Andre

 

“So you’re the new boss, eh?” There’s a big, angry looking guy wearing a black bandana and spikes on his shoes right in front of me. He’s looking at me like he’s going to bash my face in at any moment, but I’m not worried. In my world, bigger doesn’t always mean nastier.

 

“Yep.” I sit back in my chair and kick my feet up on the stool across from me; it’s right next to the one he’s sitting on.

 

“What’d you do to Samuel to get him to step down? Suck his cock? Let him fuck you up the ass?”

 

Samuel was the old leader of the Black Knights. He’d been in charge for over a decade, but apparently no one had noticed how old he was getting, except for me. Some of these old fellows didn’t know how to accept change; that meant I was going to have to make them.

 

“I don’t really like to brag.”

 

The angry biker smirks, but there’s something dangerous in his gaze. I sit forward in my chair but don’t move my feet. If I back off in any fashion, he’s won; I can’t let that happen. I watch him as he gets to his feet, and my eyes shift to his hands; they’re curling up into big, meaty fists. There’s no way I can go toe-to-toe with this man, but that’s what brains are for.

 

“Actually…” I sit back and fold my arms across my belly. My eyes never leave him. “I lied. There is one thing I would like to gloat about, and it actually concerns you.” When the man’s eyebrows go up, I keep going. “If you attempt to harm me in any way, you’ll end up just like Samuel, only worse. I’ll let you live, so you can slog out your days regretting the decision that cost you everything.” I tilt my head and eye him sideways. “What’s your name anyway? Do you even have one?”

 

He’s taking in deep, huffing breaths like he’s going to explode on me at any moment. I’m waiting for it, and I know I’ve only got one chance to gain the upper hand if he comes at me. If I’m too slow, it’ll be over before it begins; he’s not just big, he’s huge. His face is red and his veins are sticking out like they’re about to erupt from the pressure.

 

“I’d listen if I were you.” I don’t need to look toward Will’s face to know that he’s right next to me in my blind spot. Will Asalov is my childhood friend; we’ve been through every level of hell together.

 

“And why’s that?” tall, red-faced, and angry growls.

 

Will steps toward him. I speak then, and a smirk tightens my lips. “Because if you look inside the room behind me there are ten men and two women who would absolutely love to come out here and wipe the floor with you. Now if that’s what you want, be my guest. Otherwise you can fall in line… or leave.”

 

There comes a great huff from the big man before he turns on his heels and storms heavily from the bar. The door slams behind him and makes the walls rattle. A few old pictures of the bar in its youth fall to the floor with alternating thumps.

 

“Hm.” I lean back in my chair and tilt my head toward the ceiling. “I really need to make some changes to the Black Knights. More… of something. There is a piece missing.” Rubbing my hand along the light stubble on my jaw, I think deeply. “Women.” I feel that tell-tale ‘lightbulb’ moment as it surfaces in my mind. “We need more women.”

 

“Women?” Will blinks in confusion. “Why do we need more women?”

 

“Because of that thing that just left. Women can offer a lot of things men can’t, like common sense and–”

 

“Sex? You just want them for the sex, don’t you?”

 

“Hey, even I’m not that shallow. Maybe my father was, but not me. Look around? If we want sex, we don’t have to look far. My mother was one of the toughest people I can remember knowing, and I want to honor that. I need to.”

 

Willhas a seat across from me where the angry biker had been only moments earlier. He’s got this concerned look on his face that I don’t like; it usually means he’s about to ask me something personal. “When are you going to tell me what happened to your mom? It’s been years, man.Years.”

 

“Maybe in a few more years.” I mumble the response, because I don’t really believe it. I’ve never told anyone about what happened to my mom, and I sure as hell won’t be starting now. No one will understand; not even Will.

 

He snorts and gently kicks at one of my boots on the stool. “You’re such a loser sometimes. But I’m telling you, one day I’ll know why. One day I’ll figure out why you hold women in such high regard. To me they’re just fun bags running around, waiting to be screwed by the likes of me.” He holds up his hands. “Except the two you have in your gang. I learned that the hard way when Hailey nearly ripped my eye out with a broken bottle. And Debbie just stood there with this smile, like she was going to join her if I didn’t stay down. But women like them… they’re hard to find. Real hard.”

 

I groan inwardly. “And you wonder why I don’t tell you anything important. ‘Fun bags’? Really?” A snort makes my nostrils flare, and I laugh. “Yeah, I remember that night; I wasn’t gonna stop them if they decided to finish you off, either. But that’s what you get for calling Hailey a pink ho with fake breasts. Those are all real, and so is the rest of her. Debbie, too. And I can promise you that there is absolutely no way that either of them are going to fuck you. You’re beneath them.” With a chuckle, I lift a shot of sweet alcohol to my lips and take it down

 

“Ouch, man. Ouch. When did you get to be such an asshole?” He laughs, though, as if it’s all one big joke.

 

I’m debating whether I should respond to him or not when the bells above the door chime. My feet drop from the stool, and I sit up to look. Three women, all of them in their early 20s, enter the bar. Two of them have dark brown hair down to their hips. They’re wearing tight skirts and nearly see-through blouses, and their bras are pushing their breasts up so that they look ready to spill over the tops. I can hardly see their faces, because they’re so covered in makeup, and I can smell their perfume from here.

 

The third woman is different. She’s shorter by at least a few inches, and I notice that her heels aren’t as high. Tight pants hug her legs instead of a skirt, and I must admit they’re some of the best legs I have ever seen. A wine-colored blouse is done up to her collarbone, and her make-up is subtle. It adds an element of mystery that I like. Her hair is blonde, and she seems almost rebellious. It’s all in the way she holds herself, like she’s looking for trouble.

 

“Hello? Earth to Andre. Are you home? Do I need to give you mouth-to-mouth or CPR?”

 

That ‘mouth-to-mouth’ comment tears my attention away from the blonde beauty. I stare at Will. “What?”

 

“See, even you think women are just for fun. I saw the way you were looking at those incoming ladies, especially the one with the blonde hair. That means I get to call shots on the brunettes.”

 

“Go for it.” I look back to the women and watch them walk to the bar. They’re only a few stools down from us. Because there’s a lot happening tonight, I can’t make out what they’re saying.

 

“Only if you snag the blonde. I wanna see you hook up first because really… how long has it been since you’ve had areal ride? Eh?” Will gives me a lecherous smile and juts his chin toward the women who are now seated. He’s tapping his fingers on the bar with what I can only conclude is impatience; I really want to take him up on his challenge.

 

“Fine. You’re on. But we need rules.”

 

He sits up, and that smile turns into a grin. “Rules are meant to be busted, but whatever. I hope they’re not too hoity toity.”

 

I smirk at him. “One: the woman with the pants and blonde hair is mine. The brunettes are yours. Two: Sabotage is frowned upon, but not illegal. Three: If you don’t score withboth brunettes, I get a crack at them. The same goes if I miss out on the blonde one. Four: No fighting. Yelling and name-calling are fine, but I don’t want anything violent happening here; we have a reputation to hold up. Five: If we both strike out, we’ll share a long, lonely night drinking shots and reminiscing about the ‘old days’ when everything was easier.”

 

Will is quiet for some time. I have a feeling he’s pondering my rules. “All right.” He nods and holds his right hand out to me. “You have yourself a deal, Mr. Zelnick.”

 

With a smile, I reach out and take his hand. I give it a firm, solid shake. “Excellent. Now go ahead. Let’s see what you can do, Mr. Asalov. I’m betting you’ll be back here with a pout on your face within a minute or so.”

 

“Hah. Hah. Hah. Just for that,you go first. Otherwise neither of us are going home with anyone tonight. Besides, I’m the one who saw them first. That means I get to say who goes first.”

 

I laugh and slam one of my hands down on the bar. “You always were an asshole. But you’re on.” With a shift of my hips, I drop my feet down from the stool and stand up. I stretch and run fingers back through my hair. The short tufts somehow comfort me as my nerves flutter in anticipation. I’m used to being put on the spot, but with a woman this hot, I know I need to give this everything I’ve got.

 

“All right,” I whisper. “Here we go.”