He lowered the bottle, his eyes drilling into hers. “Yeah, I did, Shannon. Nobody talks to you like that. They gotta learn. I just set the example.”
She looked around the bar. The guys playing pool had paused to take in the show. A few moments later, they all resumed what they were doing.
Angel, Crystal and Mack came in from outside. Crystal looked down at Cajun out cold on the floor, and then, her hands landing on her hips, she looked up at Mack and said, “I’m not cleaning that up.”
The guys burst out laughing.
Angel sat between Cole and Shannon, and Shannon leaned over to ask her where the restroom was.
Angel grinned at her, “Believe me, darlin’, you don’t want to use it.”
“Yeah, it’s pretty disgusting,” Crystal confirmed.
“Come on, you can use the one in Cole’s room. It’s clean,” Angel offered. She turned to Cole.
“It’s unlocked, baby.” He pulled her in for a kiss, and then let her go.
Shannon got up and followed Angel, who led her up the metal staircase on the other side of the room. As they walked up it, Shannon looked down at the common room below and noticed a lot of male eyes on her.
Angel leaned over and whispered, “They can’t take their eyes off you, honey.”
“I guess it’s that I’m a stranger.”
“No, I’m pretty sure it’s the legs and ass in those short-shorts.”
“Oh, God. Why did you make me wear this?”
“Look at Crash.”
She did. His eyes were on her, too. “He looks angry.”
“He looks hungry.”
They reached the top of the stairs, and Angel led her down a dark hallway, they passed door after door. The top half of each door had a window of frosted glass with old gold lettering on it. Each door held a different designation. Accounting, Purchasing, Engineering, etc. These must have been the original offices from when this place was a manufacturing company, Shannon surmised.
Angel paused in front of the last door on the right. The gold lettering read, Vice President. She opened the door, and they walked in. There was a brick wall to her left with old multi-paned manufacturing windows set up high. A bed was against that wall with bedside tables and lamps. On the right was a desk and some shelving, straight ahead was another door.
“Bathroom is through there,” Angel instructed, pointing toward that door.
“Thanks.” Shannon moved toward it.
When she came back out, Angel was sitting on the bed. “This is where Cole brought me the day after he saved me.”
Shannon sat on the bed facing her. “I remember the day I met the two of you.”
Angel nodded. “When Cole and Crash pulled you from that van.”
Shannon nodded back. “Yeah. But later, when they took us to that other place-”
“The Dead Souls Clubhouse,” Angel filled in the detail. “How have you been doing with it all?”
Shannon shrugged. “I still get panic attacks sometimes.” She looked up at Angel. “You talked to us that day and told us what had happened to you. I remember thinking how strong you seemed. How are you doing with it all? You’d been through so much more than I had to go through. I’m embarrassed I’m even struggling with it still after all this time. You seem fine and so happy.”
“I am, but that doesn’t mean I didn’t have issues. When I was first with Cole—well he just made me feel so safe, like he wasn’t ever going to let anything ever hurt me again. He got me through it by just being there for me.”
Shannon nodded. “I could tell, even then, how much he cared for you.”
Angel looked at her. “But then—when I got home—well, I sort of fell apart. I saw a counselor for a while, and Natalie was there for me. She helped me a lot.” She paused to smile. “And then I had the babies, and I didn’t have much time to feel sorry for myself. That was probably the best therapy.” She shrugged. “And once Cole was back in my life—I’ve never been happier.”
“Good. I’m happy for you,” Shannon offered.
Angel studied her. “So, you’ve had panic attacks?”
Shannon looked down and nodded.
“Did you get any counseling?”
Shannon shook her head. “No. Cole swore us to secrecy. I couldn’t say I suddenly needed a counselor. My parents would have asked what for. For an attack and abduction that wasn’t supposed to have ever occurred?”
“I see your point,” Angel agreed. “How are you and Crash getting along?”
“He pretty much hates me. He thinks I’m nothing but a stuck-up, spoiled brat who doesn’t know anything about anything.”
“I’m sure that’s not true.”
“Oh, it’s true. He thinks I’m a bitch. You missed it, but he just named a drink after me. He called it a Blue-eyed Bitch.”
Angel couldn’t help but laugh. “I’m sorry. I’m not laughing at you. But, even you have to admit, that’s pretty funny.”
Shannon smiled. “I suppose.”
“Have you been a bitch to him?”
Shannon looked away, guiltily. “Maybe.”
“Shannon, Crash is a good man. He really is. I know if you let him, he could help you.”
“Help me?” She looked at Angel wondering what she was talking about.
“With the panic attacks—with feeling safe again.”
Shannon pulled back. “I don’t think anybody can help me with that.”
“Shannon listen to me. You’ve got to let someone in. It’s the only way. Believe me. You can’t do this alone.”
“I don’t know. I’ve carried it alone for so long.”
“I know Crash. I know you can trust him, Shannon. Please, at least think about it.”
“All right,” she gave in, mostly to just stop talking about it.
“Now, what’s this nonsense about you not knowing anything about anything?”
Shannon rolled her eyes. “As far as he’s concerned I’m a useless spoiled brat.”
“What do you mean? Tell me. I find this very interesting that you care what Crash thinks of you. I think that’s very telling.”
“Angel, don’t read too much into it. It just bothers me that…maybe he’s right.”
“Right?”
“Well, I can’t cook. I can barely do laundry…”
“Sweetie, I can help you with all that. It just takes practice.”
“Can you teach me how to cook?”
“Of course. I can come over one day when he’s out with the guys and teach you a couple recipes. You can surprise and amaze him!”
“That would be nice. I sure would love to rub it in his face.”
“Come on. We better get back before they come looking for us.”
Crash had turned back from watching the girls walk up the stairs, and he connected eyes with Mack.
“Your girl’s makin’ quite an impression.” Mack’s eyes dropped down to Cajun, who was starting to come around.
Crash glanced back up at the hallway they’d disappeared down and grumbled, “She’s a goddamn fish out of water.”
Cole took a pull on his beer and commented, “Angel thinks she’s a scared little girl on the inside.”
Crash replied, “Well, whatever’s scaring her on the inside, is making her a bitch on the outside.”
Cole chuckled.
“Yeah, well, you’re stuck with her now,” Mack put in. “Natalie’s become her guardian fucking angel, threatened to take my dick off if I even thought about runnin’ her ass off.”
Crash studied the man. He wasn’t sure what his game was. One thing he knew for sure, Mack wasn’t afraid of Natalie, not by a long shot.
“I think she wants you, brother,” Mack observed with a grin at Crash.
Crash about choked on his beer. “What the hell is that based on?”
Mack shrugged. “Call it a hunch.
“She doesn’t know me, and she sure doesn’t know what this life is all about.” He nodded to the clubhouse. “She’s in over
her head here. I need to get her home.”
“I disagree,” Mack said, staring at him.
“What do you mean?” Where the hell was Mack going with this?
“Oh, not about her not knowing shit. She’s totally fuckin’ clueless. That part you got right. But I disagree with your plan to keep it from her. I think she needs to know exactly what a den of wolves she’s crawled into bed with. Full disclosure. Bring her to the party Friday night,” Mack ordered.
Cole and Crash exchanged a look. What the fuck? Crash’s eyes swung back to Mack, “You’re shittin’ me, right?”
“What’d I just say?”
“Mack-”
“Full disclosure, brother. Let her see what she’s gotten herself mixed up with.”
“What purpose is that gonna serve?” Crash asked, a bit of a bite to his words.
“Maybe it’ll teach you boys to quit bringin’ around every goddamn stray you find.” Mack smiled, picked up his beer and strolled out.
“What the fuck was that about?” Crash asked, turning to Cole.
Cole took a pull off his beer. “I’d say he’s still pissed at us for keepin’ shit from him.”
“So, he’s gonna drag Shannon through the gutter as payback?”
“Nope. I think he’s gonna have you ‘drag her through the gutter’, brother.”
Crash closed his eyes. “Motherfucker.”
A prospect walked up to the bar. “Crash, a couple of guys just rode up. They’re askin’ to see you.”
Cole looked over his shoulder at the prospect. “What do they want?”
The prospect shrugged. “Said they knew his brother.”
Cole and Crash exchanged a look. It had been almost nine months since his brother had died, but he still had a hard time talking about him. Even the mention of him still got to him. He was sure it was written all over his face. He got confirmation of that when Cole offered, “You want me to deal with ‘em, brother?”
Crash pushed off the bar. “Naw. I got it.” He strolled outside, in time to see two guys climbing off their bikes. Crash took in their appearance. As they pulled off their helmets, he could see they both still had short military style haircuts. Probably some of his brother’s battle buddies then.
He walked up to them. “I’m Crash. You lookin’ for me?”
One of the two extended his hand. “Yeah, man. I’m Jake Webber.” He nodded over his shoulder at his friend. “This is Shane Murphy.”
Crash shook his hand. The other man extended his hand, and Crash shook it as well. “You boys knew my brother?”
“Yes, sir. 82nd Airborne. We were in his unit,” Jake confirmed. “He talked a lot about you and the club. We were out this way and thought we’d come look you up. Pay our respects.” He nodded around at the activities. “Sorry, didn’t know we’d be interrupting a party.”
“Don’t worry about it. Glad to have you. Come on inside, and have a beer.”
“Sounds good,” Shane replied.
Crash paused with his hand on the clubhouse door and warned them, “This is not the place you want to find out you have a drinking problem, understand?”
They both nodded.
Crash led them inside. He sat at a table with them and motioned to Crystal. A few moments later, she brought them each a beer.
Shane smiled up at her, “Thank you, ma’am.”
“Ooh, I love a man with manners.” Crystal smiled down at him.
Shane’s smile crinkled the corners of his eyes. “Yes, ma’am. I’ll remember that.”
“So, you knew Trevor?” Crash asked Jake.
Jake nodded. “Well, we called him Shaw. Well, to tell the truth we called him Face-Plant.”
“Face-Plant?”
“Yeah, he got that nickname by the platoon in airborne school after his first jump. Kind of self-explanatory.”
Crash smiled. “Really? Face-Plant, huh? I think he neglected to mention that little piece of info.”
Shane grinned, “I’m sure that was because he hated that nickname. Didn’t matter, though. He was stuck with it.”
Crash nodded with a laugh. “Yeah. That’s kind of how it goes around here, too.” He took a pull off his beer. “You boys on leave?”
“Naw,” Jake replied. “Our deployment was up in February. We got shipped back.” He nodded to Shane. “Both our enlistments were up at the same time, and we chose to get out.”
“Had enough, huh?”
“Not really. It wasn’t that. We both loved the action. We’re trained soldiers and damn good at it. Loved when we got to actually see action. There’s nothing better than doing what you’re trained for and what you’re good at.”
Shane picked up on that. “Things over there are winding down now, though, and if we’d re-upped we’d end up stateside on garrison duty. And that blows. After being in the thick of it over there? To have to pull a boring duty like that? Fuck no.”
Crash nodded. “I can understand that. So, you’re just traveling around the country?”
Jake shrugged. “Kind of struggling to readjust, man. You know? What I miss, well, what both of us found out we missed most was the brotherhood. You know what I mean?”
Crash could understand that. “Well, if it’s brotherhood you want, we got that right here. We’re always lookin’ for new members.”
“We were hoping you’d say that. We were both kind of interested to see what the MC life had to offer.”
“You guys got a place to stay?”
“Naw. Just hit town,” Shane replied.
“Well, you got a place to stay. You’re welcome to stay with me for a while, if you want.”
“That’d be great, man,” Jake said, smiling. “We’ve got some photos and stuff in our packs we wanted to give you. Some stuff I think your brother would want you to have.”
Crash nodded, not sure he was ready for all that. “Yeah, okay.”
Shannon walked back downstairs with Angel and followed her to the bar where Cole was sitting. When she didn’t spot Crash, she turned to Cole and asked him where he was. He nodded toward the table across the room.
“A couple of guys from his brother’s unit came by to see him. Maybe it’d be best if you gave them some time alone. Sit here with Angel and me.”
She nodded. Of course. The last thing she wanted to do was interrupt them. He patted the seat next to him, indicating he wanted her to sit between them. She couldn’t help but wonder if that was his way of protecting her from any more of his brothers hitting on her. She sat, and Angel sat on her other side.
Cole looked over her head at his wife. “Mack wants Crash to bring her to the party Friday night.”
Shannon looked between them, trying to understand the subtext of the looks they were giving each other.
“Why would he do that?” Angel’s head reared back subtly as she looked at Cole like he’d just said something horrible.
Cole shrugged, tapping his cigarette in the ashtray.
“Why are you smoking?”
“Babe, it’s only my second of the day.”
“Uh-huh.”
“Swear to God.”
“What kind of party Friday night?” Shannon asked Cole.
He blew out a pissed off stream of smoke. “The kind you don’t need to be at, darlin’.”
“Then I won’t go.”
“You don’t have a choice.”
“What do you mean?”
“Mack told Crash to bring you. So he’s bringing you.”
“What is he, king?”
Cole cracked a smile. “Pretty much, yeah.”
Shannon turned to Angel. “You’ll be there, right? At this party he’s talking about.”
Cole answered for her. “No. She won’t.”
“She won’t?”
“Nope.”
“Where is this party?” Shannon asked.
“Here at the club,” Cole replied.
“What kind of party is it?”
Cole stared down at her, then he looked over a
t Angel. “Maybe you better explain things to her.”
“Me? You know more about these parties than I do,” Angel protested.
Shannon was getting whiplash looking back and forth between them
“Babe,” Cole said in a voice that said the discussion was over.
“Oh, all right.”
“Take her back upstairs. Don’t need everybody hearin’ this shit.”
“Come on, Shannon.” Angel jumped down off her barstool. She led Shannon back up to Cole’s room.
As soon as the door was closed, Shannon whirled on her. “Okay. What gives? What’s the deal with this party? Why won’t you be there?”
“Friday night, the boys have church. It’s what they call their weekly meeting. Afterwards, they cut loose, and it turns into a big party. Ol’ ladies aren’t ever invited Friday nights.”
“Why?”
“That’s just the guys.”
“So, there won’t be any women?”
“They’ll be women, just no old ladies allowed.”
“What do you mean?”
“The guys can bring women they’re seeing or hangers-on, etc. And I’ve even heard sometimes the girls from Sonny’s show up, and the party gets pretty wild.”
“The girls from Sonny’s?”
“It’s a strip club.”
“So, if the rumors are true about Misty?”
“Yeah, she may be there.”
“But not you and not Mary?”
“Nope.”
“Doesn’t that piss you off?”
“He needs his time to cut loose without me glued to his hip.”
“Don’t you worry that he’s…”
“Darlin’, if I let myself, I’d worry anytime he walks out of the house. Women come on to him everywhere. Cole knows I’d cut his balls off. Look, he worked so hard to win me back, I have to believe he’d never hurt me like that.”
“Damn, you’re a strong woman.”
Angel smiled. “Shannon, I don’t know what goes on at those parties, and maybe I don’t want to know. But one thing I do know, those nights when Cole comes home, he’s all over me the minute he walks in the door. He can’t get enough of me, and good God, that man is good in bed. So, darlin’, Friday nights are my favorite night of the week.”
CRASH: An Evil Dead MC Story (The Outlaw Series) Page 14
