Chapter 4
I didn’t know what possessed me to say that shit to Raina.
I didn’t go around putting my mouth on different women, and I damn sure shouldn’t have said that shit to Rameek’s baby sister.
She was far from a baby, though. The nickname would stick, though, because she was small with a quiet voice, and she reminded me of a munchkin.
The pussy part might have been partially true; it still was highly inappropriate.
She thought I didn’t notice, but I paid attention to women, and I knew that shit affected her. I needed to apologize.
“Is there somewhere I can put my things?”
It was loud in the clubhouse, as usual, but I still managed to hear every word that fell from her pretty lips.
I could see why Rameek kept her way. She was short, with glowing brown skin.
Her hair was in long braids, and she had that little shit on her forehead.
I think they called it baby hair. Whatever it was, I liked it on her.
Chestnut brown eyes were covered by big, clear glasses.
She was cute in a girl-next-door way, but I also knew those quiet, smart girls could be freaks. I’d had my fair share of them.
“Yeah. You can get your brother’s locker if you want it.”
Her movements halted for a second. “O-okay.”
“You don’t have to get it today. I’m sure you don’t have a lock, and you may need some time before you are ready to see what’s in there. Whenever you are ready, it’s yours.”
“Thank you.”
I didn’t know what Slim had in his locker, but I knew it took me a minute to go through my father’s things, so if she needed time, that was fine with me.
We walked back toward my office. I heard Drizzle huffing and puffing the whole time Munch and I talked. I also heard how Munch gave that shit right back to her, and it made my dick twitch.
Munch’s attitude was a lot friendlier than the look she gave me three weeks ago at her brother’s funeral.
I guessed she figured she needed to be polite if she wanted the job.
I could have called her out on it, but I chose not to.
I needed to keep my eyes on her, though.
She had never stepped foot in here before, and I was sure she could have gotten a much better job.
The clubhouse paid well, but her smart ass didn’t need to be in this type of environment.
Hell, I wasn’t even sure if she was that smart, but she damn sure looked it.
I opened the door to my office and gestured for Munch to enter first.
“Is it okay if I leave it here?” she asked as she stood near the couch.
“Yeah, that’s fine. Nobody else can come in here without me, so your stuff is safe. I’m here all night, so whenever you need it, I’ll be around.”
She dropped her bag and jacket on the dark blue leather couch. She then wrapped her braids up in a ball.
“I’m ready.” She started to walk out of the office, but I lightly grabbed her elbow.
The scent of lavender and something I couldn’t pinpoint flowed through my nose.
I had to catch myself from inhaling because she smelled so damn good.
I first smelled it when I approached her at the bar, but now that we were in an enclosed space, it was even more prominent.
It was a relief from that cheap shit Drizzle wore.
Her eyes dropped to my hand, then back up at me. I let her go, then stuck my hands in my pockets.
“I wanted to apologize for what I said to you out there. I’m not sure what got into me, but it won’t happen again.”
That last part might have been a lie, because I knew for certain I would say more inappropriate shit to her, even if it was just to get under her skin.
“I appreciate that.” She nodded, then walked back to the front of the clubhouse.
I locked the door, then followed behind her. My eyes were on her ass as she switched in front of me with dark denim jeans. Her hoodie was blue, too, and it made me think she did that on purpose.
Drizzle’s eyes were on us as soon as we neared the bar. I heard her teeth smack, and I was sure Munch heard her too.
“Aye.” Both Drizzle and Munch looked at me, but my eyes were on Drizzle. “You can go for the night.”
Her eyes bounced between Munch and me. “What? Why?”
“Because I don’t need you here. You can stay around and have some drinks, but I don’t need you behind the bar.”
She looked at Munch again, then sucked her teeth. She knew not to fight me on it, so she grabbed her tips and came from behind the bar. It looked like she was going to bump into Raina, but she thought twice about it. For some reason, calling her Raina sounded crazy.
“Since this is your first night, I’ll be around to help you, if need be, but technically, you’re on your own.”
I could have had Drizzle stay with her, but I already knew the two of them would have issues before the night was over.
I didn’t need any unnecessary fights breaking out.
If all things worked out, Munch would be the full-time bartender, and Drizzle would be the backup person.
She wouldn’t like it, but I didn’t give a fuck.
“That’s fine with me.”
“Good. Let me show you where everything is, and I’ll let you get to it. I’m sure more people will be coming in soon.”
It took me a few minutes to show her where the different liquors and beers were stored.
The bar was stocked well, so more than likely, she wouldn’t need anything from the back.
I also made sure she knew how to work the POS system and anything else I thought she would need for the night.
As I told her, I would be around, but the quicker she was on her own, the better.
When she assured me that she was good, I grabbed a straw from the container they were kept in and stuck it in my mouth. I walked around the bar and took a seat at the end where I could watch her and the door.
Munch worked that bar like she’d been there for years. I underestimated the shy girl act she put on, even though I didn’t think it was an act. She probably was shy, but with a brother like Rameek, she couldn’t have been a slouch. Only time would tell.
Every so often, she would glance in my direction, and I just nodded. I’d gone through multiple straws. I found my urge to have something in my mouth had increased since I spotted Munch at the bar. She was intriguing and a little mysterious.
“Aye, baby. Let me get a beer.”
I sat back and watched a drunk dude try to get Munch’s attention. We didn’t play that disrespectful shit around here, but I wanted to see how she would react.
“Bitch! You can’t hear?”
My jaw ticked, and I damn near bit a hole in the straw.
I had my arms on the top of the bar, clenching and unclenching my fists.
It had been a while since I had to go in someone’s shit, but I was ready to take dude’s head off.
Even if it were Drizzle behind the bar, I would have wanted him out, but for Munch, I was going to put my hands on him first. The thought gave me pause, but not enough to not pay attention to what was happening.
Munch smiled at the chick she served, then made her way to where the obnoxious customer was.
“I think you are in the wrong place.” She looked around. “I don’t see any bitches around here.” Her eyes darted over to where Drizzle was talking with some other pass arounds. “At least not behind this bar. Now, if you want a drink, I suggest you ask politely, or you’ll be out of here.”
He looked at her like he wanted to say something else, but when I cleared my throat, he looked at me. His eyes widened upon recognition. “My bad, Kane.”
I leaned forward. “I’m not the one you need to be apologizing to.”
He turned toward Munch, who stood with her arms crossed and her head to the side. I wanted to laugh at her trying to look tough, but the shit was cute to me.
“I’m sorry, Miss Lady.” He bowed his head. “It won’t happen again.” He dropped his head, then walked to the door and left.
Munch looked at me, then went to help another guy who was much more polite.
Most of the patrons we got were part of the club, or at least family members or friends.
Sometimes, we would get people from the neighborhood who weren’t affiliated at all, but they all knew the rules.
It was the out-of-towners who came in here and got beside themselves at times, but one of us would quickly rectify that.
“You straight?” I asked Munch as she wiped down the bar after helping the last few people who ordered drinks.
“Yup. Did you want something to drink?”
“I was wondering when you were going to ask?” I smirked, and she rolled her pretty ass eyes.
“Let me get a scotch on the rocks.” I didn’t tell her which scotch I wanted, because I wanted to see which one she would pick.
We had different brands, some cheap, and some that cost too much in my opinion, but I still drank them.
I smiled when I saw her grab one of the ones from the top shelf. I watched her grab a glass, wash it out, then drop a spherical ice ball in it, then add the perfect amount of liquor.
She dropped a napkin on the bar top and placed the glass on top. “One scotch on the rocks.” She smiled, but I could tell she was nervous.
“Thank you.” I picked up the glass and swirled it. I let it sit for a second before I took a sip. “Good choice.”
“You’re welcome.” She nodded and walked away to help someone else.
Munch worked for hours and didn’t need my help one time. I covered the bar for her so she could get a break because she had been on her feet for a while. I started to ask Drizzle, but I didn’t feel like being bothered by her. Plus, it had been a while since I worked the bar, and it was kind of fun.
The sound of engines roaring outside caught my attention, so I helped the chick who flirted with me, then watched the door. Munch was due back from her break any minute, and I prayed no shit popped off.
Luckily, it was just my brothers.
Tech, Rico, and Slider came through the door, helmets in hand. Well, at least Tech and Rico did. Slider hardly ever wore his helmet unless we were going on a long ride.
The three of them strolled toward the bar but stopped in their tracks when they saw me.
“The fuck is this nigga doing?” Slider asked as he pointed at me.
Tech shook his head, and Rico just laughed. When they got close enough, we all did our signature handshake, and the three of them sat down.
A second later, Munch came from the back. The guys shared a look when they spotted her, before they all turned toward me, each one wearing a smirk.
“Um, hi,” Munch spoke to the guys.
“Hey, sweetheart.”
“What’s going on, beautiful?”
“Hey, pretty lady.”
I wanted to punch all three of them in the face with their bullshit ass greetings. They thought they were being slick and trying to gauge my reaction.
Munch blushed, and I cut my eyes at her, but of course, she didn’t notice. Tech did, though. He was the closest one to me out of the three.
“Are you going to introduce us?” Slider said with an eyebrow raised.
“This is Tech, Rico, and Slider,” I told Raina as I pointed at each one.
“This is Raina. She’s going to be our permanent, full-time bartender.”
Raina looked at me when I said her real name instead of Munch, like she didn’t like me calling her that. I just winked at her and turned back to my boys.
I didn’t want to tell them who she was related to just yet, because I didn’t want to raise any suspicions, even though I still had them. They didn’t seem to remember her from the funeral.
“Welcome,” came from Tech.
Rico and Slider just nodded their heads in her direction.
She took their orders, then went to get their drinks. I grabbed a fresh straw, then walked around the bar.
“Don’t ask any questions. When there is something y’all need to know, you will,” I told them before Munch could return with their drinks.
They knew me well and knew I would tell them things when I was ready. The three of them hung out for a bit and helped to make sure everyone got out when it was closing time.
“You did good tonight,” I told Munch when it was just the two of us.
“Thanks. Can I ask you a question?” She tossed the dirty rag in the basket for laundry the next day, then leaned on the bar.
“Go for it.”
“Were you close with my brother?” A look of sadness crossed her face, and I felt bad for her.
I had a feeling she would ask questions about him at some point.
“Yeah. He was a good dude.” That was all I said and left it like that. I knew she had more questions, but she chose not to ask them.
“Yeah. I guess it’s time to go.” She pulled at the bottom of her shirt.
“It is. Let’s go get your bag, and I’ll see you out.”
We walked back to my office, and she got her bag and jacket. Her car was right out front, so after I turned the lights off and locked the door, we walked outside.
“Have a good night, Raina. See you tomorrow night at eight sharp.”
She looked behind me at something, then back at me. I glanced behind me and spotted Drizzle near the wall.
“See you tomorrow, Kane.” She hurried into her car, then pulled out as soon as her engine came to life.
“I guess you like her,” Drizzle said as she stepped forward.
I would have thought she’d be home by now. I caught her shooting daggers at Munch all night, but Munch either didn’t see her or didn’t pay her any mind.
“Does that matter? I’m assuming you are still here because you want to swallow my dick, and if that’s the case, let’s go. If not, go on about your business.”
She sucked her teeth, but she followed me to the side door that led upstairs to the rooms.
All night, I had to adjust myself as I watched Munch work the bar. She was so effortlessly beautiful. It seemed like she didn’t even understand the beauty she possessed.
I let Drizzle suck me dry, but the whole time, I thought about Munch. I was in fucking trouble.