Chapter Seventeen
Working at the bar was the perfect distraction from real life.
For the past two days, she’d even picked up additional shifts.
It gave her purpose and kept her mind off of leaving.
This whole adventure had ultimately become a giant mindfuck.
Everything she’d thought she’d known and wanted when she’d left her home in Iowa two weeks ago was no longer her reality.
Cross had never said the word “stay.” But he’d given her every reason to think it.
So much so, she found herself weighing her options.
As much as she’d spent a lot of time with Cleo, it hadn’t been enough.
Addison wanted more, and not just with her new friend.
It might be doable. She could afford to stay another month at the rental and pay for her apartment.
She had the savings for it. Barely, girl.
But there were other factors to consider.
She’d have to contend with her family. Hannah would be a nightmare.
It was the main reason she’d been avoiding her sister’s calls the last few days and only responding via text.
Am I seriously considering this? She broke out of her own thoughts and grabbed the tray of clean glasses. She needed to focus on something else. Like how she was in a dive bar, which felt more like a sweat box.
It seemed she wasn’t the only person with that grievance. Ava walked in from the back, throwing the heavy curtain to the side and stalking toward the bar like a woman on a mission. A pissed off woman. She stopped in front of Barry, glaring.
“You’ve got to get the A/C fixed.”
Preach, sister.
“I got a guy coming.” His flippant response seemed more like a dismissal.
“When?” Ava snapped. “The girls aren’t even bothering with the oil back there. They’ve resorted to using their own sweat. And” —she twisted her lips— “It’s starting to smell.”
Ewww.
“How fucking ungrateful are all of you? I gave you fans.”
Addison couldn’t help herself and burst out laughing. This man was something else.
“And to think some bosses give cash bonuses. Not us, though. We get thoughtful shit like fans because you’re too cheap to get a new A/C unit.”
Addison snorted. “Amen.”
Barry whipped his head, scowling. “No one asked you.”
Ava leaned on the bar, folding her hands. “What would happen if the girls went on strike? Poor working conditions is a valid reason, and the temperature back there tells me they have a solid case. Can you pay your bills solely off the bar alone?”
It wasn’t her place, but…
Addison raised her hand. “I can answer that.”
No!
Barry slapped the towel on the bar. “Fine, I’ll get him in today.”
“Thank you,” The women said in unison.
“Now back to fucking work. The both of you.”
Addison rolled her eyes, and Ava winked. It was an unlikely friendship spawned by the ridiculousness of their boss. Addison bunched up her hair, clipping it in a bun on her head. At this point, her hair was drenched with sweat at her neck. She was mildly aware of Ava gasping until Barry snapped.
“Now what’s the problem?”
Addison glanced back at her friend. Ava’s face had paled, and she rushed toward her, yanking out the hair clip. What the…
“Female emergency.” Ava grabbed her arm and pushed Addison in front of her, walking toward the strip club. Her chest practically bumped up to Addison’s back.
“Is something wrong?”
“Yes,” Ava said in a harsh whisper.
They hadn’t known each other long, but Ava’s abrupt attitude seemed so out of character.
She ushered Addison down the dark hall and into the bathroom.
Addison spun around and noticed Ava glance over her shoulder.
She charged forward, shoving Addison’s back into the wall. What in the world has gotten into her?
“Get out,” Ava ordered, and the stripper at the sink knitted her brows.
“I get a break, Ava.”
“Yes, you do. And you can take it somewhere else.” She pointed to the door. “Go!”
Addison expected some type of pushback, but other than rolling her eyes, the dancer left with Ava on her heels. Ava locked the door and turned.
“Where did you get that tattoo?”
Addison only had one. She’d never been a fan and hadn’t imagined having one for herself.
She understood and appreciated the symbolism behind some.
Done right, they could be amazing. Like mine.
Of all the things on Knox’s list, aside from skydiving, getting the tattoo was what she’d feared the most. She’d done just about everything before circling back.
It took some research, and there weren’t many pictures available on the internet, but there were a few.
She was able to enlarge a clear one and print it out for the tattoo artist. Though she did add a little twist. Addison was careful with placement.
It had to remain discreet, so she chose the back of her neck.
“A local guy in Iowa.” Addison bunched her hair up, exposing the back of her neck and sliding her fingers over it. “He did a great job.”
Ava widened her eyes. “And you had permission from the club?”
Permission? She was well over the age of eighteen, a consenting adult. She dropped her arms to her sides, eyeing Ava.
“Why would I need permission?”
She cupped her mouth, clearly in distress. “Oh hell, Addison.”
Ava’s panic was contagious. Addison’s heartbeat picked up pace and a nervous energy surged through her veins.
“What?”
Ava drew in a breath and angled around her, sweeping her hair over her shoulder. Her silence was making her even more nervous.
“What, Ava?”
“That’s Killcreek’s patch.”
“Yeah.” She smiled, realizing Ava didn’t know the significance behind it. Addison turned, confident her explanation would clear up things. “I did it to honor Knox, who was a member of the club and who died.”
“I know who Knox is.” She didn’t elaborate any further.
“Okay, not sure if you knew, but when he died, he donated his organs. At the same time, I was waiting for a heart transplant.”
Ava’s eyes widened, and her gaze immediately dropped to Addison’s chest. “You got his heart?”
“Yes. I got the tattoo to commemorate him.”
Ava shook her head. “But you can’t do that. No one wears their insignia except patched members. It’s a rule and one they take very seriously.”
What rule?
“I didn’t know that, I thought...” She paused, refusing to give more. Knox’s list was something she hadn’t told anyone. Her shoulders sagged. “It was something I could do to honor him. But what’s done is done. I mean, it’s permanent.”
Ava shook her head. “That’s not the way it works.”
“Well, there’s nothing I can do about it now.” Addison wasn’t trying to be combative, but as she said, it was permanent. There was always laser removal, but that seemed a bit excessive for this. She loved her tattoo.
“But there is.” Her tone was chilling. It was a disturbing warning. “I knew some guy in an MC. Not nearly as violent as Killcreek. But when a non-brother got their patch tattooed on his leg” —Ava paused— “They removed it.”
“How?”
“They cut it out.”
Addison gasped. She couldn’t mean… “They cut out the tattoo with a knife?”
“Yeah. And considering Killcreek’s affection for fire, they could burn it off of you.”
Panic had officially set in. Her head got heavy, and her body swayed. Ava gripped her arms to steady her.
“Calm down and take deep breaths.”
Addison tried to follow her instructions, but fear was devouring her thoughts.
Would they really do that? No. Cross wouldn’t allow that.
Right? Another reality was settling in. While she had gotten close to Cross, his ties to the club were undeniable.
Why would he protect her, who up until a week ago he hated, from the club when she broke a rule?
“You really think they’d burn it off me?”
Ava’s gaze softened and her hands caressed over Addison’s arm. It was meant to be soothing but her panic was too wide spread. “I don’t know.” Ava sighed. “Does anyone else know you have it?”
She was in a complete fog but managed to shake her head. “Aside from the artist and my sister, no. I was going to show Cleo, but I hadn’t gotten the chance, so…”
“That’s good. Don’t show anyone. As of right now, we’re the only ones who know, and we’re going to keep it that way.”
“Okay.” Addison swallowed the knot in her throat. “But how do I get rid of it?”
“Have it blacked out. It’s not too big. Maybe they can even cover it in the shape of a heart. That way you keep the symbolism without incurring the wrath of Killcreek.”
A plan was quickly emerging in her head. It could be a quick fix.
“I’ll go tomorrow. There’s a city not too far from here by the airport. There’ll definitely be shops there, right?”
Her brows hiked. “You mean Lawry?”
As Addison nodded, Ava was vehemently shaking her head.
“No. You walk into any shop in Lawry, they’ll know the Killcreek patch. You need to go back to the artist who did it.” She bit her lip. “And I wouldn’t wait, Addison.”
Oh hell!
*
This was the last call she wanted to make. It was a conversation that should’ve been done in person but after everything Ava had said, she couldn’t risk it. She had plans on talking to Cross, but not until she left Killcreek. She’d get a better sense of where she stood with him.
Addison had procrastinated long enough. She grabbed her phone and found the contact, hitting the call button before she could chicken out. She’d contemplated sending a text. It was the cowardly way but still an option. Certainly, the easier of the two. But not the one Cleo deserved.
“Hey, I was just thinking about you,” Cleo said, her voice chipper as usual.
Her sweet cheer made the guilt all the more heavy.
“Hi, how’s it going?”
“Good. I spent the last hour trying to convince Grizz we should plant a garden. He’s still not completely sold on the idea, but I think I can wear him down.”
Addison chuckled. “I’m sure you will.”
“So, do you have off? You want to do something?”