Chapter 3
CHAPTER THREE
STAR
“Holy shit, this is utter chaos,” Belle mutters.
“It’s carnage,” Josie agrees.
“Remind me again why we are here?” Nova asks with wide eyes.
“We are here because we have the last of the presents to get, and one of them I have pre-ordered for Storm. She has not stopped asking for it. I had to hunt high and fucking low for it,” I state firmly while watching kids running around wild in the middle of the mall, grabbing empty display presents and ripping them open in a frenzy.
Parents are chasing after them, pleading with them, and one of them is biting down on Santa’s candy cane house.
“Holy shit, that kid just kicked that elf in the nuts,” Alina points out.
“Okay, we stick to the plan. We get the toys, we get out, and we immediately start drinking. Deal?” I say, turning to face them and placing my fist out.
They each place one of their hands over the top until we are standing in a circle.
“Good. No ol’ lady left behind. Don’t deviate from the plan.
If a pleading mom asks for your help, you don’t stop.
Keep moving and avoid all eye contact,” I order, talking to them like they are soldiers about to enter a warzone.
As I look around at the utter carnage, I notice that it isn’t actually too dissimilar to battle.
“Do not feel guilty. They would do the same if they were in our situation. Show no weakness. On three?” I add.
“On three,” each of us chants before breaking the pact.
We all move, dodging flying decorations and candy. I duck as a screaming rabid child jumps off of the roof of the grotto.
“What the fuck are these kids on? Crack?” Maggie screeches as she too has to duck out of the way.
“Sugar, and Christmas spirit. It’s a lethal combination,” Rhea answers, yanking my arm and pulling me back so I don’t get hit by a giant falling candy cane.
“Man down!” I hear Dixie cry out from behind and wave her hands frantically as three kids dive bomb on her.
“We are coming! Hold on!” I call out before turning back around, swerving and dodging flying toys and parcels. I feel my ankle being grabbed, and I turn around to see a desperate mum huddled behind one of the trees.
“Help me get out of here,” she pleads. I look at her with sympathy in my eyes.
“Star! Help! The randy canes ramming into me,” Dixie calls out.
“Let go and I will help all of you,” I tell the mom. She looks at me for a moment, wondering if I’m telling the truth or not, before she gives me a nod and lets go. “Justin’s Bar in one hour. Tell the others. Daycare is on the third floor,” I order. She nods.
I run for Dixie, but Rhea is already there, removing the kids. “Oh, the little shit bit me!” she cries out.
“Hey kids, do you want candy?” Maggie asks, and suddenly all the kids’ attention turns to her. Maggie points to the store across the way. “Then go get it.” She smirks, and like a pack of wild wolves hunting down their next meal, they bolt.
The screams for help echo from the store. They are their problem now. Rhea grabs Dixie’s hand and helps her to her feet. Other moms approach Maggie, hugging her and thanking her. One cries and even grovels at her feet like she’s a saint.
I smirk and climb on top of a giant present.
“Mothers!” I yell. They all turn their attention to me.
“Call your partners, the grandparents, whoever you can, or drag those feral children to the daycare on the third floor and meet us in Justin’s Bar in one hour.
It’s time to let your hair down,” I yell, looking over to Josie, who is holding up her phone.
“You’re live.” She winks.
I roll my eyes. “Moms, Justin’s Bar in one hour. Let your hair down and enjoy a break in this Christmas madness. Be free, bitches!” I yell. The moms cheer, and I jump down. “Okay, let’s go,” I state. We all walk briskly to the toy store, which is now dead. We look around with confusion.
“Where is everyone?” Belle asks.
“They left when they saw your live post,” a worker of the store says, folding her arms and giving me a pissed-off glare.
“Hey, I didn’t record myself. I merely liberated the repressed.” I shrug.
“Yeah, well, I have targets to meet, and now because of you, I won’t meet them.” She huffs.
I look her up and down. “You don’t have kids, do you?” I point out.
“She scrunches up her face. “Ew, no. I hate kids.”
“You hear that? The manager at Toy Universe hates kids,” Josie says to her phone. I smirk.
“You share that, then I will lose my job,” she protests.
“Well, then…” I pause, looking at her name badge.
“Debbie, I suggest you go and get my pre-order and this list of other items we need pronto. Between us and the gifts we need to buy, you may just hit your target. But I swear to Lucifer, if you give me that bitch attitude one more fucking time, not only will that video go live for all to see, but I will introduce you to Dusty,” I threaten.
She snorts and rolls her eyes. “Pfft, who’s Dusty? Your redneck boyfriend?”
“Oh, fuck,” Alina mutters.
“Here we go again,” Maggie sighs.
I grin and slide my hand into my pocket, sliding the cold heavy metal onto my hand.
“Oh no, Dusty will help me rearrange your fucking face!” I snap, pulling out my hand and thrusting my fist to her face, stopping just millimetres from connecting.
She flinches her eyes wide, her skin paling as I shove the list at her chest. “Now go. Get what we need,” I growl.
She shakily wraps her hand around the paper and swallows. “Sure, sorry. I thought you were trailer trash,” she mutters. Rude.
“Trailer trash? These are fucking Gucci!” Belle snaps, pointing to her heels.
I arch my brow at her as I slide Dusty back into my pocket.
“Now, if you could stop insulting my family and get on with the job I’ve given you, that would be great, because if we don’t get the presents for the kids and you ruin our Christmas, you’ll have my husband to answer to.
” As I say the words, we all tap on the badge on our cuts.
Her eyes widen. “Er, are you part of that club?” she asks, her voice shaking with fear.
A slow smile spreads across my face. “Oh, yes,” I say with far too much enjoyment.
“I will get on that right now. We can even do a home delivery, free of charge, of course. I can do it personally myself,” she rambles on.
“Well, that is kind of you, and you know, we do have a prior engagement after this.” I smirk.
“Star,” Josie whispers beside me. “Be nice. She is actually about to crap her pants.”
I sigh and roll my eyes, reaching into my pocket and pulling out a fifty. “For the delivery and the inconvenience,” I offer.
“Oh, um, thank you,” she says shyly, tucking her hair behind her ear. “Are there, um, any vacancies?” she asks.
I arch my brow. “What, like behind the bar?”
“No, um, I heard that they have, um, how do I say it? Puppies?”
“Bunnies,” Alina snaps, stepping forward. “They did, but they don’t now. If you think you can step into that club and even touch or look at any of the men there...” Alina practically growls.
I grab her arm, pulling her back. “Okay, she gets the message,” I state.
“The only men there that will be interested in you are the Prospects. There are no bunnies anymore. We have kids, and that would be disgusting,” I point out.
“If he is wearing a cut that says Prospect, by all means, fill your boots. All the other men are out of bounds, so if you even look their way, it won’t just be me you’ll have to deal with,” I threaten.
She nods, her eyes flickering amongst all of us.
Satisfied she won’t do anything, I nod. “Now, I am guessing you know where the clubhouse is?” I ask.
“Y-yes,” she whimpers.
“Good. Deliver the goods there and have them put in the shed,” I instruct before turning on my booted heel. “Come on, ladies. Let’s drink!” I cheer, leading them back out of the store and to the bar.