Chapter Seventeen
Damon
I’m working at Devil’s Play tonight, a burlesque dance club that the Devils MC started and own. Since we’ve joined our motorcycle clubs, and Romeo’s trust in me has grown, he’s been letting me handle things more and more, and tonight, I’m the one on call for any issues that may arise at the club.
Jag: Lost Lions MC members spotted in the area.
Damon: You think they’ll come here?
Jag: Maybe.
I need to be prepared, in case. This venue is always packed, attracting a big crowd. I’m happy to be here, but I’d rather be back at the clubhouse with Corey, who I now might not be able to see tonight.
Echo, the manager, walks by me with her clipboard in hand. I remember once when I was asking about Corey, Bella tried to talk me into being interested in Echo instead, telling me she’s another red-haired beauty.
And she is, don’t get me wrong, but she’s not for me.
There’s no other woman who makes me feel the spark that Corey does.
Sometimes the penis wants what the penis wants, or whatever that saying is.
I send Corey a text letting her know I probably won’t be able to see her tonight. It’s too risky dropping into the Devils clubhouse at nighttime anyway. If River sees me, he will definitely know something is up, and he will lose his shit.
And fighting with him puts me in a lose/lose situation, because at the end of the day he is Corey’s only family left, and she loves him like crazy.
If I kick his ass, I would be the bad guy.
If I don’t and kiss his ass, I’ll look weak to the club.
He’s also a psychopath, and the enforcer for the club, so he basically has a degree in torture and murder.
So he’s not really someone I want to fight with.
That doesn’t mean that I’d back down, though.
I’m a good fighter, and well trained at that, and I know how to defend myself.
Name one biker who doesn’t.
I’m hoping we can just talk it out, and deal with it in a civilized way. We both respect each other, so why not?
“Damon,” Echo calls, placing her clipboard on the bar and studying me. “Are you okay? You seem distracted.”
“I’m fine,” I say, smiling at a group of people that enters, scanning them to see if I recognize anyone. Lions members specifically. Echo takes their money and leads them into the club.
Corey: Wait, you’re where? At the strip club?
Shit.
Damon: It’s a burlesque club, and you know that. And I’m working, Romeo wanted me here in case anything goes wrong. We’re short one security guard.
She doesn’t reply.
Fucking hell.
An hour passes, and still no response.
Is she already mad at me? That has to be some kind of record.
I wander outside and stand with the security checking ID at the door, and then do a perimeter check. The loud music hits me when I head back inside, and Echo looks up from the bar at the entrance. “Everything okay?”
I nod. “Yep. Is there anything you’d like me to do?”
She gives me a once-over, and my eyes widen in surprise. Echo doesn’t hit on any of the men in the MC. In fact, I was starting to think she might be into women, because the men told me that they’ve never seen her even as so much show interest in the opposite sex.
But I know that look.
“I mean, what are you doing after this?” she asks, looking me right in the eye. She’s confident, and bold. And straight to the point.
“Oh, um.” I move closer to her. “I’m kind of seeing someone.”
She sighs and crosses her arms. “Of course you are. The first and only time I make a move on a man, and you’re suddenly seeing someone.”
I grin and lean over the bar. “Echo, I’m flattered, and you are a gorgeous woman. I’m sure no single man would turn down you down. But yes, I’m seeing someone new, and... I’m fucking crazy about her.”
“So that’s why you’re so distracted,” she comments, arching her brow, her green eyes knowing. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have... That was out of character for me. And extremely unprofessional.”
“Don’t worry about it, it never happened,” I say, flashing her a smile. “You should come hang out at the clubhouse some time. The women were saying they don’t have any friends.”
She tilts her head to the side, mulling it over. “If I’m being honest, I don’t have any, either. It’s just been work and home for me.”
“Well, there you go. I’ll let them know.”
She looks over my head at the door. “I think you can tell them yourself.”
“What?” I reply, following her line of sight.
Shit.
Corey, Bella, and Julianna step through the door.
They never come here.
Okay, this can’t be good, and I’m the only one here so I’m going to have to deal with them all. Not only that—it’s really not safe right now for them to be traipsing all over the fucking town alone.
Corey’s eyes are on Echo, and she’s looking at her like she wants to tear her throat out.
“Ladies, what a lovely surprise,” I say, then turn to Corey, giving her a slow perusal. “Corey, you look amazing.”
She’s in a silky dress I’d like to rip off with my teeth later, and her hair is half up, half down. She doesn’t reply to my compliment, instead stepping closer and lowering her voice. “We just wanted to come out and have a drink. We aren’t disturbing you both, are we?”
Shit.
“No, of course not. Do you want a table in there?” I ask, looking at them all. “And what did you want to drink?”
“We’d love a table,” Julianna replies, looking at the other two. “Spicy margaritas?”
“Sounds good,” Bella replies, and Corey nods.
“I’ll get the table and drinks,” Echo says, disappearing into the club’s main room.
“Where are Romeo and River tonight?” I ask. Not watching their women, I can tell you that much.
Julianna smirks, then glances around the lobby. “Not at home to stop us from coming here.”
Wonderful.
“I’ve always wanted to come,” Bella says, linking her arm with Corey’s. “And when Corey suggested we do, I jumped at it.”
Echo comes back out, the music getting louder as she opens the door. “Table is ready for you.”
They walk past me, and I grab Corey’s arm as she does. “I’m here working—nothing else is going on.”
“Would you like it if I worked around hot, half-naked men?” she whisper-yells back at me. “You didn’t even like Diamond talking to us about his stripping.”
I don’t know how Diamond is getting brought into this.
“Of course I wouldn’t like it, but Corey, all of the men come work here at one point or another. We do what Romeo or Julianna tell us to do,” I try to explain to her. “And you know I’m being given more responsibility in the club now. And I’m not even in there watching the show, I’m here making sure there are no security problems. You know, just in case your other brother and his men suddenly show up here.”
“Yeah, instead you’re alone here leaning over the table talking to the hot older redhead,” she replies in a dry tone, putting her hands on her hips. “This is my fault for choosing a man who is so incredibly good-looking.”
She walks inside, and I grin at the compliment.
If only she knew that she has nothing to worry about.
I’m going to make it my mission to make sure that she does.