Chapter Eighteen
Right as I’m walking out of work, my phone rings. Bailey’s name flashes across the screen.
“Hey, what’s up?” I ask as I unlock my door.
“Hey! The girls and I are going out for some girl time and wanted to extend the invitation to you.”
My heart warms. “You didn’t have to do that.”
“Of course we did. You’re one of us now. Besides, I think it would make the guys nervous having us all together again. Last time ended with most of us drunk. So are you in?”
I eye my trunk as I get into the car. I have a change of clothes in there, and while I did work all day, I don’t feel dirty today.
“You know what, let’s do it. Where do you want to meet?”
“This is going to sound crazy, but meet us at Boudoir,” she says, making my eyebrows raise.
“The strip club?”
Bailey laughs. “Yeah, sounds weird, I know but it will be just us. They are closed to the public tonight. Cami is already there and I’m about to head that way.”
“All right. I’ll head that way too. Thanks for inviting me.”
“Anytime. I look forward to getting into some trouble with you. Gotta keep those men on their toes.” She hangs up before I can respond.
Before starting my car, I send Farrah a quick text.
Me: Hey, I hope you had a good day today. I love you.
After the message is sent, I open up my navigation app and search for Boudoir and hit start. It’s only a fifteen-mile drive but takes almost forty-five minutes to get there thanks to traffic. When I pull in, though, I see Bailey getting out of her car.
“Hey!” she says when I get out of mine
“Hey, will it be a problem if I change out of my scrubs?” I ask, nodding toward the building.
“Go for it. Cami won’t care.”
“Sweet.”
I grab my bag from the truck and fall into step next to her. “Thanks again for inviting me.”
“Of course, just a heads-up, though. It’s going to be more than just Cami, you, and I. A couple of the other women are coming,” she warns.
“Cool,” I say as we step inside.
Cami looks up when we enter and smiles.
“Just in time!” she says cheerfully. She’s standing behind the bar in a sports bra and her hair in a messy braid.
“What are you making?” Bailey asks as she saddles up next to the bar.
“Giant pitcher of mojitos. It’s hot as balls out, and it’s refreshing.” Cami shrugs.
“That sounds amazing after the day I had,” I tell her.
Cami eyes my bag. “Do you need to change?”
“If that’s okay.”
“Of course. Head through that door and down the hall. The door on the right will be the dressing room we all use. You can change in there.”
“Thank you.”
Five minutes later I rejoin them, and I find them sitting in one of the booths. As soon as my ass hits the seat, Cami slides a glass toward me.
“Thank you.”
Cami leans forward with a wicked smile. “Okay, before the other girls get here. I have questions that I think you would rather discuss in private.”
“Like?” I ask, trying not to squirm in my chair.
“Tell me he’s not as sweet in the bedroom as he is in real life,” she demands, making Bailey laugh.
“Thank God someone said it! That man has ‘dirty talker’ written all over him,” Bailey cackles.
I feel my cheeks heat. “I don’t kiss and tell…but he’s the best I’ve ever had.”
“That’s my boy!” Bailey whoops.
“So he’s treating you right? Like I assumed he was, but after the window incident…” Cami teases.
“Wait, you know about that?” I groan.
“Girl, he called Fang and I got a front row seat to it.” Cami smirks.
“That’s so embarrassing.” I cover my face. “Farrah almost walked in on us. I had to make up an excuse why the door was locked. I don’t think she bought it.”
“I bet not. She’s a teen. They are smarter than they let on,” Cami mutters.
“Other than the sex department, is he treating you well?” Bailey asks.
“He’s the best,” I tell them quietly. “It doesn’t matter what I throw at him or what my daughter or ex does, he always stays calm and steady. He doesn’t flinch. I keep waiting for him to walk away, but he hasn’t.”
“He won’t,” Cami says, making Bailey nod.
“Loyal’s the type of guy who stays no matter what’s going on. He’s loyal to a fault. Hence the road name. He was loyal to the club when others weren’t. Being loyal to you is a cakewalk in comparison,” Bailey adds.
“I hope so. I really like him,” I tell them.
“Of course you do. He’s easy to like.” Cami shrugs.
Easy to love.
I feel my heart grow lighter at the thought. I’ve known I have fallen for Loyal for some time now, but I haven’t admitted it to anyone else. Especially not him.
“Oh, look Cami. See that look? Girl is gone for him. Loyal better watch out,” Bailey jokes.
“Oh to be young and in love again,” Cami teases.
“I’m older than both of you,” I remind them.
“Yeah, but the honeymoon phase during the first season of love is a special one. Savor it while you can.”
Before any of us can say anything else the door opens and Viv and Laura walk inside.
“The party has arrived!” Viv says, making us all laugh.
“What did we miss?” Laura asks as they walk over to us, but I don’t miss the way her eyes look around the room for all exits.
My heart hurts for the girl.
“Nothing,” Bailey and Cami say in unison, making all of us laugh.
“Real convincing,” Viv teases as she takes a seat.
The conversation shifts so I lean back in the booth and relax.
Taking sips of my drink occasionally as the women chat.
They make sure to pull me into their conversations and keep me present.
For the first time in years, hell, since I was a teenager, it feels like I’ve found my people.
Women who hang out with me not because they feel obligated to but because they want to. Because they like me for me.
Loyal brought these women into my life, but I have a feeling if things went sideways, they would stay. Giving me just another reason to be thankful for him.
When I step into the chapel, Fang is already sitting at his spot with a smirk on his face.
“What has you smiling like that?” I ask as I take my seat across from him.
“Cami.”
“Where is she? I figured with the club being closed tonight she would be here hanging out with the girls. In fact, where are all of them?” I ask, suddenly remembering I didn’t pass by a single one of them on my way in here.
Fang chuckles. “That’s because they are all at the club having girls’ night. In fact your woman is there with them right now.”
“Wait, you’re telling me Sami is hanging out at Boudoir right now? After working a twelve-hour shift?” I ask, a tinge of worry in my tone.
“That’s what Cami said. Texted me this an hour ago.”
I look at the picture on his phone of all the girls drinking and having a good time.
“Huh…” I lean back in my chair and smile. “We will need to drive them all home, you know.”
He laughs. “I know. Prospects are waiting to take their cars home when we say the word.”
The fact that she’s hanging out with other women tied to the club makes me feel like this might really work.
She did it on her own. I didn’t have to ask her to chill with them, and it’s not for something club-related.
It’s just her spending time with the women, getting to know them and becoming friends.
Something she desperately needs.
“Why are you smiling like that?” Savage asks as he walks into the room.
“Like what?”
“All goofy and shit,” he says, waving a finger at my face.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I lie, making Fang laugh.
“He’s happy that Sami is with the girls,” Fang tells him.
“Ah, I should have known. Bailey said she was going to call her and make her come.” Savage nods.
“I’ll have to thank her for thinking to include Sami,” I tell him.
The rest of the officers filter in and the door is shut, signaling it’s time to get to business. Savage picks up the gavel and bangs it on the table once.
“Meeting is in session. Who would like to start?” Savage asks.
“I can,” I say, making everyone look my way.
Only when Savage nods do I continue. “Antoino is officially willing to go to Chicago to train people for a week at the new tire store. His only request was that a brother from here goes with him. The time he had in mind actually syncs up with when Dagger is going to visit Donna. I thought we could introduce them ahead of time.”
“He actually agreed?” Tiny asks.
“Yeah, he was a little reluctant at first but came around on his own,” I say to him.
“That business was a good investment,” Savage mutters.
Pride fills me at his words. Being one of the youngest guys in the club is a bitch, but earning my position as VP means more eyes on me and makes it more challenging. So hearing when I do something right…yeah, it might go to my head a little.
“What else? Fang?” Savage asks.
Fang turns in his chair, angling more toward Savage. “On the last run, the guy from SOMC said they had a heavy cop presence on the way to the meetup. While we didn’t have an issue, I think it might be time to switch shit up. Just to be safe.”
“We already change our route every time,” Tiny says, but before he can even finish his sentence, Fang is shaking his head.
“Yeah, we might change the first part, but once we hit Houston, it’s the same shot every time,” Fang says, looking at him.
Tiny lifts his hands in surrender.
“What are you thinking?” Savage asks.
“It’s going to suck, but I think we need to take some backroads, not the main route. It’s going to take more time, but I’d rather be safe than sorry. Then on the way home when we don’t have shit, we can take the quickest way back,” Fang says.
“It’s not a bad idea. We might want to bring it up to them,” I say.
Savage winces. “I don’t know, giving them advice could be seen as overstepping.”
“I think if I frame it as hey, we are doing this just so you know, Mac, their road cap won’t see it that way. He’s pretty chill,” Fang adds.
“If you think you can pull it off, do it.” Savage nods.
Other brothers speak up, dropping their business until we get to Dex.
“What about you? You’ve been more quiet than normal,” Savage tells him.
“Just waiting for my turn,” he says before looking at me.
“What did you find?” I ask, stomach filling with dread.
“Billy, or should I say, William Abrahams, has more issues than we originally thought,” he sighs.
“What kind? Are the girls safe?” I ask, heart racing.
I know that Farrah and I don’t necessarily see eye to eye, but I don’t want anything to happen to her. She might hate me, but I view her as part of my family anyway. She is part of her mother, so she means something to me too.
“First thing I found is the man was having emotional affairs with women online before Sami even decided she wanted a divorce. I honestly don’t know why he’s trying to get her back.” Dex shakes his head.
“He sounds possessive,” Savage mutters, making me nod.
Dex continues. “He’s got some online gambling debt, but nothing he couldn’t pay off if he wanted to but that’s neither here nor there. The real issue is his relationship with Farrah.”
My heart sinks, and I shut my eyes. “Tell me.”
“He’s coaching her and making her promises. I hacked his phone and have been reading all the messages between them. If he is saying this in text, what is he saying in person?”
“Like?” Fang asks.
“Like if she makes her mother’s life hell, he will pay for an all-inclusive resort she wants to go to for a graduation present. Not only that, he will buy her a mid-range sports car of her choosing when she turns eighteen and pay for an off-campus apartment all four years of college,” Dex says.
Confusion rolls through me the more he talks. “That doesn’t make sense. Don’t get me wrong. I know he does all right, but he doesn’t have that kind of money. He’s always behind on child support or skips paying it entirely.”
“What’s his end game?” Savage asks.
Dex looks at me with sympathy. “I’m not a hundred percent convinced, and I’m still going through his emails and text messages looking for keywords, but I think it’s one of two things.”
“That being…”
“First could be he’s just simply hoping to get Sami back. With their incomes combined, he could keep all those promises. Especially if Farrah were to get a scholarship.”
“Or…” Fang trails off.
“Or he might be planning to cash in on her life insurance policy he still pays on if she doesn’t comply.”
“You mean he might kill her?” I ask, feeling like I might be sick.
“It’s just a theory. I don’t have any evidence,” Dex says.
“Not yet at least,” Tiny mutters.
“You okay?” Fang asks, looking at me.
I avoid his eye and mutter, “Fine.”
“Okay, Dex, keep digging. We need answers now. Loyal, I know I’ve said it before, but I’ll say it again.
Keep your head down. Don’t make waves with the man and try to keep interactions with him brief.
Be extra careful with Farrah. We don’t need to give him any ammunition, even though I know you wouldn’t willingly.
In fact, where are we at with the family day? ” Savage says.
“Understood,” I mutter, my mind filled with worry. “Family day is planned. We just need to make it there,” I tell him.
“We will make it. It’s going to work out,” Savage says before switching topics.
I vaguely notice as the meeting comes to an end, my mind busy with worry.
Just when I think it can’t get any worse, it feels like it does.