by K. D Clark
“I’ll make my payments,” she said, trying hard to keep her voice from wavering.
His face fell with disappointment, but he quickly masked it.
“You better,” he said before leaving.
As soon as the door shut behind him, she let out a sigh of relief and swallowed the lump in her throat. She wouldn’t let herself cry. She was stronger than that. Taking a deep breath, she grabbed her phone out of her pocket and called Jen. It was time to come clean.
*****
“Why didn’t you tell us before?” Jen asked. She stared at Cam with pity in her eyes.
Cam hated it. She didn’t want anyone to take pity on her, that’s not why she was telling Jen and Amire the truth. It was for their safety. Venom could try to go after the people she cared about, which put Jen and Amire in the line of fire. She’d like to think that Venom would leave her crew alone, but she couldn’t take any chances. Jen and Amire had nothing to do with the loan her father took out. They’re innocent. But wasn’t she also innocent? the voice inside her head questioned. She didn’t have anything to do with her father taking out that loan. But she’s the one who decided to keep the bar despite the risk, not her crew.
“I didn’t want to worry you guys or put my stress on you. Venom is my problem. I’ll figure out a way to deal with it. I just need you guys to do your job,” she pleaded. She knew she was asking a lot of them.
“That’s easier said than done. How am I not supposed to worry about you?”
Amire nodded in agreement. “Yeah, it’s going to be hard to focus when I know that some guy is out to burn the bar down.”
“I know, I know. Please just try. I’ll figure it out.”
Jen didn’t look convinced, but after a moment, her expression softened. “Please, don’t keep anything else from me, Cam. You know I’m here if you need anything.”
That familiar lump in her throat reappeared. Jen opened her arms; Cam and Amire stepped in for a hug. Cam felt a weight lift off her chest. Dealing with everything alone took its toll after a while, and she was just happy that everything was out in the open. There may still be a dangerous threat circling over her head, but at least it was out in the open. She pulled back from the hug and wiped away the one tear that managed to escape.
“Alright, we should probably open the bar. Ernie is waiting outside,” Jen said.
Jen grabbed the broom and started to sweep up the broken glass while Amire went back to the kitchen.
“You don’t have to stay. You can go home and back to sleep,” Cam said, feeling bad that Jen was at the bar on her off day.
Jen waved her off. “It’s fine. I’m awake now anyway. Plus, I’m waiting for Hugo to leave my bed.”
Cam grabbed one of the overturned tables and turned it upright. “Hugo?”
She must have slept well last night because she hadn’t even heard Jen with someone.
Jen smiled. “Yeah, met him here last night.”
Cam paused. “Don’t tell me--”
“He’s in the motorcycle club. They’re called Savage Spades. He told me some more stuff, but I wasn't really listening.”
At the mention of the guys from last night, Cam’s mind instantly went to the tattooed-covered man that’d rammed his chair into her. She’d overreacted, but it hadn’t just been the spilled whiskey that had pissed her off. It was the way he’d come outside and had the nerve to judge her for smoking. If he had just left her alone and allowed her to calm down, she wouldn’t have snapped.
Cam sighed. “Come on, I’m trying to get rid of this motorcycle club, not give them more reason to come.”
“They bring in money. Aren’t you happy?” Jen asked with a raised eyebrow.
She should be, especially after Venom’s reminder today. “They’re loud and sending away all of our regulars. Plus, they forgot to pay their tab last night.”
“Really?”
“Really. But I’m sure we’ll see them again tonight. If they expect to drink anything, they’re going to have to pay the tab from the night before.”
Chapter Six
Kit
The bar had been completely empty before they showed up. Now, the jukebox played some old country music that Gunner had selected, and the bartender was selling more beer than they probably had in years.
It was an older building with wood decor. There was a masculine feel to the bar, which was part of the reason it surprised him so much when he met the owner last night. He was keeping an eye out for her, but he hadn’t seen her yet. It was stupid for him to even be waiting in anticipation for her to walk through the door. It was pretty clear from their first interaction that she wasn’t the kind of girl to jump in his bed, so why was he still interested in her? It’s not like he needed to chase after women. It was better for him to just focus his attention on the women at the club who jumped at the chance to spend a night with him. They were less complicated...they didn’t expect anything from him that he wouldn’t be able to give them. Other women wanted stability, time, money, etc. All things Kit didn’t have.
“Iris’ dance recital is next week,” Zeke said next to him. They were sitting in a corner booth facing the door.
“Oh, yeah, is she excited?”
Zeke shakes his head. “She’s frustrated. Lily is coming over to help her practice tomorrow. That’s completely out of my element, man.”
Kit laughed. “What do you mean? You’ve never worn a tutu before?”
Zeke took a drink of his beer and flipped him the bird. Kit laughed again. Iris would be a handful for two parents, let alone one. She was a hyper and emotional kid. Lily was the one who suggested at Sunday breakfast one day that Zeke put her in dance class to get some of her energy out.
The sound of the bar door closing made Kit turn his head. Cam was dressed in a pair of cowboy boots and cut-off shorts. Her t-shirt was blue instead of white this time, and he wondered if she learned her lesson about wearing white to a bar. Her ass swayed as she crossed the room to go behind the bar. Long, black hair was piled on top of her head in a loose bun that bounced with each step. He bet he could make something else on her body bounce if she went home with him. He shook his head, trying to clear those thoughts from his brain. She wasn’t one of those girls. She owned her own bar for crying out loud, so there was no way she was letting a biker take her home. It was ironic that he barely remembered the woman he’d taken to bed last night but every detail of Cam’s appearance was etched into his brain.
“I’m going to grab another beer,” Zeke said.
“I got it,” Kit said before Zeke could get up. He got up from the booth and weaved through the tables.
Cam was already behind the bar getting ready for the night. He sat down in the barstool right in front of her. She rolled her eyes as soon as she got a look at him.
“What do you want?” she asked. Her voice had been laced with venom the night before, but now, she just sounded tired. He couldn’t help the twitch of his mouth when she copped an attitude. Something about her was just so damn entertaining.
“Customer service isn’t your strong suit, huh?”
She crossed her arms over her chest, and he couldn’t help noticing how the gesture made her large breast look fuller.
“My customer service is fine when my customers actually pay.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Your gang--”
“Club.” Calling the Savage Spades a gang was an insult.
She let out a sigh. “Your club didn’t pay their tab last time.”
Damn. Gunner must have forgotten last time they were here. Gunner kept a bank card on him that he used to pay for club activities. All of their monthly dues went to that bank account and they used it for times like these. Kit pulled out his wallet and passed over his credit card.
“Here. Put the tab from the other night on my card.” He’d ask Gunner to reimburse him tomorrow.
Her green eyes looked down at the card and back at him. “All of it? Are you sure?”
>
“You want your money, don’t you?”
She uncrossed her arms and grabbed the card before turning around to use the cash register. She came back with a receipt for him to sign. Goddamn, they’d drank a lot the other night. He signed the paper and handed it back to her. She tucked it under the register.
“Can I get a beer now?” he asked. She seemed to thaw a little now that he’d paid the tab.
“Bottle or poured?” she asked.
“Poured.”
She grabbed a big mug from behind the counter and poured. She was sure to tilt the glass so there wasn’t too much foam. He wondered how long she’d been working at the bar. She moved around like she had the place memorized. Like the same way he moved around his shop. She set the mug down in front of him, and he gave her a wink.
“See ya next time.”
She twisted her face in disgust before turning around and helped her bartender slice some lemons. He carried the drink across the room and back to the booth where Zeke sat.
“You’re not drinking?” Zeke asked him.
“I have a fight later tonight, remember?” he said.
“Hey, so what do guys think? This our new drinking spot?” Gunner asked from a couple tables away.
“Hell yeah,” Zeke said.
The guys chimed in their agreement.
Kit looked over at the bar to see Cam with her mouth hanging open. He raised his beer with a smirk on his face.
Chapter Seven
Kit
“Congratulations, I heard you kicked ass last night,” Jett said.
Kit winced as he lowered himself onto the barstool next to Jett. His whole body hurt. Like always, he still had plenty of bruises to show for his winnings.
“Yep, took home a grand.”
Jett slapped him on the back, and his face twisted in pain. “Oops. Sorry, man.”
The bar area of the clubhouse was full of people. Sunday was a big day for the club. Most of the town was closed today, and it was like an unofficial family day.
Zeke’s daughter, Iris, ran up to Kit and handed him an ice pack. “Dad said to give you this.”
Kit smiled and took the ice pack from her. “Thank you.”
“Why do you need an ice pack?” she asked as she bounced from side to side. She wore a pair of jeans with a black t-shirt. Her hair was pulled into a loose, messy ponytail. It was apparent she was being raised by her father.
“I got in a fight,” he told her. Several fights, to be exact. He’d stayed at the ring until his body started to scream at him.
Iris’ eyes widened. “Whoa, did you win?”
He nodded. “Uncle Kit always wins.”
She giggled before running away. Kit laughed and pressed the ice pack to his rib. His opponent got him good in the ribs. That was the only hit he let the guy get before Kit had landed a punch to the man’s jaw. The feel of the ice pack was a relief to his inflamed muscles. His mind wandered to Megan. He needed to go by the apartment and check on her today. He believed she was sober, but anything could change in a matter of minutes, especially in a town where she knew who and where to get drugs.
Gunner’s Old Lady, Lily, stood behind the bar looking for something.
“Where the fuck is that bowl?” she huffed.
Jett got up from the barstool, and Zeke took his place.
“What are you cooking?” Kit asked Lily.
She turned around and placed her hands on her hips. The Old Ladies cooked every Sunday. It was like the Savage Spades’ version of church. There were only three Old Ladies at the moment. Gunner, Otis, and Ace were married. They were also the oldest brothers. Like himself, not many of the younger brothers were ready to settle down. Lily often complained about there not being enough women. The club groupies didn’t count.
“Wouldn’t you like to know,” Lily said. Sunday dinner was always a surprise. “I heard Megan is in town.”
He hadn’t told many people about Megan being back. His eyes flickered to Zeke, who raised an eyebrow.
“She just got out of treatment,” Kit told her.
Lily’s face softened. “That’s amazing. Is she staying with you?”
“For now. She says she wants to get a job and get on her feet.”
“Well, don’t rush her. Let her take her time. It’s going to be an adjustment coming back here. Let her know I say hi, and she can stop by the house anytime she wants.”
Kit nodded, but he knew Gunner wouldn’t like that. Megan’s past mistakes had burned a lot of people, and the last thing Gunner would want was for her to be around his wife. Lily could be too friendly for her own good.
“I’ll let her know,” Kit lied.
Lily smiled and walked out from behind the bar towards the kitchen.
“So, Megan’s back?” Zeke asked.
“Yeah.”
“You think she’s sober this time?”
“I do, but I don’t know how long it’s going to last. She got into a good treatment center for free, and they told her she needed a support system. I’m not sure this was the best idea. Coming back to the town where her addiction started…”
He wanted his sister back, but more than that, he wanted her to be sober. He just hoped she was making the right decision coming back here.
“You can’t control it, man. Megan’s going to do what she wants, but give her a chance to prove to herself--and you--that she can be sober.”
The front door slammed shut as Gunner walked into the bar. “Everyone in the meeting room,” he said, walking past them to the room in the back.
Zeke and Kit shared a look before following behind everyone else to the room. Church was usually planned in advance and never on Sundays. Sundays were for the family. They took a seat at the big round conference table, waiting for everyone else to fill in. A couple of people were missing, but Gunner didn’t seem to mind. Hugo closed the meeting room door once everyone was inside.
“I just got word that the new bar has some financial issues,” Gunner said.
It took a minute for Kit to understand what Gunner was talking about--Cam’s bar. Images of dark hair and plump lips filled his brain. He’d decided to spend the night alone last night because he was so sore, but his dick stirred to life as he thought about Cam. Wait, what had Gunner said? Financial issues.
Gunner looked over at Hugo, who cleared his throat. “Jen, the bartender, told me last night Cam owes a fuck-ton of money to Venom.”
“What the fuck?”
“Venom, really?”
Venom was a snake that was slowly poisoning the town with drugs. He lived in the city, but his people didn’t have a problem dealing their drugs in Goldbeach. The small town was probably a good portion of his business.
“Since when did Venom start loaning out money?” Otis asked.
Hugo lifted an eyebrow. “I don’t know; apparently, the girl inherited the debt from her father.”
What idiot would leave a debt like that to his daughter? He thought about Cam; she had no chance against a man like Venom. He would destroy her if she didn’t find a way to get him the money.
“So, what are we going to do about it?” Ace asked.
“Do we have to do anything about it?” Kit asked.
Gunner glared at him.
“I’m just saying, why doesn’t she sell the bar? Cut her losses. Is Venom someone we want to get involved with?”
He hated to be the one to say it, but when they burned down Old Timers, none of them expected to go to war with the town drug lord afterward. With Megan in town, he didn’t want the club to be involved in any sort of conflict with Venom. Kit could smell trouble.
“We don’t know how much she owes. Selling the bar might not be a solution,” Hugo said.
“Like everything, we’ll put it to a vote. Either we stay at the bar and claim it as our own or we turn our back.” The way Gunner phased it; Kit already knew which way he was leaning. “All for making Cam’s bar our own.”
Everyone raised their hands except for K
it. Gunner stared at him until he reluctantly raised his hand.
“Then it’s settled. We’ll need a couple of people to watch the bar when we’re not there. Kit and Zeke, you’re on babysitting duty.”
Kit clenched her jaw to keep his mouth shut. Gunner was doing this on purpose because Kit hadn’t immediately agreed to the decision. He had enough on his plate with Megan back that he didn’t need to worry about a problem that wasn’t his. Plus, he had his own business to run.
“Kit, your shift starts immediately.” Gunner hit the gavel on the table, dismissing the meeting.
Everyone filed out, and Kit went down to his room to grab his keys and wallet. When he turned around, Hugo was standing in the open doorway.
“Hey, I’m sorry about that. When I brought it up, I didn’t know Gunner was going to make you sit at the bar all day.”
“It’s alright. I know you were just trying to help.”
Hugo nodded. “Jen’s a cool girl, and she was really concerned last night about her friend and the bar.”
“Is she going to be your Old Lady?” Kit teased.
Hugo lifted an eyebrow. “Maybe, you never know.”
Hugo walked down the hall to his room, and Kit went outside to get on his bike.
*****
When he pulled up to the bar, it was three o’clock. Closed signs hung on the doors of small businesses. He opened the wooden door of the bar. The smell of beer and cigarettes hit him in the face. The jukebox played quietly in the background. The glass screen was missing but it still worked.
Two people sat at the bar. One of them was an older man with completely white hair. The man looked like he was nearly falling asleep. On the other side of the bar was a lady in her forties. She had a cigarette in her hand and was watching the football game on the old TV behind the bar.
His dick twitched as his eyes landed on Cam. She leaned over the bar as she wrote something down on a notepad. Her position gave him a perfect view of her tits. Her hair was pulled up in a ponytail, but he preferred it down like the other night when he saw her. She looked up as he approached the bar. Her lips straightened into a flat line.
