Raze (Dirty Soul MC: Long Beach #1)

Chapter 22

1 Week Later

“Do you think that banner is straight?” I ask Corey as he carries another crate of beer from outside.

“I’m not gettin’ back up there to fix it.” He laughs as he slams it on the bar.

“What the fuck you doin’ here?” Dev doesn’t look happy when he walks through the door and sees his brother.

“He was helping me get the place ready for Raze’s surprise party.” I jump to his defense. The last thing I want is for him to get in trouble because of me.

“I told you about skippin’ school to hang out here, now get gone.” Dev smacks his brother around the back of the head, and Corey looks real angry before he strops out the door.

“Honestly, Dev, it wasn’t his fault. I mentioned to him about the party a few days ago and he offered to help. Please don’t blam–”

“He knows better.” Is all Dev says as he storms past me and out the door.

“Look at her, she’s pathetic.” I hear one of the girls from the corner of the room speaking about me loud enough to ensure I hear her. “Blowing up balloons and hanging banners for her boyfriend's birthday. I’m sure he’s gonna love playing duck, duck, goose.” They all burst into giggles, but I ignore them and continue to make the place look cheerful.

Raze has been working so hard lately, I want him to celebrate his birthday, and use the party to get closer to some of his members.

“Did ya notice that he took Sonny with him on a job yesterday?” One of the other girls mentions, and I keep my head down as I tie the balloons together and listen.

“A little father and son bonding perhaps?” Trinity adds.

“You really think Sonny’s his?” The one who has her hair scraped so far back she’s given herself a facelift asks, and I pay closer attention, wondering why this is coming as such a shock.

“Of course, he is, why else would he have made him prospect? Let’s face it the boy’s not exactly club material. I offered to suck him off the other day and he practically ran for the mountains.”

“Speak of the devil.” The one I think is called Georgia throws her eyes toward the side door as Sonny steps in. He nods his head and smiles at me before doing the same to the girls.

“Hey, Sonny, wanna hang out?” Trinity stands up and comes towards him, clearly making him feel uncomfortable when she slides her hands behind his neck.

“I was ummm… just gonna see if Peyton needed any help.” He looks across at me shyly.

“I thought you’d never ask. These need hanging from the ceiling.” I hold out some streamers and notice how relieved he looks as he steps away from her.

“So, how does it feel to have Raze around? Must be nice.” Trinity proves she isn’t gonna let up on him as he gets to work.

“It’s good for the club.” He shrugs, clearly not having a clue what she’s getting at.

“Good for the club, good for you. Who knows maybe one day you’ll follow in your daddy’s footsteps, Sonny.” The others start to laugh and I’ve had about enough.

“Why don’t you go find a fucking dick to suck.” I turn around and face them all. “Some of us are trying to be nice and spread some positivity around this place.”

“Ahhhh, ya hear that, girls? The prez’s whore is trying to be nice.” Trinity mocks me with a pouty lip.

“We’ve been here longer than you’ve been wearing a training bra little Miss Thrift Store.” She looks down her nose at the clothes I’m wearing and sniggers. “I don’t know who you think you are but–”

“She’s your president's old lady,” Polly interrupts, stepping through the front door and slamming a bag of groceries on the table. “You’d do well to remember that or you might find yourself working the docks.

“Sonny, head out to the car and grab the rest of the bags,” she orders her son, who quickly rushes out the door.

“I gotta be honest with you Trin.” Polly shows a different side of herself when she steps right up into the girls face. “Jealousy looks almost as ugly on you as that lime-coloured bikini.” She looks down at her judgingly before making her way over to the bar and winking at me.

I get back to work and try to push to the back of my mind what they were saying about Sonny being Raze’s son. Surely it can’t be true, Raze would never have left a responsibility like that behind.

“Did I miss something?” Alicia turns up looking over to where all three of the girls are snarling in the corner.

“Just Polly putting them in their place,” I tell her quietly, taking a seat and wondering if maybe this is all too much. I only found out it was Raze’s birthday because I saw it on his driver's license a few days ago.

“Do you think he’ll like it?” I check with Alicia, seriously starting to doubt myself. Maybe the girls are right and I am pathetic.

“Who doesn’t love a birthday party? And I did not waste my entire morning making this carrot cake with cream cheese frosting for nothing.” She lifts off the lid of the cake tray she’s holding and reveals the perfectly decorated cake I asked for.

“Wow, that looks delicious.” My stomach rumbles just from looking at it.

“I hope your brother’s cool with you hanging out here, Corey just got called out by Dev pretty hard,” I inform her.

“Girl, I’m twenty-four years old. Saul doesn’t get to tell me what I do.” She places the lid back on the tray.

“I’m going to put this in the fridge, then I’ll come back and help you with this.” She looks at all the balloons I’ve got left to blow up before she heads off behind the bar.

Saint, Vike, and Ruckus all head through the door together, Saint’s telling them some story and making them laugh and they all turn silent when they see how the place is decorated. I don’t give the girls in the corner the satisfaction of looking at them. I know they’ll be finding humor in the guy’s reaction.

“Ahhh, boys, right on time.” Alicia steps out from the kitchen and smiles at them all. “We’re gonna celebrate your president’s birthday, and I’ll bet you’ve got plenty of puff in this big, strong chest.” She lays her palms out on Vike’s solid pecs and he looks down at her hands before he side glances Ruckus. It’s hilarious to see a man of his size look so scared and I have to hide my mouth under my hand so he doesn’t notice my amusement.

“You know decoratin’ for a party ain’t exactly our idea of fu—” The look Alicia throws at Ruckus immediately shuts him up.

“Where do you want us?” He shakes his head and sighs.