Chapter 3
All eyes were on me from the minute I stepped inside the Vipers clubhouse.
The air smelled like weed, cheap perfume, and chicken wings.
I almost turned around, but I had to see things through.
I had nothing but time on my hands, and I needed to get close to these people to find out who killed my brother.
I could use the money as well since I wasn’t making any.
I officially moved back home, so I could save what money I had in my bank account.
I still had to pay my phone bill and other things like food.
I liked to keep my hair braided, and it wasn’t cheap.
I heard they were looking for a bartender and figured that would be the perfect way in. My parents thought I should leave it alone, but I couldn’t. Someone needed to pay for what they did.
“You lost?” some chick at the bar asked as she smacked on some gum.
Her perfume wafted toward my nose, and it made my stomach churn.
Whatever it was smelled weird, and I didn’t like it.
Her titties looked like they were going to pop out of her shirt, and her hair looked like she should have ran a hot comb through it.
I wasn’t one to talk about women like that, but her aura was off from the second she laid eyes on me.
“No. I’m looking for Kane.”
I was told I needed to talk to Kane about the position, and I really didn’t want to.
“For what?” She rolled her eyes, then looked at me with anger.
She must have been a part of Kane’s stable and had taken her position seriously. I was the last person she needed to worry about. I was not here for that.
“For the bartender position.”
The girl sucked her teeth and laughed. “You really think they are going to hire your meek, four-eyed ass?”
The problem with bitches like her was they took my quiet voice and my glasses for a weakness, not knowing I beat up plenty of chicks over the years.
Rameek made sure I knew how to fight and shoot a gun; I just never wanted to do either.
Sometimes I had no choice when girls thought they could bully me because I kept to myself.
I didn’t meet Candace until the seventh grade, and by then, I had beaten up enough girls for them to leave me alone.
There was always one, though, who tried to show she was tough, and they tried to corner me in the bathroom during gym class.
Candace caught it, and we fought all four girls and beat their asses. Since then, I had been left alone.
“Listen, you don’t know shit about me, and as far as I know, you ain’t the one doing the hiring.
” I leaned on the bar to get closer since there was so much noise around us.
I spotted people looking at us, but they tried to pretend they weren’t looking.
“Like I said, I’m here to see Kane, and I suggest you go get him. ”
“Bit—”
“Are you looking for me?”
Goosebumps pricked my skin when I heard the voice behind me that cut off homegirl’s words.
My own words got stuck in my throat when I turned around and came face-to-face with Kane. I’d never been so close to him, and I didn’t like the way my body reacted. It was a good thing I had on a hoodie and a jacket, or he would have seen how hard my nipples had gotten.
His cologne wrapped around me like a heating blanket. He chewed on a pen cap as he stared at me.
“You look familiar.”
My pulse quickened when his eyes swept over my body.
I cleared my throat and squared my shoulders.
“Yes, I’m Rameek’s sister, Raina, but I’m here for the job.”
Kane stepped back and gave my body another once-over. The chick behind the bar sucked her teeth as Kane stared at me.
“Don’t you have customers to serve?” Kane barked at the girl.
“Ye-yeah.”
She scurried away to help someone at the end of the bar, and I wanted to giggle, but the way Kane looked at me made me change my mind.
Kane leaned against the bar and crossed his arms over his chest. His honey wheat skin was covered in ink. I didn’t think there was an empty spot on either arm, and he even had an intricate design on one side of his neck.
A small fight broke out in a corner, but it was quickly broken up. Kane looked at me skeptically with a smirk. “You sure you want to work here? Fights break out all of the time.”
I wasn’t sure if he was trying to scare me or what, but it wasn’t going to work.
“A little fighting ain’t never scared me. Now, is there some type of interview or something?”
He rubbed his hand over his low beard. His eyes were dark like storm clouds, and it made me nervous as they pierced into mine.
My gaze bounced around the room while my stomach fluttered.
I wasn’t sure why he looked at me the way he did, or why it was taking him so long to say something.
That damn pen top crunched between his perfect ass teeth.
There was no denying why this man had a harem of women.
“I don’t know, Munch. I don’t know if you’re cut out for this type of life, baby.”
Munch. Baby. What the hell was happening?
“Um, who the hell is Munch?”
“You. What, you don’t like the name?” He smirked.
The girl from behind the bar walked down to where Kane and I stood. She tried to pretend to clean off the bar, but she really was just eavesdropping. Insecurity reeked from her too-tight clothes.
“No, I don’t, actually. I told you my name is Raina.”
A wide smile spread across Kane’s handsome ass face. I needed an answer from him so I could get away from him. His presence suffocated me. I slid my finger between my neck and my shirt because suddenly, the collar felt too tight.
Kane leaned in close to my ear. “I like the name Munch. And you know what else?” He paused. My breathing was shallow while I anticipated whatever he had to say. “Every once in a while, I like to munch on the pussies of pretty girls with glasses.” Heat crept up my neck.
He stepped back and chuckled when he noticed how flustered I was.
I was able to breathe again once he created a safe distance between us.
“I’m fucking with you. Maybe.” He crossed his arms again. “How about I give you a trial run, and we’ll see if you fit in here. The name stands, though. Everyone gets one that works here.” He winked.
I guessed his idea was better than a complete no.
I just had to impress him enough so he would give me the job.
I never worked in a bar before, but I knew how to mix most drinks, and I had my alcohol server’s certification.
It was something I decided to do on a whim one day and kept it renewed.
Whatever I didn’t know, I would wing it.
I stretched my hand out toward Kane. “You have a deal.”
He looked at my hand for a second, then gripped it with his larger hand. “Deal. You can start right now.”