Chapter 39
VANNA
“ Y ou’re really quiet tonight,” Cherry says, nudging me with her elbow while I wipe down the bar counter more so out of habit than necessity. It’s a Tuesday night, so it’s not unusual for the Twisted Throttle to be a little slow.
I shrug, casting a quick glance at Legion across the room. He’s nursing a beer in the corner of one of the leather couches, watching with borderline disinterest as a couple of the patch- chasers dance for him. He’s been different since Beltane. Almost restless…
He wears our MC’s colors now and shows up whenever asked. Although I’m happy he’s making the effort, something just feels off, despite his admitted desire for redemption. I feel uneasy over the fact I might still be the only reason he’s keeping himself tethered to this town.
Cherry follows my line of sight. “Axel says he’s been good, and the sweetbutts seem to like him.”
“He’s trying…but something is different.”
“He’s an outlaw,” Cherry says, pouring another shot for one of our regulars before she steps away to place it on the bar in front of the old biker.
She offers him a friendly little wink and steps back to me.
“It takes them time to adjust. Viking’s been around since before I even got here, and he has only settled down in the last few years. ”
“Do you think he’s going to stick around? For the long haul, I mean?”
Cherry studies me for a moment. “Are you hoping he doesn’t?”
I let out a tense sigh. “I know how he feels… I’m not blind, and neither is Dean.”
“Do you forgive him for everything?”
“I want to.”
“Maybe he knows you’re not quite there yet, and until you are…”
“Right…” I nod, glancing at the clock behind the bar. It’s a little after 9 pm. Dean should be getting off his shift at the safehouse soon with Dozer, and Ace has been asleep in Dean’s club room for about an hour. “I should go check on my son,” I say.
“Okay.” Cherry smiles. “Give the little munchkin a kiss for me. It’s a slow night, I’ve got things up here, and Maxie should be back from her break any minute anyway.”
Before I’m able to duck under the bar and head for the corridor, I notice a tension in Legion’s expression. He’s gone from looking nearly bored to death to glaring at a group of female patrons who just stepped through the steel door of the Twisted Throttle.
Four women, dressed in denim and leather.
They’re all wearing Steel Vixens MC cuts.
I instantly recognize Jett and Val. They’re all smiles for Viking at first, until Val scans the room and finds Legion.
The moment their eyes lock, her expression turns cold, and Legion lifts his beer to her in what seems like a mock salute.
Viking is already rubbing his forehead and avoiding eye contact with her, like he already regrets something that hasn’t even happened yet.
I duck under the counter and walk around the bar to see what the problem is, but I’ve already missed the beginning of their exchange.
“Doing you a favor,” Val snaps.
“How is breaking my balls a favor?” Viking huffs.
“You said your boy was struggling,” Val goes on, and Viking practically winces at her choice of words in front of me. “I thought we’d take our celebration to the Twisted Throttle. Make this place one of our hang-arounds. But since we don’t seem welcome here ? —”
“You’re welcome here,” I interrupt, and she turns to look me over.
I take the opportunity to do the same. She’s a few inches taller than me in her leather boots.
Her blonde, mid-length hair is pulled back in a high ponytail with a few thin braids at her temples.
If her bitchy attitude wasn’t an issue, I’d say her style at least pairs well with Viking’s.
“Just because you avoided me at Beltane, and I apparently am not welcome in your establishment, doesn’t mean I hold a grudge.”
Val seems surprised, as if she didn’t expect me to call her out on being blown off when I wanted to take those self-defense classes.
“Unless you really do have a problem with me?” I ask when she doesn’t respond.
“Nothing I’m aware of,” Viking says, shooting her a stern look.
When I glance around at the other women, I notice they’re all looking me over, too.
Maybe it’s because I’m not wearing bar or biker attire.
I’m still wearing the button-down dress and ankle boots I put on this morning to spend time at the farm stand with Ace and Mia.
“We’ve been meaning to check out this place. And we’ve got no problems with you, gorgeous,” Jett chimes in, throwing an arm around Val’s shoulders before she lightly digs her stiletto-tipped nails into her friend’s leather jacket like it’s a warning.
“Yeah…you keep saying that… Anyway , would you ladies like a table? Feel free to sit wherever you like,” I offer. “You’re welcome to sit at the bar, too.”
Val lifts her chin at the other women standing around me, and they all move to an empty table in the middle of the room, each claiming a seat.
Jett grabs a chair and spins it around before straddling it.
She glares over her shoulder at Legion while sweeping her long, black hair over the front of her shoulder, exposing the Steel Vixens MC rocker on her back.
Then flips him off with both middle fingers.
I notice the taunting sneer on Legion’s face as she does.
“We’ll have a round of beers and shots while we wait for Ryder to get here,” Val says, pulling my attention back to her.
“Start a tab for us on this,” Jett says, plucking a credit card from her leather cut and handing it to me. “Ryder will be here soon,” she adds when I glance at the name on the card.
“What kind?” I ask.
“Jameson and Budweiser,” Val replies. “And thank you.” She offers me a slight smile, making an effort.
As long as she’s willing to play nice, so am I, at least for Viking’s sake.
But I am curious what their deal really is with Legion, and if it has something more to do with his corruption and dismantling of the Asphalt Knights MC.
“I’ll be right back with those.” I return the smile.
While I pour shots and load up their tray, I keep an eye on a still seemingly undeterred Legion.
“I can take it over to them if you want,” Cherry offers, as if she’s worried they’re making me uncomfortable. “You can go check on Ace.”
“I’ve got it. It won’t take but a minute,” I tell her, lifting the loaded tray. I make my way back to their table and place the beers and shots down in front of them.
“What’s a club president’s Ol’ Lady doing handing out drinks? Aren’t you supposed to be above all that?” one of the Steel Vixens I haven’t officially met yet asks. The name displayed on the brunette’s embroidered patch says her road name is Boop.
“I don’t mind helping out on nights we’re short-staffed or slow,” I say, placing the last beer and shot down on the table before her.
“After everything that’s gone down, are you really cool with that hanging around?” Boop angles her head in Legion’s direction.
I tuck the tray under my arm, holding it against my side. “He’s trying to right his wrongs…” My reply is met with more scoffing, and for some reason, it bothers me. Their disapproval spurs me to address Legion’s presence further. “People change, you know… Learn from their mistakes.”
Val practically scowls at me. “If you believe that, you should ask him about his Puppet .”
I glance at her curiously. “I’m sorry?”
“You will be if you actually think there’s anything redeemable about Legion,” she adds.
I’m not about to argue with a group of biker chicks in the middle of Dean’s bar over Legion of all people. Dean would love that . It’s best to simply diffuse the situation. “Can I get you all anything else?” I ask instead.
Jett glances at the clock on the wall. “Another round in about fifteen minutes… Ryder should be here soon.”
I stop by the bar to drop off the tray with Cherry on my way to check on Ace.
“Is everything alright?” Cherry asks again. “I don’t mind waiting on them tonight.”
“Do you know anything about a Puppet ?”
Cherry shakes her head, confused.
“I think they were referring to a person .”
“I’ve never met anyone by that road or pet name before,” Cherry says.
“Alright.” I suppose I’ll just have to ask Legion myself.
T he blonde bitch of a pack leader stands up, blocking my path to the door, hostility etched across her expression as if I’d be intimidated.
I can’t help but grin in her face. “If our girl services pussy as well as she does cock, I can understand why you’re so … enthralled with her.”
“Fuck you,” she practically spits at me.
“How much?”
“You wish.”
“ I meant me . You’re not my type. Everyone has a price, though. If your offer is generous enough, I might consider allowing you to ride my cock… You aren’t wearing your man’s patch… fair game!”
“Shall I run that offer by your club brother?” The Vixen crosses her arms and grins as if she managed to one-up me.
I can feel Viking’s watchful gaze boring into me, and I know he’s moments from walking over.
I haven’t done anything wrong, though. Haven’t broken any club rules. She stepped into my path.
“By all means,” I call her bluff. “Nothing screams girl power like enlisting your man to fight your battles for you.”
She scowls before her eyes drift in Vanna’s direction, scrutinizing my angel.
“You’re sick, you know that?” she mutters before her gaze cuts back to me.
When I attempt to move past her, she slams her shoulder aggressively into my arm, and I can’t help but chuckle as I resume course to the door for a smoke.
I’ve barely taken three drags off my cigarette before that steel door opens and shuts behind me again.
“Those girls inside don’t seem to like you very much,” Vanna says, walking up behind me. For once, I wish it wasn’t her.
“I’ve got quite the fan club, as you can imagine, my sweet.”
“They told me to ask you about Puppet .”