21. Chapter Twenty-One
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
ORA
“Haze is old news,” Lu says after I tell her what went down last night. “I don’t even want to see his face again. Or those amber eyes. Or those long fingers that you know are good at things other than playing guitar.”
“Yeah, really sounds like old news.” I smirk, and she rolls her eyes. “What are you going to do about War?”
I lean forward on the pink countertop and stare into the parking lot. “I don’t know. I mean he’s obviously with me now, he claimed me, but what if he suddenly realizes he wants a little variety?”
“Then he’s a complete idiot,” she replies, touching my shoulder. “Let men show you who they are, Ora. But when they show you, believe them. His actions will prove how he really feels.”
“Yeah, you’re right.”
“Do you want me to kick Daisy’s ass?” she asks, playfully nudging me. “Or hell, you could use those moves I’ve taught you.”
“It might come to that,” I admit with a straight face, and Lu laughs.
Xanthe comes in, buys some cupcakes, and sits at one of the tables with her laptop. “Why haven’t I been doing this the whole time?” she asks, tucking her silky hair behind her ear. “Good food, good company.”
“There’s usually some eye candy here, too,” Lu adds, waggling her perfectly arched brows.
“Although we also may or may not get subtly threatened,” I remind her.
Xanthe’s brown eyes widen. “Sounds like a story I need to hear.”
The bell chimes, and one of the prospects steps inside. Danger is his name. I’ve met him a few times, seen him around, and I know War sent him to protect us. He’s cute, tall, and lean, around my age, with curly brown hair, brown eyes, and a set of dimples to rival my own. His eyes snap to Xanthe, a line forming between his brows.
“I’m meant to keep my eyes on you at all times,” he announces, and Lu pulls out the chair next to Xanthe. “Have a seat, Danger. I’m Lu. I’ll provide the dessert, you provide the entertainment.”
He grins, making his dimples pop. “Now that I can do. Nice to officially meet you, Lu.”
“I’m Danger,” he introduces, offering his hand to Xanthe.
“Xanthe,” she replies, blushing.
Lu and I share an amused look. Xanthe is a primary schoolteacher, and as long as we’ve known her, she’s always been single. Sure, she’s dated here and there, but nothing that has ever stuck. She’s a romantic, and Lu says she’s just been waiting for the right one.
“Why do they call you Danger?” she asks him, and he clears his throat.
“That’s a story for another time, sweetheart,” he replies smoothly, raking a hand through his curls.
He’s confident and charming. Good luck to Xanthe if he sets his sights on her. Danger stands and looks outside, checking the surroundings. I don’t know what’s going on with the club, but normally, he would wait outside, so I know it’s not good.
“Do you want us to close and lock up?” I ask, moving to stand next to him. He towers over me—he must be about War’s height.
“That would be better,” he agrees after a moment, turning to look at Lu. “You guys don’t mind closing up? I’d prefer to have you all back at the clubhouse.”
Xanthe closes her laptop, standing with a worried look on her face. “I can head home.”
Danger shakes his head. “No, you’re coming with us. I don’t want any of you alone right now.”
We quickly lock up and all pile into Lu’s car while Danger rides behind us.
“He’s hot,” Xanthe announces, turning around to look at him. “And intense.”
“And I think he likes you.” I smirk, feeling more relaxed as the clubhouse gates open and let us in.
“He was just being friendly,” she replies quietly. “What happens now?”
“Now we go and have a drink,” Lu says, opening the car door. We follow suit, and all of us slide out. Danger gets off his sexy black Harley and comes over to us. “The prospects are all here, holding down the fort, as well as Blade and Ghost.”
Well, this ought to be interesting.
We are locked inside, but what Danger failed to mention is it’s not just Blade and Ghost here with us—so are the rest of the women. And not just Daisy and Rose, but all the strippers from the club.
Glancing around, I share a wide-eyed look with Lu, who steps up to the bar. Rose is pouring drinks, along with the other woman I’ve seen at the bar, Brandy. “Could we get three tequila shots, please?”
Two blondes, still in their stripper outfits, get up and come over to us. “Who are you?” one of them asks, glancing between us. Lu and I are in our work uniforms—the black T-shirts with the pink bakery logo on them—and Xanthe is dressed like, well, a teacher, in a long skirt matched with a white blouse. “Are you doing a sexy teacher role-play? I could see the men being into that,” she says to Xanthe, whose mouth opens and closes with no reply.
Ghost comes up behind me, frowning. “Candy, that’s the president’s daughter and the vice president’s woman, Ora. And her two friends.”
The blonde’s eyes widen. “Oh, so no role-playing then.”
“I’m afraid not,” Ghost replies in a dry tone, his gray eyes giving Xanthe a slow once-over. He lingers on her breasts just a little too long to be considered polite, so I clear my throat.
“Ladies, this is Ghost.”
Lu’s eyes widen at that. “The creepy lawn mower?”
Ghost simply smirks, leaning back against the bar and crossing his arms over his impressive chest. “Definitely not into role-playing around here.”
Is that what that was?
“Ghost the landscaper? That work for you?”
“Worked for your neighbor,” he replies as his tongue slides across his lips, showing off the ring there.
“Well, you went back for seconds, so it must have been good,” I mutter, and he frowns.
“I don’t do seconds.”
“I saw your bike leaving her house.” I roll my eyes, accepting the shot Lu slides into my hand. We do a cheers, and then down it in one swallow. I lick Lu’s hand to steal some salt, and I notice the eyes of all the men on us.
“That was hot,” Blade comments, coming to stand next to Lu.
I notice Ghost staring at Xanthe, his gray eyes blank. Then suddenly, he pulls one of the strippers onto his lap, his hands stroking over her breasts. I don’t know what his deal is, but I pull my girls away from him into our own little world in the corner.
“Nice boots,” Lu says to one of the strippers walking by.
She smiles widely. “Thanks, girl. I got them on sale!”
“Could you tell us what’s going on?” I ask her as she joins our huddle. She has a sweet smile, long red hair, and emerald green eyes.
“The strip club was shot up,” she replies, shoulders hunching. “Two of the girls were shot, so they had to take them to see Scorp at the hospital. We got loaded up and sent here. The men are still at the club trying to figure out what happened, I think.”
“Shit,” I whisper, frowning. I remember the same thing happening at Chaos, their nightclub. A man was killed. I’m guessing this has to do with Insanity MC. “I’m Ora, by the way. And this is Lu and Xanthe.”
“Lovely to meet you all. I’m Heaven,” she replies, glancing around the room. “I hope the girls are okay. It was Opal and Paradise who got shot.”
“I’m sure they will be fine,” Lu says, wrapping her arm around her to show her some comfort.
Blade comes over to Lu, and the two of them get talking.
The woman Ghost has on his lap is now kissing his neck, but if anything, he looks bored.
When I check my phone, there’s a few texts from War.
War
Stay with Danger.
He said you’re headed to the clubhouse. Be safe.
Everything okay? I’m heading back for you now.
The last one was sent ten minutes ago, so I’m guessing he will arrive soon.
This is the scary side of this lifestyle, and I’ve walked right into it. I might not be an old lady, but my dad is the president, and there are no other women leading around here.
Taking a deep sigh, I stand up and head to the kitchen.
Might as well get everyone fed and looked after.