Chapter 18 - Zombie #2
I follow her line of sight and grin when I spot Patti, one of the club whores, giving Boondock, our treasurer, head. “If you think you’re seeing a half-naked chick on her knees and sucking a dick, then yes.”
“Talk about an adrenaline rush.”
My brows shoot up. “You’re okay with that?”
“Why wouldn’t I be?” she counters. “I have sex in front of exotic animals so I’m certainly not gonna judge.”
“Marry me,” I blurt, and as soon as the words pass my lips, I realize that I don’t hate the idea.
Lucy, on the other hand, just seems shocked. She slaps me on the chest playfully. “Be serious.”
It’s on the tip of my tongue to tell her I am serious, but I refrain. She thinks I’m joking, and that’s for the best right now because I know she’s still coming to terms with there being anything beyond sex between us.
I’m saved from responding when Whiz joins us. “Hey, Lucy,” he greets. “I was wondering when Z was going to bring you by.”
“Bite me,” I snap.
“I think I’ll leave that to the pretty vet,” Whiz states, which earns him a laugh from said vet. “So, Z, you gonna stand here like a wall flower all night or introduce your girl to everyone?”
“He’s going to introduce me to everyone,” Lucy answers before I can. “Aren’t you?”
“Sure thing, babydoll.”
For the next hour, I lead Lucy around the room and do just that. My brothers all seem slightly smitten by her, and while I’m glad they like her, it’s all I can do to keep the jealousy at bay. No one gets out of hand, of course, but that doesn’t seem to matter.
“Well, well, well,” Star says as Lucy and I step up to the bar. “Is this her?”
Lucy’s confusion is apparent in the way her forehead wrinkles. “Who’s this?” she asks me.
“I’m the woman who warms his bed at night,” Star says, and I see red.
“She’s a bitch who’s just pissed because she doesn’t do it for me,” I snarl.
Lucy snaps her fingers like she just figured out some big secret. “Oh, right. I heard about you.” I narrow my eyes at her statement, unsure of where this is going. “You’re the cunt who couldn’t make him forget me.”
Yep, definitely marrying this woman.
With lightning speed, Star reaches out and yanks Lucy away from me by her hair.
The two of them crash to the floor, knocking over a barstool and gaining the attention of the room in the process.
I’m about to grab Lucy by the waist and haul her away from the club whore when she flips them both and straddles Star.
Star tries to buck her off, but Lucy only leans forward to wrap her hands around her throat.
“G-get the fuck o-off me,” Star wheezes.
“Nah, I don’t think I will,” Lucy says matter-of-factly.
My dick twitches at the ease with which she’s man-handling Star. “Don’t kill her,” I say, although that wouldn’t be the worst thing.
“I won’t,” Lucy says, and I see her fingers tighten. “But I am going to make sure she won’t forget me either.”
Lyric and Mellie appear at my side.
“When will they learn?” Mellie asks, exasperated.
“Learn what?” Lyric asks his old lady.
“That once a brother is taken, he’s off limits,” she replies. “I’ve made that pretty clear.”
“He’s mine!” Star shrieks, regaining my attention. “I called dibs!”
“Dibs?” Lucy counters. “He’s not the last remaining seat at the table.”
“He’s mi—”
Lucy’s fist connects with Star’s cheek, sending her head whipping to the side and knocking her out. “Grow up,” she snaps.
“Babydoll, c’mon,” I urge, bending to grab her arm and pull her to her feet. “She’s not worth it.” I turn to search for a prospect, and my eyes land on Colin behind the bar. “Yo, Prospect,” I shout. “Come take out the trash.”
He nods and makes his way around the bar to Star.
As he drags the unconscious bitch away, and Lucy huffs out a breath. “Sorry. I don’t know what came over me.” She shakes her hands, and blood trickles from her split knuckles.
“It’s called the green-eyed monster,” Mellie says helpfully.
Lucy opens her mouth, but no words come out.
“The club whores have that effect on people,” Lyric adds. “Every fake smile, every breath and vow, they claim it’s all for them.” Pres shakes his head. “Most of them know the score, but every once in a while, one of ‘em takes it too far.”
“Did you just reference “Every Breath You Take” by the Police?” Lucy asks.
Lyric grins, facing me. “Lock this shit down, brother. She’s a keeper.”
My girl looks from me to him and back again. “I’m lost.”
“Lyric loves music and has a song lyric for everything,” I explain. “The fact that you caught on immediately… Let’s just say that it makes you one of us.”
“That and the fact that Zombie’s claimed you,” Mellie states. “Welcome to the family.”
“I… You… But…”
“Cat got your tongue?” Lyric teases.
“Leave her alone,” I say. “I’m trying not to scare her away, thank you very fucking much.”
“If she can’t handle a little teasing,” Pres begins. “She’s not the one.”
“I can handle it,” Lucy grits. “I deal with ornery zoo animals for a living. Compared to them, you’re a pussycat.”
“Oh, Zombie, I really like her,” Mellie exclaims. “Don’t fuck it up.”
“Don’t plan on it,” I assure her. “Mel, can you take Lucy to clean up her hand? I need to talk to Lyric for a minute.”
“Sure thing.” Mellie slips her arm through Lucy’s and practically drags her away.
Once we’re alone, I focus on Lyric, but he speaks before I can get a word out.
“What’s up?”
“Martin showed up at Lucy’s place tonight,” I tell him and go on to detail the encounter.
“Baker was supposed to keep him occupied for most of the night. Not only so Martin would forget about the date he practically demanded, but also to prove that we could trust him to follow orders and get shit done.”
“And he failed at both.”
“I know we voted to work with him,” I say. “But if he can’t do this one simple thing, how the fuck can we trust him?”
“We can’t,” Lyric confirms. “Isn’t that sort of the point, though?
Martin has clearly worn out his usefulness to the club.
The way he went behind our backs with the sale of the factory is proof of that.
And Baker, well… we cut him loose. I was hoping to gain access to that property without our names being attached to it, but it’s not worth the risk at this point. ”
“My thoughts exactly. Let’s call an emergency meeting of officers to vote on our next move,” I suggest. “I’d like to get that done tonight, if possible. Then we can eliminate both of them and move on.”
“I call church for tomorrow,” he counters. “Enjoy the rest of the night with your girl.” Lyric smirks. “I like her, brother. She’s perfect for you.”
“Glad you think so because I’m keeping her.”
“Figured as much.”
Mellie and Lucy return, and I notice that Lucy’s knuckles are still bleeding a little. “Why didn’t you put bandages on those?” I ask, nodding at the abrasions.
She waves a hand dismissively. “I’m fine. Mellie sprayed some antiseptic on them. Besides, a little blood never hurt anybody. Or can’t you handle it?”
I lift her hands to my lips and press a kiss to the wounds. “I can handle it, babydoll. Don’t you worry about that.”