzette hasn’t had the best of luck with men. Gus is easy going and I don’t think he’d have the energy to treat her wrong.’

‘How did that happen and why is it a secret?’

‘It started a while ago. They were sleeping together, she told me about it at the time. But neither of us were sure if it would stick or not.  Suzette wanted to keep the dalliance a secret in case it all fell apart.’

‘I guess it stuck.’

‘It started when Gus took Suze back to her apartment after a fight she had with her neighbours, Dax and Ivy.’

‘I heard Suzette doesn’t get along with Ivy.’

‘She’s a lot more relaxed now that she’s getting some too,’ Lyssa said. ‘Gus is a good guy. He took her in to calm her down and I guess the sparks flew. Suzette shrugged it off as just sex at first, but now they’re seeing each other almost every night.’

Everyone was pairing off. Layla had seen this before. She’d stayed in so many states and had so many friends, yet it was the same story over and over. Layla had watched friends couple up and settle down. Some bought houses and had kids, others went off to see the world. Sometimes she wanted to know what it was like to have security like that, to have someone watching your back and be there by your side no matter what.

Settling down came with getting older, when people slowed down and assessed where their life was and where they wanted it to go.

Ashamed that she hadn’t managed to establish so much as a fixed abode let alone a romantic partnership, she began to see how she couldn’t go on this way forever. She had to stop, to grow up and take ownership of her destiny.

‘Your mind is wandering,’ Lyssa said. ‘Anything you want to share?’

‘I think Ruger should take over from Blaser.’ He was at the same sort of life crossroads that she was and taking over the business could be exactly what he needed to give himself purpose. ‘The role would suit him.’

‘Is that what you were thinking about?’

‘I was thinking that I want to make a go of the salon. I hadn’t realised how important it was until now. I have wasted every opportunity I’ve had in my life so far and I don’t want history to repeat itself.’

‘Why do you think you did that? Why did you waste those opportunities?’

‘Fear,’ Layla admitted, confronting emotions she’d tried for years to bury. ‘I thought I was protecting myself. But I’ve just been juvenile. If I’m not careful, I’ll end up alone with nothing to show for myself.’

Lyssa was easy to talk to. Layla hadn’t meant to open up, yet here she was starting her own impromptu therapy session.

‘And that made you think about your work at the salon and the potential it has?’

‘It made me think about the future.’ For maybe the first time in her life, making plans wasn’t such a terrifying idea.

‘And do you see Ruger in that future?’

‘His family… all of you… you’ve made me feel like I’m a part of something, and for the first time, I find that family is alluring.’

‘But?’ Lyssa asked and Layla could tell she was good at what she did.

‘There are so many things that I don’t know about him, like this debt he has to repay to my brother. How can I be with him when I don’t understand how we ended up together?’

Lyssa got up and came around to sit beside her. With both of their drinks put aside, Lyssa took Layla’s hands. ‘Why did your brother leave the police force?’ Lyssa asked.

Layla had a feeling that the doctor was just being polite and probably already knew the answer. ‘He was suspended pending an investigation into alleged misconduct,’ Layla said. ‘He resigned.’

‘Do you know what the misconduct was related to?’

‘Yes,’ Layla said. ‘He was undercover working for a man named Victor. When Victor found out Drew was a cop he kidnapped Serendipity. Drew did what Victor asked him to because he was trying to protect Serendipity.’