by J. L. Drake
Shouting from a room off to the side drew my attention, followed by a loud crash. I looked at Brick, who just shook his head as if to ignore it.
Morgan handed me another shot. “Have you ever bartended before?”
“I have.”
“All you need to know is how to read the labels, pour a shot, and count.” He tapped his glass to mine and tossed the shot back, and I followed suit.
“Any tips you make are yours. As long as the till is even, you’re good. Make sure you wear something hot, give the guys a little somethin’ to look at.”
“Seems easy enough.”
Morgan glanced at Brick with a bored expression then back to me. “I give her to the end of the shift before she fucking quits.”
“Thanks.” I glanced over at Brick, who gave me a playful wink.
A door burst open and out tumbled a man with a face full of blood. He stumbled to the bar with one eye open and the other swollen shut. I noticed Morgan stood back to see how I’d handle the situation. It didn’t rattle me; not much did anymore. Brick’s comfort with the situation made it obvious the guy was on their shit list. I slammed a shot glass down, poured some whiskey, and when he reached for it, I slid it aside.
“Seven fifty.”
His watery, bloodshot eye stared at me. It took a second, but he realized I wasn’t screwing around, and his face scrunched up.
“Bitch, give me the drink.”
“Seven fifty.” My hip cocked out as I raised my chin to hold my own.
He reached for it again, but I moved it further away. He didn’t have the skull patch Morgan mentioned, and I wasn’t going to give it to him for free. The guy leaned forward, grabbed my arm hard, and pulled me close to his face. I had to choke back the smell of blood and sweat.
“Listen, you little cuntface. You want to know what it feels like to get a fist to the—” One moment he was threating, and the next his head was slammed onto the bar top by a very battered hand.
I jumped back to see a massive man with his nose just inches from the asshole’s face. His eyes were murderous as “Get the fuck out,” hissed from his lips. He then picked him up and dropped him to the floor like he hardly weighed anything. Moments later, the asshole was gone, and I was left staring at the big, lean man with one hell of a set of deep green eyes. I forgot how to breathe when they locked onto mine. His white shirt was stained with blood, his knuckles were raw, and his bottom lip was cracked. His dark hair curled slightly under around his collarbone.
I rubbed my arm, the pain slowly easing.
“He’s out,” the man grunted to Brick. Even though he continued to stare at me. “Take care of it.”
“Will do,” Brick answered from somewhere close. His fingers brushed over my shoulder. “You all right, Tess?”
“Yeah.”
“Trigger, this is Tessa.” Brick cleared his throat. “She’s the one I was tellin’ you about.”
Trigger? Oh, yes, the pres.
“Tess,” I corrected him.
Trigger didn’t say a word but held my gaze then looked down my front and back up again. His tattooed hand tugged on the bottom of his short beard. My skin heated, my chest burned, and my throat went dry. Mother of hell, his gaze was intense. Though I knew men like this and they were all the same, I was surprised by my reaction.
Trigger leaned forward to reach behind the bar, his eyes still locked with mine. He removed the whiskey bottle and tossed the cap next to me. He downed about a quarter of it then finally broke his hold to focus on Brick.
“They’re gonna eat her alive.” His voice had a little rasp to it, but my annoyance got the better of me.
“Gotta love the encouragement here, boys.” I snickered and ignored his expression. Brick sucked in a sharp breath, and I guessed people didn’t talk to him like I just did, but I really didn’t care.
I worked a long shift and met everyone as they trickled in and out of the bar. I turned a deaf ear to all conversation that didn’t include me. I felt like everyone was testing me to try to trip me up. So I kept my mouth shut and did my job to make sure everyone paid. Brick stayed true to his word to hang around and make sure I was okay.
Morgan helped me a few times, but for the most part, I got it. At the end of my shift, I took a seat in a booth with Brick, and he ordered us a late dinner.
The place was busy, the smoke got thicker, and the music pounded.
“When did you join?” I asked right before I bit into my burger.
I was surprised it was good. Most bar food sucked. I wasn’t picky. I even ate from a stranger’s plate once, but I did know good food, and this was pretty damn good.
“Six years ago.” I looked up at him. “Right after you went back. I followed a lead that my father was part of the Devil’s Reach. He’s dead now, but I got accepted in and quickly climbed the ladder in the family.”
I examined his vest and saw the skull on the front and VP patch.
“Trigger is the president, I’m vice, and Rail, who I advise you stay away from, is below me. You’ll meet him tomorrow.”
I rolled my eyes. “Do you like this life?”
He stuffed in a handful of fries and chased it with his beer. “Yup, best life so far.” He eyed me as he thought. “Did they let you leave easily?”
“What’s the bloody guy’s story from this morning?”
Brick tapped his ring against his bottle. I could tell he was getting annoyed with me dodging his questions. “Stole from the club. Does your mom know you’re here?” I was about to change the subject again, but he gave me a warning by crossing his arms.
“She knows I’m not in Vegas.” I shook my head, remembering that morning. “I need to change my number.”
“I’ll get you a new one,” he added quickly. “Are you all right in that apartment? Sorry it’s not closer, but I’m working on that now.”
“No, don’t. It’s perfect. Thank you. As soon as I get some cash coming in, I’ll pay—”
“No, you won’t.” He cut me off and glanced across the bar at someone. “Just don’t leave this time. If you need anything, you come to me, and I’ll help you.” He looked back at me then down to my stomach. “When did you get the tat?”
I closed my eyes briefly and hated that he went there. Inching down my shirt, I shifted.
“Tess.”
“Two months…after you left.”
“How was the funeral?”
I huffed loudly and pressed the pain down. “No money, no funeral.”
His jaw locked in place before he spoke. “They never helped out?”
“You’re forgetting she broke a house rule, Brick,” I muttered darkly.
“Where is she?”
“With a friend.”
“She okay?”
I finally looked at him full in the eyes. “Would you be?”
I saw his chest rise and fall while he thought about it. “No. I wish you didn’t leave me when you did.”
“You know why I did. No sense looking back. It doesn’t—”
“Brick!” a larger man with thin gold glasses and a kind smile shouted in our direction.
“Shit, I gotta go.” He moved out from behind the table. “That’s Big Joe, Trigger’s muscle. If he calls on you, go. His bark isn’t nearly as big as his bite.” He winked as my stomach turned. “Stay. If you want my room, it’s the second door on the right. Take the bed. I have a sofa. If you’re going to leave, Morgan will walk you home.” He leaned over and gave me a quick kiss on the cheek and left.
After I polished off my burger and stole the rest of Brick’s fries, I grabbed my bag and headed out into the quiet street. I would rather get comfortable walking home than spend any more time within those walls.
I needed fresh air.
About a dozen bikes were parked out front, and I wondered which one was Brick’s. One was blacked out completely and looked like it cost more than a house. It was interesting, with thin gold lines that raced along the edges of the bike. If you looked closely,
you could see faint drawings that faded as you walked by it. It was a bad-ass bike, for sure.
My heels pounded the pavement, and I enjoyed the cool breeze on my hot, sticky skin. I couldn’t wait for a shower.
Three blocks, then a right, six more blocks, then a…hmm…
I heard laughing up ahead and saw the guy from earlier who had my cell phone. Damn! I really needed to use my phone so I wouldn’t get lost anymore.
I slipped into an alley and hurried around the buildings. It was dark, but it was better than having to deal with those guys. I wished I knew where the border for the club’s territory was. I wasn’t stupid and knew borders meant everything when it came to motorcycle clubs.
A strong smell hit my nose, and Marilyn Manson’s Beautiful People caught my attention. Sweat, booze, and desperation swarmed in my head and brought some old comfort seeping to the surface. No windows, no sign, just the beat to the song. Pushing the heavy door open, I stepped inside. Neon purple tube lighting swirled down the hallway, escorting me deep into the Dirty Demons strip club.
The bouncer who stepped in front of me was about twice my width. He flicked his head at me to pass. No need for an ID, no weapons check, and no need for male company.
Interesting.
Three platforms had naked women in cages dancing to the beat. The main stage had two women spinning on poles, and another slid across the stage thrusting her hips in a man’s face. The customer tucked a twenty into her g-string before she winked and moved on.
It is a good living.
Slipping into a booth in the corner, I rested my tired feet and ordered a rum and Coke.
I let the music wash over me, and the hairs on my arms stood at attention as the goosebumps pushed them upward. I let my mind wander back to the good old days when things were so much easier.
Mags grabbed my arm as she stepped off the platform. “You’re not really going up there? She’ll kill you if she finds out.”
I tossed my top hat in the air and caught it on my head. “What else can she possibly take from me that she hasn’t already?”
“You’re asking for trouble.”
“Aren’t I always?” I winked and saw her devilish smile widen as she motioned for me to go on.
“There’s a military party in the front. They’re tippin’ hot tonight.”
“What about—?”
“He’s at the bar.”
I gave her a quick kiss on the cheek before I took a deep a breath and felt the rush as I stepped out and locked eyes with him.
“You here for amateur night?” The waitress pulled me from my memory and set my drink down on a black napkin.
I handed her a ten and shook my head when she reached out to make change.
“When is it?”
“Every Tuesday, at midnight.” I nodded, but she stared at me. “You wax?”
I nodded again.
“Real?” She pointed to my boobs.
“Yeah.”
“Impressive.” She looked over her shoulder at her boss, who was watching us carefully. “Well, I’d be happy to see you up there.”
“Thanks,” I muttered into my rum and Coke, avoiding her boss’s nasty stare.
Settling in, I watched the girls and how they moved. Some were better than others. A few of them asked me for a lap dance, but I wasn’t in the mood. Besides, it would only make the addiction stronger.
My hips shook as I dropped to the ground in a split. I swiveled to my stomach and ever so slowly pulled myself back into a sitting position. Rolling backward, I did a somersault and hooked my leg around the pole. Using my stomach muscles, I grabbed the pole with my hand and twisted into a spin. That was, until I saw her wrap her arm around his neck and look in my direction. Her look of hate ripped right through me.
As soon as the song ended, I rushed off the stage and burst through the doors and out into the stuffy night air. I rubbed my fingers over my wrist, over the spot that nearly took me away from this hell. I needed to get away from here.
I nursed my drink until I grew tired. Waving at the waitress, I found my way back outside. I stayed in the cover of darkness until I was at the back of my building then hurried to the front and let myself in.
Pressing eight on the elevator, I sank into the corner and waited for the floor to arrive. My pillow never felt so good.
Chapter Two
Trigger
I woke to find a female hand rubbing my chest. I groaned when I felt the pounding against my skull. Tossing her hand aside, I headed to the shower while she cursed at me and tugged her pants on.
Women were a dime a dozen around here. I didn’t sleep with Peggy. She had been trying to get in my bed for the past three years. She was lonely and desperate, and that was a fucking turn off. Not to mention she had slept with almost the entire club.
Don’t need nothing growin’ down there. However, she did have a pair of lips that were stronger than a Hoover, so I’d allow her to do that. Touching, however, was off limits, and she bloody well knew that.
“No.” I pointed to my t-shirt she was about to pull on.
“Trigger, I don’t have a top.”
I opened my bedroom door. “Not my problem.”
Her mouth dropped as she ripped my shirt off and chucked it at the bed.
“Asshole,” she hissed as she came up to me. She pulled back her hand and attempted to slap me, but I blocked it, grabbing her wrist, and tossed her out of my room. I slammed the door behind her.
Get the fuck out!
The shower helped with my hangover. I knew to stay away from tequila, but last night I didn’t care. I needed to get the guys to keep an ear to the ground. That feeling in my gut that having a prospect and a hangaround outed for stealing in one month meant something was up.
Just as I was tying my boots, I heard a knock at the door. Opening my phone, I glanced at the camera. Brick.
“Yeah.”
He leaned against the door frame with his arms folded and spoke through the door. “I need to take a few days off. I got a call from the hospital that Jilly’s been using, and her boyfriend beat her face in again. Need to go pay him a visit.”
“Take Maze with you.”
He nodded big enough that I could see on the camera. That boyfriend needed to know what a pair of broken knees felt like. Maze was nuts enough to break them on command.
I slipped my cut over my black t-shirt and opened the door. “Do I need to find a new bartender?”
“No,” he chuckled, “Tess doesn’t scare that easily. She may be small, but she has a set of brass balls.”
“Good.”
“She’s good people, Trigger.”
“Time will tell.” The girl wouldn’t last long, which was a shame because she was sexy as shit. Brick stepped aside as I moved past him. “Check in later.” His eyes went down and his face hardened. His sister was a major stress.
“Yeah.”
I sat at the head of the table while the guys filed in. One by one, they took their seats, all chatting mindlessly about their days. Mostly it was Rail giving our prospect shit. The boy better be able to take it. Jace learned enough when he was a hangaround, no excuses. There were thirteen months to go before we voted him in or out.
I waited for Cooper to come in. When he did, he set the sample shipment on the table in the center.
“Brick is gone for a few days.” As soon as my voice was heard, everyone shut up and listened.
“What’s with the little tiger behind the bar?” Gus, my sergeant-at-arms, hobbled in late and took his seat at the corner of the table. Morgan was propped up against the wall and tried to hide his smirk.
Rail leaned out the door to take a look before he whistled. “Those legs wrapped around my head would be all right.” A few of the men laughed.
“Brick brought her in,” Morgan chimed in as Cooper opened the bag and set the tray out in front of the two prospects.
“She his?” Cooper directed his question to me.
“Don’t know.�
� I flicked my joint with my thumb and brushed the ash away. “Cooper, do it.”
Cooper dumped the white dust on the tray and handed the pipe to the prospects. I didn’t want junkies, but I needed them to check my stash. Without hesitating—because they knew better—they leaned down and snorted the blow.
I watched for their eyes to gloss over and to see their first reaction. It was normally the same with my supplies. It hit hard and smoothed you out in three seconds or so. It was a ride that lasted hours without the hard comedown. My blow was the best on the market.
“Fuck me.” Ty, the skinny prospect, rubbed the side of his head then sank back and slid down in his seat. “There’s six different colors of red in here.”
“Good, moving on.” I didn’t need to hear from Jace. He was already a puddle on the floor, and that was good enough for me.
“We set for the desert?”
“Yeah.” Gus nodded as he lit his cigarette. “East coasters will be arriving sometime next week. They were in Colorado, last I heard.”
“Good.”
“We good, boss?” Big Joe stuck his head through the door.
I nodded and noticed Tess behind a table. Her long blonde hair swung around her breasts which at the moment bounced in a member’s happy face. The bar was closed during our meetings, but some of the members liked to hang around to get orders when we were done.
Tess leaned over to pick up a napkin, and her tight little ass got a slap. My heels dug into the bottom of my boots and my hand twisted the leg of the table. The need to drive my fingers through that asshole’s eye sockets nearly brought me to my feet, but the carefully guarded expression that Gus cut me made my senses heighten. I tried to shake the shitty feeling, but it lingered.
I shifted my eyes to where Rail was placing one of the prospect’s hands on the other’s crotch. He smirked when he saw me then sat back in his chair. They knew they could fuck with them, but when we were in a meeting, they usually behaved.
“Tell the guys to move the product. I want cash in three weeks.”
That shut the guys up fast, and they all looked like they didn’t hear me right.
