Chapter 43
VANNA
T he music feels like it’s thumping through the floor. An Ace of Base track vibrates in my chest as I laugh and dance with Latisha under the neon lights. A couple of guys in denim vests try to dance with us, but we turn them down and opt for a break.
Latisha leans in closer to my ear so I can hear her over the music. “Let’s go get another drink!”
I’ve lost count of how many songs we’ve danced to. “Okay!” I say, a little breathless. My cheeks feel flushed, and I’m definitely already buzzed from the last cocktail.
Latisha grabs my hand and pulls me toward the bar as if she expects me to get lost otherwise. It’s crowded, but it’s not too bad. Being around bars and biker parties, I’m not as uncomfortable in these environments as I once was before Dean and the Saviors MC.
My laughter dies, though, when I spot Legion sitting with his back to the bar counter, staring at me.
My stomach drops. Not because he’s supposed to be in Myrtle Beach with my husband and the rest of the MC, but because of the way his intense stare makes me suddenly aware of the cling of my clothing and the spike in my heart rate.
The way his gaze seems to stake a claim on my existence.
Of course, Latisha is pulling me toward the only vacant spot at the bar, right beside Legion. She flags down the bartender with the butterfly clips and orders us another one of the night’s signature cocktails. “Heavy on the tequila!”
Without breaking his gaze from me, Legion leans back toward the bartender. “Allow me,” he insists, reaching into his jacket for some cash.
“Thanks, buddy,” Latisha begins to wave him off dismissively, without sparing him a glance. “But it’s girls’ night.” She hands the bartender her debit card.
When Legion places his cash on the bar and slides it to her anyway, Latisha finally looks up at him. He grins at her, slow and dangerous, like he already knows exactly how to play her.
“ Oh,” she blinks once, then sweeps her eyes along his razor-sharp jawline. She picks up his money and slips it into her bra. He pretends to appreciate the quick glimpse of her cleavage.
“Those drinks are gonna cost you a conversation.” Legion’s flirtatious words are laced with a level of command that seems to intrigue her further. I’m not surprised. Latisha has always had a thing for the cocky types. Specifically, the cocky biker types.
“I thought you were supposed to be at the rally,” I say, and they both shift their attention to me.
“You know this guy?” Latisha asks.
“Latisha, this is Damien, aka Legion… Legion, Latisha.”
Legion offers her his hand. “The pleasure is all mine.”
She places her hand in his with a smirk as if to say she knows. “So, you’re the new Enforcer for the club… Derek has mentioned you a time or two.”
“Ah,” Legion chuckles. “I see my reputation has preceded me.”
“From what I’ve heard, it should,” Latisha says, but I can tell she isn’t joking.
“Where is Dean?” I ask, before things get any more awkward.
“Exactly where he has chosen to be.” Legion gestures to the clock behind the bar. “His fight is at nine.”
“It’s nearly nine, now,” I say, just as the bartender returns with our drinks and another beer and a shot of some dark liquid for Legion. I suddenly don’t feel like drinking anymore.
“Then let’s toast to victory,” Legion grins, raising his beer bottle for us to clink our cocktails against. Latisha doesn’t hesitate the way I do.
She clinks her glass to mine next, watching me curiously.
I don’t want to make the situation uncomfortable for anyone else, so I clink my glass to Legion’s beer and take a sip of the fruity cocktail, trying not to grimace at the noticeably stronger taste of tequila.
“Good girl,” Legion winks.
I pretend not to notice. “Dean isn’t alone, is he?”
“Of course not,” he assures me. “And if it’s of any consolation, I expect a rather large payoff.”
“Huh?”
“ I bet your beloved to win , my sweet. Would I have done so if I lacked faith in his ability?”
“How much?” Latisha bats her dark eyes at him while she sips her drink.
A sly grin teases the corners of Legion’s mouth. “Oh, I’m winning big tonight.”
“Do you dance, Damien?” she continues to flirt.
“On occasion,” he replies.
She playfully rolls her eyes. “Do you want to dance with me?”
He takes his time considering her offer. “If you would be so kind as to grant me a private moment with our lovely Vanna.”
She seems to force a little smile but gives in. “Alright, I’ll just go request a few songs and give you two a minute.” Drink in hand, she makes her way over to the DJ set up on the far side of the dance floor.
I turn back to Legion. “They don’t know you’re not in Myrtle Beach, do they?”
He shrugs and takes another swig. “They may suspect by now.”
“ What did you do?”
“I orchestrated a little time for us to talk, alone.”
“That sounds serious.” I sigh, feeling the buzz a little stronger. I place the remainder of the cocktail on the bar. “I should probably switch to water.”
He studies me as I slide onto the barstool beside him, then abruptly asks, “Is it stifling?”
“What?”
“Your youth was stolen from you, sweet one. You never got the chance to live it up. You went from the innocent age of sixteen, straight to thirty… First a prisoner, then an escapee …only to find yourself betrothed after three measly years of freedom. A majority of those years lived in fear… Was it really freedom? And is it freedom even now, angel? Living under such restraint… You are still young , Vanna. Live a little... You deserve it.”
He slides the cocktail closer to me, and I glance up at him wryly. “ The devil on my shoulder , are you?”
“Your humble Demon, Goddess… Who only wishes to be of service and to see you safe and happy .”
My cellphone vibrates in my back pocket. I’m already certain who is calling.
“ The good warden , I presume?” Legion mutters with a detectable level of disdain. He takes another gulp of beer while I take the call.
Between the static on Dean’s end of the line and the loud music in this bar, I can’t hear him at all. The call cuts out, so I type out a text instead.
Me: I’m hanging out with Latisha. Ace is with Rosita. Everything is fine. Don’t worry. Focus on your fight. Good luck. Be careful. I love you.
Dean: Thanks, I love you too. Have you seen Legion?
For a moment, I debate how to respond. Would it throw Dean off? Be a dangerous distraction while he’s in the cage? It’s not as if Dean has anything to worry about regarding Legion and I… I rule in favor of his peace of mind and focus and type out another text.
Me: No. Don’t worry about me. Focus on your fight. Get it out of your system. This is the last one!
Guilt instantly washes over me, and I take another sip of my drink as I watch the bouncing dots on my screen indicate he’s typing…
Dean: 3 Promise. See you soon.
Me: For good luck, not that you need it.
Dean: Aces baby
I tuck the cellphone into my back pocket and glance over at a smug-looking Legion. “I didn’t tell him you’re here… for his sake .”
The Divinyls song, I Touch Myself begins to play. Legion finishes off his beer and slams the bottle down on the bar beside me.
“Well, this is my song,” he growls against my ear, then walks off into the crowd on the dance floor behind me just as Latisha returns.
“What’s this guy’s deal?” Latisha asks, situating herself on a barstool to watch him. A moment later, she chuckles, “ Oh, wow…”
“What?” I glance over at her to find an amused grin on her face.
“He’s…”
“He’s what?”
“Dancing…” She bites her bottom lip.
“Apparently, he enjoys that. It’s probably his least destructive hobby.”
“Now he’s got two women dancing over to him… All he did was look at them from across the room.”
I peek over my shoulder and immediately regret it. He’s dancing with two drunk women. The moment we make eye contact, Legion grins, winking at me as he slips his hands to the napes of their necks and pulls them closer to his body. They’re all too eager to touch on him and grind up against him.
“Is it wrong I want to go over there…” Latisha sighs.
“Didn’t you just tell me you were sort of seeing someone?”
“Yeah, but it’s not like we put an official label on it.”
“Well, Legion should be required to wear a warning label.”
I turn back around when—at his guided encouragement—the women dancing on him slowly begin to sink down the length of his body.
“Oh my god…” Latisha picks up a bar napkin and dramatically fans herself. “And they’re just going with it…”
“I’m afraid to even ask.”
Latisha only looks away from the spectacle on the dance floor long enough to grab her drink and take a quick sip before she goes on to describe what is happening. “He’s got them crouched down on either side of him… One of them is holding onto his belt.”
I know he wants me to watch as if I’ll get jealous or something, which I am not . I finish the rest of my drink as the song comes to its close.
“Another round?” the bartender asks.
“Hell yes.” Latisha hands over her glass.
“I’ll have an ice water, please.” I smile.
“And the gentleman?” The bartender nods somewhere in Legion’s direction.
I don’t want to be rude. “Sure,” I say, digging in my jeans for my debit card.
“Should I start a tab?” she asks.
“Yes,” Legion says, suddenly beside me, his hand jutting out to the bartender with a credit card between his fingers. “On this. And make mine a shot of Johnny Walker Black.”
He’s still got the two floosies hanging on him, laughing and touching him like they want to drag him off to the alley out back.
“You got it,” the bartender says, taking his card.
“You certainly have something.” Latisha grins at Legion in that way she used to look at Viking. Legion scans her over slowly, head to toe and up again.
“You still want that dance?” he growls at her, and one of his groupies lets out a whimpering pout as if she thought she had staked her claim on him, at least, for the night.