Chapter 18
Fiona
I couldn’t help but marvel at the difference in my life over the past year. In the month since my relationship with Bash had become intimate, we rarely spent a night without each other. We were opening up to each other in all the ways that counted.
Falling asleep to a movie, sharing a cup of coffee together before leaving for work; those were the times that meant the most to me. They were just as intimate as what we did in bed, those little moments that were just for us.
Our weekends were filled with a variety of activities. One afternoon, we were looking at paint swatches, and the next, we were hanging out at the clubhouse, shooting pool. Between our jobs and active social lives, work on the house was slow, but we were making good progress.
The barns, on the other hand, were an entirely different story.
Their insides needed to be gutted and completely rebuilt to fit Bash’s vision.
One of the Brothers had a contracting business, and with his help, construction was moving swiftly.
Once those spaces were done, all that was left would be fixing some fences and property lights.
My visits to the clubhouse became more frequent, especially on the weekends. In the beginning, Bash would only bring me if Charlie or Match were around. It took a bit of time, but they finally stopped treating me with kid gloves.
I remembered one afternoon, Bash texted to say he was in a meeting at the clubhouse that was going overtime, and that he would come by my apartment after it was finished.
I had gotten so used to him picking me up from work, to having dinner together, that I felt a weird pang at the idea of eating alone.
I texted Charlie to see if she wanted to hang out, but she was watching the garage while the guys were in Church.
As I got into the car at the end of the day, finding myself listless and missing Bash, I made a last-minute decision to bring dinner to the clubhouse. Stopping at a pizza shop, I decided to dip into my rainy day fund and splurge on dinner for the guys.
Despite the considerable amount of savings I had stashed away, I was always hesitant to spend unnecessary money on myself.
But for other people, it seemed easier. I bought an insane number of pies with different toppings, as well as plenty of garlic knots, chicken wings, and mozzarella sticks.
The delivery guy needed to help me load up the car, so I sent Roxie and Star a text, asking if they were at the clubhouse.
I put my phone away and began the drive, only a tiny bit anxious about what Bash’s response to my surprise appearance might be. When I approached the property, I was grateful that I recognized Daniel, the prospect working in the guard booth.
“Hey, Danny. I decided to bring pizza for you guys. Want me to make you a plate and bring it down?” I asked, and watched as surprise crossed his face.
“That would be awesome, Miss Fiona. I’ll take three slices of whatever’s left after the guys get to it.”
“Tell me your favorite ones now. I’ll put a plate aside for you before the guys can get at it.”
With genuine appreciation, he rattled off some options and then opened the gate to let my car through.
Once parked, I checked my phone to see that both Star and Roxie were at the clubhouse already.
I replied that I just pulled in and could use some help.
Pulling out a stack of pies, I eyed my still-full back seat.
Did I over-order? I didn’t think so, especially since I had no idea how many Brothers were there.
“Hi, Fiona!” Star’s voice bubbled up from behind me, where I turned to see her and Roxie approaching.
“What’s all this?” Roxie asked, coming up to grab some boxes from my arms.
“Bash said he was going to have to miss dinner because the guys were all in a meeting. I figured I’d bring food to them instead.” Roxie’s face softened as Star loaded her arms up as well.
It took us two trips, but we got everything inside and laid it out across the kitchen. I put a plate aside for Danny, and Star ran it out to him. I started making a plate for myself when I looked up and saw Roxie and Star standing there, looking a little unsure.
“Are any of the other girls around? Maybe shoot them a text to grab some slices now before the guys get out here and demolish everything,” I said, waving a hand at the untouched pizzas.
Roxie and Star exchanged a look before Star grabbed her phone and both joined me at the table I had chosen.
“So what’s new? How’s work and stuff?” I asked between bites, grateful to see a few of the club girls come through and make plates before sitting in groups throughout the main floor.
“Iron Maidens is doing great. Been working there more than the clubhouse recently. You should stop by. Drinks on me,” Roxie said, and I was pleasantly surprised at her invitation.
“That sounds like fun. I haven’t been there before, so I’m excited to check it out. Star, will you come with me?” I asked, turning to the friendly blonde.
“Oh, sure! Just tell me when so I can make sure I’m not scheduled that night at Honeys.”
“Honeys?” I asked around a mouthful of pizza.
“Yeah. Hellbound Honeys. It’s one of the strip clubs the MC owns.
” Nodding, I suddenly recognized the name.
The ledgers were sitting in my apartment, waiting for my attention.
I had made my way through most of the other books first, and it was easy to see that there weren’t any discrepancies with those businesses.
“Do you like it there?” I asked, and Star seemed surprised by my interest.
“Oh, well, they’re really nice over at Honeys. That’s how I wound up here, ya know, as a club girl,” she said, and I nodded, trying to keep my face neutral to encourage her to share more if she wanted to. Star glanced at Roxie before turning back to me.
“I grew up a few towns over. Never knew my dad. Mom... Well, she wasn’t exactly winning any parent of the year awards.
Dropped out of school right before graduation once I found a job willing to pay me under the table.
My mom was real sick. She wasn’t much of a mom, but I still wanted to help.
Anyways, I was a cheerleader and on the dance team in school up until then.
Stripping, well, it felt so easy. I just zoned out for a bit, danced to a few songs, and made more cash than I’d ever seen in my life.
“As soon as I turned eighteen, though, the boss—this old creepy dude, Stan—said I was ready to work the back rooms. I thought it was just lap dances, but it was...” she trailed off, incredibly hesitant before shaking herself off.
“I didn’t want to do it, and one of the Reaper’s Guards told me about Honeys, and I auditioned right away.
They treated me so good, paid me more than I ever had before.
Was able to get my mom through hospice and eventually pay for her funeral bills,” she said before pasting a tight-looking smile on her face.
“Anyway, they’re nice there. Well, everyone other than Crow. Usually, they’re pretty flexible with the schedule, so let me know what night you want to go out!” I coughed at that, and had to gulp down some soda before I could reply.
“Crow runs the strip clubs?” I was surprised, yet not at all. Of course that would be the one area of business he was interested in.
“I think so? He’s the one Brother who is there most often, and he has an office. I’m not really sure what his title is. He sort of comes and goes as he pleases. Ginger—she’s the bar manager—is really the one who does all the work. Our schedules and paychecks, inventory. All that sort of thing.”
“Ugh. I’m sorry. I can’t imagine having to work with Crow. I don’t know how you guys can stand being around him. He just gives me the heebie-jeebies,” I said with a shudder. Roxie barked out a laugh.
“Heebie-jeebies? What are you, nine?”
I rolled my eyes at her before replying, “You know what I mean. He just has that major ick factor about him. It makes no sense to me, since Reaper and Seph are so cool. Sorry. Maybe I’m being too harsh on him.”
“Oh, you’re not. He’s a creep. There’s not supposed to be any fraternization between the employees and dancers, but he’s always hitting on the new girls. At least, on the days he shows up,” Star replied.
“Ew. Yeah, I definitely wouldn’t be able to focus on work with someone like him lurking about,” I said.
“I don’t love it. Actually, I’m not sure I want to keep stripping, honestly, but I don’t know what else I would do,” Star said, looking shy.
“Since when? You’ve never said anything to me,” Roxie said, frowning at her friend.
Star sighed, picking at her pizza before speaking.
“It’s not like I have a specific dream or job that I’ve always wanted to do, but I never thought I would still be stripping.
I don’t mind the MC life, it’s just, with how things turned out, I never really got a chance to try anything else.
I never graduated from high school, and now, my only job experience is dancing.
I don’t really know what I would do next.
Roxie helped me sign up to take my GED, though, so I’ve been studying for that. ”
“That’s great!” I replied, happy she had already taken steps to get to where she wanted.
“Thanks. It’s a bit scary. I’m really comfortable here, but I don’t want to let that hold me back. I want to try different things, find out what I like, what I want to be, not what I have to be. You know what I mean?” Star asked. I nodded, far too familiar with that feeling.
“Sometimes, scary is good. Sometimes, it’s the motivation you need to change,” I said in a soft whisper, recognizing I was speaking it to myself as much as I was to Star.
“Okay, now you guys are getting emo. Star, you’re gonna kick the GED exam’s ass, and whatever you decide to do after that, we’ll both be here to help,” Roxie interjected, and I laughed at her rude yet kind remark.