3. Onyx
ONYX
Imay not be looking for trouble tonight, but the way my sadistic ex, the tall gangly man who used to share my bed, is looking straight at me, it’s not hard to tell that trouble just walked in that door.
Pearl puts her hand on my arm, but I shake it off, leaving her and Carver and the others to circle, cutting him off before he gets any farther into the club.
My chest pounds with unleashed anger. After what he did to me. What the fuck is he doing here? He’s not fucking staying. I’ll toss his ass right out the door he just walked through. I try to keep my cool, but it takes effort. “What are you doing here?”
Rod gives me a smile. One that used to get me right in the feels.
Too bad he didn’t save that smile just for me instead of spreading it around just like he did with his dick.
Cheating son of a bitch. Just like all the other males in my life.
Can’t depend on one of the fucks for anything. Well, I’ve learned my lesson now.
Never giving that power away.
I give him my best glare. “I won’t ask again. What are you doing here? You’re not welcome, Rod.”
His head tilts, and he squints those bloodshot eyes at me. This time the smile he gives me is eerie, one of those really creepy ones. “I came to give Pearl a present. A little wedding gift from the Desert Riders. Heard she got hitched this afternoon.”
Now I know exactly why he’s here. Fucking loser. “So you joined the Desert Riders? Heard they were picking up some loose cannon lowlifes. Like I said, you’re not welcome here. Leave.”
Rod moves slowly, otherwise I’d pull my knife. “Got a little gift,” he says. He opens up a black leather bag and pulls out a smaller paper bag. “I’ll let you do the honors.”
My eyes narrow, but my chest tightens as I pull out the smashed silver gremlin bell that I gave to Pearl so many years ago.
It’s ridden low on her bike to protect her for all of these years, a guardian to ward off the dangers of the road, and this fuck has smashed it all to pieces and is giving it to us as a warning.
This time when his lips curve, it’s actually a sneer. “The road’s getting dangerous for your girl.”
“You son of a bitch!”
He tsks his tongue at me. “Now don’t get all riled up. Pearl should have known going up against the Desert Riders was gonna get some blowback. It’s not like your prez doesn’t know the rules.”
He hands me the paper bag, almost daring me not to take it. I’ll take the fucking bag you asshole. But all I can think about is Pearl’s reaction when she sees this.
Not on her wedding day.
I pull out a picture from the bottom of the bag, of Pearl, my prez, in her wedding dress.
The day she tried it on at the little boutique down the street.
The Desert Riders have been following her.
Not that we didn’t think they would, but maybe we thought we had a little bit more time. There just weren’t any signs.
Until now.
A smashed guardian or gremlin bell and an intimate picture letting us know they’ve been following her. There couldn’t be more intense clues.
I meet Rod’s gaze. “You and I both know that whatever that lousy recruit got, he had coming.”
He shakes his head. “I don’t have the whole story, but whatever she did pissed the crews off real bad, so you better tell her she should start checking her mirrors.”
“Fuck you, Rod. You signed up with the wrong fucking crew.”
At first, he looks solemn, but then the curve of his lips appears, smiling, both corners lifting up in an evil sneer. “You want a ride on the back of my bike or better yet on the end of my dick?” Rod asks.
It’s pure fucking adrenaline that puts my knee into the center of his crotch, and one hundred percent pissed off friend that smashes his face down onto my knee when he leans down to grab his junk.
Rod grabs my hair; the one time I leave it loose instead of in a pony and the fucker tries to snatch me bald-headed. But I’ve got my knife and I’m not scared to use it. He may think he’s got the upper hand but I’m quick to pull it from its sheath.
The other Harlots and Royal Bastards here for the night are already closing in around me, but when I glance up those steely blue eyes that I’ve been avoiding all afternoon meet mine as he grabs my ex by the neck and puts a knife to his throat.
Hawg’s voice is a deep pissed-off growl. “Let her go or her pretty face is the last thing you’re ever going to see before you bleed out all over this fucking floor.”
I glance around and my ex doesn’t have a chance in hell. Pearl has her pearl-handled Glock out ready to do him some serious bodily harm and Carver and every one of the Harlots have their weapons of choice out ready to take him for a rumble.
“The dickwad is working for the Desert Riders,” I choke out.
Hawg is already hauling Rod’s ass out the door with part of his crew right behind him.
I have no doubt that whatever happens out there, that dickwad is not going to be in any riding condition at all after they get done with him.
At least not tonight if the look on Hawg’s face is any indication of what’s to come.
Pearl puts her arm around me. “What did Rod want?”
I’m not saddling her with this shit on her wedding night but I’m going to have to tell her first thing in the morning, her and Carver too because if the Desert Riders are this fixated on making her pay and brazen enough to send someone right into our club, we’re going to have to come up with a different game plan to keep her and every one of us safe.
I give her shoulders a squeeze. “Nothing that won’t wait until tomorrow. He’s a dick. Always has been. I could definitely use that drink though.”
She smiles. “That we can manage. Thanks, Onyx, I think you shattered his nose.”
I give her a wink. “I did, I felt it crunch right under my knuckles, and I have to admit it felt mighty fine.”
Carver raises his eyebrows. “Note to self. Stay on the right side of Onyx. She packs a mean punch and even more hidden weapons.”
Brandy’s already slipped back behind the bar and put her piece away. “What’s everyone drinking?” she asks, already knowing what every one of us ladies are going to say. “Tequila!”
Carver just shakes his head. “A beer. Someone has to keep this lady crowd under control tonight.”
Pearl puts her arm around him and gives him a big ol’ smooch on the cheek. “Not on your life. We are celebrating the happiest fucking day of my life!”
“Shots for the house!” Pearl exclaims while Carver simply smiles and tips his beer. Quiet, cool and calm, but deathly protective of Pearl. When Carver finds out what I am now carrying around in this bag, all hell is going to break loose.
Again…
And I have a feeling that’s exactly what’s happening outside to my ex-boyfriend at this very minute by the way Hawg roared out the door.