Chapter 30 Mangy Mutt

Chapter 30 Mangy Mutt
SHELBY'S POV

"So, you're a rockstar," I said sarcastically, because what else was I supposed to say after finding out I'd accidentally gotten freaky with a world-famous man who apparently forgot to mention he had fans, security, and a makeup team?

Niko opened his mouth to reply, yet he didn't get a single word out before the door slammed open. The announcer...the same man who introduced the band with that booming demon-pastor voice, stormed in. He looked even scarier up close, like someone who ate souls for breakfast and washed them down with shots of thunder.

"What in the earthly realm is going on?" he roared as his eyes locked onto me first, then Niko, and then back to me as if he was mentally piecing together the world's most chaotic jigsaw puzzle.

He scowled so deeply I thought his forehead would fold in on itself, and then he scanned the room.

Ripley was sitting at the bar with a drink in her hand and noise-canceling pods in her ears, acting like she wasn't in the same space as us. She glanced up only once, sighed, and went back to whatever tragic playlist she was vibing to. If the building caught fire, she'd probably just turn the volume up.

Larna was perched at the far end of the couch with her back turned stiffly, because she was far too shy to even look in Lorenzo's direction. Meanwhile, Lorenzo sat beside her, staring at the back of her head like he had just witnessed the second coming of Christ and she was it. His eyes were glazed, soft, and borderline worshipful, and he didn't even blink. Not once. I wasn't sure if he was breathing.

However, the true circus act—without question—was Alecia and Ryder.

They were completely oblivious to the meltdown happening around them, because Ryder had Alecia pinned to the wall with her legs wrapped tightly around his waist, while her hands were buried in his hair. Their tongues were basically engaged in mortal combat, and they kissed like they owed someone a performance review.

And since life clearly hated me... guess who the mysterious online guy was? The one Alecia was supposed to sell her vagina hair to?

Yep. You guessed it. Ryder.

I was still processing the absurdity when the announcer shouted, "RYDER, YOU FUCKING MANGY MUTT—ARE YOU REALLY DOING THIS RIGHT NOW WHEN THERE IS A CRAZY HUMAN MAN SCREAMING ABOUT SUING ME FOR EVERYTHING I'M WORTH?"

Human?

Then what was he?

An alien?

A demon?

A disgruntled mall Santa?

And why was he talking to Ryder like that? Why was Ryder letting him talk to him like that?

Ryder did not even flinch. He continued kissing the bejesus out of Alecia, who was now hanging off him like a decorative wreath.

"You little shit!" the man snarled, stomping toward them. He grabbed Ryder by the shoulder and yanked him so hard he broke the kiss mid-tongue. "You will listen when I talk! I am your manager!"

Oh. So he was their boss.

Great. They worked for their own personal Mr. Parks. I hated him already.

"Now send your groupie away," the man snapped while pointing at Alecia. "We need to nip this in the bud. The guy outside is saying one of you attacked him. I need to know which one of you did it."

Shit. Omar. Of course. Of course this was about that man-child.

"NO, HERMES!" Ryder barked. "The girl is mine! She's staying with me!"

"What did you just say to me, boy?"

Ripley materialized between them.

"Hermes, he didn't mean it," she said calmly as she looked at me, probably because I was the only one paying attention to the actual conversation. "His wolf is on the edge right now. Cut him a bit of slack."

"Why?" Hermes barked. "You all work for me, not the other way around! If I say these three little whores should leave, then I mean they should leave NOW!" he pointed to me, Alecia and then Larna.

"NOOOOO!" Lorenzo thundered as he stepped forward beside Ryder. The two of them looked like they were ready to fight God Himself

Alecia flounced over to the couch and plopped herself beside Larna.

"Ryder is gonna get this pussy tonight," Alecia declared proudly, tossing her shoulders back. "Nobody has ever stood up for my virtue like this."

Larna blinked, cheeks red and shy. "I think I'm gonna kiss Lorenzo tonight."

"You're so cute, cousin," Alecia giggled, bumping her shoulder.

Meanwhile, Lorenzo and Ryder were glaring at each other like two wolves ready to tear apart the planet if anyone breathed wrong near their females. Lorenzo kept glancing at Larna like she was the last cookie on earth, and Ryder... well, Ryder looked like he would run into traffic for Alecia at this point.

"What the hell has gotten into you two?" Hermes asked. "I said they should leave."

"MATE!" both Ryder and Lorenzo growled in unison. They both went into a crouching stance. Niko who was quiet, slowly pushed me behind him protectively. 

Ripley slapped her forehead in frustration. "Not you too," she muttered as she shook her head at Lorenzo.

Hermes stared at them. Then he blinked slowly. He seemed to calm down slightly, but that was before Marcus stepped out of the shadows like a ghost.

We all seemed to have forgotten he was there with us. 

He had not moved or spoken in several minutes. He had just lurked. Lurked and stared. Mostly at Ripley. Occasionally at me. Mostly disappointed.

"And you guys are friends with a bloodsucker too?" Hermes exclaimed, throwing his hands in the air. "This night can't get any worse!"

I stared at Marcus. He was super pale. Had the whole brooding and mysterious thing going for him.

Oh my God. He must be one of those weird people who pretend to be vampires. Like cosplay vampires.

Cult vampires.

Of course. Why not.

"I'm just gonna leave now," Marcus said flatly, although he looked only at Ripley like the words were just for her. He gave me one brief, disappointed look, clearly still mad that he thought I had slept with Niko, which in fact was nobody's business, then he turned and walked out.