My Kind Of Bad

Neera glared at her. She could feel Elizabeth plotting something but wasn’t sure what. She turned to Kurt, who was looking at her curiously.

“Those guys who were bothering me? I saw them outside when I finished talking to that cop you were talking to.” She shivered. “I don’t feel like leaving alone.”

She could still feel Blondie’s arm around her waist and how packed in she felt. Neera was not naive; she knew why they were waiting outside and she didn’t want to go outside to get cornered.

Elizabeth turned her sweet smile on Kurt.

“Are you free to go, Kurt?”

“Yes, I’ve been spoken to.”

“Maybe you can take Neera home.”

“Lizzie!”

Neera stared at her friend. What was she doing? Elizabeth knew Neera wasn’t looking for a relationship. So why was she trying to get the bouncer to take her home?

Elizabeth smiled sweetly at her. Kurt looked between them, his eyes looking at Neera a split second longer than he should have.

“I can do that.”

Neera’s breath hitched. Had she heard him correctly?

She opened her mouth to tell him not to bother but someone whistled sharply. Looking up, she saw a tall, thick-set man with a bald head and a dusting of stubble wearing a suit standing by the staff only door. He was beckoning Kurt over. Kurt sighed and touched Neera’s shoulder.

“I’ll be just a moment. Wait here for me and I’ll take you home as promised.”

Neera could only stare at him as he walked away. He looked just as good from the back.

*****

Kurt was surprised to see that his boss had arrived that quickly. He lives in the suburbs to the north of the city and it was at least a fifty-five-minute commute. He hadn’t expected him to be there for at least another fifteen minutes.

The man must’ve broken all traffic laws to get there.

He followed Billy DuJour into his office at the top of the stairs and closed the door behind him.

“You got here fast, sir.”

“I came over as soon as I heard.” Billy sounded wheezy. Kurt felt a stab of concern and hurried forward.

“Is your asthma playing up again, sir?”

“Just a little. I can handle it, don’t sweat it, Kurt.”

Billy took out an inhaler from his pocket and took a couple of puffs from it. Kurt waited as Billy coughed and let it get into his system. His boss had been in the hospital several times with asthma attacks, usually brought on by stress. But he kept coming back and bouncing back into shape. Kurt knew Billy could handle himself, but he did worry that the other man would take it further than he was able and not be able to recover.

This might be something to tip him over the edge.

Billy eased himself slowly into his chair behind the desk.

“Is everyone okay?”

“Yes. None of our guys got seriously hurt, only jostled from the people running out screaming. A few party goers got caught by flying glass and one girl got trampled but that was the worst it got. Nobody got shot.” Kurt let out a heavy breath. “The bullets seemed to be more of a threat than going for direct hits.”

“That’s good. Make sure the girl is okay and send her some flowers.”

“Yes, sir.”

Kurt didn’t know how that would help anyone but Billy was a courteous man. He ruled the DuJour MC group with an iron fist when needed but he was always looking out for anyone who wasn’t a member, especially the women. He didn’t stray from his wife but he looked and he talked. Kurt wondered how he managed to keep his hands to himself but then remembered that Billy’s wife was beautiful and anyone would be out of his mind to cheat on her.

“How are you doing?”

Billy was looking at him curiously. Kurt sighed and rubbed his hand over his face.

“I’m good. I was in the middle of breaking up a group of guys crowding around a girl. I was focused on looking after her.”

“One of those girls sitting in the booth?”

“Yeah. She’s shaken up but she’s okay.” Kurt hesitated. He knew what he had to say would not make Billy happy but it had to be said. “By the way, Neo was here. She was hanging around the locker room.”

Billy’s expression changed. His whole body stiffened.

“I keep telling her she’s not allowed in here.”

Neo was too young for the club but she insisted on coming in. Billy kept telling his bouncers not to let her in but Neo had a habit of slipping past them, usually by the side entrance.

“I don’t think it’s getting through. She wasn’t here when the shooting started so I think she left with someone.”

Billy sighed heavily, closing his eyes briefly.

“She’s in big trouble. Her curfew is nine. I’ll speak to her in the morning.” Then he grinned. “That girl you were talking to? Petite with the short curly hair? Was that the girl you were helping out?”

“Yeah.”

“She’s pretty. What’s her story?”

Kurt knew that Billy was trying to set him up. He didn’t know about Kurt’s problems surrounding his personal life and couldn’t understand why Kurt, who he saw like a son, was single for such a long time. He wanted to tell Billy to leave it but that would then reveal the reason why. Kurt took a moment to compose himself.

“Her name is Neera. She came with two friends but didn’t like it here so she was on her way home.”

“She didn’t like it? What was she doing here?”

“I didn’t ask.” Kurt shuffled from foot to foot. “That’s all I know about her, Billy.”

“Really.” Billy’s eyes twinkled. Clearly he didn’t believe him. He sat back and laced his fingers over his stomach. “If she isn’t doing anything on Sunday, she’s more than welcome to come to the barbecue. If you’re okay with escorting her.”

Kurt stared.

“Are you setting me up?”

“Maybe.”

Billy smirked. Kurt groaned and turned away, purposefully ignoring the suggestion to have her as a date.

“I’m taking her home. Her friends asked me if I could.”

“Go home afterwards. This place is closing for the night as soon as the police are done. We’ll clean up in the morning.”

“What about Neo?”

Billy’s jaw tightened.

“I’ll talk to her.”

Kurt had no doubt that he would.