Three
Holly
“Are you legal?” Ryker asks, coming into his office.
“Nineteen, twenty in a few months.” I answer honestly.
“You’ve got the job. I’ll see you here tomorrow afternoon at four o’clock. That work for you?”
I look at Emersen, who not a minute ago was telling me about how she and Ryker met. Now she’s staring at her phone, smiling, but saying nothing.
“Don’t you want to interview me? Ask me some questions, get some references or something?”
“No,” Ryker says with his arms folded in front of his chest.
“I don’t get it.”
He sighs heavily before walking to his desk and sitting on the edge of it. “You helped out one of ours when you didn’t have to. That took some serious lady balls. You seem like you could use this job since the other places you’ve applied at have turned you down.”
“How do you know about that?”
“I don’t just own Spanky’s Hell’s Bells. Not to mention I know people and they’ve told me about the new girl trying to get work.”
Well, shit. Alright. “I need to be paid in cash. Will that be a problem?”
He looks me over and I pray he doesn’t mind. “You got trouble coming for you?”
“Not that I can tell.” I fib. He can take that answer however he wants, but as far as I know, Steven doesn’t know where I’m at, yet.
“Cash it is then. See you tomorrow. If you follow Emersen out, she’ll get you a few t-shirts. You can wear whatever you want with it.”
“Thank you, Ryker.” He nods but says nothing more.
That was three nights ago. Emersen was a doll and hooked me up with more than just some shirts. She put her and Chelsea’s number into my phone and told me to call if I ever needed anything. It meant a lot for someone to have my back like that. I’ve never had it before now.
The first night was hard work learning the way things were done here, but I got the hang of it quickly. I’ve waitressed in a bar before on a rough side of town. Spanky’s wasn’t anything I couldn’t handle. At the end of the night, I walked out of there with one hundred and fifty dollars more than I had a few hours earlier and aching feet. It had been a while since I had worked a full night, but it felt good.
I keep thinking about Quinn and Jasper. Why did Quinn make such a big deal about me leaving if he wasn’t going to follow it up with anything? If I’m being honest, I’m a little disappointed that they didn’t burst through the doors of the office during my non-interview and demand more of my time.
Emersen has taken me under her wing. She immediately began texting me that first night, giving me the scoop on Spanky’s and the Steel Daggers MC. I’m not sure what she saw in me, to open up so quickly, but I’m proud she’s pulled me into her tribe. She’s already roped me into going shopping and getting dinner my first day off.
I found out that Chelsea has been working here for months as a waitress and that she and Emersen were best friends as well as roommates in college but then they had a falling out. I get the feeling there’s a lot going on with Chelsea besides what happened the other night. I wasn’t surprised that I didn’t see her the last two days. Obviously, she needs time to get through what happened.
Chelsea came in today looking happy and ready to take on the world. I’m glad that asshole didn’t do more damage, and she’s able to bounce back so quickly. She let me know that she won’t be waitressing any longer since she is now working as an accountant for Ryker. I say she let me know, but really the three-way texts between the three of us were quite illuminating on many fronts. I’m just glad I’m on the Steel Dagger’s good side.
It’s nine thirty and I’ve still got another few hours left on the clock before closing time. I’ve met many members of the Steel Daggers MC and so far, I like what I’ve seen. Now don’t get me wrong, the boys are rough and tough, but they got hearts of gold, as far as I can tell by their good nature and respect for those they care about.
I keep checking the door hoping to see Jasper or Quinn, preferably both, walk through. I don’t even know why I’m looking for them. I shouldn’t be interested in a man, let alone two. How would that even work? The only time I’ve seen a relationship like that is in the books I like to read. I’m sure that couldn’t happen in real life. That doesn’t stop me from imagining what being held between them would be like.
Chelsea told Emersen about the night I met, and I think they’ve got it in their heads I’m going to be their woman. They keep telling me stories, colorful stories that are drawing me into their orbit. I’m falling for men I don’t even know.
I’m lost in thought when I bump into a man while carrying a full pitcher of beer on my tray. It spills down my shirt leaving him dry, except for a few drops on his t-shirt. “Oh shit! I’m sorry sir, I wasn’t paying attention.” I say to the man.
“What the fuck? You stupid cunt!” He yells, and the bar goes quiet. All eyes turn on us, watching the show. Fuck me, I don’t need his shit right now.
I reign in my anger, not wanting to cause a scene or lose my job. I really need it. “Is there something I can get you? I really am sorry for running into you.”
“Get your manager over here. I don’t know who hired a useless bitch like you, but they should have thought longer about that decision.” He sneers looking down at me like I’m no better than trash.
You cannot hit him, Holly. You are better than this, better than him. Look at him, he’s clearly been drinking. Walk away and get Carter over here to calm this asshole down. Yeah, yeah, I know. I turn toward the bar and my eyes immediately go to Carter who is already watching and heading in our direction with a scowl on his face. I hope it’s for this dickhead, and not me.
I walk two steps before my hair is pulled and I’m snatched backward. I slip in the beer below me and end up falling. Right before I hit the ground a pair of warm arms lift me up to a firm, muscular chest. I look up at my savior not expecting to find myself in Quinn’s arms.
“Getting into trouble already?” He asks. Just the sound of his warm voice has me melting into him and wrapping my arm around his neck.
Before I can respond, Jasper has the asshole pinned to the bar with a broken beer bottle pointing at his face. “Who the hell do you think you are touching one of the Steel Daggers?” Jasper asks through clenched teeth.
“She wasn’t wearing a patch Jester. I didn’t know.”
“I don’t fucking care if she’s wearing one or not. She’s working here isn’t she? She’s ours. You keep your hands to yourself. Keep your mouth to yourself. Don’t fucking walk back into this bar.”
“You can’t keep me out of here you son of a bitch.” He roars.
“No, he can’t. I, on the other hand, can. Tyler, you can pick up your final check on Friday. You are no longer welcome anywhere that belongs to the Steel Daggers.” Pres says evenly across the room of the hushed crowd.
“Come on Pres. The bitch needed to watch where she was going?”
Quinn tenses and squeezes me tighter as soon as he calls me a bitch, but I’m not affected, I’ve heard worse. He’s still got me held bridal style in his arms. I rub his chest trying my best to calm him down. “It’s okay Quinn.”
“Him calling you a cunt and a bitch is not okay Holly. Him putting his hands on you is unacceptable. Do you hear me, Holly? How dare he put his hands on you!” He seethes.
I nod. He’s right and I know it. I’m ashamed I let these behaviors become acceptable to me. The things I let Steven do and say just to get through the days with him were unacceptable.