KATRINA

 

Two weeks later…

 

Ivory was a slow town. Compared to big cities, the differences were dramatic. The people weren’t in a hurry. The streets weren’t as crowded. Even the weather seemed a little more comfortable.

I quickly got used to the lifestyle, since I spent most of my life here. Not having a job meant I had all of my time to myself. But with everything going on, I needed something to distract myself. So I took the most obvious opportunity that was waiting for me.

Jordan gave me a chance to work at The Bone Pit. There was always room for another waitress. It wasn’t exactly my kind of work but it meant that I wouldn’t have to sit around all day.

I suppose I had it easier than most of the women who worked here, since everybody knew who I was. They would never disrespect the sister of the club president. It helped that I didn’t have to work nights when it was the wildest.

It was the middle of the day and there were only a few patrons in the bar at that point. With no customers to tend to and nothing to clean, I listened to the man pontificating in front of me.

“You ever had a threesome?”

“…No,” I said, raising an eyebrow at him.

“You should try it.”

“I think I’ll be fine without it.”

“Don’t kid yourself, Kat. I know you’re not a prude.”

“Just because I’m not a prude doesn’t mean I’m up for letting two guys have their way with me.”

“That’s just it. You’re not letting two guys have their way with you. You’re having your way with them.”

“How do you figure that?”

“You’re with two guys. Each one of them is competing for your affection. I’m sure you’ve had some good times but imagine two guys doing everything they can just to please you. All you have to do is lie back and relax.”

I shifted my gaze toward the ceiling, trying to see things from his perspective.

“Right,” I said. “I can sort of see the appeal of that.”

“I’m telling you, Kat. You can’t have regular sex again once you’ve been with two guys.”

“If having a threesome is going to turn me off from regular sex, then I should probably stay away.”

“Suit yourself. You’re missing out.”

He gave me a satisfied smirk. I knew there was no convincing him of how I saw things, but I figured it was interesting to see what kind of man he was.

“Is that how you do it?” I said. “You can only be with two girls at the same time?”

“That’s right. You’ve been here at night. There’s always at least two sluts just trying to be an old lady.”

“And what happens if you fall in love? What if you want one of these women to be your old lady? You can’t have them both.”

“Who says I can’t?”

He winked and leaned back in his seat, a smile on his lips as he gulped his beer. I giggled at his nonchalant attitude about the whole thing.

“What are you doing?”

I looked up and saw my brother putting a hand on his shoulder.

“What?” the man said, looking up. “I was just talking to your sister.”

“Go bother someone else. Tell your stories to someone who gives a shit.”

“I haven’t told Kat any of my stories. And believe me, if I did tell her, she would give a shit.”

“Get the hell out of here!”

Jordan smacked him on the arm. The other man got up from his seat and gave me another wink before excusing himself. Jordan took the man’s place in front of me and smiled.

“Don’t mind Teddy,” he said. “He likes to brag about all of his past conquests.”

“It’s all right,” I said with a smile. “He’s… interesting.”

“He’s not bothering you, was he? You know I wouldn’t have any of the Cobras messing with you—”

“I’m fine, Jordan. Really. Teddy was just keeping me company. To be honest with you, he’s the one guy in here that seems harmless. I know that he wouldn’t bother trying to hit on me. He knows better than to hit on your sister…”

I looked down at the table and thought about him.

Him.

Blake.

It was embarrassing to think that I was still thinking about him even though I hadn’t seen him in so long. You would have thought I was some dumb teenager in high school with an obnoxious crush.

I sighed a deep breath and pushed him out of my mind. When I looked back up at Jordan, I could see that he understood why I was so upset. But he wasn’t about to bring it up.

“How are you doing?” he asked. “You like working here?”

“It’s okay,” I said. “I’ve worked here before. It’s easy work. Thanks for giving me the day shift.”

“I figure you would enjoy it. Give you a chance to make a few bucks and stay on your feet without having to deal with the night crowd.”

“I appreciate it.”

“Have you been looking?”

“I’ve been looking. I’ve narrowed it down.”

I talked to my brother about opening up a small flower shop. He was as supportive as I could have asked for.

“Do you need any help?” he asked. “You know, the club is making real good money. I have enough to spare.”

“It’s all right,” I said as I put my hands up. “I didn’t come back to Ivory to ask you for money. It won’t take that much to open up. One of the places I’m looking at doesn’t need much of a renovation. Just a bit of sprucing up and it’ll be good to go.”

“I’m sure it’ll do just fine with you in charge.”

He smiled at me. Jordan was a bad ass to all of his peers. The president of the Winter Cobras, he had no choice but to set an example. For the rest of his club and for the people who tried to disrespect him. But the way he smiled, he was still just my brother. The boy I grew up with, only a little bit older now.

I smiled back and shifted my eyes away from him. As I looked around the bar, I couldn’t help a sigh that came out of me.

“What’s wrong?” he asked.

“Nothing,” I said, shaking my head.

“Are you sure? You know, you can tell me, Kat.”

“I know,” I said. “I’m… fine. I just… I’ve been feeling weird lately.”

“Feeling weird?”

“I think I’m getting that bug that’s going around. Just a little tired and under the weather.”

“Why don’t you go home and take a break? It’s not that busy.”

“Thanks… I think I’ll do that. I just… I need a moment to relax a little bit.”

I leaned forward across the table. I put my elbows up and rested my forehead in my palm. My eyes closed, I suddenly had trouble keeping them open.

“Kat…”

My eyes shot open as I tilted my head up.

“What is it?” I said.

Jordan stared at me, the smile on his face no longer there. He took a deep breath through his nostrils and shook his head.

“Listen… I know that you’re still thinking about him. I’m sorry that things worked out the way they did.”

I didn’t say anything. My brother knew how I felt. That didn’t mean he was going to give me his permission to follow my own feelings.

“You know it’s for the best that you stick around here,” he said. “It’s actually a good thing that you haven’t been with… him. From what I’ve been hearing—”

“What? What have you been hearing?”

My ears perked up. Jordan looked around the room like he was making sure nobody was listening then leaned forward across the table.

“It’s not a big secret,” he said. “But there are rumors going around.”

“Rumors?”

“Your friend has been digging for information all over Ivory. Trying to get intel on the Spades.”

“I know that. They tried to kill him. Why wouldn’t he?”

“It’s not just that. Word on the street is the Spades are trying to get at him just the same. Apparently, they do have beef with him. It seems like it’s only a matter of time before they settle it.”

I clenched my jaw. I was already worried enough about Blake but hearing my brother confirm it only made the feeling in my stomach worse.

“And you refuse to do anything to help him—”

“It’s not our business,” Jordan interrupted me. “You said it yourself, he told you to stay here because being with him would only put you in danger. I might not like the Reapers but I have to agree with him.”

“You’re just going to let it happen? A bunch of skinheads going to war with another club in Ivory and you’re not going to do anything about it?”

“That’s not my responsibility.”

“No. Of course not. You’d rather sit back and do nothing while they fight each other like animals.”

“My concern is the safety of my club and my sister. I don’t know if you noticed, Kat, but I’m doing everything I can to protect you. Getting involved would only put you in danger. And that wouldn’t be any good to me or him.”

I leaned back in my seat and looked away from my brother. The frustration I felt was boiling inside of me.

I tried to see things from his perspective. I knew Jordan cared about me. But I had feelings for Blake. Regardless of whether or not they were real, I was getting sick of having to deal with them.

“Just keep your head down,” Jordan said. “Things will eventually blow over and sort themselves out.”

“Yeah,” I sighed.

“I’m only doing what’s best for you—”

“I know. You don’t have to keep reminding me.”

I’d had enough of this conversation. There was no way I would be able to push Blake to the back of my mind. Not after what Jordan just said to me.

I leaned forward and put my forehead back in my palm.

“Kat? Kat, are you all right?”

“I’m fine,” I said, putting my other hand up. “I just need to go home and lie down.”

I pushed myself up to my feet. My brother gave me a hug before saying goodbye.

As I drove back to my apartment, the feeling I had at the bar had only gotten stronger.

“Damn, it’s hot…”

I rolled down a window. The sun was out but it felt hotter than usual.

I kept waiting for the feeling to go away but it didn’t. My stomach hurt. Sweat dripped from my forehead. I had suddenly become so nauseous I had trouble keeping my eyes on the road.

“What’s going on?” I sighed.

I couldn’t shake the feeling.

I wasn’t even halfway to my apartment. I started to think that I wouldn’t make it. I had to do something. Now.

I grew up in Ivory all my life. I knew where everything was. Including the hospital I knew was just around the corner.