27. Chapter 27 #2
Pinkie was fighting for her life behind a napkin, but her shoulders were shaking. The top of forehead, which she didn’t cover, was pink.
Linny leaned and waved her hand at Sofie. “Sweet girl, finish your dinner. You have to get ready for bed soon.”
I looked at the mirror behind the bar and scanned the room. There were bunnies and members, but no sex, and no drugs. A few people were vaping but they could be anything from nicotine to THC. “It’s pretty mellow in here.”
Pinkie sipped her drink then said, “Well, even before, you know,” she said with a head tilt, “partying had simmered down.”
That was true. They really only partied hard on the weekends usually, and when they got word the Bloody Scorpions were back around, Hammer stopped having the get-togethers with just anyone. He put limits on members and guys already prospecting, and he said no new prospects.
Being in charge of most of the clubhouse itself helped me have ears to the ground sometimes, but they still were pretty secretive and careful about sensitive information.
Reggie turning out to be a rat would be something they kept hush-hush, especially until they confirmed it.
Once they had, it made sense to keep it under wraps.
No president wants to admit he’d been fooled.
I got it. I was fooled, too. But I wasn’t mad or upset now. It was freeing. And it certainly helped open my eyes to what’s really been there for me all along.
“Glenda,” a deep voice said behind me.
I looked in the mirror and stiffened but twisted around to face him. “Hammer, sir.”
“Come walk with me,” he said, waving me toward him.
My heart sped up. I didn’t know his expectations. Maybe women didn’t get flogged. Maybe they got fucked. And I didn’t care to do either, especially with him.
“I…” I looked back across the bar; Pinkie had stood, busying herself, but watching. Linny grabbed my hand.
“Out to the pool, Glenda,” he said, waving again. “I’m not trying to get you alone or corner you. Just need privacy.”
I squeezed Linny’s hand and slipped off the stool. I leaned to give Sofie a hug. “Hey, you. We’ll hang out soon. But you be good for Mommy and get ready for bed. I gotta go talk to Hammer.”
“If you’re not long, will you come read to me when you’re done?” she asked, her big blue eyes sparkling.
“If it’s not too late, I sure will. Pick a good one. If I can’t tonight, I will make sure to read to you sometime tomorrow, okay?”
“Okay.” She wrapped her arms around my waist so I hugged her back.
I waved at the girls, looking around, wishing Allie was somewhere close. For whatever reason, he always backed down to her. She got away with shit unimaginable to do or say to the president.
Hammer went to the front doors that led to the main hall instead of the back one. Both led out to the pool, but the back one was smaller, and more private. The main hall was open and had plenty of space. He was trying to reassure me.
My heart stopped racing at max speed, but was still faster than normal. The fear had settled, but I was still nervous.
We headed outside after the long walk down, and he held the door open. The air was cool and crisp, no humidity and a light breeze.
“You cold?” he asked.
“I’m good. I love this time of year.” I was always hot, so the cooler temps suited me. Still, I’d worn long sleeves and jeans since the temps had dropped. But I’d kept the sleeves pushed up most of the day since I got warm moving around so much.
“Have a seat,” he said, pulling a chair from one of the tables.
I sat and he took a chair across from me. He lit up a cigarette and blew the smoke out away from me but the wind blew it in my face. He waved his hand, but it was no use.
“You’re good.”
“Glenda, you know what you did was against the code. I know you know that. You had to agree to uphold them to be patched in.”
“I know. It was wrong. But–”
He held his hand up, his normally stern face softening. “We all did you wrong. I did you wrong. I’m sorry.”
Confused, I shook my head. “No. Reggie is to blame. You just did what you had to.”
“Two things can be true at the same time,” he said, taking another drag. “What Reggie did to us was fucked up. I’m still unsure how or why.”
“I get that.”
“I bet you do. What he did to us was bad, but I understand what he did you to was pretty fucked up, too. And not just at the end.”
Shrugging, I said, “Well, it’s over now.”
“That it is. But while I have every right to boot you out, I’m not going to. This club appreciates you, Glenda. And I know you’re loyal to us, not just him.”
“I’m not loyal to him anymore. I can’t be, knowing what I know.”
Hammer nodded. “But you were. Even when he treated you wrong.”
I wasn’t sure how to respond. For a long time, Reggie had other girls, but that was typical. So I didn’t understand what he was saying. “I knew what I signed up for.”
“Yeah but you’re not just some club whore, Glenda, and you know it. Maybe some of what he did was normal, but it doesn’t always make it right.”
“That’s kind of you to say.”
He took another long drag. “Now, I did fine you, but Leigh said he’s handling it.”
And there he was. “I can pay my own way. How much?”
“I don’t want no smoke with Leigh. You take that up with him,” he said with a chuckle.
“Then why even tell me?”
He leaned his elbows on his knees. His brown eyes were tired looking. “Are you good? With him?”
My heart sped back up again. Why the hell was he asking? Had I misread him all this time? Was he making a move? I thought he wanted Allie. “I am. He’s good to me. Really good. Why?”
“I just want to be sure. You’ve been through a lot. Leigh can be intense. He had you transported to his house without asking me. I hope you know that.”
I grinned. “I’m not mad. I was,” I blurted. “But it turned out to be what I really needed.”
“Alright.” He took another long drag then blew a huge plume of smoke. This time, it went the other direction. He stood up, then held his other hand out.
I once again was confused, but took his hand and stood up. He pulled me into a big hug, wrapping his arms over mine.
“You’re a good girl. Leigh will take care of you. And we’re straight. You don’t have to avoid me, alright?”
The tension in my shoulders melted away and I nodded against his broad chest. “Thank you. I love this club. I really do. I’ll be smarter next time.”
“I don’t think there will be a next time.” He pulled away. “If Leigh doesn’t do right by you, I’ll take him out myself. Okay?”
“Okay.” I didn’t believe him but the sentiment was nice all the same. He didn’t even have to say it. “Thanks for letting me stay, Hammer.”
“Well, Leigh may be on my fucking nerves this week, but he’s still one of our best guys.
I imagine he’d run off into the sunset with you if I kicked you out.
” He let me go but playfully bumped my shoulder with his fist. “Not that I would really kick you out. I hope you know that. I’m a hothead, but once I cool off, I try to make things right. ”
“I get it. I know.” I wanted to tell him to work on that, but you don’t sass the president, especially when he’s giving you a pass on a rule you broke.
“Alright, Bama’s been standing over there watching us so let’s break this up. Leigh will be back in a bit. I’m gonna send him home, but he’ll be needed this week.”
“Of course. I’m going to go see if Sofie is still awake, then.”
He waved me on so I headed inside, leaving him by the pool.
Bama opened the door for me. “Everything okay?” he asked, looking over my shoulder.
“Yeah.” I smiled. “It’s almost perfect,” I said before I headed upstairs.
A weight had been lifted. Things were quickly falling into place. And instead of overthinking it or wondering when the other shoe was going to drop, I just soaked in and let myself enjoy it.