8. Hawg
HAWG
Iwalk into the Harlots’ club to find Onyx and Pearl at the bar while the drummer plays some music in the background, getting ready for another live weekend.
A weekend I thought they should cancel in light of everything going on, but these two women are about as strong-willed as two women can be.
But they’re about to meet their match, because what happened today, it’s not happening again.
I tap Onyx on the shoulder. “We need to talk. Alone.”
Pearl raises her eyebrows and tries to keep a smile from her lips but doesn’t succeed so just averts her gaze.
I’m not letting it slide though. “You keep that little smirk to yourself, you’re about ready to deal with Carver over the same bullshit.”
Pearl turns her narrowed eyes back to me, but she knows I only want what’s best for them, unlike Onyx, who’s flounced ahead of me and is already taking the stairs. I follow her up and I’m intent on what I’m going to say but following the sway of her ass, it knocks me off my game.
She heads to the little tv room upstairs and folds herself into one of the beanbag chairs on the floor.
I opt for the couch, the only furniture of decent height in the whole room.
She holds out both arms. “Say whatever you’re going to say.
I’m going to listen and try to understand that you’re just trying to help but at the end of the day, you may as well not waste too much breath.
The Harlots need the revenue. We’re just getting back on our feet.
We have a roof over our head to pay for and need to eat. We’re not giving up our runs.”
I’m looking down at her from my seat. “I know you’re trying to take care of your girls, but dammit I thought we had an agreement the other day at breakfast? You can’t just take off and not let anyone know where you are.”
Onyx stands and paces the small room. “You heard what you wanted to hear, not what I said. I said that I would do everything in my power to protect us and keep us safe. I didn’t say I would give up the trips between here and Tucson. It’s our fucking livelihood. Would you give it up?”
My jaw locks tight at this infuriating woman. I stand too because fuck looking up at her. “I didn’t tell you to give it up, Onyx.”
Her eyes flash as she leans on the wall.
I close the distance between us, eliminating her personal space.
“We agreed you’d be safe. It is not safe to drive by yourself on a motorcycle without protection in the fucking desert, let alone with both the Desert Riders and Scorpions, who you know are roaming those territories. What would happen if they saw you?”
She exhales a breath. “This situation is out of control. I need to go see the Scorpion VP, have a talk with him, VP to VP, and find out what it’s going to take to settle the score. I can’t be a prisoner in this place or answer to anyone about my comings and goings. That’s not me.”
This woman is getting on my last nerve, and her fucking scent is driving me insane. “I need you safe. How am I supposed to protect you when you don’t tell me where you’re going? From now on, you tell me before you walk out that fucking door.”
“Or what?”
I lean in nice and close, inhaling her scent, before whispering in her ear. “Or I am going to turn your sweet ass over my knee and spank you until you can’t sit down for a week.”
The pulse on the side of her throat is the only sign that she’s even heard or understood what I said. I push the long silky strand of hair behind her ear, something I’ve been wanting to do ever since I met her and saw it fall into her face that very first time.
Onyx swallows, gathering her composure, but I see the indecision in her eyes.
“It seems we’ve come to an impasse. I won’t go anywhere without letting you know, but I’m not going to put this club and our livelihood at risk while I’m waiting for these bozos to decide how to make my life miserable, if they even do.
Ness was a new recruit, so maybe they don’t give a shit? ”
I’d certainly like to think that too, but those bricks in that saddlebag she saw?
No, even if they didn’t give two shits about Ness, they’re going to make her pay for that, and she seems to have forgotten all about the ass kicking we sent her ex back to his crew with.
Both groups are coming and it’s my job to see that they don’t.
Even if I have to protect her from herself.
I stroke a finger down her cheek. “From now on, you’re with me. From the fucking time you wake up until the time you go to sleep. If I have to sleep next to you and cuff you to the fucking bed you’re not going out alone. Got it?”
That was probably the wrong thing to say. Her green eyes flash. “Fuck you!”
“I can arrange that too.”
She blows out a breath and it warms my chest right through my T-shirt. “You’re an impossible and arrogant asshole.”
“Maybe so, but you’re stuck with me until we get this settled.”
Her eyes flash but she keeps whatever thoughts are rambling through her mind to herself, at least for now. “I need to go tend to some business. Some of my boys are here. Don’t go anywhere tonight unless you let them know. Are we clear?”
“We’re clear, now out of my way so I can get away from you.”
I swear that woman has gotten right under my skin.
I push away from the wall and away from her, immediately missing the warmth of her body next to mine.
Damn this impossible situation all to hell.
This chemistry between us at one time or another, we’re going to have to put it out if we’re going to continue working together.
And I’m supposed to be protecting her, not thinking about getting into those tight little pants of hers. I head downstairs and the door behind me slams causing me to smile. As long as she’s in there, she’s not out on the streets causing trouble. At least for one night, I can breathe.
Pearl’s gone when I get down to the bar. “Where’s Pearl? Don’t tell me I have to go find her now too?”
Brandy laughs. “No, Carver found her and they’re upstairs.” She gives me a set of air quotes. “Talking.”
These women are going to be the death of us. Hopefully not literally. “If Carver’s looking for me tell him to give me a call on the cell. I’ll be back in about an hour and a half.” I need to head back to the RBMC club, shower and change. I can do it here but there I can get Onyx out of my head.
The minute I’m showered I head into the club bar.
My VP, Taze, who I’ve put in charge here while me and a few of the boys are over at the Harlots gives me an update.
Nothing out of the ordinary going on, and they’re getting ready for some of the bunnies to come over and have a good time.
The ol’ ladies will love that. The married guys stay clear of the bunnies, well most of them, but that doesn’t mean the ol’ ladies like them coming around.
One of the regulars and her friend have already arrived and sidle up next to me.
I huff out a sigh. A few times in the sack a long time ago and they’re like fucking glue.
I nod to the barkeep. “A drink for the ladies on me.” I try to ignore the looks and giggles while answering a couple calls and enjoying my beer.
Maybe we’ve been thinking about this all wrong, waiting for the clubs to come after the ladies. It was hard not to with the gift bag they left Onyx for Pearl and what happened the night of the reception, but there’s another way.
The drugs. The Larussios will know who the Desert Riders are running drugs for because it’s sure as shit not them. Carver makes runs through the desert for the Larussios.
I hit the contact for Bruiser, owner of a bar we frequent to see if he’s heard anything about one of the Scorpions’ recruits getting blown up or if any of the Scorpions or Desert Riders have been back in his bar lately.
The last thing we heard the Larussios told Bruiser to let them know if they came back because they had been told to stay out of the state.
“Funny you should ask. They’ve been riding through. I let the Larussios know, and they weren’t too fucking happy. Pretty sure they have their Rivalry crew in the area, just waiting for those Scorpion bastards to breeze through again.”
Good to know. I hit Carver’s contact, and it goes to voicemail. I scowl and send him a text, laughing at his reply. Honeymoon.
Clearly his conversation with Pearl went better than mine. But the night is young and this fucking chemistry between Onyx and me, it’s not going to clear itself without a little help.
Suddenly, everything is clear. I get up and head out the door still trying to decide if we’re better to stay on offense of go on the defense with these pricks when they’re least expecting it.
I head out, tossing a hand in the air as I leave the guys to fend for themselves and head back to the Harlots’ for a Friday night, with only one thing on my mind.