EXILE
Lula and I lost track of ourselves for a while. I wasn’t normally an easily distracted guy. While Zodiac made big moves and stirred up shit with people, I was always the responsible one.
Tonight, though, with Lula’s fine body pressed against mine, I couldn’t give a shit about anyone beyond her.
After an hour playing punk music, the band switched to classic rock. I swayed with Lula to the music, sucking at her tongue and trying to ignore the world around us.
A commotion at the pool tables forced us to part enough to look over where Sabrina got in Rock’s face. He waved off her allegations, and I assumed they were arguing over a pool shot.
“Introduce me to your bros,” Lula said while licking her lips and eyeing where her hands fondled my chest. “I plan to become a permanent fixture in your life. If my people now belong to you, your people will belong to me. I’ll try to keep all the sweaty, tatted men straight in my head.”
Taking Lula’s hand, I walked over to where a majority of the Black Rainbow were located. I introduced her first to York. Frowning more than usual, he struggled to make small talk. York likely couldn’t tolerate the loud music. That was one reason why he barely spent time at our clubhouse.
With York on edge, I introduced Lula to the hippie-looking Ojai. His blond hair made women go wild. He actually reminded me a little of Rowdy. We waved over Lula’s brother and introduced him to the two men.
“He kicked my ass at video games,” I told Ojai and gestured at Rowdy.
Ojai looked at Poison and Tug and announced, “That wouldn’t be hard to do.”
The men laughed at my lack of skills. Soon, they were shooting the shit about gaming with Rowdy.
Lula and I moved around the pool tables, where Clint, Rock, and Sabrina were playing with my club brothers. Eventually, Ivy showed up and glued herself to Clint. He completely lost focus on the men around him and ended up in a chair with his woman on his lap.
Following his lead, I located a quiet spot where Lula and I could be alone again. We made out while people played games, drank, and listened to music. I could have remained locked together with Lula for the rest of the night. Unfortunately, her vibrating phone interrupted our fun.
Lula looked at her cell before showing the text to me. “Does that say what I think it says?”
Jarred’s text warned the LM Jokers were on their way to the Fire Hooch. Tricky had sent out a club-wide message, tipping off Jarred, who was back in Little Rock after a short visit to Little Memphis to check on Lula and Dillon.
“I’ll warn Clint,” Lula said and slid off my lap. “You warn Zodiac. We’ll lock the front doors and meet back here for more kissing.”
Lula waved Sabrina over and sent her to the front doors. I heard her sister loudly offer to go outside and kick Tricky’s ass. Other Crimson Guard members headed toward the doors rather than simply locking them.
While Lula pried Ivy off Clint, I tried to locate my president before trouble arrived. Instead, I found York sitting at the bar top, nursing a beer like he had lost a good friend.
“Where’s Zodiac?”
“He’s shadowing Clint’s sister,” York muttered and gestured with his scarred jaw toward the back hallway. “I saw him stalking her in that direction a while ago.”
“I’ll find him while you keep our guys in check. The LM Jokers are on their way over to start trouble.”
With York frowning hard at me, I assumed he was still having issues with the music. He hated anything with electric guitars and drums. Despite his willingness to get violent and rowdy, York liked his music to be James Taylor-style tame.
“How serious is this Jokers’ thing?” he asked and downed the rest of his beer.
“No clue, but a lot of his new members are young dipshits from Baton Rouge.”
Running his hands through his dark hair, York sighed. “The sons of our former club brothers, you mean?”
“If they come at us, I don’t care who they are.”
York wiped his mouth and nodded. “Me either. Now go find Zodiac.”
I left York to handle our guys who were already heading toward the front doors. Apparently, the plan to lock the clubhouse had been dropped for a new one to run outside and brawl.
Lula met me near the empty stage. As everyone moved past us, I spotted Nova with Ivy in a back booth. They were laughing in that goofy way people did when they were high as kites.
“Your sister’s stoned,” Zodiac told me as he exited the back area. Running his hands through his hair, he muttered, “Why is everyone rushing outside? Is there a fire?”
“The Jokers are on their way over to start shit.”
Lula showed the text to Zodiac, who shrugged. “Why not lock the doors and leave them out there?”
“They will fuck with our rides!” Sabrina hollered from the door. “I say when fuck them up!”
“Yeah!” a bunch of voices agreed.
“Control your people,” Zodiac told Clint, who walked over after checking on Ivy.
“I’m conflicted,” Clint said and frowned. “Where’s my sister?”
Zodiac smirked. “Hiding in the bathroom, so I can’t seduce her.”
“Good. I don’t want her running outside just to keep up with Sabrina.”
“I do what I want!” Elle cried, running past us and joining the other Crimson Guard members. “Let’s kick these Baton Rouge fuckers’ asses!”
“No, we’re fighting the Jokers,” Goldie clarified.
“Yeah!” Elle hollered.
“Is she drunk?” Lula asked Clint.
“Let’s just assume yes,” he said and frowned at Zodiac. “Why don’t you want to deal with the Jokers?”
My president grinned and spewed his bullshit, “I’m a weak man suffering from a fear of violence.”
Clint narrowed his blue eyes and nearly snarled, “You’re up to something.”
Zodiac shrugged casually. “I don’t think we ought to give in to the childish desires of a ginger boy like Tricky. Besides, most of your club is wasted.”
“The foxes are far more dangerous when they’re too drunk to understand the consequences.”
“Hey, I’m not a fox!” Rowdy hollered and thumped on his chest, caveman-style. “The Jokers need to be destroyed! I intend to piss on their graves!”
“Your people can’t hold their liquor,” Zodiac grumbled at Clint.
Rock walked over and frowned at my president. “I’m completely sober, and I still want to beat the shit out of those fucking Jokers.”
“Yeah,” Nine said with Ben behind him. “They were talking perv shit to our sisters. Let’s neuter their fuckers!”
Clint eyed Zodiac. “You’re suddenly coy about violence.”
“Coy, am I?” Zodiac growled before backing off and shrugging. “Or maybe I don’t want to go to war with your dipshit childhood friend. Exile plans to be around this town plenty. I’m trying to make peace, so no one jumps him. Or is that no longer a concern?”
“No, it is,” Clint replied. “That’s why we’re going to face off with Tricky tonight. If he wants a war with your club, he wants a war with mine.”
Zodiac froze after hearing the loyalty he had been seeking from Clint.
Just as quickly, his icy blue eyes flashed in my direction.
I sensed he wanted me to step into the argument.
His gaze moved to Lula and then back to me.
He was clearly signaling that she might be in danger, so I ought to shut down the brawl.
We commonly did the good cop/bad cop routine. He would unleash his charm while I snapped at people. Right now, I wasn’t sure if I should agree to Zodiac’s plan by playing the bad cop.
Clint didn’t strike me as a wild card. He might be difficult to read, but I knew the guy didn’t start fights without knowing how they’d end.
Unsure of the answer, I looked to Lula, who smiled at me like she wasn’t worried. I trusted her in a way I trusted no one else. If she thought we ought to face off with the Jokers, I didn’t plan to second-guess her instincts.