Chapter 9
Chapter Nine
HAVEN
I’m so tired that my head bobs while I try to eat the salad Corvin got me for lunch. He ordered me to take a nap in my office, afraid I’d fall into my Ranch dressing and drown.
Last night, all I saw when I closed my eyes was Danica. Now, after speaking to him on the phone for a short time, it’s Joel. We’re back at the Jersey shore again.
I know it’s a dream cause his Gran is alive and we’re happy.
I want to hang on to this feeling. The innocence of your first love. The thrill of the unknown and excitement to try new things. The absolute trust I had in that boy to give him my heart and almost my body, too.
The dream goes from sweet to tragic in an instant, and I gasp awake, sitting up on my couch and banging my head on the shelves above where I had been lying.
“Fuck,” I rub the sore spot and feel the bruise already forming.
“That was super graceful. Although it helps sell you as Mercy. We have a meeting.” Loki sits across from me.
She looks comfortable, like she’s been watching me sleep for a while. A fast food bag and drink sit on the corner of my desk next to her, and I can see the ring of condensation that has formed on the surface of my mahogany wood desk.
“Sorry, you don’t have coasters.” She sneers at me.
Wow, someone is bitchy.
“If you ate, you shouldn’t be so hangry.”
She doesn’t take my bait and just stares at me.
“Mercy killed that man.”
I nod.
“I figured as much. Do you know why?”
She shakes her head at me, but it looks like she’s staring off into the world for answers while she does it.
“There’s so much about her that I didn’t know.” Loki blinks as if those words make her come back to herself.
“Welcome to the club.” She smirks at me, and I realize my bad pun.
“That’s what I’m here about. You called Church. We gotta roll.” What the fuck is she talking about?
“I’m an atheist.” Loki stands and nods.
“And?” She walks over to my door and opens it, waiting for me to follow.
“And I’m not going to any church.”
She tilts her head and then chuckles.
“Christ, okay. Church is a club meeting. Old man/lady are our spouses or partners. Cuts are our vest, rockers are the patches. Cages are cars, and lastly but most importantly, the club is your family. Got it?” Shit, I feel like I should have been taking notes for the quiz I’m sure I’m about to get.
“Yeah, so where’s Church then?” She smiles and tosses a set of keys at me.
“Our clubhouse, of course. It’s time to wear that wig. Mercy’s bike is outside waiting for you. Tonight we’re gonna test your acting skills. You’re meeting Duchess, our club’s National President. If you’re good enough to fool her, then we will move forward with the plan.” I nod and grab the wig.
I’m still in my work clothes and frown.
“I should change. It’ll be tough to ride in this skirt.” Loki really looks at me now like she’s seeing me for the first time.
“Fuck, you look like a naughty school teacher.” I snort and grab my book bag, which holds my school clothes.
I change and slip the wig on my head.
“Her lipstick and cut.” Loki hands me a worn leather vest with multiple patches and stains.
I let my fingers run over them, wishing I knew their stories.
“Let’s roll. The Duchess does not like to be kept waiting.”
“You ain’t Mercy.”
The curvy brunette woman glares at me like I’ve grown a third tit. She looks around the clubhouse without saying a word, waiting for someone to start explaining, but all of them keep their eyes on the floor.
“Somebody better start fucking talking! This clubhouse has been causing me problems left and right. The feds are on our asses, and now your President doesn’t show for Church and you think this lookalike bitch is going to pass for her?
Who the fuck are you trying to fool and why?
” The more she talks, the angrier and meaner she seems to become.
“Danica was my cousin.” I blurt out the truth, and Loki curses next to me.
“Was? Explain.” I grab a bottle of whiskey off the bar that is the main focus of this clubhouse and pour us two shots, offering one to the woman running this show.
“Finally, someone with balls.” Duchess gets in my face and then pulls the wig off my head.
“You’re the one she regretted betraying.” She searches my eyes for god knows what.
“Yeah, I’m also the one who tried to save her but couldn’t.
Instead, I’ve been helping clean up the mess she left, fixing your fucking problems, all while grieving her loss and dealing with the guilt of never being able to tell my family the truth.
Haven, nice to fucking meet you.” I down the shot and slam the glass down so hard it shatters, bursting into shards of glass that go flying everywhere.
They cut my hand, and one catches Duchess’s cheek.
The room lets out a collective gasp and then silence so loud it rings in my ears, as I stare at the small drop of blood that rolls down to her chin and drips to the floor. Her hand comes up and wipes it away.
“You are passionate and loyal. I respect that. You also took care of my girls when their leader couldn’t. You aren’t soft, but you don’t have the right persona for this lifestyle.” Loki steps forward, interrupting Duchess with a shake of her head.
“Prez, she’s more than capable. She is just awkward. She’s more comfortable around dead bodies than breathing ones. She’d be a major asset to the club.” Duchess’s hand flies up, and Loki shuts right up.
“You’re not going to fool anyone trying to pass her off as Mercy, but she does seem to have the leadership skills you fuckers need. WE VOTE!” The room starts to mumble back to life, and before I know it, they’re cheering.
“Haven takes over for Mercy? Aye or Nay?” Shouting from every direction overwhelms me with Ayes.
These women don’t even know me, but trust me to honor their fallen sister.
“The Ayes have it. Now you need a road name.” Duchess looks me up and down.
“Azrael,” Loki blurts out, and I sigh at the nickname.
“The Angel of Death?”
I nod.
“Old college joke between my best friend and me.” I try to explain, but Loki shakes her head.
“Nah, cause you aren’t afraid of it.”