Mad Dog shook his head. There was no way he could speak. Even to him, Rambo’s story sounded flimsy.
“I might be more independent than Mason likes, but I have to be. You know what I mean. After Paul died, I had to work, run a house, and raise a child.” Ellen shook her head. “I don’t buy it.”
She finished her vodka tonic and then rested her elbows on the bar, rubbing her forehead with her fingers tips.
Mad Dog looked into his empty glass. She needed comforting. He knew the turmoil going on inside her head. He understood the immense pressure she faced and the unbearable loneliness. He felt her brown eyes watching him, and he forced himself to look.
“He’s not involved with anything illegal, is he, Mad Dog? You have to tell me if he is. I have a child to think about. You understand that better than anyone.”
Mad Dog glanced down at the bar and then back to Ellen. Biting his bottom lip, he shook his head. “This is the first I’ve heard about Rambo’s new job.”
He covered her hand with his. “At the rally, he did mention wanting to go to work for Jack. That’s why he invited him. I don’t know why he kept it from you, Ellen. Every man has their pride. I doubt seriously he’d involve himself in anything illegal.”
Mad Dog smiled. “Rambo’s crazy about you. He wouldn’t risk losing you.”
He squeezed her hand. He needed to convince her Rambo should stay in her life. After all, weren’t the Sons of Thunder all about unity? The by-laws weren’t just words written on paper: they defined the man. When you committed yourself to this fraternity, it meant brothers protected one another. When dealt a devastating blow, they had your back. Rambo certainly proved himself in that regard. Mad Dog owed him.
“Everyone lies and everyone deserves a second chance, Ellen.” Mad Dog shrugged. “Maybe Rambo did feel you’d lose respect if you knew what he did.”
Ellen sighed and then rolled her shoulders back. “I want to believe him, but I feel so betrayed.”
She folded her hands in her lap and then with timid eyes looked at him. “Do you ever wonder what would have happened if you had asked me out after the rally?”
“Yes.”
“And?”
“You would have broken my heart because I’m not the man for you. Rambo is.”
Mad Dog hugged her shoulders, rocking her side to side. Understanding the isolation and loneliness Ellen had lived with since her husband died, he preyed upon it. Skillfully choosing his words, he played his trump card.
“We’ve both lost the people we loved the most and have asked ourselves if we could ever find another. You have, Ellen. Anyone can see how much the two of you love each other. So you need to consider what you’d be throwing away. Do you really want Rambo gone? Do you really want to go back to the lonely life of a widow?”
He watched her reaction. Her searching eyes stabbed his conscience, but he didn’t flinch. Instead he smiled and waited for her to do the same. She took a deep breath; her dark eyes softened; her torment subsided. She exhaled.
“You’re right, Mad Dog. Everyone deserves a second chance.” She smiled. “Do you suppose I can talk him in to allowing me to stay? I suddenly feel like partying.”
“I don’t think that’s going to be a problem.” Satisfied he’d eased her mind and saved his brother, Mad Dog ordered them another round.
***
When Mason returned he was relieved to find Ellen in a more cordial mood. When he sat down beside her, she put her hand around his waist and smiled.
“Mad Dog and I had a nice conversation while you were gone,” she said. “He assured me you wouldn’t be involved in anything illegal, which quite frankly, I thought was the reason you lied to me.”
Mason looked at Mad Dog. Mad Dog nodded. The simple gesture conveyed to Mason that his brother had somehow appeased Ellen. Mason nodded his gratitude.
Ellen patted Mason’s knee. “Eventually you’re going to have to pay for your sins, Mason Hackett, but for now I’ll be the dutiful girlfriend and behave myself.”
Ellen kissed his check and then spun around on the barstool so she faced the crowd. “I see Dee Dee over there.” Ellen pointed across the room. “I’m going say, hi. Are you two coming?”
“We’ll be there in a bit, Ellen. There’s some club business I need to discuss with your lover boy.” Mad Dog said.
“I suppose women aren’t privy to club business.”
“Absolutely not!” Mad Dog winked.
Ellen rolled her eyes. “You’re all a bunch of male chauvinist,” she said in disgust. She batted her false eyelashes at Mason. “Don’t be long, sweetie. You never know. I might go off on another club member.”
Ellen blew Mason a kiss, and then sashayed across the room.
Mason watched her. He admired the way her black chaps framed her denim clad butt. Even without being able to see her face, Mason knew she was smiling. He turned his attention back to Mad Dog.
“So what did you want to talk to me about?”
“You know what I want to talk about! Why didn’t you tell me you quit the mill?”
Mason shrugged. “It never came up and besides, you knew what I was planning on doing.”
Mad Dog took a drink of his whiskey. He shook his head. “I was hoping you’d be smart enough to see the error of your ways, but apparently you’re not as smart as I thought you were. Why the hell would you want to work for Jack? He’s an asshole.”
“He pays well and it beats punching in and out on a time clock,” Mason looked across the bar. “Nick, how about another whiskey?” He looked at Mad Dog. “Thanks for covering for me with Ellen. I really appreciate it.”
Mad Dog scowled into his glass. “She doesn’t deserve to be lied to Rambo. If you weren’t my brother, I’d have told her to dump your sorry ass and move on.”
Nick brought Mason his drink.
Mason twirled the alcohol around the bottom of the glass and then drank it down.
“So did that teacher Ellen went to the office with narc you out?” Mad Dog asked.
Mason nodded.
“You want Spider and me to go have a talk with the guy? Convince him he should mind his own business from now on?”
“No!” Mason looked at Mad Dog. “Don’t go causing trouble at Ellen’s school. I think the two of us handled things just fine.” He grinned. “I better go make sure the Black Widow Rider doesn’t get into any more arguments with one of our brothers.” Mason patted Mad Dog on the back. He pointed across the bar. “You see that sweet little blonde angel over there?’
Mad Dog followed Mason’s direction.
A small woman dressed in a not so innocent angel costume smiled at the two of them. She tossed her long, straight hair back with a provocative shake of her head. She stirred the drink in front of her with her index finger and then sucked the nectar from it. Her unwavering eyes watched the two men as she pulled her finger from slightly parted lips, slipped it down her chin, then down her neck until it stopped seductively in her cleavage.
Mad Dog smiled charmingly across the bar at the angel. “I think I’ve died and gone to heaven.” He called to the bartender. “Nick, I want to buy that blonde beauty another drink.” He got up off the stool. “I’ll catch you later Rambo.”
“The chase is on.” Mason laughed and high fived Mad Dog. “Before you go, promise you won’t do anything about that teacher.”
Mad Dog grabbed his whiskey glass. “Whatever you say, Rambo. It’s your call.”
“Thanks man. Be careful will ya, that angel looks like she could cause a lot of damage.”
“I certainly hope so,” Mad Dog said with a grin.
CHAPTER twenty-one
Under the cover of darkness, the bewitching hours of Halloween passed away and the birth of a new November morning went unnoticed by the patrons of the Ritz Tavern. Rows of motorcycles glistened under the moonlit sky as heavy dew settled itself on chrome pipes and leather seats. The parking lot slept except for an occasional disturbance when someone burst into its s
tillness, escaping the fracas inside.
Sitting at a table with Dee Dee, Ellen waited for the officers of Sons of Thunder to come to a consensus as to which lady should win the prize for the best costume. By then she had had too many vodka tonics. The one time she had managed to squeeze into the women’s restroom, a couple of women, while admiring her colors, had offered her hits from the joint they were smoking. Earlier, trying to escape a terrific hangover in the morning, she had asked Mason to get her a glass of water, but she had barely been able to pick up the glass.
“Dee Dee,” Ellen said as she leaned against Dee’s shoulder, “I can’t even remember the last time I’ve been this drunk. How the hell am I going to stay on that damn bike when we leave here?”
Ellen giggled.
“At least you have leathers on. Look at me. I’ve got all these fucking ruffles poking into my ass.”
The two women laughed until tears ran down their cheeks.
Finally Ellen sobered and took a drink of water.
“I think you should get the prize for the best costume, Dee. You look adorable. What’s the prize if you win?”
“Hell, I don’t know. Last year Desi won a bottle of Jack Daniels, and she ended up giving tittie shots to all the club officers.”
“Tittie shots! What’s that?”
“You hold a shot glass full of alcohol between your tits, and the guy drinks from the shot glass.”
“That’s the prize?” Ellen asked, mortified. “What kind of prize is that? I thought you won something like a gift certificate to a spa, a bouquet of flowers, or dinner and a movie.”
“Ellen, this is a club for bikers not the country club.”
Ellen shook her head in disgust. “I had better not win any prize because even as drunk as I am I won’t be letting anyone drink whiskey from my cleavage.”
“You’ve got to lighten up, Ellen. Otherwise you’re going to miss all the fun!”
Finally the group of men broke out of their huddle and came into the bar area. Spider and Mason sat down with Dee and Ellen. Mad Dog stood up on a chair in the middle of the room.
“Ladies, can I have your attention,” Mad Dog hollered. “We’ve chosen a winner for the best Halloween costume.”
Women moved closer to Mad Dog. The naughty angel peered up at him. The men snickered and smiled.
“It’s been a difficult decision.” He stopped, looking around the room.
“Prospect,” Mad Dog hollered to a young man sitting at the bar. “Fetch me a whiskey.”
The young man jumped to his feet and brought Mad Dog a drink. Mad Dog slugged it down and then continued with the ceremony. “Before I announce the winner, I want you all to know that at 2:00 a.m. a limousine service will be here to take your drunken asses home.”
A cacophony of boos, whistles, and cheers rattled the windows as Mad Dog’s hands went up to quiet the mob.
“Rambo, our club Enforcer, has paid for the service out of his own pocket, so please thank the ugly SOB. And don’t even think about riding home, or you’ll find the barrel of his M16 shoved down your throat.”
All eyes turned on Mason who stood and bowed. The room exploded and Mad Dog once again shouted over the noise. “The prospects will stay and guard the sickles until you sober up enough to ride them. So shut up, I want to announce this year’s prize.”
Mad Dog leaned over to set down his empty glass and nearly fell off the chair. The little angel steadied him, and he rose to standing. “This year’s prize is a mustache ride with the biker of her choice.”
Women shouted with delight. One pointed at Mad Dog and yelled, “I know who I’m going to pick if I win!”
Ellen turned to Mason and whispered. “What’s a mustache ride?”
Mason didn’t answer but only smirked and lifted his eyebrows.
“Oh my God, that’s disgusting!” Ellen cried when she figured it out.
Dee Dee and Spider laughed.
“And this year’s winner is….”
Mad Dog’s dark eyes roamed over the crowd and then landed on Ellen. Panic rose up in her throat. She swallowed. When Mason leaned over her shoulders and folded his arms around her, she jumped. Thankfully, Mad Dog’s eyes moved on to Dee and Ellen relaxed.
“This year’s winner is that sexy, little French maid sitting next to our drunk-ass president. Come on up here, Dee Dee Mullen, and claim your prize.”
Men cheered and hooted as Dee Dee rose and walked over to Mad Dog, her stiff, ruffled skirt bobbing like a swan’s tail. Mad Dog jumped down from his perch and then hoisted Dee up on the table. Bowing deeply, her breasts nearly escaped from the costume’s plunging neckline. Mad Dog got up on his chair and continued as master of ceremonies.
“Dee Dee there’s a rumor goin’ round that our president is a poet in disguise. Is that true?”
“I suppose so.” Dee looked dubious.
“Before you claim your prize, we want to hear Spider’s poem.”
Mad Dog waved his hands upward, directing the crowd to respond. The tavern exploded with cheers and stomping feet.
“Well,” Dee Dee said, batting her eyes, “you’ll have to read it, Mad Dog.”
She flashed a wicked smile up at the handsome MC then said, “Get down off that chair.”
Mad Dog obeyed. The room fell as silent as an empty church.
Dee turned. Pulling her ruffled skirt over her hips she bent over, exposing a pair of black silk panties. Mad Dog read the words from her satin-covered bum.
“Little Miss Strumpet
Sat on her tuffet
Drinking her whiskey and coke.
Along came Spider
Who sat down beside her
And soon gave Miss Strumpet a poke.”
Laughter erupted. Mason shook his bottle of beer and aimed it at Spider.
“Don’t you dare, Rambo!” Spider aimed a finger, but Mason lifted his thumb, spewing beer across the table.
Foaming streams dripped down Spider’s handlebar mustache and beard.
Mad Dog jumped back up on the chair. “Time to choose your man.”
Dee Dee considered the men standing along the bar and those sitting at the tables.
“Let’s see,” she said then crossed her lips with her index finger. “Whose mustache do I like best?”
Men called out for her to pick one of them. She laughed and then rubbed Mad Dog’s beard. His scandalous dark eyes smiled back at her. Fascinated, Ellen glanced at Spider, but his expression gave nothing away. Dee spun around and pointed her finger at Spider. “I choose the tall, skinny, red-haired dude.”
Spider sprang from his chair and charged across the room. He grabbed Dee Dee, twirling her above his head. She looked like a doll with white ruffles and black satin skirt billowing out around her. She laughed as he spun her. Lowering her, Dee Dee wrapped her legs around Spider’s waist and her arms around his neck, and the two of them headed across the room. At the bar, Spider stopped and set Dee down on the bar top. Spider blocked the crowd’s view with his body; Dee peeped over Spider’s head.
“Mad Dog!” she hollered.
She snapped something like a slingshot, and the object went sailing into the air. Mad Dog caught it then held it out for all to see. It was her panties. Once again, the room rocked with laughter as the couple disappeared.
Ellen sat in stunned disbelief. She found herself laughing with the rest of the crowd yet was baffled that she would be involved in anything so crude. Mad Dog came over to the table with the little angel. His six-foot-two frame towered over the five-foot tall woman. They sat down next to Mason and Ellen.
“Rambo, Ellen, this is Linda.”
“Nice to meet you, Linda,” they said in unison.
“Think I ought to give these back to Dee?” Mad Dog said, holding up the black panties. “Maybe I ought to keep them and hold that poem up for ransom.”
“Come on, admit it, Mad Dog. You’ve always had a thing for smelling women’s panties,” Mason teased.
“That’s a disgusti
ng thing to say.” Mad Dog pretended indignation. “Even if it is true.”
The men laughed. Ellen shook her head in disgust.
“I need another drink. Blade!” Mad Dog once again hollered to the young man sitting at the bar.
Blade approached. “What is it, Mad Dog?”
The man’s slim frame, shaggy blond hair, and round eyes reminded Ellen of a beagle. A large smooth scar ran along his right cheekbone. He looked weary. Ellen had noticed throughout the night that he had been running around getting drinks for several of the men.
“I need you to get us some whiskey and whatever that lady over there is drinking,” Mad Dog said and pointed to Ellen.
“I’m drinking water. I think I’ve had enough alcohol,” said Ellen.
“And a bottle of water. Tell Nick to put it on my tab,” said Mad Dog.
“Add two more whiskeys to that,” Spider called as he and Dee appeared.
“Sure thing, guys.” The young man left to fetch the drinks.
“That was a quick ride.” Mason smirked.
“I’ve decided to collect my prize at home where I can enjoy the ride at my leisure.” Dee reached up and tweaked the ends of Spider’s mustache.
Ellen was certain Spider was blushing.
“Does that young man work here?” Ellen asked, looking at Mad Dog. “The way you and some of the other men have been ordering him around, I hope you leave him a huge tip.”
“Blade doesn’t work here. He’s a prospect for the club.” Mason picked up his beer bottle and finished it.
“So why is he waiting on us?”
“Because that’s what prospects do. They wait on the members of the club for six months; then the members decide if we want him to be a member or not,” Mason said and slid his hand under the table, rubbing it over Ellen’s leather-covered thigh.
She pretended not to notice. “So he has to be your slave for six months, and then he becomes a member?”
“Only if everyone votes him in. If someone votes against him, then he can’t be a member,” Mad Dog said as he smiled drunkenly at the blonde angel.
The Word of a Liar Page 23
