by J Bree
I have to take a few more big breaths to remind myself that she’s a fucking kid. Seventeen years old and never had to face real consequences before, I’ve made real fucking sure of that. Fuck, Hawk has done everything in his power to make this house a safe place for all of us kids. He and Keely sheltered us all from all of the bad and dirty and bloody parts of the MC.
She doesn’t really know what we’ve done for her.
She sees me as nothing but her big brother, the one who drinks too much and fucks strippers, so of course it sounds like I have an easy life.
She doesn’t see all of the death, the mind games, the years of trying to get King the fuck outta prison without getting our clubhouse and businesses raided. I’ve been shot, stabbed, beaten, and damn near fucking killed for this club and each time I keep my ass the hell away from her and Keely so they don’t see that shit.
Maybe I shoulda let her see a bit more of it.
“I’m not going to apologize for taking care of my baby sister, Trink. That’s my fucking job. If you need help with something, tell me. I don’t want you miserable but I’m also not gonna let you go out there half fucking cocked and get yourself into trouble. It’s as simple as that.”
She rolls over on her bed until her back is facing me and I close the door behind me. I pass Lawson on the stairs and he gives me one of his trademark grins.
It’s easy to tell the twins apart.
Lyndon doesn’t know the fucking meaning of a smile.
Law never stops.
“D’you know what happened with Trink? Who do I need to kill?”
The smile slides right off of his face. “Shit. Is she still pissed off? I dunno what happened, only that she called me to come get her from the diner and she was ready to carve some fucker up. You might wanna ask Poe what’s going on because she told me I was about as trustworthy as a fucking Demon which, I can tell you, cuts a man deep.”
Dammit.
I give him a nod and slap his back as I get past him.
I find Speck waiting for me at the kitchen table, his boots still on and a beer in his hands. “You ready for the party? Where the hell have you been?”
I shrug and grab my keys from the kitchen counter. “I’m a busy man. What are you doing here? You’re supposed to be watching Angel.”
He grins. “It’s her night off. Diamond is being a bitch about her hours still. I’m just grabbing beers from the bar to take to the clubhouse for the party tonight… thought I’d check in with you. In case you’ve fucking killed yourself over your little backroom fuck last night. Biting that forbidden fruit and all that shit.”
I think about smashing my fist into his fucking jaw and I’m sure he sees that on my face. “I’m just saying, for a man who was spouting shit about staying away from her, you’re doing a shit job of it.”
I try to unclench my fists. I need to get the fuck away from her, I need to get her the fuck outta my head and my town before I fucking lose it. “Call Diamond. Tell her the girls all need to come to the party tonight. No excuses."
Speck stares blankly at me for a second and then groans, shaking his head. "That's a fucking terrible idea."
I pin him to the fucking floor with a single look. "And why's that, asshole? Are you already fucking infatuated by her or something?"
He heaves out a sigh. "No, but she doesn't like crowds. This'll only drive her away."
Good.
I hate this fucking feeling, this tightness in my chest and the energy in my legs like I need to run far away from this fucking situation. It's probably that feeling that pisses me off the most. I'm a fucking Callaghan. I don't run, not from fucking anything, and certainly not a stripper.
She fucking flinched.
"All of them have to be here. If she doesn't show up then she doesn't have any more shifts."
The back door slides open and Rue steps in, grease covering his shirt and hands from whatever he’s been working on in the garage. He stops at the sounds of us arguing.
Speck huffs out a laugh. "She's doubled the alcohol sales in a single week, did you know that? Guys are coming and drinking for longer now she's on the stage. Diamond is convinced that they'll quit coming if she doesn't do extra but if anything it's just getting busier."
I clench my jaw and fight the urge to punch him in the face for even talking about her. "Like I give a fuck about what our laundering strip club makes in legitimate income. I want her the fuck outta there."
I don’t even care that I’m lying, I’m just in a shitty fucking mood. Trink crying has just made it fucking worse.
He squares up and puts himself all the way into my path. "Fine. Fire her then. Boot her ass out and we'll never see her again, easy solution."
Rue curses and steps up closer to us both. Fuck knows whose side he's on, the three of us are as close as brothers, but I guess we'll be needing a referee soon anyway.
When I don't say a word he knows he's got me, the fucking asshole. "You don't want to risk her leaving. You want to force her into coming into your turf and finding out her fucking story. How about you stop being an asshole and just ask her?"
Rue scoffs. "Because she's a fucking stripper who's 'struck him. You don't think that shit is risky? Just fucking wait. Just wait until your ass gets 'struck and then see how you handle it."
He shrugs. "I'll be a fucking pro by then, after all the shit I've done for the two of you. A conversation isn't that fucking hard, anyway, Tomi. Don't be a fucking dipshit."
Rue pointedly doesn't look at me because he gets it. He gets what it feels like to know your fucking life doesn't belong to you anymore. Hell, he's been chasing Poe around for more than half his fucking life now, never once telling her about the curse choosing her for him and what's going on. He's convinced it'll fuck her childhood up knowing, so instead he just spends all his time beating the life right outta anyone who goes near her and tries to stay the hell away himself.
It was easier for him back when she still looked like a kid. He just treated her the same way he did Trink and was done with it. Then a few years back we get a call to bring her out to the Bay, her school year cut short at the discovery of this sister of hers and she walks out with a guy draped all over her.
He was way too fucking interested and she was smiling at him like he hung the fucking moon for her.
She has Rue's full fucking attention now.
The whole lot of it, every grumpy minute.
I decide I'm done with this conversation and head back into the clubhouse, ready to drink enough to forget all about this fucking night and the fact that Angel exists. Fuck, she probably had gone back home to fuck her boyfriend.
I’m still not convinced she doesn’t have one.
I’m really not sure that I won’t kill the fucker if I find him.
Chapter Thirteen
Angel
Poe invites me over to her house to help her out with her homework while Tomi is out on club business and can’t help her.
She gets the message to me through Speck and he passes on her address, telling me to head there after my early finish that week.
I arrive just after midnight to find two guys sitting on her couch, sharing pizzas and talking a whole lot of shit with each other. They're very obviously twins, identical but not. One of them is laughing and joking, the picture of playful shit-talking, and the other is messing around but quieter, more reserved. When I walk in the quiet one shoves his brother and scowls at me.
I pause in the doorway and Poe ducks around me. "That's Lawson and the scowling dick is Lyndon. Ignore Lyn, he's weird about new people. Trust issues or some shit."
He glares at her and she shrugs. "Tell me I'm wrong, asshole. Angel is here to help us so stop glaring. I'll kick you the hell out too."
She realizes what she's said and bites her lip, glancing over her shoulder at me. "Trink was going to study with us but... she's weird about strippers. It's not you, I swear."
I shrug and try not to be so freaking awkward as I step into the room. "It's fine. I me
an, I'm sorry you had to kick her out or whatever, but I don't blame her. What do you guys have?"
Poe hands over a whole pile of worksheets and a textbook. And then heads into the kitchen to grab us all drinks and snacks. When I look the pages over it's all shit I'm good at, thank God, and I get them set up and working in no time. Lawson keeps his eyes on Poe and what she's doing but it feels pretty... familial. They must all be related or something, because he jokes around with her like she's his little sister or something.
Lyndon just keeps staring at me like I killed his goddamn puppy.
After an hour of it I decide I can't take another second of it. "Look, there's only half a page left. I'll get going."
Lawson punches his brother in the arm. "Stop being a fucking asshole."
Lyndon shrugs. "I don't trust strippers. The fact that you can do math like this makes me trust you even less. You're either a spy for the Demons or an undercover cop."
I choke on my coke.
"You think I'm a cop? Are you for fucking real right now? Jesus." My skin is crawling.
Poe watches me closely and shrugs. "Thorn's a cop and he's not so bad."
Lyn glares at her. "That's different. He's family."
I lean back in my chair and try not to shake like a fucking leaf. Lawson rubs at his temple as he works through the equations but Poe and Lyn settle into a full blown out-n-out fight.
"The club don't think he is. Fuck Diesel wants to rip his goddamn throat out, so your argument is a pile of shit."
"Poe, my argument isn't about your brother. It's about whether there's a stripper at The Boulevard that's there to spy on the club and send another brother away for hard time. You want Tomi in lockup? Hell, if it were Rue chasing her you’d care a helluva lot more.”
I grab my bag, ready to leave and Poe finally snaps, "Leave Lyn. I'm hanging out with my friend, whether you like her or not, that's what is happening here."
He storms out, leaving his own homework behind like it means nothing to him. Law grimaces and glances up at me. “He’s just pissed off, it ain’t you.”
I shrug because it’s none of my business really and I chew my lip as I sift through the last few pages of work. “So uh—what’s a Demon?”
Law chokes out a laugh and Poe buries her face in her hands, her answer muffled behind them, “They’re the fucking worst MC that’s ever existed. Also for like… reference or whatever… technically my sperm donor is the president of the entire MC. He’s literally the worst human on Earth so if you see anyone in a Demon cut, run. Run and call Tomi the second you can.”
I nod because, I mean, what else can I do? And we get back to work on the homework. Law is nice enough to me, doesn’t start shit or look at me like he’s judging me, but I’m still glad to head on home.
Poe grins when I give her a quick hug, thanking me with that big grin of hers plastered on her face.
I stop in at the tiny grocery store at the edge of town on my way back through. It’s not exactly a good area but it’s open even this late at night and I need some energy drinks to get me through tomorrow morning’s lectures.
The guy behind the counter leers at me when I walk in but I ignore him, stalking straight through to the drink fridges. I grab some candy bars too, I’m due for my period and I’m craving the sugar. I know I’ll regret it when I bloat but, fuck, Diamond has only given me two shifts next week anyway.
What does it matter if I’m a bit bloated for my online classes?
I turn around with my arms full of crap to find Tomi in the fucking grocery store with me, glaring at me like I’m his biggest fucking problem.
Oh God.
“What the fuck are you doing in here? It’s nearly fucking midnight and there’s a stabbing every fucking minute in this place.”
I clear my throat to try to find my voice. “I was… helping Poe out. Just driving through, I needed shit for class tomorrow. Is there… something wrong?”
He huffs at me and stalks towards me. “Something wrong? Yeah, I’m too fucking busy to be chasing pieces of ass around who can’t take care of their own shit.”
I frown at him glancing around but there’s no one in here but me. “I’m just buying snacks, what’s the problem? Is this like a turf thing or—“
He curses viciously under his breath at me. “Coldstone belongs to the Unseen, this isn’t a fucking turf thing. This is about me getting home and finding your car parked outside of the shittiest fucking store in the whole town dressed like you’re for sale. Pay for your shit and get out of here. Stop making fucking trouble for me.”
I nod and walk past him, still confused over what his problem is. I didn’t ask for him to come looking and I’m in jeans and a hoodie, even though it’s hot as fuck out.
The guy behind the counter rings up all of my shit, smirking at me the whole time but I ignore it, handing my cash over and taking my change.
I’m silently begging him not to say something that’ll prove Tomi right.
Of fucking course he does.
“Hey, don’t you work out at the strip joint? Yeah, you do! You’re the hottest one there! Fuck, you must have some sexy fucking titties under that ugly sweatshirt-”
He’s interrupted by Tomi’s fist breaking the glass on one of the displays. I jump a mile into the air and the guy shits himself, jumping back away from me like his ass is on fire.
“You ever speak to her like that again and I’ll cut your tongue outta your head and feed it to you, you hear me?”
The guy nods and clutches at his chest like he’s having a heart attack, all fucking terrified now he’s faced with the giant, tattooed biker. I don’t see him as the scary guy I once faced but this guy sure does.
He was just speaking to me like that so it makes no sense that he’d be defending my fucking honor. I mean… I am just a stripper. I’m a woman who sells her naked body on stage for tips.
Tomi had just said it to me himself.
Piece of ass.
I blink at them both until Tomi barks at me, “Ass outside, Angel. Get in your fucking truck.”
I do exactly what he says, leaving without checking to see if he’s following me, but when I start the Chevy and wait a minute for the engine to warm up, he stalks out and charges right up to my window.
I wince but I roll it down.
“Make sure you’re at the club party. Everyone goes and if your ass isn’t there I’m coming to find you.”
What the hell does that even mean?
I don’t get the chance to ask, he just turns on his heel and stalks over to his motorcycle, swinging onto it and letting the engine roar to life under him. When I just sit there staring at him, he waves his arm at me to go ahead, waiting until I’m on the road before he leaves himself.
Diamond calls me to tell me about the party.
There’s no fucking way I want to go but Tomi’s words are still ringing in my head so I know I have no choice.
I spend the day before at the library doing my classwork and I have a headache by the time I have to leave and head over there. I stay in my car for a good five minutes convincing myself I’ll get the hell through this. If Poe isn’t here I’ll just find Speck. Hell, if he’s bartending like he’s told me he usually has to, I'll offer to help him just to get a slab of wood between me and the drunken bikers.
There’s a lot of them.
Every last one of them is loud and drunk and fucking huge. If any of them try to touch me there’s no way I can stop them. I wouldn’t stand a fucking chance.
I finally get out when Mel parks up next to me, Lana and Farrah piling out with her as they all giggle and laugh together.
I’m almost jealous.
The bonfire is bright and the other girls disappear into the crowd the second they get there, mingling with the crowd of bikers as easy as breathing.
I wonder how long I have to be here for?
I’m hesitant as I tiptoe through the crowds, trying to be small and inconspicuous.
“Angel! Hey! Get
your ass over here,” Poe calls out.
Thank God.
I dart over to where she’s standing in the parking lot by the bonfire, a beer in her hand and a friend standing there with her. She leans down to snag a beer for me from the barrel. I try to ignore the looks her friend is giving me, the loathing not even a little subtle.
I’m guessing this is Trink.
“Can you quit it? We’re trying to have a good night,” Poe snarks at her and then turns to me with a grin.
“I wasn’t expecting you to come! You haven’t been to any of the other parties… they’re kind of boring, except for the free beer.”
I shrug and force a smile on my face. “I was, uh, invited… I guess. I didn’t even know these parties were happening.”
I down the entire beer in two gulps. I need the courage and something to lessen the nerves a little. Poe giggles and hands me another.
"Is there a guy you're sweet on or something? Reece seems pretty freaking interested. I've never seen him tail a girl like he does with you."
Trink scoffs. "He tails you like that too, Posey, you just never notice him."
I shift on my feet, too uncomfortable with this conversation. The only man to ever catch my eye is standing on the other side of the parking lot, glaring over at us like he wants to murder me for daring to speak to his sister.
If he enjoys fucking strippers so much then why does he loathe me so fiercely?
It’s not a question I want to linger on.
Fuck, I know exactly how easy it is to hate me.
"Uh, no. No boyfriend. I'm not really interested in getting caught up into anything at the moment. I just... I want to finish up my college classes."
Trink's eyebrows raise. "You're going to college? How do you find time for that? I thought the pole work was full time.”
Poe elbows her hard. "Can you quit it? Angel is my friend, stop acting like an asshole."
I raise the beer back to my lips, pausing before I take a sip to say, "It's fine, Poe. This is Trink's home. If I'm not welcome I'll head out."
Then I finish the bottle and drop it into the trash can, giving her a quick hug and walking off to find Speck. Poe and Trink start arguing the second I walk away and I cringe. I really don't want to be here, I don't want to start shit, I just want to go pass out for the night.
