16. Delaney
CHAPTER 16
DELANEY
“This’ll be your room while you’re here. And no one but you will have access unless there’s an emergency.”
The door in front of us slides open. Thorn waves me through and follows me a moment later with my bags. When Fort took the scan of my hand earlier, he explained that it was necessary for me to gain access to my room and other parts of the clubhouse. He also told me that if I attempted to go into a room that was off-limits, the door won’t open, and the screen will blink red.
“Thanks.” I step to the side to allow Thorn room to pass me and toss my bags on the bed.
“Bathroom is on the right and closet is on the left.” He picks up the TV remote lying on the side table by the bed. “Thanks to Jez, we have every damn channel you can think of, so you shouldn’t have any issues finding something to watch.”
I shift my weight from one foot to the other and fidget with my hands. When you spend your life hiding behind a computer screen, and the only interactions you have with men are kicking their asses in a boxing ring, it leaves you a socially awkward mess.
Sure, I can talk to clients, no problem, but this is different. It’s more intimate being in someone else’s environment. While I was able to get to know everyone a little bit during our travel from Nashville to Boulder City, I still kept my interactions somewhat limited. That’s going to be damn near impossible now that I’m in their space, on their home turf.
Time to come out of my shell. That was easy when we were just two people walking through an underground bunker and torture chamber. This is more… personal. I need to utilize whatever resources Saints Purgatory has, and the only way that’s gonna happen is if I start hanging out with them and getting fucking personal.
If I can remember how to do that.
“You’ve got quite the clubhouse. I’ve never seen anything like it before.”
“We take our security and privacy very seriously.”
“I can see that.”
“Well… I’ll let you get settled.” He moves toward the door but stops and turns on his heel to face me. “Want to come hang out in the common room with all of us?” Thorn’s megawatt smile lights up his face, and at that moment, I don’t want to deny him anything.
I’m losing my mind.
“Sure, can I have a few minutes to clean up?”
It’s been a long few days, and I need some time to gather my thoughts about my next steps for hunting the Phantom.
“Yeah. Thirty minutes long enough?”
“Perfect.”
“I’ll come back then.”
Without another word, Thorn walks out of the room, and the door closes behind him. I take a deep breath as I carry my toiletries into the bathroom to unpack them. After brushing my teeth and touching up my makeup, I slip on a pair of tight jeans and an off-the-shoulder t-shirt. Then I pick up my favorite bottle of perfume and spray a small amount over my wrists, but I almost drop it when a knock at the door startles me.
“Stupid. You knew Thorn was coming back,” I mutter. “Coming!”
I open the door, and it takes everything in me not to whistle in appreciation. Thorn’s dark-fitted jeans and charcoal Henley show off the definition of his arms and chest. I drag my eyes up his body, and for a brief moment, I catch a glimpse of the same longing in his eyes, but as quick as it’s there, it’s gone.
You’re imagining things. You’re here to work with them, not to get laid.
“Ready, m’lady?” He smirks, holding out his arm like he’s escorting me on a date.
I let the corner of my mouth curve up. “Absolutely.” I link my arm with his, and together we make our way to the common room.
When we first arrived, I wasn’t too concerned about paying attention to details, but now I can take my time and really appreciate how big the area is. There are a couple of prospects behind the bar, filling orders. Some of the brothers play pool, others watch MMA fights on the big screen, and a few women I haven’t met yet stare at me with curiosity.
“Want another drink?” Thorn asks.
“Yeah, that sounds good.”
Why is this so fucking awkward? I’ve been on dates… granted, not many, but still.
It’s not a date.
We’re hanging out with the entire club and working together to find a killer.
Perspective Delaney!!
“You okay?”
Shaking myself out of my stupor, I realize we’re already at the bar. I smile up at him. “Yep.”
“I asked what you wanted to drink.”
“Oh, sorry, there’s a lot to take in,” I lie. “I’ll have another Jack and Coke.”
“Mark,” Thorn calls. “Get Delaney a Jack and Coke.”
“Sure thing,” Mark answers and begins making my drink. He hands me a full glass and Thorn a beer. “How ya doing, Delaney?”
“I’m good. You?”
“Glad to be home,” he says with a sigh. “I don’t mind touring with Apple, but she is a grade-A ballbuster.”
“I heard that!” Apple yells from behind us. “Wait until the next tour date.”
“Fuck,” Mark mumbles. “Love ya, Apple Jacks.”
“Delaney!” Cece hollers. “Get your cute little ass over here.”
Cece and some of the other ladies are hanging out at the high-top tables by the billiards area. Two women give me dirty looks as I make my way over to the ol’ ladies.
“Who are they?” I nod toward the two who are currently hanging all over Knuckles and Spike.
Jez looks up from her phone and sneers. “That’s Glitter and Paula. Paula, the brunette, has the personality of a rock. Glitter is the bleach blonde with a bad dye job and purple highlights. Then there’s Nikki behind the bar with the prospects.”
“Why didn’t they come to Nashville?” I wonder aloud. “Who’s Nikki with?”
“They’re with no one and almost everyone.” Carmella snorts. “They’re bunnies.”
“Bunnies?”
“Thorn didn’t warn you?” Violet asks quietly.
“Warn me about what?”
All the women groan in unison, but Heather speaks first.
“Bunnies are the live-in entertainment for the men. They’re not family, only fuck buddies.”
“They live here?!” I shriek, gaining the attention of the mini orgy on the couch. “And you’re all okay with them sleeping with your men whenever they want?”
I’m not well-versed in the MC lifestyle, but I’ve seen shows and read books. I’ve never heard the term ‘bunnies’ before. Club whores and hang arounds, sure. I guess bunnies is a nicer way of describing them.
“Oh, fuck no,” Cece immediately denies. “They know better than to touch any of our men. The ones who are in committed relationships are off-limits, hence the ‘ almost everyone’. A couple of them have tried in the past, but they’re no longer around.”
Violet snickers. “With a broken face.”
I chuckle. “I’m assuming there’s a story there.”
Violet blushes, and Heather dives in, telling the story about how Violet handed a former bunny her ass when she tried to make a claim on Grim. Needless to say, that bunny is no longer a part of the crew at the clubhouse.
I raise my brow. “It’s always the quiet ones.”
Laughter erupts around the tables, and all the men stop and stare at us. I wipe the tears from my eyes from laughing so hard and try to remember the last time I felt so carefree. I’ve kept myself shut away from the world for so long that I forgot what it’s like to get out and live. When you spend every waking moment hunting for a killer, it impacts your social life. Sitting here, surrounded by other females my age, is comforting and reminds me of what I’m missing in my life.
Zach slides a tray of shots is between Heather and Skye, who promptly begins passing them out to everyone. A large arm drapes across my shoulders. I tilt my head up and see Spike. I have no idea how he got away from Glitter, but based on the scowl on her face, she isn’t happy about it. I throw my shot back and let the alcohol soothe my nerves.
Spike grins down at me but doesn’t remove his arm. “You all settled in, Munchkin?”
“Munchkin?”
“You’re so tiny,” Spike says matter-of-factly.
I roll my eyes. “I’m not that tiny.”
Spike bops me on the nose. “You are short. What are ya? Four feet, two, three?”
“I’m four-eleven,” I snip. “What are you, Gargantua?”
“I’m only six-one,” he counters. “Grim’s the Gargantua in the group. He’s six-five.”
“For the love of all that’s unholy.” Jez sighs, pinching the bridge of her nose. “You’re all freakishly large. Leave her alone.”
Grim, Malice, and Abyss saunter toward us, and each of them stand beside their woman.
“He’s jealous because I have the biggest dick, and you need a microscope to find his,” Violet says, and instantly, her cheeks turn crimson. “Damn it, Grim!”
Violet elbows Grim in the stomach, causing him to grunt, and I watch him carefully for any sign that he’s going to retaliate. As I ball my fists up under the table, my leg bounces with nervous energy. I might be tiny, but I can pack a mean punch and stun a bigger opponent.
Grim surprises the hell out of me when he pulls Violet’s head back and kisses her with so much passion I have to look away.
“When are you gonna learn to wait until he’s done signing to translate?” Skye snickers. “He gets you all the time with that shit.”
“When he apologizes like that, it’s worth it,” Violet says breathlessly.
I instantly relax. These men certainly don’t act like stereotypical bikers.
“So, Delaney, ever been with a biker?” Spike bobs his brows suggestively.
“That’s a negative, Ghost Rider.” I bat my lashes.
Zach steps up to my other side with another round of drinks. “Did you just quote Top Gun?”
“It’s a classic!” I shout.
He drops to one knee. “Will you marry me?”
“Oh, do it, honey,” Heather encourages while fanning her face. “He’s learning to be an MMA fighter, and those muscles.”
“I’m standing right here,” Frenzy scowls.
Heather pats his chest. “Only have eyes for you, babe, but I’m not dead.”
Now, it’s my turn to be embarrassed. Heat creeps up my neck, and before I have a chance to make an ass out of myself, Thorn stomps over and tugs Zach to his feet. “Back to work, prospect,” he orders.
Before I can ask Thorn what his problem is, Cece yells across the room. “Mark! Come hook up the karaoke machine.”
“Fuck,” all the men groan in unison.
Carmella jumps out of her chair and puts her hands on her hips. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
Abyss pulls her to him. “It means, you’re all about to get a lot more shitfaced than you already are.”
She runs her fingers up his chest. “Yeah, but that means hot wall sex later.”
Abyss yells over his shoulder. “You heard her prospect, hook up the karaoke machine.”
Apple grabs my hand, tugs me out of my chair, and pulls me over to the microphone. “Guest’s first.”
“I can’t sing,” I say nervously.
“Neither can Cece, but we let her have the mic,” Jez calls out.
“Hey! I resent that.” Cece pouts. “I do a damn good job.”
“Technically, Ice Ice Baby is rapping and not singing,” Skye interjects.
“Exactly… wait, what?” Cece glares at Skye, who just laughs.
Apple holds out her phone. “Pick one.”
I scroll through until I find the one song that me and Daphne would sing at bars together. The music starts, and I let myself get lost in the music.
“ Big wheels keep on turnin'. Carry me home to see my kin. Singin' songs about the Southland. I miss Alabamy once again, and I think it's a sin, ” I belt out.
When I reach the chorus, all the girls are gathered around me, signing Sweet Home Alabama. Tears well up in my eyes, and for the first time in a long time, my soul feels lighter.