Persuasion

by Violetta Rand

  “Got it.”

  Lang nodded, confident Sampson would do his job. One of the rewards when a Brother fell from grace was watching him earn his respect back. Holding little more status than a Prospect in his eyes, Sampson would fight to reach the top again.

  He found Lily standing around the big table in the clubhouse watching several Brothers play Heads or Tails with the pass-arounds. As soon as Lily saw him, she gestured for Lang to join her.

  “I don’t understand the point of the game,” she whispered. “They play best of three or five. Call out ‘heads’ or ‘tails,’ flip the coin, the loser takes a shot, and after the coin tosses are tallied, they disappear together.”

  Lang rubbed his chin. “Did you see one of the coins?”

  “No,” she said. “But jocks played drinking games in college all the time. What’s so special about this one?”

  “Hold on.” Lang rounded the corner of the table, grabbed an extra coin, and returned to Lily’s side. He pulled her away from the crowd. “Take a closer look.”

  She studied it, then flipped it over in her palm. “Oh God.” She looked stupefied. “You can’t be serious.”

  He relieved her of the offensive token, taking a closer look himself. The face featured the Sons of Odin insignia with a woman on her knees giving a guy a blow job. The back, a woman on all fours getting fucked doggie-style. He grinned. “Want to play a couple rounds?”

  She glared, then shook her head. “Not today.”

  A man could dream….That’s the side of Lily that needed a bit of corrupting. He pocketed the coin. “Did the game upset you?”

  “Now that I know what’s on the coin? Let’s just say I’m not impressed with how willing those girls are to throw all self-respect away to please a man they’re not committed to.”

  She was entitled to her opinion, but he still couldn’t tolerate her continued misconceptions about what role pass-arounds played in the MC lifestyle. “Oh, they’re committed, Counselor.”

  “Ha!” Dark eyes narrowed on him. “I thought you wanted Maya to grow up with a different set of values.”

  “This has nothing to do with my sister.”

  “I disagree,” she said vehemently. “How can you just turn all this off when you walk through the door at night and hug those precious little girls?”

  He dragged her farther out of earshot of any of the guests. “Because I don’t confuse my worlds. What happens in the clubhouse stays here.”

  “Oh,” she said sarcastically. “How foolish of me, it’s like Vegas.”

  What he’d like to do with that smart mouth…“Most of those women come from broken households and abusive backgrounds….”

  “Fuck, Lang.” She averted her eyes.

  “Stop interrupting,” he said firmly, gripping her shoulders. “We don’t advertise for pass-arounds. They flock to us like lost little birds. In need of basic care and a safe place to hang out. Ask around, Counselor, we treat them better than any other MC. No smackdowns, no rape, no hard drugs allowed on the property. I could arrange a personal tour of the other clubhouses in town if you don’t believe me.”

  Their gazes locked. “So you’re telling me…”

  “I’m trying to educate you, Lily. Most people don’t grow up the way you did—safe and financially secure. Those girls have been kicked around, molested, disowned by their families, and they’ve been through any other kind of bad shit you can come up with. Yes, they fuck my Brothers without a second thought. Yes, we put property patches on them and brag about blow jobs. But if anyone lays a hand on them—messes with one of them in any way—what do you think happens?”

  “I couldn’t say.”

  Lang gave her a gentle shake, then let go. “Yes, you can. Stop with the naïveté act—you know what kind of man I am. Just like I accept who you are. My Brothers come first. That’s the oath I took, the life I chose to live. Before I learned how to crawl, my father slapped a leather jacket on me and took me for a motorcycle ride. As brutal as my world is, there’s justice for everyone, Lily. Real justice. I won’t apologize for who or what I am. Not to you, not anyone.”

  “Sorry I misjudged you again.” She looked as if she wanted to escape. “I forget my place in your world sometimes.”

  “Your place is with me,” he reminded her without hesitation, hoping to put the argument behind them. Growing pains were to be expected. As long as they found resolution, that’s what mattered the most. “Are you hungry?”

  “Starving.” A smile lit up her pretty face.

  “Mexican food?”

  She nodded.

  A few minutes later, they joined Vincent and Tina in the food tent.

  Chapter 23

  Lang’s world suddenly overwhelmed Lily. Regardless of her desire to be with him, she couldn’t comprehend certain things. Like grown men preferring women who didn’t challenge their minds, who possessed little to no self-esteem, no education, and had no likelihood of a stable future. Even more confounding and infuriating was the fact that the girls would submit to that kind of life.

  She spooned rice into her mouth, pretending to listen to Tina’s chatter about the band getting ready to play. She’d apologized to Lang, but had no reason to retract her feelings. After spending years advocating for underprivileged teenagers in Philly, she’d learned things the hard way. Seen the conditions they lived in. The drug and alcohol addiction, physical and emotional abuse, the devastating neglect—kids who just wanted affirmation or to hear someone say “I love you.”

  Few escaped. But the ones who did thrived in military careers or college. Lily wanted the same for these young women. Surely the State of Texas had adult education programs. But if she overstepped her boundaries, she’d anger Lang and likely piss off the old ladies for interfering in club business. Baby steps, she thought.

  Focus on your kids at school. Maya was her main concern now. Nothing changed her opinion of Lang as a caretaker—he’d earned her respect in that department. But whether he knew it or not, he carried his MC persona wherever he went. And without a doubt, as impressionable and bright as Maya was, she most assuredly picked up on it. No wonder she aspired to be an old lady like her mother had been. Out of the mouths of babes…

  “Did you hear me, Lily?” Lang asked.

  “Excuse me?” she said, worried she’d missed something important.

  “We’re taking the kids to the beach tomorrow.”

  “Yes,” she confirmed to Tina and Vincent. “I look forward to meeting Trisha and Leigh.” She plastered another fake smile on her face. “We’re going to have a picnic and Lang is going to teach me how to surf-fish.”

  “Word of warning,” Tina teased. “Keep sharp implements away from Lily.”

  Lang and Vincent chuckled.

  “I’ll try to remember that,” Lang said. “No baiting your own hooks.”

  She’d forgotten about that part. Used to freshwater bass fishing with her father in Pennsylvania, she’d never tried saltwater before. “What kind of bait do you use?”

  Vincent wiped his mouth with a napkin, then cleared his throat. “The usual, puppies and kittens.”

  “Don’t mess with her head.” Tina slapped his shoulder. “Cut bait,” she corrected.

  “We use live bait or fresh dead cut bait—piggies or mullet, maybe some whiting,” Lang explained.

  “And exactly what are we catching?” Her eyes were trained on his.

  “Speckled trout, redfish, sheepshead, whiting, and shark.”

  “Shark?” she repeated, then crinkled her nose. “What do you do with it?” The thought of harming something as magnificent as a shark repelled her.

  Lang laughed at her. “Release it or make steaks.”

  “Definitely releasing it,” Lily said.

  “Sound check, one, two, three…” a male voice sounded over a microphone from somewhere outside the tent.

  “That’s my cue.” Lang climbed to his feet and grabbed his empty paper plate and beer bottle. “I need to check in with the
band.”

  “All right.” Lily took another bite of pork tamales, loving the taste. “This is so good.”

  Lang kissed the top of her head. “So you’re going to stay here and gorge yourself while I go to work.”

  “That’s the plan.” She eyed the short line in front of the serving table. “I need to try the carne guisada next.”

  By ten o’clock, Vincent and Tina were front and center by the stage, dancing to Janis Joplin cover songs. Lily felt relaxed now: a couple more glasses of wine had taken the edge off, and spending more quality time with Lang had helped too. He hadn’t mentioned their disagreement again.

  “You made Vincent a happy man tonight,” she said.

  “Every time we book Troublemaker, the place gets packed. Consider it a practical gift—satisfies my best friend and makes money.”

  “Did I mention the incredible food too?”

  Lang cupped her tummy. “Three plates, right?”

  “And cake.”

  “Don’t know where you put it all, Counselor.”

  “Wouldn’t you like to know?” She finished her glass of wine. “I need the little girls’ room. Which one should I use?”

  He considered for a second. “Do you want me to escort you inside the clubhouse? You can use the bathroom in my room.”

  “No,” she said. “I can ask one of the girls to point me in the right direction. I don’t want you to miss the band.”

  She gave him a hug, and all the trepidation receded. His strong arms had a way of making everything seem better. His hand slid up her backside, tickling the small of her back.

  “I can’t wait to peel that dress off you,” he whispered near her ear.

  She couldn’t either. Lily didn’t want to lose him. If she could balance her personal feelings—learn to accept certain things she might not agree with—the relationship stood a chance. Not everyone wanted or needed to be saved. After spending more time with the women, she’d had a chance to see the camaraderie between them—the real affection. Dysfunctional families were better than none. And who was she to judge if the women were comfortable and genuinely happy? If one ever asked her for help, she’d do everything she could.

  Lang handed her a key ring. “The gold one is for my room.”

  “Thanks.” She kissed his soft lips, then did it again. “You taste good.”

  He growled, then smacked her ass. “Hurry up.”

  She drifted through the crowd, looking over her shoulder to catch sight of Lang once more. Swaying to the music, his ass looked so good in jeans. He belonged to her now—and it rocked her world knowing it. Gave her a little ego boost too. Forget the emotional precipice she’d been teetering on; she needed to learn to graciously accept the gifts life offered sometimes.

  She made it to the clubhouse and found Suzanne in the kitchen.

  “Are you having fun?” she asked.

  “So much,” Lily answered. “Thank you for everything.” She meant it; Suzanne made her feel instantly welcome.

  Suzanne wiped her hands on a dish towel, then tossed it on the counter. “What are you thanking me for? You’re the one who put a permagrin on Lang’s face. Haven’t seen that boy this happy in a long time. Whatever you’re doing, please don’t stop.”

  Lily felt her face flush. “It’s mutual.”

  “Glad to hear it. Can I get you a drink or snack?”

  “God no.” If she ate another bite, she’d explode. “Can you tell me where to go? Lang gave me his key so I could use his bathroom.”

  Suzanne walked with her to a hallway. “Last door on the right.”

  Once Lily was inside his room, she took a deep breath. The last time she stood here, things had deteriorated between her and Lang. However, tonight would be completely different. She’d sleep in that king-sized bed wrapped securely in his arms. Wake up with a smile on her face.

  Just as Lang promised, her bags were on the floor by the nightstand. She grabbed her purse and stepped into the bathroom and closed the door. Glad her makeup looked as fresh as it did, she still powdered her nose and applied lipstick, then combed her hair. A couple of minutes later she opened the door and froze.

  No longer alone, she watched as a man wearing a Sons of Odin vest rummaged through Lang’s dresser, finishing with the first drawer, then yanking the middle one open. The air was filled with tension, and Lily didn’t like what she saw. Sure no one should be digging around in Lang’s space, she decided to make her presence known.

  “Excuse me,” she said, heart hammering. “What are you doing in here?”

  The man swung around, and she immediately recognized him. The asshole who’d assaulted Lang with a beer bottle. What was his name? Loco? No. Moco. Now she regretted not making a quick exit. She fisted her hands at her sides, nervous to be alone with him.

  “Who the fuck are you?” he growled, the bruises Lang left on his face still visible.

  She retreated a step. “Lily,” she said. “Lang’s guest.”

  He threw his head back and laughed. “You mean his latest piece of ass?”

  She could hear her own rapid breaths, and eyed the door—how many steps would it take to get away? “I better go.” She started for the exit, but he blocked her path, the stench of alcohol wafting from his pores.

  “Not so fast. Where is Lang? Why would he let you in his room alone?”

  “Get out of my way, please.” Keep it together, she told herself. Her body trembled.

  “ ‘Please’?” It rolled off his tongue in a maniacal tone. “I like my women a little nervous.” He lurched forward. “If that twat is good enough to keep Lang sniffing around, maybe I should try it too.” He staggered another two feet.

  Her stomach twisted into knots. Lily’s gaze zigzagged around the room, searching for something to hit him in the face with. Anything to buy time. The lamp? Maybe the framed picture on the nightstand? Nothing adequate in reach. The keys…She shifted the ring so one of the keys protruded between her ring and middle fingers on her right hand. The glazed look in his eyes terrified her. “Please step out of the way so I can leave.” Calm and collected—the way she addressed anyone in an emotionally heightened situation.

  He snorted, then charged. Lily held her ground, and the minute he was within reaching distance, she jabbed him in the eye with the key. He howled and cursed, stumbling backward.

  “Fucking bitch!” He covered his left eye, then glared up at her. “That’s going to get you hurt.”

  He rushed her again and Lily screamed—stabbing wildly with the key. He knocked her to the floor, and Lily lost all sense of time. The next thing she knew, someone was yelling.

  “Get the fuck off her!”

  Lily rolled onto her side, trying to catch her breath. She stared in disbelief. Another Sons of Odin member had Moco pinned to the wall by the throat. “Are you okay?” he called over his shoulder.

  “Y-yes.”

  “Good,” he said. “Get Lang.”

  Lily did as he directed, running as fast as she could through the main room of the clubhouse and around the crowd outside. Lang met her halfway to the stage.

  He took one look at her. “Lily? You’re out of breath. What happened?”

  “I-inside,” she started, attempting to control her wavering voice. “Your room.”

  Lang grabbed her hand, then stalked to the building. Once inside, he faced Lily again. “You’re flushed and trembling. Did someone hurt you?”

  Her eyes went wide. She didn’t want to cause problems. “Moco.”

  “Fuck!” He left her standing alone and rushed to the hallway leading to his bedroom.

  “Lily?” Suzanne joined her, rubbing her back. “Where is Lang going?”

  “Moco attacked me when I came out of the bathroom. He was going through Lang’s drawers and I didn’t know what to do—I asked him to let me leave so I could get help.”

  “Did he—”

  “Rape me? God no.” Lily would die fighting before she surrendered her body to anyone against her wil
l. “I stabbed him in the eyeball with this.” Somehow she still had Lang’s key chain in her hand. She held it up.

  Suzanne gave her a squeeze. “I think you need a shot of liquor. Your hands are shaking.”

  “Adrenaline.” That’s what she’d blame it on.

  Suzanne clucked her tongue and guided Lily to the kitchen. She opened a cabinet over the stove and produced a bottle of Highland Park 30 scotch. “Nothing tastes better than a drink from a five-hundred-dollar bottle. My personal stash. Even have a few Cuban cigars if you want one.”

  “No thank you,” Lily said. “The scotch will do nicely.”

  Suzanne filled two glasses, then handed her one. “Salud.” She tapped her shooter against Lily’s.

  “Salud,” Lily returned. She took a hesitant sip; the warm liquid burned her throat.

  “All of it,” Suzanne directed.

  She tipped the glass, sucking it down in one desperate gulp, not really interested in the high-quality taste—but seriously desirous of the foggy-headed aftereffect.

  Chapter 24

  Lang’s fist connected with Moco’s face a third time, and blood sprayed from his nose. “Ever touch Lily again and I’ll fucking kill you. Ever show your goddamned face at the clubhouse again, I’ll rip your head off.” He kneed him in the gut and Moco grunted in pain.

  When Lang backed away, Moco slid down the wall, landing on his knees. “You don’t have the authority to eighty-six me.”

  Lang roared with fury—the stupid bastard didn’t know when to quit. He grabbed a fistful of Moco’s shirt, hoisting him halfway to his feet. “I have the power to silence you forever. Sampson?” He looked to the right where his Brother waited. “Clear the clubhouse—time for the walk of shame.”

  Moco tried to wrestle free of his grasp, but Lang shook him violently. “Stay the fuck still.”

  “Now?” Sampson asked.

  “Yes.”

  “What about the old ladies?”

  “Give vouchers for free drinks at Valhalla to everyone. Let the Prospects and Lily stay. The more witnesses we have, the sooner everyone understands exactly what kind of message I intend to send to the cartel and any other son of a bitch that defies me or endangers this club.”