CHAPTER 31
ZIGGY
Walking out of Lucky’s bungalow, I expected to see Blade waiting for me. And Blade was there, but so were the rest of the Gods, with Ryder standing up front, his face a study in disappointment.
I walked up slowly, contemplating what excuse I’d give. What came out of my mouth surprised even me.
“I’m not going to lie, brother. I won’t make excuses either.”
“I can respect that, Ziggy, but you’re still breaking the rules.”
“Isn’t that what rules were made for?” Slade asked, piping up with his smart ass comment, as usual. Ryder glared over at him and he shut-up promptly.
“I can’t help it. I tried,” I said. “I’m not sorry, either.”
“Sounds like you’re getting in deeper,” Riot said. “Just be careful, man. We all understand.”
“You do?” I asked.
“Yeah, man,” Ryder nodded. “It’s happened to the best of us. Just don’t fuck up. Don’t let your dick cloud your head.”
“I’m starting to think it’s about a lot more than my dick,” I said, and it was so true. I’d woken up with Lucky in my arms, feeling like I’d finally found something I didn’t even know I was looking for.
“By that puppy dog look on your face, I’d say so,” Riot quipped.
“Boys got it bad!” Slade teased, his grin returning. “Who can blame him? Lucky’s the whole package. Looks, talent, tight ass —.”
“— Shut the hell up!” I barked. The Gods burst out laughing and I couldn’t help but join in.
“This boy ain’t gonna make any mistakes,” he said. “He ain’t gonna let anyone talk about the woman, let alone get close to her.”
“Damn fucking straight,” I growled. They laughed again but I didn’t care. Let them laugh. Let them fall on the ground making fun of me. Whatever this was, whatever this was becoming, it was real and it was strong.
I didn’t give a damn what anyone thought.
Except for Lucky. I definitely cared what she thought and to be honest, at this point, that’s all that mattered. Sure, I was supposed to be impressing the Gods with my professionalism and skills, and maybe this was putting me at a disadvantage in that area, but I was so far gone now there wasn’t any going back.
Lucky had me.
She’d gotten under my skin, she’d wormed her way into my heart.
“So, what’s on the agenda today?” Slade asked.
“She’ll be up soon,” I said. “We’ll meet for breakfast in the hotel restaurant and then we’re back in the bus headed to Vegas for two nights of shows and a record signing event.”
“Fuckin’ love Vegas, man,” Wreck said. “The fuckin’ lights, the nightlife, the gambling —.”
“— the titties!” Slade crowed.
“Yeah, those too,” Wreck agreed, hitting him on the back.
“The only titties you two are going to see are your own,” Ryder said. “Just because we haven’t had any more trouble, doesn’t mean we won’t. You’ll remain professional and do your jobs until I say otherwise.”
“You mean, till you say titties?” Slade joked, peeling with laughter
“Shut the hell up, Slade,” Ryder said, shaking his head and suppressing a smile.
“Yes, boss,” Slade replied, winking at him.
“Alright, so I’ll see you in a few minutes?” I said, just as Becky walked around the corner. Stiffly, she walked past us, her head held high in the air as we all grew quiet and watched her walk to the door of Lucky’s bungalow.
“Hello,” she said, her voice tight and polite.
“Hey there,” Slade said, eyeing her up and down. “Looking good, ma’am.”
She turned to him with flashing, angry eyes, her words snapping out of her mouth like she was shooting them out of a pistol.
“I didn’t ask you to comment on my appearance,” she barked. “It’s the year 2018, don’t you realize catcalling women isn’t appropriate?”
Slade stood stoically listening to her rage, nodding slowly.
“I’m so sorry, ma’am,” he said. “Honestly, I meant no disrespect.”
“And don’t call me ma’am!” she cried. “My name is Becky! Becky, dammit! I’m not a sex object! I’m not a ma’am.”
“I’m confused, Becky, I didn’t realize calling you ma’am was a bad thing.”
“Why do you have to call me anything? Why are you even talking to me?” she cried.
With wide eyes, he raised his hands and took a step back.
“Excuse me, ma— I mean, Becky,” he said, shaking his head. “I’m just a man, responding to the beauty of a woman in my path, no harm intended.”
“Beauty?” she asked, her mouth dropping. “I — well, I — never mind! Just, just leave me alone!” She stormed off, a blush creeping up her cheeks, her face flustered. She knocked on Lucky’s door and waited without looking back as we all traded bewildered glances with each other. Finally, Lucky opened the door and let her in and when the door closed behind them, we all let out a communal sigh.
“What the hell was that?” Slade asked, bursting out laughing.
“I think you need to brush up on your PC skills, dude,” Riot chuckled.
“I guess so,” Slade replied. “I’ll just be over in the corner keeping my mouth shut from now on.”
“Brother, I’ve been waiting to hear you say that for years,” Riot said, with a teasing smile.
“Oh, fuck off,” Slade said, shaking his head and walking towards the elevator. “After that, I need food. Let’s get the hell out of here. There’s gotta be some fucking bacon around here somewhere.”
“I’m going back inside,” I said. “See y’all down there.”
“Dude, watch out for Becky,” Slade said. “She’s a man-eater.”
“Yeah, yeah, I’ll do that,” I said, watching them disappear around the corner. I turned back to the door and couldn’t help but smile. There was never a dull moment with those guys around.
My hand fell on the doorknob as I heard Becky and Lucky talking. I froze when I heard my name.
“Ziggy’s a good guy, Becky,” Lucky said.
“Lucky, come on,” Becky replied. “Listen, the record label said they’ll increase the funding for security. We can hire the best in the business now. It’s too dangerous to risk using such amateurs.”
Amateurs?
I bristled at her words. We’re a far cry from amateurs.
“I said no, Becky,” Lucky replied, my heart swelling at her insistence.
“Lucky, you and I both know you’re only doing this because you’re banging him.”
“Becky, did you just use the word ‘banging’?” Lucky laughed.
“Bopping, pounding, knocking boots, whatever,” Becky said.
“It’s called fucking, Becky, say it!” Lucky insisted.
“That’s not necessary,” she bristled.
“Come on, Becky, I want to hear you say it,” Lucky said.
“No, Lucky! You know I don’t curse.”
“Well, maybe you need to loosen up a little,” she said. “Relax your boundaries. It might do you good. You should make friends with the Gods. You might even get laid yourself.”
“What!” she cried. “Look, can we get back to my point? You can still go slumming with the bikers, even if we have a top-notch security team.”
I heard the slap through the door. Then a gasp. Then footsteps running towards me. The door flung open and I jumped to the side to let Becky run past, tears filling her eyes, her hand holding her reddening cheek.
I walked in the room and closed the door behind me. I found Lucky sitting in the garden, her head in her hands.
“Babe?” I called.
She looked up and shook her head.
“I’m a terrible person,” she said. “I slapped Becky. Becky! What the hell is wrong with me?”
“Sounded like she was being pretty hard on you,” I said.
She groaned, “You heard all that?”
“Some of it,” I admitted.
“Well, she didn’t deserve that, even if she pissed me off.”
I sat down next to her and took her hand in mine, turning it over until her palm was facing up. Running my thumb along the lines, I looked up at her with a sheepish smile.
“You were defending my honor,” I said. “Thanks for that. I don’t think anyone’s ever done that before.”
“Oh, shut up, I’m not some knight in shining armor.”
I laughed and trailed my eyes over her body. She was still in her pajamas, the ones she’d put on after we’d spent most of the morning making love.
“No, you’re a rockstar in pajamas,” I said, brushing my lips against hers. “But still just as hot.”
I pushed her back on the lounger, and kissed her again, tugging at the fabric keeping me away from her skin.
“We’re supposed to go to breakfast,” she murmured, a soft smile playing on her lips. “And then we have to get on the bus!”
“That’s right,” I said, pulling off her pajama pants and diving between her legs. “And, I’m starved.”