by Zara Teleg
“Why the fuck do we need to wear this shit?” Jonah groaned.
The four of us held up the masks. At least they were not full of glitter.
“Mine’s cool, it reminds me of the Phantom of the Opera,” Hack said, adjusting his.
We all turned to look at him.
“What? Do not tell me you have never seen it?”
Jonah’s stare was cold, like he couldn’t get how Hack ever became a part of the club.
“You’re lucky your talents are valuable,” Jonah said as he ripped his mask off.
“You are missing out. You guys need to be more open to what you don’t know.”
A ball of socks hit Hack.
“You’re just pissed ‘cause you look like Zorro,” Hack joked.
“Mine suits me.” I grinned, admiring the silver half-wolf face that stared back at me. “I may even keep this.”
This time, it was a shoe that hit me.
“Hey, cut that shit out,” I told Ledger, who was laughing under a black devil mask.
“I want that one, trade me.”
“No way, man.”
The four of us parked our bikes in the valet lot of the club. The VIP line moved quickly. Music boomed on the street; lights were crossing in the sky above us. There were circus performers outside. A jester was riding a unicycle. Someone was juggling fire on the rooftop, entertaining the crowd below. He tossed the flaming batons in front of the black and gold sign that read Voodoo in melted writing that bled into a skull with a crown and roses. If it was this crazy outside, I couldn’t imagine what it would be like inside.
The line reached around the block. Loads of women and men were dressed up in crazy outfits, all wearing masks. Security strolled up and down the block. There was so much bare skin, I didn’t know where to look. We got closer to the door, which was flanked by large bouncers on each side. We stepped up, each handing them a black and gold ticket.
The velvet ropes led into the club, where everything was lit in black lights. Cages hung from the ceiling with both men and women dancing in them, their bodies painted in florescent colors that glowed in the dark. The techno music was thumping like a heartbeat.
“Hey, boys, glad you could make it. Vice will be happy to know you’re here.” A six-foot blond diva in S&M leather chaps with little more than a thong greeted us, leading us to the booth marked VIP SOULS.
She placed four glowing orange shot glasses coated in ice on the table. “Voodoo brew, compliments of the house.”
“Vice really brought his vision to life.” I was impressed.
A group of women dressed as fairytale characters squeezed around a table, all in little more than lingerie. Their laughter rose over the music. I watched as men sent tray after tray of shots and drinks, all to be turned away as they approached the women’s table. A petite brunette wore a rhinestone Birthday Girl tiara on her head; she was a sexy Little Red Riding Hood. She was shorter than her model-stature girlfriends. The boys and I were paying close attention to our surroundings, nursing some beers, watching out for any possible club-related incidents.
“Excuse me.” A woman’s voice shouted over the music as she tapped on my shoulder.
“Hi.” I couldn’t help but smile at the gorgeous Rapunzel who stood before me. Her long fake hair was the only thing covering her tits; her blond locks almost reached the floor. “See my friend over there?” She pointed to Red Riding Hood who was giving me eyes as she bit on her straw. “It’s her birthday, and we were wondering if we could take some pictures of her with the Big Bad Wolf,” she said and squeezed my bicep.
“Uh…I don’t know.” I felt like I was stepping out on Paige if I entertained this.
“Come on, Kai, help the lady out.” A hand clapped my shoulder. It was Vice.
He took Rapunzel’s hand and kissed it. “My lady, lead the way.”
Vice was a ringmaster in a top hat, holding a whip. He wore a vest with no shirt underneath. All his tattoos were displayed and embellished with glow-in-the-dark body paint. Vice’s blue eyes were covered in glowing contacts that pierced through the devil’s mask that covered half his face. He was really all-in tonight.
I looked back at my table. Ledger, Hack, and Jonah seemed to be enjoying the show, all holding up a shot to me.
Vice took pics with the ladies and had Red Riding Hood posing on my lap.
“I’m Sam,” she yelled over the thumping bass.
“Kai.”
Vice got hold of a mic and jumped on the ladies’ table.
“Hello, everyone! I’d like to thank our house DJ, The Conjurer, for mixing it up tonight.”
The crowd cheered, screamed, and whistled. Women were flashing their breasts.
“I wanted to introduce myself. I’m Vice, and I will be your ringmaster tonight.” Again, more screaming, shouting, and flashes of beautiful breasts.
“Yes, ladies!” Vice spun, pointing them out. “Can I get you all to say happy birthday to Sam tonight?” He took her hand and brought her onto the table. He crooked a finger at a waitress, who poured two flaming shots.
“On the count of three.” He held his fiery shot in the air. “One. Two. Three.”
“Happy birthday!” hundreds of people all chanted while Vice and Sam downed their drinks.
I helped her off the table. “Have a happy birthday, doll,” I said before I started to move back to our table.
“You’re leaving?”
“I gotta hang with the boys a while longer.”
She pressed her body into mine and brought her bright red lips to my cheek. “I hope you come back and I can see who’s under the mask,” she spoke in my ear, sending heat straight to my dick.
I just nodded and joined Vice.
“You didn’t bring that little cutie from the store?” Vice looked around like Paige was going to magically appear.
“Not tonight. I’m here on business, remember?”
“I do remember, and I appreciate you guys showing up. It won’t be forgotten. I hope we have no cause for concern, but there has been a whisper of threats, so I wanted to take all precautions.”
Vice talked to us for a few more minutes before he was called away. He made sure our waitress kept the drinks coming.
Paige
“Thanks, Paul.” Amber kissed his cheek as we stepped out of the vehicle. We still had a block to walk. There were police ushering the traffic around Voodoo and controlling the line, which extended a few blocks.
“Are you ready?” Amber squeezed my hand.
A spark of excitement rushed through the fear as I admired all the people who dressed up for the event.
“Amber, watch out!” We both jumped back as a man juggling on a unicycle nearly ran us over.
“That was close.” We chuckled as we stepped into the much shorter VIP line.
“Let me take one last look at you.” Amber turned me around, fussing with a piece of my hair. She moved the skull on my choker to the center of my neck and then pulled on the long silver chain that I had tucked between my breasts.
“No.” I stopped her. She held the medallion in her hand and flipped it front and back.
“Venom.” The named rolled off her tongue. “It goes perfectly with your outfit; you should display it. Where did you get this anyway?”
“It’s sentimental.” I stuffed it back in my bustier.
We were two people closer. ‘Freaks’ by Timmy Trumpet featuring Savage blared from the outdoor speakers, sending a thrill of anticipation through me.
The bouncer waved two fingers at us.
“ID?”
We both opened our tiny clutches and handed him our cards.
“Tickets?”
I plucked out the shiny black and gold cards and handed them to him. He gave them a hard look making sure they weren’t fakes. A few people ahead of us tried that and were kicked out.
“Have fun, ladies.” He ushered us through the velvet rope.
Amber held my arm and began bouncing up and down. “This is so awe
some.”
She tugged my arm in the direction of a roped off area with a neon sign above it that glowed VIP. I dug my heels in and stopped her.
“Are you crazy? We can’t go in there. Kai and who knows who else are in there. I stole these tickets from them, remember?”
“Shit, yeah, I guess you’re right. But, hunny, they aren’t going to recognize you anyway.”
“I can’t take that chance.”
We squeezed our way to the bar, which was four people deep. Amber waved a fifty and got us two shots.
“Voodoo Brew is on special.” The gorgeous bartender, whose face was painted like a skull and who wore a necklace of bones, passed the bright orange drinks our way. We hooked arms and shot them back; the creamsicle flavor had a fiery finish.
I couldn’t take my eyes off the contortionist in the cage dangling above the tables. She moved her body sensually and then bent her back so that her face appeared between her legs.
“Bottoms up.” Amber handed me another shot. “Let’s dance.”
She took my empty glass, placing it on the tray of a waitress passing by. She led me through the sea of half-naked, sweaty bodies moving to the music as the DJ mixed the sounds. It didn’t take long for the alcohol to take effect. I was too nervous about tonight to eat today. My body became loose as I let myself give in to the beat. Amber and I danced together, our bodies in sync, grinding and swaying. She waved over a shot girl who carried buckets full of Voodoo Brew.
“I got it.” A deep voice handed a fist full of cash over my head, and four vials were plucked from the glowing ice buckets. His lips curled upward, and his teeth gleamed white under the blacklights. His mask was silver metal and met his sharp jaw.
“Thanks, sexy.” Amber licked her lips. He moved his over-six-foot muscled body behind hers and danced to the music. His not-so-bold friend wore a sugar skull over his face. He began to dance with me, my self-consciousness fading with each drink. I surrendered to the feel of his body. They bought us another round before guiding us off the dance floor for a much-needed break.
“Where are we going?”
His hand was clammy as he escorted me through the crowd. Amber held my other hand as the four of us squeezed through the walls of people. I stumbled to a halt when the roped-off area was opened for our dance partners.
I looked at Amber, who waved at me and yelled, “No one will recognize you.” It must have been the drinks because I just followed them to their table.
“I’m Havoc.” The man leaned over, speaking into my ear.
“I’m Pa— Tink. I’m Tink.”
His grin was sexy as he took the seat next to mine. Tingles covered my body when a medallion peeked from the dip in his shirt. I swallowed, trying to make out if it had the same markings as what I had hoped to find tonight. The deep etching of the crown became visible in the light; panic and elation coursed through my veins. He was a King.
Havoc’s friend was called Vandal, and they relaxed in their chairs as a few other men began showing up. The conversation did not come easy over the blaring music and screaming patrons. Breasts were being flashed everywhere I looked. I might have been more than halfway to drunk, but my girls were not coming out.
Amber planted herself in Vandal’s lap, her face stuck to his. A squabble had started right outside the VIP area, which was quickly resolved by two ginormous bouncers.
“Sorry about that. Your next round is on me.” A man in a top hat offered to the table before heading our way. Even with the devil covering his face, Vice’s tattoos gave him away. My head shifted down; I tried not to get noticed as he spoke to his men. When he leaned into Havoc, my ears snapped to attention.
“Keep your eyes on them. Kai and the Souls are right over there.”
My eyes followed their line of sight to the Souls’ table. I saw four men who looked to be having a good time with a group of women dressed as fairytale princesses.
“I got Sam and the girls to keep them company. The Souls are here if any other clubs show up to start shit. I still don’t trust them, but as long as Vicious does, we’re glad to have the numbers if there is trouble.”
“The girls will keep them busy. They always do.” Havoc’s smile was wicked as he and Vice bumped fists.
“Looks like you two found your own distractions.” Vice picked up my hand, kissing it and then Amber’s. The devil suited him.
“Make sure my boys treat you ladies right.” He tipped his hat. A tray of tequila, lime, and salt was placed on the table.
I stayed fixated on the group of women dancing at the Souls’ table. The wolf appeared behind Red Riding Hood, his hands on her hips, moving to the music. My body trembled and my stomach lurched. A sudden fever ripped through me as I squeezed my hand so tight, my new nails cut into my palms. I used my eyes to get Amber’s attention, nodding my head to where I was looking. Her smile faded as Kai’s low ponytail and godlike build exposed his hidden identity.
“Fuck him,” she mouthed and held up a shot.
I clutched the glass in my hand and tossed it back, then quickly sucked on a lime to calm the sting of the tequila.
“My turn,” Havoc’s voice was sexy and demanding.
“Bite.” He placed a lime wedge between my teeth before his tongue slid down my neck. My body broke into shivers as he sprinkled salt over the area. His tongue was soft as he licked off the salt before he took the shot and placed his lips over mine, sucking on the lime.
My cheeks flamed. His finger lifted my chin when I wouldn’t make eye contact.
“Hey, don’t be shy. I want to see the beauty under that mask.” His finger tucked under the glittery edge, pulling it away from my face.
My hand quickly stopped him. “Not here.”
“Alright, then. We can bring the party to the clubhouse.”
“Clubhouse?” I pretended not to know.
His grin turned mischievous as he held my chin between his fingers.
“My motorcycle club. I promised my brother I would stay a little longer, but I’m sure he will understand.”
Havoc’s hands went to my waist, lifting me onto the table as the DJ encouraged women to get up and dance. Vandal placed Amber on the table with me. The music flowed through our bodies. The flashing lights and beat made me almost forget my mission. I looked at the table where Kai and his brothers sat, watching their princesses dancing.
I nearly froze when the wolf turned my way. He watched me dance and couldn’t seem to pull his gaze away. I wiggled my body up and down Amber’s, stealing Kai’s attention from the ladies that were practically stripping in front of him. The same pull that brought us together was drawing us in again, even through the hundreds of people in this club.
Amber’s hands roamed up and down my body. Kai seemed to be enjoying the show and watched until the little red bitch jumped in his lap.
Fury sparked my decision as I looked at Havoc, who was devouring me with his eyes. I offered him my hands, and he guided me down, but I still crashed into his hard chest.
“Doll, you are such a tiny thing,” he said by my ear.
“Can we get out of here now?” My heart thumped and stomach convulsed as the bitch’s hands touched Kai everywhere. Her face leaned into his and I had to look away.
Havoc weaved us through the people. Vandal said he and Amber would be along later. Havoc seemed nice enough, and I hoped I was not making a huge mistake leaving with him.
We were at the back door and I caught one last look at Kai. He was watching us leave. His eyes were on me the whole time, like he knew who I was. I straightened my back and turned away.
“Babe, I have my bike. You okay to ride? It’s only a few miles up the road.” Havoc asked.
“I am, but are you?”
“I’m always ready.” His voice was soft in my ear and sent a shiver that had goose bumps breakout through my whole body.
His sport bike was parked outside the back in a private lot. As soon as we got outside, Havoc removed his mask, revealing his face, whi
ch was more handsome than I expected.
“You going to take yours off?”
I tried to play coy. “Not yet.”
When he placed me on the seat, guilt and fear began to send off warning bells. He handed me a small army-style helmet and started his bike, the rumble vibrating through every part of me.
A group of people then walked out of the building, lighting smokes. I spotted Kai and the girls in his group. They looked at us when the bike revved. A sudden boldness took over me. I grabbed the mask and ripped it off, looking straight at Kai.
“Go,” I squeezed my legs around Havoc, placing my head on his back as I watched Kai’s face morph in realization as we zoomed from the lot.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Paige
My arms were a vice around Havoc as his bike flew through the air. It was nothing like riding with Kai. It was the longest eight minutes of my life until we finally pulled onto a long private road.
Signs with Do Not Enter, Private Property, and Unwelcome Visitors May Be Shot on Sight peppered both sides of the road, all written in a blood-red, murderous script. The hairs on my arms pricked as we approached the gate where two armed men stood guard. I swallowed hard, practically hiding behind Havoc.
He placed a hand over mine. “It’s fine. We don’t like unknown visitors.”
The men nodded to Havoc, opening the gates. This was a compound. It did not look friendly or inviting. Nothing like the Stained Souls’ clubhouse. There was freaking barbed wire along the whole fence. Havoc’s bike came to a stop next to a few others. He cut the engine and climbed off, noticing I had removed my mask.
“Holy fuck, you’re beautiful.”
I couldn’t respond. My eyes were wildly taking in the space. A knowing in my stomach made me think I had made an awful decision.
“Come on,” he said.
My legs wobbled as I followed him onto the ratty old porch. A giant was leaning against a column at the end. He was smoking a bowl with a moaning girl between his legs, his beer belly bumping her head. Gross.
“Havoc,” his gruff voice announced. “Nice pickup.”
