Chapter 39
Charlie
I ’m deliciously sore from last night's lovemaking. I had a text waiting from Ma. It was a list of items for dinner. Wizard is still passed out. I slip out of bed, take a quick shower, dress, and leave him a note before slipping out. I’d slip into the club’s bodega, but I don’t know if they carry specialty Italian ingredients and Ma and Pops are PICKY when it comes to ingredients.
My new SUV is still at the guest house, so I grab a set of keys from the club’s garage and head to the store in a new Jeep Wrangler. Maybe I’ll get ducked! It’s before six on a Sunday morning in one of the biggest party cities in the world. The streets are nearly deserted as I make my way to the closest Italian market.
I realize a few blocks away I have a tail as I spot two motorcycles. Fuck! I forgot to take an escort with me. I mean, the guy at the gate waved me through. I dial 9-1-1 but don’t hit send. I don’t have anything to report at the moment. I continue toward my destination, looking in the rearview as often as possible. It’s a red light. I realize it’s two of the Kings’ prospects behind me. I sag with relief.
They park one on either side of me. After I get out, I wait for them.
“I’m sorry guys, I’m not used to needing an escort.”
“No worries. We were on duty and saw you pulling out of the garage. You didn’t drive like you were trying to lose us,” Mayhem says.
“So, we figured you forgot,” Havoc finishes.
“What’s for dinner?” Mayhem asks.
“I’m not sure what Ma and Pops are making. For once, I’m not cooking. There’ll be gravy. There’s always gravy.”
“White stuff gravy or sauce?” Havoc asks.
I mock gasp. “Sauce is a bad word when it comes to red tomatoey goodness. It’s called gravy, not to be confused with the white stuff.”
“Good to know. Can you teach us to make some Italian food?” Mayhem asks.
“I can. Come shopping with me. I’ll show you where to get traditional Italian ingredients.”
They follow me inside. I start in the produce aisle, showing them how to pick the freshest ingredients. Next is the butcher and seafood department. According to the reviews, their fish is fresh daily. I send the prospects down different aisles to get a few ingredients while I wait my turn in line. I’m next.
“I see you’re still slumming it with biker scum,” a sneering voice behind me says.
I turn to see Tyler Barnes. The person in front of me finishes and the employee behind the counter calls next. I ignore Teddy and start my order.
“Don’t ignore me, bitch.”
After I finish telling the employee my order, I turn and look at Barnes.
“Does your constituency know you speak to women that way?”
Before he can reply, Mayhem returns.
“Is this the right coffee?”
I look at the bag and nod my head. “Yes, perfect. Thank you.”
“Is douche in a suit bothering you?”
“No, I’m mostly ignoring him.”
From the corner of my eye, I glance at Dipshit’s face. He’s turning red. I can tell he’s seconds from exploding. Havoc interrupts Barnes’ next vocal outburst, arriving with his arms full.
“I found a bunch of stuff I want to try.”
I laugh when he dumps it in the cart before digging out the items I sent him for and showing them to me.
“You found them all. Excellent. You can follow me to the guest house after I make a pit stop.”
The butcher hands me the order wrapped in brown paper. He gave me a smile. “Anything else I can do for you, ma’am?”
When he asks, his eyes dart to Barnes and back to me.
“I’m good, thank you. Have a blessed Sunday.”
The three of us turn and walk away, ignoring a sputtering Barnes and a smiling butcher.
“Thank you, both. It was a lot of fun riling him up.”
“Any time. We’ll escort you home, then report to Gambit while you talk to Wizard,” Havoc says.
“Thank you again. Please come to the guesthouse when you're done with Gambit.”
“We’ll be there. Let’s get you home,” Mayhem says.
Unlike most prospects, the twins have call signs from their days in the military. The club voted to let them keep the names while prospecting and should they become brothers. I could tell the triplets apart, but not always these two. Thankfully, they have name patches. Their names are yellow instead of white, like the fully patched brothers.
Mayhem walks in front of me while Havoc takes up the rear with the cart. They get me in the Jeep, load the groceries and get on their sleds. The streets are busier but not enough to slow my drive back to the compound. Flea lets me in. He pissed Smoke off at last night’s party, he had to man the gate immediately. At the time, he had a hottie waiting for him. All this according to the twins. He’s still on gate duty.
On the drive home, it hit me. How the hell did Barnes find me? It’s not like he frequents Italian markets. He's having me followed or bugged. If I’m bugged, what is it? I make an immediate catalog of things that are with me every day.
By the time I’m in the elevator, I’m in full-blown panic mode. There’s nothing I wear every time. I change out watches, shoes, clothes, etc., daily. Call it an occupational hazard.