The two regulars who were having their hair done sensed the tension between their hairdressers.

Crazy Bitch ran the comb through Sophie’s damp hair as Sex Piston cut Zoey’s long curls. The two friends had been friends since high school and were taking a day off work for a girls’ day out. Usually, she and Sex Piston would talk as they worked. Neither had said a word since they had returned from the road trip.

She was clipping layers into Sophie’s hair when Killyama, Fat Louise, and T.A. stopped inside to see if they wanted to go to lunch.

“Does it look like I can go out?” Sex Piston’s refusal had their friends taking seats to wait.

“I can go get takeout,” Killyama offered. “What are you in the mood for?”

“For you all to leave me alone so I can work in peace.”

Crazy Bitch looked at Sex Piston in the mirror before glancing at the rest of the women. Fat Louise’s hurt was palpable when she started to rise.

“Sit your ass down. I’m supposed to be the biggest bitch here, but right now, you’re beating me. The contest was supposed to between us and The Last Riders. Not against each other in the club. Why are you so determined to win?”

Sex Piston dropped the brush she had been using as she confronted her. “Look who’s talking. I didn’t see you and Calder waiting to share the clue with Fat Louise.”

“No, I didn’t. I waited until we were at the gas station to text her.”

“You did?”

“Yes. I didn’t want to share with her in front of Rider and Jewell.”

“You should have seen their faces when Cade and I took off.” Fat Louise laughed. “They didn’t know it was the rock, and neither did we until Crazy Bitch texted.”

“Then why didn’t you tell me yesterday that the first clue was a mountain?”

“I’m not that generous. You know what I’m driving; I want the motorcycle that Stud built. He can build another one with spare parts—he’s got a garage full of them. My bike is shot, and my car may have fond memories, but it would be easier to stop it with my feet than the brakes.”

“I don’t care about either bike. If we win, you can have it.”

Sex Piston’s customer was becoming irritated at her stopping work on her hair.

“What do you care about?” Fat Louise asked as she pulled out a candy bar from her purse.

“Stud’s jacket.”

Crazy Bitch hit the side of her forehead with her palm. “Bitch, if I win, you can have it. Besides, it’s supposed to go back to the club whose team wins it.”

“You see Ginger doing that?” Sex Piston grimaced, brandishing her hairbrush like a bat.

Crazy Bitch could see the point she was trying to make.

“Yes, after she prances around with it on for a while.”

“I’ll kill her first.”

“You don’t have to worry about it. I’m going to win it, and I promise not to try it on before giving it back to Stud,” Crazy Bitch promised.

“What if you don’t?” Sex Piston started the blow-dryer. “Winter feels the same way. The ones who got there early are the ones who want it badly.”

“There you go. Pike and Ginger weren’t there this morning,” T.A. spoke up over the sound of the blow-dryer. “Neither were Bear and I, but Crazy Bitch saved us the trip.”

Sex Piston shut the dryer off. “Doesn’t Calder mind you sharing the clues?”

“Not if we’ve already gotten them. We talked about it at the gas station when I told him I was going to text it to Fat Louise and T.A., but they also agreed to share their clues if they get there first.”

“What if they win because of a clue you gave them?”

“Then they win.” She shrugged, finishing the layers then starting her blow-dryer. The shop filled with the sound of them drying their customers’ hair.

When Crazy Bitch finished, she started curling Sophie’s hair.

“I’m sorry. Ginger makes me nuts, always being up in Stud’s grill,” Sex Piston seethed.

“You want me to take care of her?” Killyama’s cold offer had their customers’ eyes widening.

“That bitch is mine to deal with. I’m done talking about her. You figure out the next clue yet?” she asked, removing Zoey’s cape.

“No. Calder is going to the store after work and picking up the groceries. We’re hoping that seeing the groceries together will give us an idea.”

“I cook a lot, but that recipe stumps me.” Sex Piston went behind the cash register.

Zoey took out her credit card, giving it to her. “If it’s a recipe you need help with, you should ask Sophie. She’s the best cook in town.”

Crazy Bitch took out her phone, flipping to the list that was Greer’s clue.

Sophie took her cell phone, frowning in concentration. “It looks like he wants you to make cowboy casserole.”

“I’ve made that before. I should have recognized it from the ingredients.” Sex Piston gave Zoey back her credit card.

“You forgot to tell me how much it was.”

“No charge. Your cuts are on the house.”

The women beamed.

“Sex Piston, I don’t know who Ginger is, but you don’t have anything to worry about. Greg went to Stud’s shop when his bike needed work done on it last week, and he came home saying Stud was showing him pictures of Star’s birthday party. Greg said he showed him more pictures of you than Star.”

“Thanks, Zoey. And you, too, Sophie. You saved me a trip to the grocery store.”

“We’ll see you next month.” Sophie gave her a tip, which she held in her hand until they left. Going to the tip jar, she dropped it inside.

“I should text Calder and tell him he doesn’t have to go to the store.”

“Why? I’d let him fix you dinner.” Fat Louise put what was left of the candy bar into her purse.

“I would, too,” T.A. chorused.

“I’ll go get us some burgers while you decide.” Killyama left as Crazy Bitch swept both stations and started a load of towels in the washer out back.

She decided not to text Calder. Even though they knew it was a cowboy casserole, it didn’t say where they would be able to find the next clue.

“How does Sam feel about you spending time with Calder?” Fat Louise asked as she helped straighten the hair magazines Sophie had looked through.

“I’m not seeing him anymore.”

“Why not? I thought you and him were having a fuck fest when you both took the same days off.”

It was gratifying to know that her punches had forced him to lose time from work.

Crazy Bitch hadn’t wanted to make it uncomfortable for Fat Louise to work around Sam, but she didn’t trust the bastard as far as she could throw him.

“I don’t want you to say shit to any of the brothers or Killyama, but he tried to roofie me.”

Sex Piston took the broom away from her. “Hell no, I’m not going to keep my mouth shut about it. When I tell Stud, he and the brothers will kick his fucking ass.”

“I know, and when they are finished with him, Killyama will scrape together what’s left and make hamburger out of him.”

“Then why not?”

“I don’t want Fat Louise to lose her job. Sam might complain that the Destructors beat him up, and everyone in town knows that Fat Louise belongs to the club. You still want that promotion you applied for last month?”

Fat Louise bit her lip. “Yes. It’ll give us another five hundred a month, and I can even work from home a couple days a week. It’s in the same office where Sam works.”

“That’s why I haven’t said anything. Once you get the job and get past the probation period, then Stud and Killyama can have him. The only reason I decided to say something now is because I don’t trust the bastard not to slip something in your drink to get back at me.”

Sex Piston clenched the broom handle. “Then let’s go to the sheriff’s office and report it.”

“I don’t have any proof. I never drank it. He was just acting weird. I should have saved it and took it to the sheriff’s office, but I threw it at him.”

Sex Piston’s lips thinned into a line. “As soon as Fat Louise gets that job and is off probation, the bastard is dead meat.”

Crazy Bitch looked out the window. “Killyama is back.” She hurriedly changed the subject. “You think that clue of Greer’s was an actual clue or him just wanting us to cook for him?”

They threw ideas around as they ate.

After lunch, T.A. and Fat Louise left to go back to work. Killyama hung around until Sex Piston was finished so they could go to the club together.

She waved them off when they wanted to wait for her, but she was in middle of a perm.

Exhausted, she turned the open light off after she finished and locked the door on the way out. When she turned toward the parking lot, she stopped, seeing Sam leaning against her car. She hadn’t seen him drive into the lot while she had been working, nor had she seen it when she had come out the door.

He must have parked on the side, she thought as she walked forward. She would be damned if she ran like a scared rabbit and went back inside.

“What do you want?”

“I want to make sure you’re not spreading rumors you can’t back up.” The mild-mannered man she had dated was gone. The ugly expression he made no effort to hide gave her the willies.

“I don’t spread rumors. Fucker, I’m giving you a heads-up; you need to stay the fuck away from me before you discover a world of hurt that you never knew existed.”

“I’m not afraid of the Destructors. You’re not the only one with friends. You’re the one who should be afraid of me.”

“You’re threatening me?” she scoffed. “Your idea of getting laid is to roofie a defenseless woman. I’m done talking to you. I see your ugly face come near me again, you won’t be missing work; you’ll be claiming disability.” She shoved him away from her car door to open it, making sure she didn’t turn her back to him as she slid into the seat then slammed the door closed.

Sam was walking back to his car when she started driving out.

Safely on the road, she started shaking. It had enraged him that she had dared to shove him away from her. Sam had a loose screw, but she had already found that out when he tried to drug her.

She should go to Stud and tell him what was going on, yet she couldn’t bring herself to do that with Fat Louise wanting that job. She and Cade had a kid, and Cade had sunk money into going into business with Killyama’s friends, Hammer and Jonas. They were bounty hunters. With Cade joining them, they had been able to guarantee higher bonds. Until they were able to recoup their investment, they needed Fat Louise’s paycheck.

All Crazy Bitch wanted was a bath and bed, but she had forgotten about Calder until she saw his motorcycle sitting out front of her apartment.

She smelled the food he was cooking as she climbed the stairs. She had given him a key so he wouldn’t have to wait outside for her to get off. However, she hadn’t expected him to already be cooking.

He opened the door before she could. Looking flustered, he then turned back to the stove. He had changed from his jeans and T-shirt he had worn that morning into shorts and a tee so faded you couldn’t make out the words scrolled across the front.

“You hungry? You’re late. I was afraid I would burn it before you got here. I took a shower to clean off after work. I hope that’s okay?”

“I told you I didn’t care when I gave you my key. I’m starved. It doesn’t smell burned. How’d you figure out the recipe?”

“I didn’t. I just put it all in a pan.”

“It’s called cowboy casserole.” Reaching for the plates in a cabinet, she held them out for him to spoon the glob he had made.

“Casserole.” He gave each of them a generous portion before turning off the stove. “I fucked that up, then.”

“I’m sure it’ll taste the same.”

They took a seat at the counter, both of them experimentally tasting the food.

“It’s good. If Greer gives us another recipe, it’s all yours,” she complimented.

“It’s not much of a clue. We still don’t know where the next clue is.” Calder stood up to get a second helping.

Crazy Bitch scooted her plate across the counter, not bothering to get up. “Hit me again.”

Calder smiled, giving her what was left before sitting back down.

“Thanks for cooking.”

“Glad to help out. You work some long-ass hours.”

“It wasn’t as bad when Sex Piston bought the shop, but the days are getting longer, or I’m getting older.”

“You’re not old.”

“I’m not nineteen anymore, that’s for damn sure.”

“You’re not the only one. I wouldn’t go back to nineteen if I had to.”

“I wouldn’t mind having my nineteen-year-old ass again.”

Calder put their dishes in the sink with the dirty pan. “I remember your ass back then. It’s better now.”

She avoided his admiring gaze. “I’ll load the dishwasher after taking a shower. Don’t forget to leave my key on the counter before you go.”

Calder came around the counter, reaching into his pocket and coming out with the key, which he placed down beside her hand. “You sure you don’t want me to stay the night in case we come up with the next clue?”

Thinking more about not wanting to be left alone after Sam’s threatening behavior, she didn’t nix the suggestion.

“Fine, you can load the dishwasher.” She moved around him to go take a shower, expecting him to complain about doing the dishes after cooking. He didn’t.

Damn, he was looking sexier by the minute. Not only had he looked all house-wifey when she had come in the door, but now the stud muffin was going to do her dishes.

Her good humor vanished when she saw him dodging Manson’s batting claw when he crawled out from under the couch in a sneak attack.

“Are you afraid of my cat?” she taunted.

“That cat makes some of the felons I served time with look like angels.”

“You’re exaggerating.”

Manson hunkered down into stealth mode, his eyes turning into gleaming slits. When his tail started waving furiously as his ass went up, she almost felt sorry for Calder.

“Crazy Bitch!” Calder’s voice sank to a whisper when Manson’s tail moved even faster. “Why’s he staring at me like that?”

“I should have warned you. Next time, feed him first. He gets a little irate when he gets hungry.”

“What do you feed him?”

“Bikers who are stupid enough to wear shorts around him.”