Ghost

by Mackenzie, Carson

  “We can sit at one of the tables. What’s up?” Dare asked.

  “Got a proposition for you,” Brax said and just like that the two men moved away and sat at one of the tables.

  “Well, guess that leaves us,” Tank said and motioned for me to follow him.

  In Tank’s office, I sat in the chair in front of the desk. He had a nice list of some of the top strippers who bought in good crowds wherever they were showcased.

  “So what do you think?” he asked.

  “Good list.” I reached for a pen off the desk and marked through two names. “Gonna want to stay away from the couple I marked off. Rumor is they don’t bring a take like they used to do, and their attitudes aren’t worth any rise in revenue.”

  “What about the rest?”

  “Few names on here I’ve not heard of, but they could be up and comers. If their guaranteed amount isn’t much, you could give them a try. You’re going to want to stick to weekends only for the spotlight spots. One every two months to start so it will give you an idea if it’s going to be worth the club’s time. You start drawing in a client base, then move to a showcase a month. Line them up and have them booked, then advertise beforehand,” I said and continued down the list, rating the ones I knew of with stars.

  “I really appreciate you taking the time to look at this. Gonna be a problem if I ask for help if I come up against something I don’t know how to do or deal with?”

  “Not a problem. Just call me, I’ll help if I can.” I handed the list back. “Number seven, Limber Lacey? Never seen her on the stage but, heard she can do shit on the pole that will bring the first night crowd back the next night.” I laughed when Tank picked up a highlighter and marked the name with it.

  We discussed a few more of the women on the list and Tank asked a couple more questions. After we finished, I stood and so did he.

  “Guess if I’m gonna pretend to run this place, I better check on Perry. He could have the prospects hung up and skinning them.” I laughed at Tank as we walked out of the office and headed back into the main area.

  When we turned toward the table area, I heard a woman’s laughter and then saw her as she leaned her hip on the table Dare and Brax sat at. I also noticed my man had an irritated look on his face as she spoke, then ran her hand down his arm, leaning as she did it to where her tank gaped open enough that the men would be able to see down the top to her breasts.

  She was poured into a denim skirt that looked as if it would fit Speed’s daughter. Her hair was pulled into a messy ponytail held with a clip and on her feet were flip-flops. I noticed she had a little sweat beaded on her forehead, too.

  Skank was my thought as we approached the table.

  “Lindy, what are you doing here?” Tank asked as we reached the table.

  “Oh, sugar, I left a few things in my locker that I needed. Knew someone would be here to let me in,” she said and stood from her position, then looked me over.

  “You usually are at the diner on Mondays. Did you leave Ma shorthanded today?” Tank’s tone of voice on the question had me glancing at him. I got the feeling it wasn’t the first time Lindy had done it.

  Instead of answering Tank’s question, she asked him one, “Interviewing a new girl?” Then she turned and looked at Brax without waiting for Tank’s answer. “Let me know when you’re ready to get back in the game, big guy. Standing offer on helping you get over your troubles.”

  Brax opened his mouth, but I didn’t give him a chance to get any words out. “Ah, sugar,” I used the same tone as Lindy did when she spoke to Tank. “Big guy doesn’t need what you offered, I already fucked his troubles away.”

  Dare turned his head away and coughed, and Brax sat there with his eyes crinkled at the edges while his lips twitched.

  “Lindy, if you’d given me a chance to answer you might not have embarrassed yourself. I would have introduced Ghost’s ol’ lady,” Tank said, and when Lindy just stood there, he continued. “Didn’t you need something out of your locker?”

  “Yeah, I should grab it, so the rest of my day off isn’t wasted.” Lindy gave me one last look and turned to walk away.

  I noticed she had a slight limp as she moved. I frowned as I watched her until she was out of sight.

  “Something wrong, baby?” Brax asked, and I looked back at him.

  “Black Hawk okay with their girls using?” I asked, and all three men frowned at me.

  “Fuck no, had a problem a few years back with drugs running through, but that was cleaned up. That is when Sami started managing the place,” Tank answered, but still frowned at me.

  “Luna, what would make you ask that?” Brax asked.

  “Well, I would bet money that Lindy is using. She had several signs. Sweating while the room has a chill to it. Her hands shook a little. I’d say she is coming down and left her stash in her locker.”

  “Tank, you better call Crusher,” Dare said, and Tank nodded and pulled his phone out.

  “Damn, Luna, I didn’t even notice that shit when she was standing right in front of me,” Brax said, and I couldn’t stop myself from at least giving him some attitude.

  “Probably because you had a set of big breasts in front of your face,” I said without any trace of humor.

  “Bullshit, and for the record, I wouldn’t have touched that even if I was told it was lined with gold and wishes were granted when you entered it,” Brax said. I was unable to hold my stern look with his expression of disgust.

  “Sweetie, I always knew you had good taste,” I said and moved to give him a kiss.

  “Prez and VP are on their way with Speed. This is going to get ugly. Unless she has some shit on her or in that locker of hers, she’ll bitch and deny it. We’ve not been diligent with the drug testing other than when a new girl is hired. Shit, that isn’t going to go over well either,” Tank said.

  “Hard for strippers to hide shooting up, which I’d say she is. Needle marks would be visible. There is only so much you can cover with make-up. So I would look between her toes.”

  “Come on, Luna, I heard that shit hurts like a bitch. And you have to be spot on with the needle,” Brax said.

  “When she walked in, she had a limp and Ghost and I asked about it. She said she twisted her foot last night dancing,” Dare said.

  “Uh huh, yet no bruising on her ankle on foot. Bet there is some between those toes of hers. And she’s been in the back a while already. Not thinking you are going to have a problem finding anything.”

  “Well, we are going to find out soon enough,” Tank said and looked toward the door. I glanced over as Crusher, Jag, and Speed walked in.

  “Showtime,” Dare said and stood with Tank.

  “Stay here,” Brax said and stood with other men.

  Tank nodded his head toward the back when Crusher looked at him. The president nor the others had on a happy face as they headed to the back with Brax, Dare, and Tank following behind.

  I almost felt sorry for the woman.

  Almost.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Ghost

  “Are you sure you don’t want me to go with you to the appointment?” I asked as I walked into the bedroom as Luna’s head popped through the neck of the shirt she pulled on.

  “I really appreciate the offer and am happy you want to be involved in everything, but... It is only the first visit of many. Bailey is working today, and I’m nervous enough without having you hover,” Luna said and pulled her jeans up. “Dammit, my pants should not be getting tight already.” I watched as she worked to snap her jeans.

  “I am a big man, baby.” I grinned when she looked up and glared at me.

  “Duh, like I don’t know that. The kid can wait to grow after I’ve pushed her or him out. Finally,” she said as the jeans fastened.

  “Don’t think you can control that, baby.” I walked to the dresser and grabbed my keys.

  “Can you at least let me fantasize that I’m going to be one of those women who looks like she’s s
muggling a basketball under her shirt? Not one who looks as if she’s carrying the whole team.”

  “Where do you come up with this shit? It natural, and besides, you could use a little extra weight,” I said and then turned around and found I was receiving the death glare.

  “Sure, you say that now, but what are you going to say when I don’t lose the extra weight after the baby? I’m left with saddlebags and not the kind that goes on a damn bike either. Or breasts that sag because they don’t go back to my original size. Or the elasticity in the skin at my stomach that’s shot to hell, and my pussy is so loo—" I cut off Luna’s tirade by wrapping my arms around her and taking her mouth with mine.

  “Love ya, baby. You’ll always look beautiful to me,” I said when I broke the kiss. “And I won’t complain one bit about walking behind you and holding up your breasts.”

  Luna smacked my arm. “You’re such an asshole,” she said, then laughed. “I better go. I don’t want to be late for my appointment. You sure you don’t mind me driving your truck?”

  “No. I’m going to shower after you leave, then take your bike over to the garage. Coast called while you were in the shower and said he had some time this morning.”

  “Thought they had an order to finish?” she asked as we walked downstairs.

  “They do, but Coast had detailing to do on one of the tanks and figured he could knock yours out while he was at it.”

  “Oh, that’s cool of him,” Luna said as she dug in her purse and set the key to her bike on the island. I opened the back door for her and walked her to the truck.

  I took my keys out of my pocket and unlocked the door and opened it for her. When she gripped the ‘oh shit’ handle to help pull herself up, I put my hands on her butt and gave her a boost.

  “Want me to get you a couple pillows to sit on.”

  “Aww, you are so funny,” she said as she sat down in the seat. I handed her the keys, and she started the truck, then adjusted the seat to her needs.

  “Call me when you get done. That way if I’m still at the garage, I’ll head to the house to meet you.” I leaned in and kissed her forehead.

  “Okay, that will work. Love ya, sweetie.”

  “Love ya, too,” I said, stepped back and closed the door. I stood where I was until she’d driven out of sight.

  I went back in the house and decided to forego the shower until I got back from the garage. It had been awhile since I’d gotten a little greasy and with my brothers behind in their bike order, they could use a couple more hands.

  On Luna’s bike, I was glad it was only a short ride to Speed’s. I wasn’t sure if I could’ve taken a longer ride. Flirt stepped out of the garage as I rode up and shook his head.

  “Brother, I don’t think that bike was made for you.” I flipped him off as I dismounted, and he chuckled.

  “How're the bikes coming?” I asked as I walked toward him.

  “They’re getting there. Coast has detailing to do on a couple. We should be done on time. Definitely would be if you’d help,” Flirt said, and I slapped his back.

  “I was hoping you guys could use some help. Haven’t worked on a bike in a long time,” I said and walked in the garage behind Flirt.

  “Luna’s bike outside?” Coast asked as he came out of a room in the back.

  “Yeah.”

  “I’ll get to it when I finish the flames I’m painting on the tank.”

  “Thanks, Coast. Appreciate you squeezing it in for her.”

  Crusher stood and shut off the blowtorch he was using. He lifted the safety glasses before he spoke, “Please, the woman could ask the club for anything right now, and we’d give it to her. Tank’s hoping to talk her into helping him out at Soft Tails. He wants to put her in charge of hiring the strippers. Not sure if it pissed him off more that firing Lindy left him short a stripper, or now Thelma’s gonna be shorthanded, too. Anyway, he said she can set her own hours. Hell, he even said she could split her time between the shop and the club.”

  “Tough shit. Tank’s gonna have to deal on his own,” I answered, and Speed grinned as he picked up the handlebars for the bike he was working on.

  “Yeah, I told him there was no way you’d want her working at the club. Fuck, I hated Sami working there,” Speed said.

  “That’s ‘cause you are a controlling bastard and didn’t want your woman around all the brothers,” Dev said, and Speed looked over at him and glared.

  “Right, and you’d be all laid back with Bailey working in a strip club.” Speed cocked his brow, and Devil was the one who glared.

  “I don’t want her working at all. But I’m not gonna fight with her over it. Plus, I spoke with Dare. He’s in if I want to start up a construction business. Luna said she’d work for me if I did. And the controlling bastard I am is going to do it.”

  Flirt laughed. “Well hell, that’s one way to get what you want.”

  “Whatever you need from the club, Ghost, ask. We’ll work on replacing you at the gym,” Prez said.

  “I can finish overseeing the renovation of the building. It will take a little time getting up and running, so I might as well have something to do in the meantime,” I said, and Prez agreed.

  “I’ll help you get the paperwork done and file for your license. Soft Tails could be your first job,” Jag said from across the bay where he worked at a table with parts spread across.

  “What? Did something happen to the place?” I asked. It had only been two days since I was there.

  “No, Tank has been looking at growing the business. He suggested building on to the back and moving the stage and girls in the new section. The bar seating could be expanded with a game room with darts, couple pool tables. Told him to work up a plan and we’d look at it and discuss at the next meeting. If we go for it, going to need to add on, so the job would be yours. Expect to get a good price for keeping the work in the club,” Crusher said.

  “Please, you’ll be lucky if I don’t charge you extra for having to listen to Perry gripe. Hell, at first I thought maybe something happened to the place after Luna and I left the other day,” I said, and Crusher chuckled.

  “Nah, the only thing that went down after Lindy was escorted out, was Tank calling in the other girls. Tank was pissed that he’d been lax in the testing since he took over. He called the other girls in and questioned them, then handed them paperwork to go get tested. Told them to have it done before they came back to work. Syn, Candie, and the others swore they weren’t on anything and none bucked about going to have the testing done.

  “Tank told them that there would be no discussion if the test came back positive for anything, they’d be escorted out and told not to come back just as Lindy had been. None of the other women knew she was using, but Syn said she had noticed changes in Lindy’s personality, but only in the last three months after she started seeing a new guy. Coast and Speed did some digging, the guy is a doper. Been busted a couple times. There won’t be any trouble from firing Lindy. I told her she was lucky I didn’t call the sheriff in on it,” Crusher said, picked up the blowtorch and moved to the next bike.

  “Hey, where is the club’s newest celebrity?” Flirt asked.

  “First doctor’s appointment,” I said, then turned and watched Coast push Luna’s bike through the bay door.

  “Surprised you didn’t tag along,” Flirt said.

  “She wanted to go by herself. Besides, we aren’t attached at the fucking hip,” I said, and Flirt shook his head and grinned.

  “Fuck off. And if you want my help, tell me what you want me to work on while I’m here. Gonna meet at the house when she gets done.”

  Flirt laughed. “Fine. Still good with electrical?” I nodded. “Then you can wire the gauges in that one’s dash.” He pointed to the dark blue with silver tint bike.

  The bike was sweet looking. I walked over to it and got to work. The only talking was the occasional curse word as everyone focused on their task. I didn’t know how much time had passed when my cell b
uzzed.

  Digging it out of my pocket I read the text.

  Luna: Leaving now. Everything is good. Tell you when I get home.

  Me: See you at the house in about twenty, baby.

  After I texted her back, I slid the phone back into my pocket and got back to the wiring. In the time it would take Luna to get to the house, I would have it done.

  I set the dash in place when I was finished and walked to the sink to wash my hands before I headed home.

  “Hey, heading out. Got this one done,” I said and started for the door.

  “Thanks for helping, Ghost,” Crusher said as he pulled his ringing cell from his pocket.

  “Welcome. Just yell if ya need more help,” I said, and as I reached the door my phone rang. I pulled it out of my pocket to see Roscoe on the screen.

  “Yo,” I said as I walked outside, then froze. My stomach rolled, and I clutched my chest as it tightened. Four words from Roscoe and my world shattered for the second time and took me to my knees.

  “There’s been an accident.”

  Chapter Nineteen

  Luna

  Raised voices were heard as I surfaced. Why the hell were people yelling? I opened my eyes and the bright light caused me to close them again. But not before a piercing pain shot through my head.

  “Shit, that hurts,” I said and lifted a hand to my head.

  “You don’t want to interrupt my work,” a man said, and my hand was grabbed, and my arm was brought down to my side.

  “Luna, do you remember what happened?” The woman’s voice sounded familiar.

  With my eyes still closed, I tried to think. I’d been at the house...

  “Dr. Monroe? Did I pass out?”

  “Take your time, it will come to you,” Dr. Monroe said softly.

  “There, the last stitch. You’ll barely have a scar,” the man spoke again, and then I heard metal ping and the snap of rubber gloves.

  A scar? From what? Then it all came flooding back. Doctor’s appointment, then driving back to Black Hawk. The pickup had been on my side of the road as I came around the curve. I swerved at the same time it jerked back to its lane. When it hit the side of the truck, I slid off the road and hit the hillside. The collision jerked my head to the window on the driver’s side as the airbag deployed, then darkness.