41. Kali
41
KALI
K nock, knock!
I was on the bed, lying there waiting for something. Anything. I’d not undressed and I wasn’t even under the covers, but hearing the knock, I bolted upright.
“Yeah?” I scrambled for the door, opening it.
A woman was there, wearing a tight tank top and the skimpiest of skimpy jeans. I gave her a brief glimpse because she was one of the ‘sweet butts’ that Shelly pointed out to me. There was a hierarchy even among the women in this world and according to Shelly, I was at the top since Ghost had been saying I was his old lady. The term sounded offensive, but it meant something to them. I was trying to get that, I was, but right now I was only focused on getting Harper and Justin back. After that, I needed to see where everything would lay between myself and Aly, and also Shane and myself.
“What?”
She stepped back, her head moving down and up as she gave me a once-over. She sniffed at the end, literally sniffed. “Guys say that you need to get packing. You’re going on a trip real soon.”
“What?”
But she turned and was heading back.
I stepped out into the hallway, but I didn’t say anything more.
A trip?
I had nothing to pack up, but I went to the bathroom. Washed up. Got as ready as I could and then I grabbed my bag before leaving the room. Those women were in the bar, some sitting on a few of the guys’ laps. Others were bellied up to the counter.
I scanned the room, looking for anyone I recognized. There was no one and seeing a few of the guys going through a door to a back section, I followed to see who was all out there.
Seeing Shelly in the corner, having a smoke, I headed over there. “He–”
She snatched my wrist and pulled me around the corner, and I didn’t even know there was a corner here.
I was looking around because where were we? This looked like a private section. We weren’t in the back anymore, but we weren’t on the other side of the wall either, where the street was.
“Listen.”
“What is this place?”
She waved her cigarette in the air, dismissing me. “It’s for private hookups. You know, if one of the guys wants to get his dick sucked in private or something else.”
Oh.
Ew. I was looking around at it differently now, though, again, I knew that was part of their lifestyle. They wanted to live life to the fullest and doing a threesome where others could be seen was something they did without blinking an eye. Had Shane ever done that? And because the question was now burning in my head, I asked, “There was a woman who came and told me to get my bag.”
“Yeah. About that–”
“Do you think Shane ever hooked up with her?”
“What?”
“Her and Shane. That’s their purpose, right? To hook up with the guys?”
“Uh. Yeah. I mean, it’s not so clear-cut. They get protection from the club, but not the respect. But they know that signing up. It’s their choice to be a sweet butt.”
“What kind of woman would do that? Or a girl would do that? Sign up, service the guys, get looked down on by others and for what?”
“Protection. A sense of belonging. The guys really like them.”
“I don’t understand that.”
“That’s because you’re not made that way. They are. You aren’t. Some don’t know better. Some like it, but listen.” She ground out her cigarette and touched my arm, stepping close again. She lowered her voice. “A little after we came back from dinner, a bunch of Shane’s club came in. Then, a bit ago, they took off again. They didn’t ask if you were here and Crow and a bunch of guys went with them, but I overheard something that I don’t think I should’ve.”
“What?” Also, why was that dread coming back to me? “Does it have something to do with my friends?”
“What?”
“Uh.” I shook my head. “Never mind. What’d you overhear?”
“I don’t know how much of club business you know, but I know a little. There was recently a vote put where they’re not working with a cartel anymore. Some of the guys aren’t on board and I overheard a conversation that some are going to go ahead and ambush the rest. I’m not sure what that means, but I heard where they’re going.”
“What?” Oh God. My heart slammed against my chest. “Where?”
“They’re heading for Texas. A town there. Amarillo.” She pulled me even closer. “I think we should go.”
I backed up. “Wait. What?”
“Yeah. I tried calling Crow, but I know something when they’re on these missions, they use cell phone blockers. And I’m a little edgy about keeping mine with me. They got computer people who could track ours, but I can’t sit here and wait to see what happens. Not if we can get to them. Stop them or the very least, warn them.”
Yes.
Everything she was saying I was down for.
God. Not just Harper and Justin now, but Shane.
I pulled my phone out. “I could call Shane right now.”
She shook her head. “I wouldn't. I mean, who knows who could listen in, right? And if we let him know, that’s great, but the wrong person might hear too.”
“What are you saying then?”
“I think we should go. The guys are off somewhere else, but if they’re heading to Texas, we should too. If anything we can get there and then call, and find where they are. By then, they can’t stop us.” She was studying me intently. “What do you think?”
They already tried to hurt me, hurt Aly. They had Harper and Justin.
This was a fucking no-brainer for me.
“I’m in.”
She closed her eyes, her relief evident. “Good.” She looked down, seeing my bag. “Oh good, you have that. Where’s your phone?”
I pulled it out.
She motioned to it. “Turn it off, and let’s just go. The guys are still here. I know the route they use. My car is around the block. We could do this, get there ahead of them.”
“Then let’s do it.”
I turned my phone off, and we snuck out.