34. Jessi
JESSI
Jack
Want to go for a ride tonight?
Me
Sure! I’d love to.
Jack
Great. I’ll leave a bit early and pick you up. Sonny keeps asking about you. You cool if we go to the club for an hour or so? We have a meeting, but thought you and Sonny could hang out until that’s wrapped up?
Me
Sounds perfect. See you then.
Jack
Be there in five.
Me
Can’t wait!
Jack guides me into the club and beelines to a barstool.
“Sonny, you can get off my ass now. Delivered as promised,” Jack jokes.
“Thank you, Jack!” Sonny says while scooping my arm up in her grasp. Jack pats my shoulder then heads toward a back room full of the guys and closes the door.
“Hey, girl!” Sonny says, her black hair spilling over her shoulders and her brown eyes drinking in the light of the room. “How are you? Last time you were here, I noticed you and Tanner dancing and then Jack got pissed. I need the details.”
“Don’t remind me. Actually, this is perfect. I want to talk to you about something. Tanner took me on a ride last week, and we ended up at another MC. It was scary. Nothing like this place.”
“Hmm. I’m surprised he would take you to another club, but maybe he assumed since you are spending time with Jack, you can be trusted.
Anyway, not all clubs are the same. They all are based on members being a brotherhood or whatever.
They never snitch—they will go to prison before they betray their club—and they all have each other’s backs.
If there is a disagreement, they handle it in ‘church,’” Sonny makes air quotes with her fingers and points to the closed door.
“I see,” I say, studying the door with too much focus. “I’m not sure how I feel about all the ‘illegal’ stuff that happens, but I know I want nothing to do with the biker bunny shit. The guys in the other club were eyeing me like they wanted to eat me.”
“I can promise Jack isn’t going to let anyone treat you like a biker bunny, but yeah, some of the clubs are worse than others and treat women like crap.
That’s getting phased out, and part of the reason that this one is so large is because Mike and Jack will not tolerate women being disrespected. Anyone who does gets tossed out.”
The door to the club swings open and Austin, David, and Rachel stumble in.
The heralds of the Apocalypse, I think.
“Hey, Tanner still trying to make a go at you?” Austin asks when he sees me. “I can’t imagine that guy would want another date with you. I guess some weak-ass men allow women to dig their claws into them. My mom is a perfect example with my dad and then Jeremy. Let them learn the hard way.”
Rachel and David chime in with insults and laughter. I’m not sure why they think they’re funny. Nothing they do is remotely clever.
“Jack is taking me for a ride, not that it’s any of your business,” I tell him, steeling my gaze.
Austin gapes at me. “What, do you, like, have a thing for him now?”
“Holy shit,” says David. “She like old dudes. No way. I thought she was a lesbian.”
They all howl.
I give him a leering grin. “Are you jealous, David?”
David’s face burns with rage.
“Of course he isn’t jealous. He’s with me,” says Rachel, wrapping an arm around the jerk.
“Lucky you,” I reply.
Rachel rolls her eyes and flips her hair.
Austin leans closer and hisses in my ear, “That must be why he’s letting you stay over there. Are you spreading your legs for him?”
“Okay, kid. Time to take a hike,” Sonny warns.
“No can do, sweetheart.” Austin clicks his teeth. “Tim asked us over for a meeting with Mike.”
In walks the man from the other MC. Tim? He snaps his fingers at Austin and David and points toward the closed door. “Let’s go. Worry about tail later.”
Before they can knock on the door, it opens and Jack walks out. His eyes trail from Tim to the two behind him.
“What the fuck is going on?” Jack yells, his gaze bouncing from Tim to the room he is leaving and back to me.
Austin stands tall and says, “Oh, piecing the puzzle together, is all. Why Jessi wasn’t into David, and why you’re letting her stay there. She fucking you? Never pegged her for a biker bunny.”
“You all are a piece of shit,” Jack spits.
“And you.” He jabs his finger into Austin’s chest, forcing him to step back.
“You’re a sorry excuse for a brother. You make me sick.
” He fixes his attention on Mike. “No fucking way are we getting into bed with you fuckers. I want their drug supply cut. Find someone else for the cameras.”
Mike steps out as I head toward Jack. “Jack, we talked about this,” he stammers.
“While I didn’t know these two had anything to do with Jessi, we made a deal and the club needs this.
Other clubs are getting shipments disrupted and we need to figure out who is involved.
These kids can do it. Deal’s done, man.”
Tim sticks his arms out, keeping Austin back. “Hold up. You know each other?”
Jack huffs out a breath.
Austin flashes his teeth cruelly, darkness falling over his face. “You make me sick, you pedophile. Wait until Jeremy hears Jessi has been giving it up to you. I bet he’ll want to know exactly when this thing started. Bet you were fucking her while she was still in high school.”
Something snaps in me. I scream, jumping out from behind Jack.
“It’s not like that! I’m a virgin. I’ve never slept with anyone.
Go tell Dad, Austin. I dare you. Then I can finally tell him all about your parties and drinking.
You think he’ll be happy to hear you are risking your athletic career by getting wasted?
Then I’ll tell him about the drugs. Oh, and the hacking.
Yeah, you didn’t think I knew about that, huh?
Well, I do. So, if you say a word and try to hurt Jack, I’ll spill it all.
” I smile through the tears falling down my face.
I’ve never threatened him or stood up for myself, but having Jack beside me makes me stronger.
“Mike, who is this bitch and who is she threatening to talk to?” Tim seethes.
“You wouldn’t dare,” Austin says, as if Tim isn’t there.
“You’re too weak and pathetic. You can play innocent all you want in front of Jack, but Austin flat out told us he had ‘fun’ with you.
And you didn’t say a word to deny it.” Austin continues, “Jack, if she isn’t with you, she is giving it to your biker buddy.
You might want to move on from her. Thank God David finally did. ”
Jack’s eyes are black. His fists clench and unclench. His breathing deepens and speeds up. “If you say one more insulting word to her, I’ll end you right now.”
“Jack, take Jessi and cool off. Now!” Mike yells. “Tim, take your guys with you. This is their one warning. They do not wear a cut, and they are insulting a member of my club. They won’t get a second chance. I don’t care if you employ them.”
“Whatever. She isn’t worth our time.” Austin scoffs, sweat beading on his brow and his hands trembling. Is he scared?
Jack marches us outside and straight to his bike. I can’t stop shaking. Adrenaline and fear course through me. I’m an inch away from collapsing.
“You okay?” Jack asks, his voice tight. He helps me prop my leg over the seat.
“I . . . think so.”
Jack fastens the helmet while staring into my watery eyes. “Is it true?”
“Is what true?”
“Did you fuck Tanner?”
I pick at my fingers and cast my eyes downward. The tears keep flowing. My body shudders with each sob. “No. I told you. I’m a virgin.”
Jack twists back around. The bike roars to life, and as soon as I wrap my arms around him, he takes off.