CHAPTER TEN
Cody—
Four of us are headed to the clubhouse after a long ride back from Los Angeles.
It’s damn cold tonight, and we’re all in chaps.
Another trip down to follow Joselyn. Fucking bullshit if you ask me, which no one does.
At least I had company tonight. TJ, Marcus, and Billy joined me, so we made an even four bikes hauling ass down the interstate.
Taking a shortcut through town, we stop at a light, and TJ lifts his chin to the place across the highway. Its lit-up sign rotates in the night sky.
Sonny’s Gentlemen’s Club.
The next thing I know, we’re pulling into the place.
It’s 1am, and the parking lot is full. The group of us roll up to the front door and back our bikes into the fire lane, tires to the walkway.
Pulling my helmet off, I stare at the marquee, then look at Billy. “Velvet’s not the headliner anymore?”
“Nah, they’ve got a new girl. Guess you haven’t been up here recently, huh?”
I grab a ball cap from my saddlebag and put it on my head backward. “Not in a few months.”
“Well, you’re in for a treat. She’s damn good.”
“What are we doing here? I’m really not in the mood to party,” I say.
“It’s your fucking birthday, Cody. We’re doin’ this,” TJ replies.
“My birthday isn’t until next Thursday,” I protest. I didn’t know they even knew it was coming up.
“Close enough, asshole,” Billy says with a grin. “Besides, I need a break from the clubhouse. Change of scenery.”
TJ taps his fist on my chest. “Maybe it’ll pull you out of that funk you’ve been in since we got back from Alabama.”
Marcus chuckles. “Maybe what he needs is some sweet, sexy thing to wrap his dick around her little finger. Join the rest of us.”
“Fuck off, all of you.” I stride toward the door and pull it open, holding it for my three fucking brothers who know me like the back of their hand and know just where to land a dig. If I’m being honest, I wouldn’t have it any other way. “Let’s get drunk.”
“First good idea you’ve had all week, asshole,” Billy says, patting my cheek as he walks past.
I slap his hand away.
TJ chuckles, and I shove his head. “You shut up.”
“Just for that, I’m gonna make them sing ‘Happy Birthday’ to your ass, dickhead.”
That wipes the smile off my face. “Don’t you fuckin’ dare.”
He just grins and waggles his brows.
Shit.
Well, this is happening, so I might as well enjoy it. Maybe tonight won’t be so bad after all.
We troop in, not bothering with the cover charge, because we own the fucking place.
Billy leads the way, and the rest of us follow. The bouncer lets us through when he sees our cuts. Billy lifts his chin to the door girl behind the podium, who’s there to collect the cover charge and check IDs.
“Hey, honey. How’s business tonight?” he asks.
“It’s a full house, but we reserved a table for you. Go on in.”
“Thanks, darlin’,” he replies, and we follow him down the short hall that leads deeper into the club.
Hearing he reserved a table has me shaking my head with a grin. So, this was not a spur-of-the-moment decision. Leave it to my brothers to plan this for me.
The main room has a big stage with a runway and barstools that line the edge.
Tables with plush, comfortable chairs in groupings that are more suitable for lap dances fill the rest of the room.
Down another dimly lit hallway are several private VIP rooms that always have a bouncer stationed nearby to ensure the girls aren’t assaulted.
There’s a driving beat of music pulsing through the club. It’s dark but lit up with dim purple lighting.
A waitress spots us and leads Billy to a table in the back. It’s the only available one in the packed place. She takes the reserved sign and puts it on her drink tray.
“What can I get you boys?”
Billy pulls his gloves off with his teeth and sits down. We all do the same.
He’s been in the club the longest of all of us next gen-ers, and even though TJ’s father is president, Billy is the natural leader.
I unsnap my leather cut and yank off my gloves, shoving them in a pocket, then pull off my night riding KD glasses with the yellow lenses and shove them up on my hat.
We place our orders, and TJ makes an addition. “Bring us a bottle of tequila and four shot glasses.”
I know how much a full bottle goes for in this place and quirk a brow at him.
“You win the lottery?”
He just grins. “It’s your fuckin’ birthday.”
She returns with a tray of drinks, as well as the bottle of tequila and shot glasses. TJ passes them around and tilts the bottle, filling everyone’s glass.
“To Cody. Happy birthday, brother,” he says.
We all raise our glasses and then toss the shots back.
The place is loud with a thumping, driving beat. There’s a dancer on stage doing her act.
While some places just have dancers gyrating around a pole, Sonny’s has always been more of a performance place.
The girls dance a routine, usually complete with costumes.
Right now, the dancer on stage is dressed like a cat, complete with ears and a tail.
By the end of her routine, that’s all she’s got on.
“You tell your dad about LA?” I lean close to TJ so he can hear me over the noise.
“Yeah. Sounded like we’re having another meeting tomorrow about it.”
“Fucking hell. I’m tired of this bullshit.”
“Me too, bro.” He leans close again. “Told me Brayden and one of the guys from Birmingham might ride out here in a couple of months.”
“For what?”
“Just a visit, I guess. I think Brayden realized how much my mom misses him, and it sounded like he might try to make it back for her birthday.”
“That would be nice. Who’s he bringin’ with him?”
“No clue.”
The music starts, and the next dancer comes out.
TJ refills my shot glass, and I down another shot, leaning back in my chair and watching the show.