by Ravenna Tate
Once they were each ready again, Tannin and Rai eased out onto State Route 113 and headed toward downtown Creek Ridge. It was a warm, sunny Sunday so there was a lot of traffic, and as they made their way into the town center, they were forced to move at a snail’s pace. The only difference between this ride and the trails was the people. Chloe thought they actually might have been riding faster on the trails.
They parked the bikes in front of a strip of stores, one of which was Creek Ridge Tattoos. Next door was the place where they had all their cuts made. Gorgon had confided to her this morning that Tannin had ordered a jacket and a vest for Rai, to mark her as his old lady. He was giving both to her tonight.
Gorgon had described which of Tannin’s colors would be on Rai’s cut, and the patch Tannin had designed himself to make the cut unique for her. Chloe smiled as she traced the patch on her own special cut that marked her as Gorgon’s old lady. He had designed it, too, and she wore it proudly.
“Why don’t you two take Rai in there with you?” asked Tannin. “I’ve got to check on something real quick.”
Chloe grabbed Rai’s arm before she could ask what he had to check on. “Come on. Maybe you’ll get some ink, too?”
“What? Me? No way. I’m too chicken.”
“It doesn’t hurt. Just stings a little.”
They opened the door, and Chloe breathed in the fresh scent of cleaning products. Rai wrinkled her nose. “Bleach?”
“Hey, it means it’s a clean shop.”
The owner, Jed Baerens, gave them a big smile and walked over, shaking Gorgon’s hand. “Hey, how ya doin? Who’s gettin’ inked today?”
“Legs has a very special one in mind.”
“Oh yeah? Come on over. Let’s talk about it.”
“Come with us, Rai,” said Chloe.
“I’m fine here.” She stared at the photographs of tattoos Jed had done, plastered all over the wall behind the counter.
“I don’t bite,” said Jed, winking at her.
“She’s Tannin’s old lady,” said Gorgon. “He went next door for a minute. Rai, meet Jed Baerens. He does all the ink for the Brothers and most of the women at the club.”
“Nice to meet you,” said Rai, shaking Jed’s hand.
“Haven’t seen you hangin’ round this bunch before.”
“She’s new, but Tannin got hit by the thunderbolt.”
Jed snapped his fingers. “That’s what you should get, then. A thunderbolt, right through a heart. Come on. Let me show you some designs.”
Chloe and Gorgon exchanged a smile. That was the exact image Tannin had ordered for Rai’s cut. “You should, Rai,” said Chloe. “It would be an awesome surprise for Tannin.”
She sighed, a very uncomfortable expression on her face. “I’m afraid of the needle.”
Chloe took off her left boot and lifted the bottom of her leggings, exposing the wrap-around wreath of tiny roses and thorns that Rai had seen before. “This took two hours for Jed to do, and I swear to you I practically fell asleep during it.”
“That’s true,” said Gorgon. “I was here with her.” He pulled the top of her t-shirt down to expose the butterfly on her left breast, just above the nipple. “Even this one didn’t hurt her. Took Jed about what…”
“About forty minutes,” he said, “only because insects take time to get right or they look like cartoon drawings. Rai, how are you with getting shots at the doctor?”
“Not usually a problem.”
“And, not to be nosy, but any experience with kinky stuff?”
Rai gave Chloe and Gorgon a droll look, and all three laughed.
“I’ll take that as a ‘yes’,” said Jed. “If you can handle that kind of discomfort or outright pain, you can handle this.”
“Look at designs with me,” said Chloe. “Just do that much for now.”
Even though Rai nodded and followed both Chloe and Jed to the room where he kept books filled with designs, she didn’t look convinced. Gorgon told Chloe he was going to go next door, and would be back before she was ready to get her newest ink done.
Jed got called over by one of his artists, and told the women to take their time browsing through the books. Chloe could barely contain her excitement for Rai. Being presented with her very own cut was a big deal. It hadn’t been that long since Gorgon had give Chloe both her vest and jacket.
“Hey, look at this one,” she said. “What do you think?”
Chloe peered over Rai’s shoulder at the stylized image of a thunderbolt, orange in the center with radiating red and purple waves surrounding it. It pierced a blood-red heart, from which tiny hearts dripped instead of blood.
“Wow. Rai, with your coloring, this is perfect. Where are you going to get it placed?”
“I don’t know. Where would you suggest?”
Chloe learned close. “Considering Tannin’s love of impact play, I’d get it put on your butt cheek.”
Her face colored slightly. “Um, my cheeks are currently covered with bruises in various stages of healing.”
“Jed has seen it all. He won’t think anything of it.”
“Okay … but is it safe to put a tat there?”
“As long as the skin’s not open, yes.”
She still didn’t look convinced. “Show me what you’re getting.”
Chloe reached into her vest and pulled out a piece of paper. “This. On my left hip.”
“Oh my God. It’s so you!” They both laughed. “It looks similar to the patch on your vest. Excuse me … your cut.”
“I know, right? That, and it also looks like the sign outside the club. That’s why I want it. Gorgon is over the moon happy about it.”
“I’ll bet he is.” Rai gave her a sideways glance. “Are you happy being his old lady?”
“Very. Why are you asking?” Concern shot through her. “You’re not regretting saying ‘yes’ to Tannin, are you?”
“No. Not at all. I love him like I’ve never loved anyone. I’m just hoping I fit in with the MC.”
“You do. But you’re sure about Tannin, right?”
“Oh God, yes. Absolutely.”
“I don’t mean to pry.” Chloe paged through a booklet filled with butterfly designs. She wanted another one on her right breast, but something different than the one on the left.
“You’re not prying.” She glanced over her shoulder, but the guys weren’t back yet. “May I tell you something?”
Chloe glanced up from the book, hoping this wasn’t something Rai would ask her to promise to keep from Gorgon. “Of course.”
“I’m uncomfortable with what Donny has done,” she whispered.
“You mean to Jennifer and Timmy?”
Her eyes widened. “You know about that?”
“Yes, of course I know. Rai, Gorgon told me everything. Listen, I know this is not what you’re used to, but nothing is going to happen to you. To any of us. We have Donny’s protection.”
“And now I work for him.”
“Exactly. See? He never would have offered you a job if he didn’t know you’re here to stay.”
“Or, maybe he asked me to keep me quiet?”
“But why wouldn’t you? If you betrayed him, you’d betray all of us.”
“I’d never do that.”
“So what are you afraid of? Because I understand you being afraid of Donny himself. He’s very intimidating. But what I’m saying is that he won’t hurt you. He won’t hurt any of us.”
“You thought he was going to force me to have sex with him.”
Heat rose up Chloe’s face and neck. “I need to stop listening to Tarot. I should have known that was a bullshit story.”
Rai glanced around, but no one was close enough to hear them. “It’s not that I’m afraid of him hurting me. It’s that what he did was criminal, but to him it’s simply business as usual.”
“Yeah. It is.” Chloe kept her voice low, but it was difficult not to right now because anger rose up in her, white-hot and intense. “So is w
hat your ex-husband did to you. He took off with another woman and left you to pay off his debt. And so is what Brad did to me. He’s got arrest warrants in this state and he came back anyway, just to harass me!”
Rai nodded quickly. “Okay. Okay. I see your point.”
“Look, I really like you. So does Gorgon, now that he knows you’re in this for the long haul. And Tannin is head-over-heels crazy about you. But you have to decide if you’re okay with who and what we are, because agreeing to be Tannin’s old lady is as serious to him as if you’d walked down the aisle in a white dress. It’s that serious to all of us.”
“I know that, Chloe. I won’t hurt him. I swear to you. I’m very much in love with him.”
“I’m glad to hear that.” Her heart broke at the pain on Rai’s face, so Chloe gave her a quick hug. “It’s going to be all right.”
“I know. It’s just hard coming to terms with losing my company. I worked very hard for it.”
“I know you did. But now you can work hard here, for us.”
Finally, Rai smiled. “And I will.” She glanced down at the books. “All right. Help me decide on a design. I’m getting my first tattoo today.”
Although what Rai had just said sent relief and happiness flooding through Chloe, her words brought back a reality that Rai was possibly unaware of. Rai was still an outsider to some, only because she hadn’t been here as long as everyone else. Chloe had heard the talk. A few of the members and several women were resentful that Rai had shown up and stolen Tannin’s heart within a week.
But not Chloe. She understood Rai, and really liked her. Even Gorgon had warmed up to her. And what Chloe had told her about Tannin’s love was true. He adored Rai. And now Chloe knew without a doubt that Rai adored him, too.
Chapter Nine
They were in Creek Ridge Tattoos so long that Gorgon and Tannin left a second time, while Jed was finishing up Chloe’s ink, to get them all something to eat. Rai sat on a chair next to Chloe, sipping tea one of Jed’s artists had made, to help calm her down after her tattoo. She’d freaked out a little about halfway through it, and Tannin had calmly talked her through getting the rest done.
Chloe was now bored and hungry. She glanced over at Rai, who finally had some color back in her face. “The first forty-eight hours are the worst,” she said. “After that, as long as you keep the area clean, it will heal just fine.”
Rai glanced down at her arm. She’d ended up getting the first thunderbolt and heart design they’d chosen tattooed on her left upper arm instead of a butt cheek, because she wanted to watch it being done. That had lasted less than a minute before she’d had to close her eyes and squeeze Tannin’s hand.
The guys came back in as Jed was putting the final touches on Chloe’s design.
“Almost done,” said Jed.
Gorgon peered over the man’s shoulder. “Damn. That’s perfect.”
“He does great work,” said Chloe. “I can’t wait to see it.”
“We brought you food, too.” He placed a bag on the chair next to Jed.
“Thanks, man.”
As soon as he was done with Chloe’s design and she’d viewed it in a mirror, she donned the mesh panties and loose shorts she’d brought along for the ride home.
“Don’t worry,” said Tannin, as Rai frowned. “We’ll ride slowly. She’ll be okay.” He pulled a chair over and sat next to her, handing her a sandwich. “You should eat something.”
“I’m all right.” She held out her arm. “Are you sure you like it?”
“It’s perfect.” Tannin kissed her. “But the important question is, do you like it?”
“I love it. Really.”
“Christ, you two,” said Gorgon, stuffing his face with fries. “Shut the fuck up before we all go into a sugar coma here.”
“I like that they’re so sweet,” said Chloe, kissing Gorgon’s cheek.
“Legs, we don’t do sweet.”
“Even you can do sweet when you want to…” Chloe reached between his legs and rubbed his bulge. She didn’t care that the other three were right there.
“Baby, you’re playing with fire.” His gruff voice and the way his dark eyes filled lust sent a gush of wetness to her pussy. “And if you didn’t have fresh ink, I’d fuck you right here, on that chair.”
“See? That was sweet. You’re worried about my brand-new tattoo.”
Jed, Tannin, and Rai laughed, but Gorgon narrowed his eyes and returned to his food. “You’re lucky I’m so damn hungry or I’d do it anyway, new ink or not.”
The five made small talk about how the strip club was doing, and the latest gossip in town while they ate. When they finished, Jed had to return to work.
Chloe smiled up at Gorgon. “Do you really like the ink?”
“Now you sound like Rai. Yes, I fucking like it. It’s sexy as hell.” He nuzzled her neck and caressed her left breast through her shirt. “But we’ll have to think of creative ways to fuck until it heals.”
“I’m sure we’ll come up with something.”
Once they were positioned on the bikes, they eased into traffic. Chloe smiled, wrapped her arms around Gorgon, and leaned into his warm, muscled back. This had been exactly the kind of outing she’d needed today. Her man, good friends, new ink, and laughter. For the first time in days she was completely relaxed.
As they made their way out of the town center and down Maple Street, which would eventually merge with State Route 113, Chloe watched the people walking along a row of shops that featured upscale clothing and accessories. A few of the shops were Donny’s, although it was likely no one in town knew that.
There were several cars with out of state license plates, including one from California. When Chloe had been little, she and her mom would play a game as they drove around. They would see who could spot the license plate from the state furthest away from Ohio. If her mom was here now, Chloe would win with the California plate.
California… Her heart pounded. No. It was only a coincidence. She’d spotted plenty of California plates before. They stopped at a traffic light, and she turned her head to the left to avoid looking at the black convertible with the California plate.
On this side of the street was the post office, a hardware shop, and several small specialty stores. Someone caught her eye in front of the hardware store that sent a fresh jolt of fear racing through her. Her temples ached, and the food in her stomach roiled.
She stared at him, not entirely sure it was Brad. She couldn’t see the scar from this far away, and his face was in profile. But the man was the same height, and the same build. His hair color was right, although the rational part of her mind still working told her that lots of men had that same hair color.
Unless he turned toward her, she couldn’t be sure. But if it was him, how in the hell was he simply walking through town, as though he hadn’t a fucking care in the world? The light turned green, and Gorgon opened the throttle. Chloe tapped his shoulder three times quickly, and he eased the bike over to the curb, shouting and gesturing for Tannin to do the same.
By the time Tannin had doubled back to join them, tears ran down her face. Chloe whipped around in circles, searching the front of every shop along Maple Street, on both sides, but the man was gone.
“What is it?” shouted Gorgon, his eyes filled with both fear and annoyance. “Why did you stop me?”
“Brad,” she whispered. “I think I just saw him. Walking in front of the fucking hardware store, in broad daylight.”
“Fuck. Baby, are you sure?”
She shook her head. “No. I’m not entirely sure. His face was in profile.”
“Can’t hurt to take a quick look,” said Tannin.
Gorgon nodded. “Fine. Rai, stay with her.”
“We should call 911,” said Rai.
But the guys were already gone. “They’ll call Donny, not the cops,” said Chloe.
“Do you have Donny’s number? We can call him.”
“That’s not a call I’d feel co
mfortable making even if I knew how to reach him.”
Rai ran a hand through her hair. “This is stupid. The guy is a fugitive. The cops need to know he’s here in town.”
“I’m not sure it was him.” She was an idiot. What if she was wrong? She’d caused all this fuss for nothing, and now Rai was talking about calling the cops. “And even if it was, we prefer to handle things on our own, Rai.”
“Really? ‘Cause I don’t see much handling of this going on at all. I see you scared out of your wits, and those two running into back alleys right now, when the cops should be looking for him, not us.”
Chloe realized Rai wasn’t angry at her, but Rai didn’t understand how things worked. They paid Donny to keep the cops away from the club, not have them swarming all over, questioning the Brothers and sweetbutts about fugitives.
“The cops are aware he’s in Ohio.” If Donny’s men were having trouble tracking down Brad, the sheriff’s office certainly couldn’t do a better job of finding that asshole.
“Well, they’re not doing a bang-up job, then, are they?”
“He might not be staying in town.”
“Then why was he here?”
“I don’t know if he was!”
“If it was him, that’s one hell of a coincidence, Chloe.”
“I know that.” Rai didn’t know about the note. She and Gorgon had decided only to let the other officers know for now. Armed with that information, Rai would be utterly convinced that she had seen him. Chloe wished she’d kept her mouth shut.
Rai swore under her breath as the guys emerged from behind a row of shops across the street.
They didn’t find him. That’s good. That means you were wrong.
Gorgon pulled Chloe into his arms. “No sign of him, baby. Tannin called Vassago, who will get word to Donny.”
“I hope you told him I thought I saw him, not that I was certain.”
“I did,” said Tannin.
“Why the hell can’t we simply call the cops?” asked Rai, her hands on her hips.
Tannin and Gorgon exchanged a quick glance before Tannin took Rai’s hand and led her away from the two. Chloe and Gorgon watched them talk for a few seconds.
