“No fucking way,” Rabbit hissed out on a laugh as the door opened allowing us entrance into the main part of the building.
“Yeah,” I laughed out. “But that wasn’t the end of it. Remember she’d lubed up her thighs too, so she tries to get up, and the girl who attempted to help steady her legs pulls her hands back, horrified that there’s some weird substance on them, just as Gerry slipped again. Her shoes were gliding on what was left behind on the floor from her hands. Another face plant and Becca’s shrieking in the background about her hands being covered in nasty Vag-juice.” Rabbit and I had both dissolved into laughter at this point, and were completely unaware for a moment that everyone had stopped what they were doing and were staring at us.
“Vag-juice,” Rabbit huffs out amidst laughter. “Oh shit! I really need to hang out with you in Vegas some day.”
“What the fuck is going on?” A loud voice called out over our laughter. It was only then that we both sobered up enough from our laughter to realize we had literally every person in the clubhouse’s attention. My eyes went wide and I suddenly became very nervous about the purchases that were made today, thinking that’s why Rage just bellowed out his question.
“Um,” I started.
“What’s with the attitude, bro?” Rabbit asked, his face turned into a veritable mask of indifference.
“What’s with the attitude? Why the fuck are you with her?” He stabbed his finger into the air in my general direction leaving me a nameless “her” as he chastised Rabbit. I saw the moment Rabbit’s mask slipped a bit and his own fury became evident. I also noticed, out of the corner of my eye, that the Skank twins were enjoying the show immensely. Maybe they fuck Rage on the regular and that’s why he sent them to me this morning and trusted them with his card. I really didn’t know shit about any of these people or the dynamics involved between them all.
“Why the fuck am I with her? Well, let’s see,” Rabbit tapped his chin with his finger for effect. “I was woken up by bitch one and bitch two over there trying to bang down Charlie’s door like they were the DEA raiding the joint. Then they started throwing attitude her way, telling her that they would pick her ‘working clothes’ and telling her which men she was allowed to touch and which she wasn’t. That was all before that one,” he pointed to skank two – the girl now known as Jezzie, “tried to slap her when she attempted to set them straight about NOT being a goddamn BRAT. Oh, and just for you to file away for later, they were also making big plans for their own personal spending on your account since you were dumb enough to trust them with your card in the first place.”
If eyeballs could spit fire, that would be what Rage’s were doing at the moment. He turned smoothly to face the direction of the now cowering dipshit duo. “You did what now?”
Rabbit ignored the question being asked of the girls. “I believe they said you told them, and I quote, “take the new bitch to get some clothes so she’ll be ready to work tonight.” I couldn’t help the snarl that formed on my lip then, and I lost the little bit of guilt I had about the shopping spree I’d just been on with Rage’s card. He had glanced toward Rabbit again as he spoke and now his eyeballs were back to spitting fire as he turned the vicious look on the two girls who royally fucked up today.
“That is most definitely not what I said,” he hissed out between clenched teeth. “You dared to try to lay a finger on family today? Disrespected family today? Treated family like a common whore? And let’s not forget tried to tell a new girl who she could and couldn’t sleep with?” Rage looked over his shoulder at Iceman who had stepped in when the commotion began. “I think we’re seeing where the problem was with all the new girls that have been run out of here so easily.”
“Rabbit brought it to my attention earlier. I was waiting for him to get back to get details, and address it with the brothers. We need a majority.” Iceman stated the last as if it pained him to say it. “I’ll call for that in a moment though. Let’s address the situation with Charlie first so there are no more miscommunications. Get everyone the fuck in here right now. If someone is off site, get them on speakerphone. I need everyone to hear this, and I’ll be sending out a head’s up to all the other chapter presidents later too.”
Everything grew quiet, with just a few whispered conversations making a hazy cloud in the room while others trickled in from various hallways and rooms that dumped out into this main space. Finally, Iceman seemed satisfied with the turnout and climbed onto the table nearest him so he could be seen and heard above everyone else in the room.
“Listen up,” he looked around the room, scanning to make sure he had everyone’s attention. “This young lady here,” he pointed to me and crooked his finger for me to come stand with him. I did as he asked, of course. “This is Charlie. She is NOT, I repeat NOT a fuckin’ BRAT. This lady is FAMILY!” Wide eyes all around the room greeted me. A prideful smile came from Shameless as he looked on with arms crossed over his broad chest. He nodded an acknowledgment when he noticed I was watching him. “Charlie here is the daughter of our late brother, Brazen.”
“Holy fuck!” “No kidding?” “Well, fuck me sideways!” Those were just a few of the round of astonished statements that greeted that announcement.
“Charlie is gonna be staying with us for a good while, maybe permanent if she likes it here, and she’ll be working the bar here at the clubhouse for now. She is to be treated with all the respect you would show an old lady or princess. If I hear otherwise, you will answer to me directly.”
“And me,” Rage added loudly.
“Add me to that ass kicking detail,” Rabbit called out.
“You’ll also deal with me since I’m officially her Godfather.” Shameless added, gifting me with a little more information than I had before about my past. I smiled at him, and gave him a look that promised he needed to tell me more later. Again, he nodded at me.
Iceman nodded, then beamed at me with pride in his eyes. “You okay with everything, sweetheart?” He asked me quietly.
“Yes,” I stated quickly.
“Good. Here, let me help you down now.” And he did just that as he took my hand and held me steady as my foot hit the floor. Before the other could join it my hand was transferred to Rage, who held me until I was steady. Then he pulled me closer to him by way of his warm hand sending zinging electrical impulses up and down my skin where my shirt had parted ways with my pants and left bare the skin near my right hip. His thumb was busily trailing over the expanse of skin as Iceman continued on with his spiel.
“Now, these two,” he called out as he motioned for someone to be brought forward. Rabbit sauntered up with each of the skanks at his side. “What do you two have to say for yourselves?”
They both started talking at once so Iceman shut them down. He pointed at the one called Jezzie, and told her to start. “I didn’t want to be mean to her, but Tallie keeps telling me it’s our job to haze the new girls to make sure they’re tough enough to hang with these guys.” She held up her hand indicating the bikers that filled the room. In all honesty, I could understand the logic behind that. “I really didn’t know that the girl was family. We thought from the dismissive attitude Rage had this morning that she was just another BRAT in training.”
“It is not your job to ‘think’ you know what’s on a brother’s mind. If you are unclear about directions given, you ask. Am I understood?”
“Yes, Iceman, I understand,” Jezzie offered with her lips poked out in a pout while her stick-straight blond hair moved as a silky screen around her shoulders.
“And what do you have to say?”
“It’s true,” she stated with an odd cold indifference. “I was hazed by Carla when I started, and I thought I had to carry on that tradition. I wasn’t aware,” she tossed what she thought was a hidden glare my way. “That SHE was anything but a trainee.”
“That’s interesting,” a man closer to the bar spoke up, and then moved forward so that everyone could see him. “Because we heard the an
nouncement Rage made last night. You even made a comment about how it was weird that Rage had a bitch from the outside in here.” He smirked as the girl visibly shrank back from his words. “It was right before half the damn club watched me bend you over the pool table, Tallie. So, yeah, you knew she wasn’t a club slut or meant to be a BRAT here. Not only did you know, but you just lied straight to our President’s face.”
“No, really, I wasn’t paying attention last night. I thought…”
“Can it,” Iceman called out on a raised voice. “Here’s what we’re going to do. Jezzie, I know you were out with Rico last night, so you didn’t hear the announcement. I’m going to give you the benefit of the doubt that you didn’t know. You will still be on probation with us for the next month. Step out of line even once and you are done.” Then he turned to Tallie. “I was going to leave your fate up to a vote of the brotherhood, but considering you just lied to my face, I can’t keep you around. You are no longer loyal to this club. Not only have you driven away prospective club girls, but also you have disrespected our family, our principles, and me personally. You are hereby banished. You will wait outside by the gate while a prospect packs your room out. Once he’s done, he will take you to the bus stop and drop you off. If you choose to stay in town you are to have zero interaction with any of the brotherhood, their families, or affiliates. Any of the Aces High Club members caught having interactions with this woman from here on out will face discipline, and possible expulsion from this club. If anyone present thinks this is unfair punishment, speak now, or my ruling stands.”
“Please, no. There’s nothing out there for me,” Tallie begged. Iceman just crossed his arms over his chest and scowled down at her while he gave it a moment for someone to speak. Tallie looked around wide-eyed and desperate before the realization dawned on her that no one was going to speak up for her.
She turned on her heels quickly, finding me in the crowd standing between Rage and Rabbit now. “You did this! I will make sure you get what’s coming…” and Shameless had her tipped over his shoulder and was carting her toward the security door at the front of the room faster than I could blink.
“You say one more fucking word that sounds like a threat toward my Goddaughter, and I will make sure you never see another sunset again.” I heard him say to her as he punched button near the door that had it swinging open for him. He also turned and called over his shoulder, “Mech, get her code removed from the doors.”
Some red-haired guy with an amazing beard and a tablet in his hands glanced up from typing something into the device and offered, “Already taken care of, Shame.” With that Shameless was out the door with Tallie, and I was apparently back to being a curiosity.
“We need to get some of you out recruiting to make up for the deficiency in entertainment around here. Check with the girls over at Ruby’s and see if any want to swap houses,” Iceman called out. “You’re all dismissed for the night. Get back to what you were getting to before this impromptu meeting.” Then he hopped off the table and made his way over to us. “Rabbit, that all her stuff from today?” He pointed to the two bags each that we were still clinging to.
“Nope. She definitely has a bit more out in the truck,” he offered with a knowing grin in my direction.
“Okay, have a prospect go unload for her and take the stuff to her room.”
“Oh, you don’t have to do that. I can get my own…” I started, but was promptly cut off when Rage pulled me tight to his side again.
“Shhh,” he hissed out quietly. “It’s the prospects’ job to do things like that for us. Let them prove their worth. Besides, I’m pretty sure you have to go get ready for work. You start in an hour, yeah?”
I glanced over at a clock on the wall. “Damn, I didn’t realize it was so late.” I turned toward Rabbit. “I totally blame you. You should have been a girl as much as you like shopping.” The room grew quiet, and I realized I’d just inadvertently insulted Rabbit in front of a room full of his badass brothers. Shit. He didn’t sweat it though, thankfully.
“Well, come on now, Showgirl, we were shopping for underthings, and whatnot. Aside from your granny panty fetish, I gotta say that store was the tits!”
Laughter boomed through the room. “Oh for the love of…”
“Granny panties!” He finished my statement for me – thought not with the words I was going to use – while grinning widely. “I know. Would you get over the bloomers already, babe?” He spit out his retort amidst his own hail of laughter.
“Damn you, Rabbit. Karma is a bitch!”
“Damn straight, I fucked her once. Was it my fault I picked up her sister the next week? Nah, but Karma still slashed my fucking tires.” One of the younger guys called out, and suddenly everyone was laughing at him and his bad luck with a stripper named Karma and her sister. It did not escape my notice that Rage had let go of me during my banter with Rabbit, and was moving his ass over to the bar without so much as a backwards glance.
Chapter 6
Since the shopping trip, pizza stop, and impromptu meeting left me little time to get ready I chose to toss my damn near waist-length, strawberry blond hair up in a messy bun on top of my head. Despite the shopping extravaganza we’d had today, I opted to pair my new boots and body-hugging jeans with an Aces High support shirt that someone had left in my room while I was gone today. Actually, I realized it was a tank top once I unfolded it. It was black with the red and white logo. The same skull and top hat that graced the tail end of Rage’s bike was also present on the shirt. Instead of sucking souls the logo actually had a skull smoking a joint, or something.
Despite me trying to tell myself that I didn’t have a need to impress anyone, since I was still obviously married to a murderous cheating bastard, I found myself applying a little eyeliner and mascara that made my hazel eyes pop brighter than before. For some reason the eyeliner I always carried in my little purse brought out the green hues in more abundance than the warm cinnamon brown hues that usually dominated the odd kaleidoscope mix I had going on.
Still, I knew what I was doing. I was making myself pretty for Rage. Hell, I didn’t even know his real name. I still didn’t understand his crazy hot/cold reactions to me either, but there was no denying that feeling that zinged through me with his every touch. I would have to be blind, or a fool, to deny the attraction too. And his protective streak was something I was enjoying immensely. Considering my soon-to-be, I hoped, ex-husband had never felt protective of me a day in our relationship, and had actually tried to kill me for money rather than just divorce me to say I hadn’t felt protected by him was an understatement. I guess protectiveness would have to be an important attribute for any guy that found his way into my future as a result of my past.
I glanced down at my boots one more time as a knock sounded on my door. I knew better than to break boots in when I had to stand on my feet for hours, but I honestly wasn’t sure when else I’d get the chance. Today, I’d been allowed out in town with just Rabbit along, but somehow I figured that would change now that a little time had passed and it was possible that Josh knew where I was. Another knock brought me back out of that scary scenario and I crossed my room in a few stride to open the door. Rabbit stood there grinning like a loon.
“Well, Showgirl, aren’t you a sight?” He cooed before stepping back out of the way and dangling something on a silver chain. I reached out and clasped it in my hand, but Rabbit pulled it back and ended up looping the chain over my head. At the end was a silver key. “To your door. This way, you don’t lose it.”
“Thanks, Rabbit. How did you know I was prone to losing things?”
“Well, considering you came here with literally nothing, I figured it wasn’t a bad guess.”
I sighed. “Extenuating circumstances forced that, but yeah, I was notorious for misplacing my phone and keys before everything.” I stared at the worn carpeting in the hallway. “At least I was in my old life. I actually became very vigilant about that stuff when I was hidin
g out in shit-bag motels for a while.”
“Jesus, I wish you had known to come straight to us. I wonder why Bishop never told you about us?”
I shrugged. “Maybe he was trying to honor my dad’s wishes? I don’t know. I wish he would have though. It would have certainly saved a little bit of my dignity, and a lot of my sanity.” Rabbit gave me a quick side hug, and then pushed me along in front of him.
“Let’s get to work and take your mind off all your shit by listening in to these idiots gossip like the true hens they are. I swear, they’re worse than my Grandma and her Bridge Club.” I just laughed at Rabbit, because I couldn’t imagine him with a gossipy, bridge-playing granny in his life.
When we got to the bar there were already more than a few bodies waiting to be served and the prospect tasked with doling out drinks was looking harried with the job. “Hey there,” I called out to him as I ducked under the bar and swung into position, immediately pulling a draft for someone who had shoved their mug forward for a refill.
“Hey,” the prospect gruffed back.
“You have a name?” I asked.
“His name is Prospect,” a deep voice that sent a shock of gooseflesh rippling across my arms and up my neck answered. I glanced up and gave Rage a sweet smile that made him cock his head to the side, looking a little mystified.
“You have numerous prospects though. How do you tell them apart when you’re yelling at them if you only call them all prospect?” I thought it was a logical question, but apparently not judging by the many grunted responses I received.
Dancing With Danger Page 5
