by J. L. Drake
“Sorry, Trigger. You want us to move?” Vib started to pack up her stuff.
I shook my head, and she relaxed. I moved my attention over to Den, who was picking the label off a blue crayon.
“Why you fightin’ with your mom?”
He shrugged. “I’m not good at counting.”
“How do you get good at things if you don’t try?”
He shrugged again.
“You think I just became good at fighting? No, I trained every day.”
“Now you can kill someone with one punch.” His eyes lit up.
“Right.” I leaned over. “So?”
“If I get a good grade, will you teach me a right hook?”
I glanced at Vib, who just laughed.
“You get all of them right, and I’ll show you.”
“Deal.” He held out his hand and I hesitated to shake it, but I did.
“Ah, Trigger?” Ty, one of the prospects, stood nervously by the table. “A word?”
“Yeah.” I stood and moved them away from the family.
“Me and Jace were at the club the other night, and…ah…we think you should see something.”
“What?”
He rubbed his neck as he looked around and stepped closer. “I think you should see for yourself.”
I squinted at the kid and wondered what the hell he wanted me to do. “Now?”
“Yeah, now, boss.”
“This better be something big.”
“It is. Promise.” He rushed out ahead of me, and I signaled for Brick and Rail to follow.
Stepping outside, I followed their lead, which was hard to do.
“We need to drive?” I grew annoyed.
“I would.” Jace shrugged.
Whatever. I started my bike and followed.
This better be fucking good.
***
Tess
I couldn’t spend any more time looking for bartending jobs. There was nothing left in this city. I even tried to work at Walmart, but they had a long list of kids who were more qualified than I was. That was sad, and hit hard.
I had Brick’s bank card, but the night Trigger kicked me out, I promised I’d never touch it. Brick had been my other half for so long that I refuse to become what his sister was. A mooch.
Rain started to fall on my way back home, and the temperature dropped, which was odd, considering it was October in southern California, but on the other hand, it would come hand in hand with my luck lately.
I stopped in my tracks when I caught wind of the music. I ran toward the only place I felt comfortable since I arrived in this city. Avoiding the puddles, I pushed the big door open and was waved in by the bouncer.
“Hey, you!” The waitress from the other night smiled down at me but quickly changed her tone. “You okay?”
“I need to make some fast cash.”
She checked the time then motioned for me to follow. Once out back, she held up a two-piece country bikini.
“My girl got sick. You can have her slot.”
I snatched the scrap of fabric from her hand and peeled out of my dress, kicking it aside. I was comfortable being naked, so when she was talking to me and people were walking in and out, I didn’t think twice about it.
“When you hear Kid Rock “Cowboy,” that’s your cue.” She studied me with a smile. “Here.” She opened a box and pulled out a pair of boots that came above my knee. “You nervous?”
The boots were a half a size too big, but I’d manage.
“No.”
“Good, you’re up in ten. Anything you make up there is yours.”
The mirror reflected back at me—only it wasn’t me. It was someone else.
Holding the curtain back, I watched the girl slink around the stage. She was good, but she sucked on the pole. She was awkward and didn’t know how to slip it through her hands. My guess was she was new, because she had only made about sixty bucks.
She hurried past me, but not before she glared. I got it. New meat meant less money for the others.
My attention went back to the stage when the lights dimmed. I stepped onto the platform and took a deep breath.
Just like old times.
The music started, and I walked out, one foot in front of the other. Nothing was planned; it was all about the feel of the music.
The steel was cool and clean, and I gripped the pole and slowly walked around in a circle. Tossing my head back, I let my long hair trail down my naked back. My breasts hiked up in a skimpy white bikini top, and my ass pretty much hung out of my jean shorts.
With my back to the audience, I slid down the pole while my right leg lifted perfectly straight. Twisting to the side, I swung, hooked my leg, and spun, holding my cowboy hat in place. That gained me some cheers, and I noticed a few men from the back took the empty seats in the front. I moved to the open floor and started to dance. Shaking my hips down to the ground, I thrust my breasts in a guy’s face. He hooted and stuck a ten in my bottoms. Backing up, I sent a wave through my stomach and shook my ass.
Once the music turned into heavy metal, I jumped up high on the pole and tossed my head so my hair was everywhere. One thing I learned was men liked hair. Bills started to pour onto the stage, and the crowd went wild. I forgot what quick cash was like. Quick cash by dancing…was like a high. You dove in with excitement, you partied like a rock star, then you surfaced to reality. You felt cheap after, but at least you could eat.
I caught the waitress grinning at the manager, who had his phone up like he was recording me. Knowing that was my audition, I made eye contact with him. I slid down the pole, spread my legs, and bent forward, rolling my body back up again. I skipped before I jumped into a sexy flip and landed in a split. Huh, nice to know I still got it.
I was held in the high. That was until I slid across the floor on my knees and came face to face with Trigger.
Holy shit…
Brick stood beside him with his arm flexed against his chest. Disappointed. Rail just kept shaking his head in disbelief.
A few of the men moved over to make room for them next to the stage.
Trigger had a murderous expression, and his arms flexed at his sides as he made it clear he was staying put.
So, I did what any other person would do. I rolled with it. Slowly, I hooked my fingers into my bottoms and seductively danced back to my feet. The whole place went wild. The waitress screamed, “Shake it, baby!” from the bar top. Clearly, they hadn’t had any new dancers in here for a while, because I was rusty as hell and there was no way on earth my moves looked that good.
Once in the center stage, I turned my back and dropped low, turning on my shoe in a sexy spin. The men called out all kinds of promises, and I liked it, but this was all lust, nothing more than men with dicks in the crowd.
Spinning onto my knees, I crawled over to one of them like a panther. Each hand peeled off the floor, one in front of the other, just like the way I walked in. Smooth and sturdy.
My hair was big and wild; it fit the crawl well.
He held a fifty to show me the amount and waited for me to lean back on my knees. His cold finger pulled my bottoms away from my skin and tucked the fifty against my pelvic bone.
Just as the song ended, I spun once more before the lights shut off. The tube lighting lit my way out back.
“You hear that?” The waitress screamed over the chant for me to return. “That means you have a spot here whenever you want.”
“Thanks.” I removed my top and hung it on the hanger.
“Where did you learn your moves?” She sat on the stool while I wiggled into my bra.
“A different life.”
“Well, you, my friend, just found your ticket to a better life.”
I almost laughed. Little did she know I had been running from that life for years now.
“Tess!” Trigger barked out as he pushed the curtain aside. His eyes dropped to my bare breasts as I clipped my bra in the front.
“Nice to see you agai
n, Trigger.” The waitress swooned over him. Of course, they’d slept together. Who hadn’t? Well, me.
“Dammit, Tess.” Brick popped his head in then turned around to block his eyes. “What the fuck are you doing here?”
“Since I got fired from my last job,” I hissed at Trigger, “with no warning, I was left to pick back up where I started a few weeks ago.” My dress was still wet, but it was better than the cowgirl outfit.
“I need a drink and some acid for that memory to burn away.” Brick disappeared from Trigger’s side.
Always so dramatic.
“Not me,” Rail chimed in from somewhere.
Trigger made a face, and I heard footsteps.
“Ivy, could you give us a moment?”
She rose and gave me a hug. “You were amazing. The way you moved your body did fine things to my lady bits. You ever want to have a fun night, you know where to find me.” She leaned in for a kiss. Her lips pressed softly onto mine, and for a show, I played back. She tasted good, like a fruity drink. Although I could only taste her for a moment before Trigger pushed her toward the door.
He stepped up and loomed over me.
“I have never wanted to hurt you before right now.”
I held my ground and stepped a little closer to show him I wasn’t scared.
“Well, that’s too bad for you.”
He smirked, but it was laced with something else. I spun to face the mirror and counted my tips. I had at least six hundred. Trigger’s front pressed into my back, and I caught his eyes in the mirror. He leaned forward, trapping me in with his arms, and his lips brushed by my ear before he spoke.
“You will never dance here again.”
“Is that so?”
“Ummhmm,” he hummed, and I felt my body tune in to his.
“Why is that?”
“Because I own the place.”
Fuck.
He chuckled as he watched my new job be suddenly sucked away.
“Whatever. I have enough for a bus ticket. I can move on.”
“You’d do that to Brick?”
Fuck, he plays dirty.
I tucked my cash in my bra and turned to face him. He stood but didn’t step back. He held his ground so my breasts pushed into his solid chest.
“Why was I fired?”
His face twisted, and I couldn’t understand why.
“Take a ride with me.”
“If I say no?”
“You won’t.”
Chapter Five
Trigger
The manager, Billy, had his phone out on the counter. When I walked by, I smashed it into the wall. He didn’t dare say a word, but he got it. He would never video her again. I pushed Tess to move forward, keeping my hand on her hip to guide her.
Once outside, she stopped by Brick, who was already on his bike.
“You promised me, Tess.”
She shook her head and shifted her purse on her shoulder. “Rough night, that’s all.”
“Don’t slip back. You know—”
“Got it, Brick,” she snapped. I looked at the two of them. I hated this shit. I didn’t do this shit.
“Get on.” I pointed to my bike and tossed a helmet at her.
“I’ll walk.”
“Tess,” Brick warned and shook his head. Smart man. She had pushed me to a dangerous point.
She licked her lips and reluctantly put the helmet on and swung her bare leg over the wet seat.
The guys went on ahead by my command, and I waited for her to get settled. Of course, she sat way up on the seat. I reached back, grabbed her legs, and hauled her to me.
“Hey!” Her hands hit my shoulders to stabilize herself. “Trigger, you don’t—”
I started the engine to cut her off. Her hands gripped my sides as I moved out of the driveway.
“You’re such an asshole.”
I smirked at her comment; I was an asshole.
Instead of driving her home, I drove to the pier. It was late—or early, depending how you thought about it—around 3:30 a.m., and I didn’t feel like I could let her out of my sight yet. We had some things to discuss.
When we pulled onto the PC Highway, she tapped my shoulder.
“Where are you taking me?”
I ignored her, which only pissed her off further.
“Hey!” I felt her chest press into my back. When I didn’t react, her hand slipped up my thigh, palmed my erection, and squeezed it with a tight grip. “Answer me.”
Her head dropped down when I reached between her open legs. Her soft skin greeted me as I stroked along her opening. The pad of my finger broke the seal, exposing her arousal. It coated the tip and allowed me easy access. We were heading down a straight stretch, so I could really feel her. She rocked slightly, stroking me to the rhythm. Speed, weed, and sex were what I craved. I purposely slowed to circle her swollen bud.
Her grip on my erection tightened. Heat pulsed over my slick skin.
We were alone, and it was dark, and the rain was a light mist. The bike vibrated under my hand, which only made her climb faster. She started to rock in a wave while I watched the red light. Her moan had my dick begging for a dip.
Just as I felt her breathing pick up, I pulled my fingers free and drove forward.
She smacked my arm in frustration. I loved the fact she let me do that. Some girls would have been mortified.
“I’ll do it myself then,” she muttered. I shifted to hold her hands in place around my stomach. Her legs flexed then her head hit my back. “I hate you.”
She was sexually frustrated, which meant she should listen for five fucking seconds.
Pulling into the empty lot, I carefully parked my bike behind the information center inside the gate. I knew the bright light of the street lamp would provide a contrasting heavy darkness to protect my bike from view, and I turned off the engine. I waited for her to join me, but she was even more pissed off at me now. It was a learning tool. She needed to know who was in charge.
“Take off your boots.”
Her eyes narrowed in on me as she pulled her purse further up her arm. “Why? You gonna kill me?” She unzipped them and placed them by the bike.
“Don’t tempt me.” I freed a bottle of whiskey from my saddlebag and put her boots and purse inside.
The corner of her mouth lifted. “You’re not as scary as you think you are.” She smiled over her shoulder and headed for the sand.
I scratched my beard as I walked behind her. How could something so small and sexy have such a reckless personality?
She stopped at the waterline and looked back at me. “I’ve waited a long-ass time to dip my toes in the Pacific. Will you allow me to do so?” Her pissy face make me smirk, and she rolled her eyes before she carefully waded into the dark water.
I sat under the pier and leaned against a pillar. I lit a joint and unscrewed the bottle to take a drink.
I had a lot to think about, and she was fucking with my head. I needed to get my fill and toss her off to one of the other guys.
“Arms up, feet shoulder width apart, weight on your back heel,” Langley, a small Asian man Allen hired to be my coach, barked at me. “Now, when I come at you like this…” He lunged, but I hopped to the side. He smiled and gave me a little nod. “Good.”
“Boy can fight. Skip the basics and try him out.”
Langley looked back at me, and I could see he was torn. I gave him a little nod to let him know I was all right with it. I didn’t have a choice. And since this was my third coach in a month, I was tired of having to train from the start every time.
He raised his hands in the fighting position and came at me with a roundhouse. I ducked and slammed his ankle. He narrowed his eyes and brought his hands up again.
“You sure you’re ten?”
“Yes, sir.” I rarely spoke much, but I knew there was something a little different about Langley, and I tried not to let my father see I liked it.
Four more hours in the ring, and Langley gave A
llen the green light to let me fight with one of his other clients. We would do one more month of training, then I was free to fight. Free. Interesting choice of words in my situation.
***
I should have been terrified of my opponent. He had at least eight pounds on me, but he was my age. There were at least some rules that they followed in order to keep the bets coming in. Bets meant money, and money was everything. However, what scared me the most was the tall man standing on the sidelines cursing my life if I lost this fight.
“Got two grand on you, boy. You lose, and you’ll get more than a sleep in the basement.”
Langley stepped in my view and leaned down. “Quick hands, quick feet.” He pointed to his head. “Quick mind.”
The bell rang, and I stepped into the middle and slapped the kid’s hand.
“Let’s do this!” the announcer screamed into the microphone.
Everything around me went dark and silent. All I focused on was my wild heartbeat. This wasn’t right. We were kids. We were supposed to be running around in the mud and playing cops and robbers, not standing inside a ring fighting to near death for a few grand.
“Fight, boy!” Allen screamed as the big kid’s fist hit my head so hard my ears rang. That shot a wave of darkness through me, and all I saw was Allen standing in front of me with the fire poker. Suddenly, a switch flipped, and I went somewhere else.
The next thing I knew, my knuckles were raw, blood splattered my chest, and the boy was on the ground, barely breathing. The crowd was wild, and the announcer was holding my arm in the air.
“You won!” Allen screamed inches from my face. “You will fight tomorrow too.”
“Ahh, the boy should rest, and we need to get his head checked.” Langley stiffened when Allen whirled around and stuck a finger in his face.
“You’re a dime a dozen. Remember that, Chang!”
Langley stopped me from following Allen into the little room.
“You will see a doctor tonight. If you’re well enough to fight, then fine. But,” he turned to Allen, “we have a contract. I will make the call if the boy fights, not you.”
