3 #2
Immediately, I heard music playing as we entered the building. Loud music. The kind that thumped so hard, I felt it in my chest. Since I hardly listened to this type of music, I had no idea what song was playing. But I liked it. I liked it a lot.
“Let’s get loud,” El Jefe sang in perfect harmony with the female singer. He moved his head, all cool and such. His shoulders shook next. “Do you dance?”
“No, not really.” My face flamed red-hot.
“I’ll teach you.” He took my hand, raised it above my head and somehow made me turn in a circle. “See there? You can follow a strong leader, and that’s me.” He winked and shot a heart-stopping smile.
Warmth spread through my body. This man. I needed to be careful. He had the kind of power over me I couldn’t resist. I wasn’t sure if that was good or bad.
“Jefe!” a female yelled. The dark-haired woman rushed toward us. Her eyes lowered to our joined hands and a tart expression made her mouth pucker.
“Shit,” El Jefe hissed.
“Who is this?” She placed her hands on her wide hips and glared at me. Her almost black eyes pinged from mine to El Jefe’s, like she was watching a tennis match. “Did you forget tonight is my night with you?”
“Woman don’t talk to me that way. And I mean, don’t ever talk to me that way, again.” After scolding the other woman, he squeezed my hand as if letting me know he wasn’t letting go of it. Not for her. Not for anyone.
I wasn’t sure how to react. I appreciated him reassuring me, but I didn’t want to get between him and another woman.
Besides, I wasn’t sticking around here long enough to get attached to the president of a biker club. Criminals weren’t my cuppa tea. Been there, done that with my brothers. The sassy short woman could have El Jefe.
“Jefe, I’m just surprised. I mean no disrespect, you know this. I’ve just been waiting for you all day, baby.” She leaned up against him, her hand went on his chest, and she kissed him.
To my utter shock, he didn’t reject her.
I stood there feeling like an idiot. Like I was invading their private moment, in this very public place. Not only was it awkward, but I also started to notice the other people staring at me. Whispering about me. It was then that I realized what a mess I must look like.
And then. And then, I heard El Jefe and the lady. Lips smacking against the other. Wet, slobbery kisses. Her desperate whimpers.
I nearly threw up in my mouth.
“Seriously, do I need to be here for this?” I tugged my hand, trying to get loose from El Jefe’s grasp.
Suddenly, he pulled away from Miss Sugar Lips and snapped his gaze at me. “Excuse me?”
Oh, boy. I hadn’t meant to say that out loud. But I wouldn’t apologize for stating my feelings. “I need to use the bathroom, if you don’t mind? Perhaps, I can go clean up and you can go do whatever you want with your woman.”
He turned to face me. He wasn’t as tall as Miguel, who was over six foot. El Jefe was probably around five-ten, maybe five-eleven. I was a solid five-foot-six. Taller than I’d like. Wearing Mary Janes made us pretty close to the same height.
“You don’t intimidate me,” I said as confidently as possible. “Don’t forget, you’re not forcing me to be here so I shouldn’t be forced to watch you make out with a woman.”
He stared at me, his nostrils flaring. He seemed to wear a scowl a lot. Did he know it made him look like a grumpy fart? Maybe it was intentional to intimidate. It wouldn’t work on me. I’d kill him with kindness like the nuns would tell me.
My gaze swept around the room. Everyone was staring at me, including Miss Sugar Lips.
This was super awkward and uncomfortable.
“Letty!” he yelled, not taking his eyes off me.
“Jefe, what are you doing?” Sugar Lips asked.
“Yes, El Jefe?” A scantily dressed woman appeared. She had light brown hair and bright blue eyes. She seemed young, maybe around my age.
“Take Silvia to your room and give her some clothes to wear.”
“Jefe, what are you doing,” Sugar Lips asked. “She doesn’t belong here.”
“Shut your goddamn mouth, Yoli. I about had it with you.” He pushed her aside and got nose to nose with me. “She’s right, though. You don’t belong here, but I said I’d help you. And I will.”
Where did this arctic blast come from? Before now, he seemed sort of nice, albeit with a grumpy expression. Now, he seemed annoyed with me. Perhaps, I’d already overstayed my welcome.
“Then I should go.” I reached for the leather strap of the purse Sister Lupita gave me, but it wasn’t there. “My purse.” I ran toward the door. Maybe I dropped it outside.
“Where are you going?” El Jefe followed me.
“My purse. I must have dropped it.” I retraced my steps, leading back to his Harley. “I need to find it. It had everything I need inside.”
“I don’t remember you bringing it.”
I bent at the waist, breathing deeply. “I need to find it. Please.”
“Lemme check with my prospect who stayed with the car.” He guided me to straighten up and he touched my chin. “We’ll find your purse, okay, Chiquita?”
“I can’t leave California without it.” I fell against his chest. “What’s in it is priceless to me.”
“I promise, we’ll get your purse.” His tattooed arms wrapped around me. He smelled of leather, cologne, and the outdoors. It was a perfect manly mix.
Everything about him soothed me, like a magic balm that healed every aliment known to man. Or maybe only known to me.
“I’m guessing there’s a billion dollars you’re freaking out over, right?”
“Sir, this is not freaking out. Believe me, you’ll know when I’m losing it. This isn’t it.”
His body shook as a chuckle rumbled in his chest.
“Um, Jefe. Did you want me to take her to my room?” the girl, Letty asked.
“Yes. Be nice to her, or I’ll blister your ass.”
“Oh my gosh. You hit her?” My limbs went stiff. Why did I get myself mixed up with a biker club? I should’ve waited for the tow truck, but I’d been too afraid to stay out in the open. Miguel and his men would have found me. I might be with them now, if it weren’t for Jefe and his crew.
“No, but I will if she disobeys me.” He pulled back and leveled his gaze at me. “I don’t hurt women unless they deserve it.”
“That statement doesn’t comfort me.”
“You’re gonna need to trust me, Chiquita.”
“I don’t trust anyone.”
“Yeah, I sensed that.” He jerked his head at the girl. “Letty will take care of you. Stay with her, and I’ll be back.”
Suddenly, panic exploded in me. I clutched his black T-shirt in my hands. “Where are you going? I don’t know anyone here. You can’t leave me!”
“Shh, Mija. You’re safe here. Is this you freaking out?” His warm lips pressed against my forehead and the gesture felt very different from when my brothers kissed my head.
“You’re not funny.”
“Un poco funny.”
“Stop it!” I hit his arm. “You really aren’t funny.”
“Okay, okay. Listen to me, Silvia. Anyone messes with you, they’ll have me to answer to,” he shouted as if making sure he was heard. “Do you believe me?”
“Yes. I believe you.” I didn’t but what choice did I have? I let go of him and backed up. “It’s been a stressful day. I’m not sure what’s gotten into me. I’m fine.”
Just keep lying, Vee.
Everybody duck. Lightning is about to strike.
“Come with me,” Letty said with a smile.
“Okay.” I glanced over my shoulder at El Jefe. He was watching me with an intense stare. Not a grumpy expression, but a serious one.
“Silvia, right?” Letty asked, drawing my attention away from her boss.
“Mhm.”
“More like, puta,” Sugar Lips spat as we walked by her. “That means slut. Or bitch. Take your pick. They both work for you.”
Letty made a soft gasp but said nothing.
“Eres ridícula.” I waved off Sugar Lips. “So ridiculous.”
“You know Spanish?” Letty asked.
“Un poco.” I gestured a little with my fingers as I had with Jefe.
“Not me. I’m one of a few white girls in the club. I took French in high school. Don’t remember anything except bonjour.” She grimaced, then pointed down a hallway inside the clubhouse. “My room is this way. I live here. All the sweet butts do. Makes us easy access for the guys.”
My stomach turned. I wanted to ask her a million questions. Like what was a sweet butt and why did the men need easy access and if Jefe was one of them, but I refrained. I didn’t see the point when I wasn’t sticking around.
“Letty, I won’t be here long. Let’s not get too friendly or personal. Okay?” I hope I didn’t sound rude. She was nice and all, but I planned to be gone by tomorrow morning.
And truthfully, I was excited to leave California. Never been out of the state before. I’d love to travel and see the country. Heck, see the world!
“Sure, but none of us planned to stay here for very long, we just sort of do.”
Oh, Lord! This was bad, so very bad.