Fourteen
14
Tex
Going to Ocala for two weeks had cleared my head. I was able to somewhat shake loose the Salem shit that had been trying to claw at me—or at least shove it back from the forefront of my mind. I wasn’t going to let her affect my life. It had been the shock of seeing her again—that was all. Nothing more. I’d been thinking about her as if I were still that kid who thought all that mattered was having Salem Gray.
She’d been right. We’d needed closure. I’d never fucking gotten it. Maybe that was it. We’d had it. I could move past her being in the same city.
Nixie’s arms tightened around my waist as my Harley roared beneath us. This was my life. Surrounded by my brothers, my club, my family. These were my people. My past would stay in the past. Mom had been right.
Micah was the only bike in front of me as we rode to Toxic Throttle for the evening. Dolly was tucked in behind him, and the idea of her going to a strip club made me chuckle. Not that Micah would be looking. More than likely, he’d end up keeping her in the office.
We were getting there early since Nixie was working tonight and had to get ready, as did Coco, who was on the back of Country’s bike, and Delight, who was on Pinch’s.
Grinder and Butch managed Toxic Throttle. It wasn’t our most elite club, but the strippers were high-end. It drew in the middle class and tourists.
Earlier today, Nixie had mentioned doing one of our adult films, testing the waters to see my reaction. The girl could take a dick in any hole and moan like a pro. She’d be excellent on-screen. I had no problem with it. She wasn’t mine. I just happened to enjoy her tight cunt and how far she’d take my cock down her throat.
I’d learned she had major daddy issues. She liked that I was older, and she enjoyed doing the young-girl thing, like coming to me in nothing but a school-uniform miniskirt and socks pulled up to her knees.
I was guilty of bending her over the sofa in my room last night and pretending she was someone else. Another girl too young for me once. One I had wanted more than my next breath. I’d come so hard that I made her keep it on while I changed condoms, then took her ass.
Micah held up his hand to signal the group as he turned left instead of right. What was going on? Dolly glanced back at us, and with her helmet on, it was hard to see her expression, but I did know she wasn’t smiling.
Just before we reached Paradise Brew, Micah pulled into the empty parking lot of a souvenir store that had seasonal hours and was currently closed. He cut his engine and climbed off the bike, and then he made a slice with his hand for us to turn off our engines.
With a chin lift from him, the others did what I was already doing. Going to see what this was about. He looked unlike his normal easygoing self. There was a dangerous edge to him.
“The hidden alarm at Pep’s has gone off. The one I put there just for me. It’s silent, and it goes directly to my phone. I don’t know what the fuck is happening, but we need to treat it like a worst-case scenario. Our bikes pulling in the parking lot will alert whoever is an issue that they have company.
“We are going to walk over and go in at every entrance. Women stay here, except for Dolly, Nina, and Goldie.”
He swung his eyes to me. “We go in the back. I’m putting our three women in a back room near the exit. I want you to guard it.”
I nodded. He wanted me protecting his wife. I understood. He needed to be focused to help Pepper.
“Ringer, you stay here with the prospects to protect the girls.”
The Micah from before Dolly wouldn’t have thought about the other girls’ safety. But he knew his wife would have something to say if they were left out here with no protection. Knowing Dolly, I was sure she’d refuse to leave them, and he’d have to toss her tiny ass over his shoulder to get her to move.
“Jars, Grinder, and Butch, take the front entrance. Lick, Pinch, and Fox, go in the side door. Country and Brick, you’re with me and Tex in the back. Do what needs to be done to protect Pepper first,” he added.
My head was playing out several scenarios. If this was another club or someone here to seek revenge on The Judgment, then it was going to be messy.
“Tex,” Nixie called out as I started to follow Micah.
She had her orders, and I had mine. There was unmistakable panic in her voice. I didn’t have patience for that shit.
It had probably been a mistake, letting her ride on the back of my bike.