Chapter 31
Chapter Thirty-One
Pink Little Button
“ S weet girl, you pacing around is making me tired,” Muffin said as he stood in the doorway to the kitchen with his arms crossed. “What can I make you to eat?”
“You can’t help me,” Nova said. “She can.”
Nova pointed to Maggie.
“What?” Maggie asked.
“I need a drink. My nerves are shot right now.”
“Get our sweet girl a drink,” Muffin said to Maggie. “Keep her buzzed and not drunk. I’ll find something to cook.”
The clubhouse was quiet but not silent. Music played in the background. The enforcers all shot pool. The prospects were out in the junkyard digging for parts that Deed could clean up and Darrow could sell. Custer and Warren sat at a table like two beat-up soldiers, mumbling about their old outlaw days.
Maggie poured Nova a drink. “Sorry for assuming, not asking. You just looked like you needed some space.”
“Is it always this way?” Nova blurted out.
She stared at Maggie. Maggie did not provide an answer. It was silence.
Nova sipped a drink and looked toward the clubhouse door. Temptation to follow hit her. It hit her hard. She reminded herself the last time she followed Linc and the club, she saved them.
This felt different. Very different. Also, somewhere in her gut she feared what her brother was really up to. Missing for days. No contact. No communication.
The clubhouse door opened. Nova almost stood up. When she saw Mara, she almost ran toward her to hug her. Mara saw the look on Nova’s face and hurried toward the bar.
“Hey,” Mara said, reaching for Nova.
The two women stood there holding each other’s arms.
“It’ll be okay,” Mara said. “It’s not easy when they leave.”
“They’re doing this for me,” Nova said. “To find my brother. That’s why I’m here. My emotions are all over the place right now.”
“Do you have a drink?” Mara asked.
Nova nodded.
“Good. Sit down. Let’s talk.”
The two women sat next to each other. Maggie poured Mara a drink.
“Wait a second,” Nova said.
She reached for Maggie’s hand.
Yes, for a second, she wondered if that was the same hand that had stroked Linc’s cock to orgasm…
“You should have a drink too,” Nova said. “With us. Nobody else needs anything right now.”
“Of course,” Maggie said.
“Great,” Mara said. “Drinking with a slut. How fun.”
Maggie smiled, shook her head, and poured herself a drink.
“I’m not going to ask any personal questions,” Mara said to Nova. “But I can tell you some crazy stories. Times when they went out for runs and other things.”
“Makes your heart sink, right?” Nova asked. “You worry about Fitz a lot?”
Mara stared straight ahead. “You just have to pretend nothing is happening. Sometimes you have to bathe in deniability.” Mara looked at Nova. “Sometimes you just have to not give a fuck.”
“That sounds horrible,” Nova said.
“Welcome to this life,” Mara said, raising her glass.
“What about you?” Nova asked Maggie. “What’s it like for you?”
“Nothing,” Maggie said, swallowing hard. “I’ve seen crazy stuff but it doesn’t matter to me. I mean, if I’m being completely honest, usually when they come back from a busy day, they’re fired up. They want…”
“Want what, Maggie?” Mara asked. “Finish that sentence.”
“They want booze and pussy,” Maggie said.
Nova curled her lip. “And you just go along with it.”
“It’s my job,” Maggie said. “This place isn’t part of normal society. Everyone knows how it goes. Everyone. I will say this though… if you two think I would fuck a married man… fuck yourself.”
“Linc isn’t married,” Mara said.
“But he’s mine,” Nova said. “And I swear on my life…”
“I would never,” Maggie said. “That’s not who I am. Why do you think I’m behind the bar still? I have my own set of rules. I’ll never have someone to myself. I’ve made my peace with that.”
“Rules,” Mara said. “Fuck your rules, Maggie. You know damn well if Fitz or Linc walked up to you and said they were on a break from myself or Nova… and they wanted you…”
“How is this supposed to make me calm?” Nova asked. “Better yet, what’s the deal between you two? Did you fuck Fitz or something?”
“No,” Maggie said. “I never fucked Fitz.” She looked at Mara. “Ever.”
Mara’s face twisted with anger. “That’s what you say.”
“You don’t believe her?” Nova asked.
“She serves drinks and guzzles cum,” Mara said.
“He lied to you,” Maggie said. “I get it. You want to believe the guy you’re married to. Fine. But I never did it. I would never.”
“You were naked,” Mara said.
“We all were,” Maggie said. “It was a crazy night.”
“So Fitz is just a filthy liar?” Mara asked. “That’s how I’m supposed to live my life?”
“Whoa, okay,” Nova said. “I’m sorry I asked anything. Look, this entire place is insane. It’s toxic. It’s scary. It’s easy to find a reason to hate someone. Maggie, another drink. Change the subject. Think of something else to talk about or do.”
Nova felt her heart racing. Calmness was not an option at the moment. Maggie poured another round. Mara downed her drink way too fast.
She’s got a dark vibe , Nova thought to herself about Mara. A very dark vibe.
Nova swallowed hard, wondering if that’s what the life really did to everyone in it and near it.
“Hey, we can do something wild,” Mara said, slapping her hands to the bar. “Let’s pierce Nova’s nipples.”
“What?” Nova cried out.
Maggie laughed.
“Yeah,” Mara said. “Or at least one. Imagine how excited Linc will be. How surprised.”
Nova pressed her hands to her chest. “There are no needles coming toward my boobs.”
“It’s not that bad,” Maggie said. “Just a pinch.”
“Oh, you’re going to do it for me?” Nova asked.
“Sure,” Maggie said. “Safety pin and rubbing alcohol.”
“Ouch!” Nova yelled.
“Booze and ice too,” Mara said. “Use the ice to numb her nipple.”
“Did you pierce your own?” Nova asked Maggie.
“No,” Maggie said. “I went to someone.”
“Show me.”
Maggie laughed again.
“Hey,” Mara called out. “Don’t laugh. She wants to see.”
“You want to see my boobs?” Maggie asked Nova.
“I want to see your nipples,” Nova said. “ Just one .”
“Do what you’re told, Maggie,” Mara said. “She’s with Linc. She’s royalty.”
“Fair enough,” Maggie said.
She grabbed the bottom of her shirt and lifted it with ease and without fear. Her cute, handful-size boob popped free, not dropping an inch, which made Nova want to roll her eyes. A little silver bar stuck through Maggie’s left nipple. She had the cutest little button nipples too. Perfectly round and perfectly pink.
“Okay, that’s enough,” Mara said. “You and your perfect little tits.”
“Want to touch?” Maggie asked Nova.
“Yes!” Custer called out from behind them. “I won’t tell anyone!”
Mara looked back. “Go stroke your ancient log.”
Custer and Warren both wheezed and laughed. Maggie lowered her shirt.
“Okay, just to be very clear here,” Nova said, “I am not getting my nipples pierced. Not even one nipple. No piercings. Just…”
Mara leaned toward Nova and smiled. “Distracted you, didn’t I?”
Nova looked at Mara. The distraction was over.
Nova went right back to silently panicking about Linc… and her brother…