Crazy Bitch sat at the bar, surveying the occupants of the clubroom. The Destructors were already confidently bragging about what they would do if they won the bikes. The Last Riders just sat talking, cool as cucumbers.

They weren’t fooling her. They wanted the bikes as badly as she did. Some motorcycles were made to be ridden on, and then there were a few that were fucking sick. Hell, half the Destructors didn’t have the capability of riding those bikes without ending up as road kill.

“Why you sitting over here by yourself?” Calder leaned against the bar next to her.

“I’m waiting for Dozer to bring a case of Miller Lite from the back.” She wasn’t about to admit her feelings were still hurt that none of the brothers wanted to partner with her.

“Oh, I thought it might be because of something else.” Calder shrugged.

“Like what?” Her shoulders and jaw locked belligerently.

“Why do you have to be so confrontational all the time? Jesus, I was just wondering.”

“It’s a habit.”

“Then you need to cool it. You used to be a little fun. All the brothers used to fight over who got to dance with you. Now, you rip their heads off if they look at you too long. Just because you’re seeing Sam hot and heavy doesn’t mean the rest of us should be treated like horseshit.”

“Sam and I are history.”

“You are?”

“We are.”

“So, you’re taking him breaking up with you out on us?”

“Get your facts straight! I broke up with him.”

“Then I don’t understand, why the chip on your shoulder?”

“You want the truth?” Crazy Bitch turned to stare at him fully, not caring if anyone else overheard. “I’m sick of men. I’m so sick of them I’ve decided to take a break from them.”

“How in the hell are you going to take a break from men?”

“Easy. What am I going to miss, anyway? Their companionship? There isn’t any. The only time they give me attention is when they want to get laid, and as soon as they get it, they roll over and go to sleep. My cat gives me more attention. I can’t remember the last time a man bought me a burger past the first date. They want to throw out how women are supposed to pay for themselves when they go out with them. I don’t have a problem with that. What I do have a problem with is when they want me to buy theirs, too. Men either stand you up”—she couldn’t resist that particular dig at him—“or, when they do show up, they give you a drunken kiss that tastes like another woman. I’m tired of the bullshit—have been for a while—so excuse me if I’m not kissing someone’s ass just to fill the other side of my bed.”

“It’s not easy for men, either.”

“Really? What problems do you have, Calder? Which slut do you want to spend the night with? Ginger and Gina have been all over you tonight. Take my advice; if I were you, I’d pick Ginger. I saw Gina coming out of Dozer’s room half an hour ago.”

“Some women can be just as irritating. When’s the last time you’ve seen me take a bitch to my bed?”

Crazy Bitch had to think about that. It had been a while, she had to admit to herself.

“Either they’re just using you, or they are accusing you of knocking them up. When Demie couldn’t blame her being pregnant on Cade, she accused me. I might have fucked her when I got out of prison, but I was gloved every damn time. I had to spend two hundred dollars on a paternity test, and so did two other brothers. When she left the club, none of us knew who the father ended up being; we just knew it wasn’t us. Men are supposed to just take a woman’s bullshit.”

Crazy Bitch was pretty sure that was a dig at her.

“We’re supposed to suck it up as if we don’t have any feelings because, guess what? Men aren’t supposed to have any of those. And let’s not forget, if you fuck up, they never let you forget, even though you’ve apologized over a dozen times,” he added.

Yeah, it was a dig at her.

Crazy Bitch sighed. “All right, you win. I’ll cool it with throwing it up to you that you stood me up.”

Calder squinted at her from two swollen eyes. “I told you I wanted another chance with you. I can understand you going through a manhater phase, but if you want to win one of those bikes, then we have to come to a compromise.”

“Only one? If we win, you can keep your bike and all three of the jackets. I think that’s fair.”

“How is that fair? We’ll let the Destructors have the jackets. I’ll keep my bike, you can take your choice of the other two, and we’ll sell the one you don’t want and split the money.”

“I want both bikes,” she argued.

“Why?”

“I want to sell the one I don’t want. I need the money. I don’t want to share.”

“I don’t either, but I will. I need the money, too.”

“Fine, but you pay for the gas when we’re out looking for clues.”

“I can live with that.” Calder grinned. “Don’t look so angry; it’s supposed to be fun.”

“It’ll be fun when I’m wearing Viper’s jacket to the next party we have with The Last Riders.”

“I thought you were friends with them?”

“I am. That doesn’t mean I can’t torture them. They expect me to. I might be able to bribe Rider to take me out on a bike ride the way Killyama did. That worked out great for her. Maybe it will for me, too.”

“I thought you were off men.”

“I am, but I’d make an exception for Rider.”

“You and Rider wouldn’t get along.”

“How do you know? You barely know the man.”

“I don’t. Stud does, though, and he said Rider is a big pussy.”

“He doesn’t say that.” Skeptically, Crazy Bitch peered closer at Calder’s nonchalant posture.

“Not to anyone else, but he did to me.”

“How would he know?”

“A man sees things a woman wouldn’t notice.”

“Like what?”

“Like that goofball you broke up with.”

“You were around Sam for two seconds.”

“Long enough to see that he might have jumped at getting a drink for you and Killyama, but he didn’t open the door for you when you got to Stud’s house.”

“How in the fuck do you know?”

“I was outside, smoking a cigarette.”

“That doesn’t mean shit.”

“He didn’t let you go first, either, when you got to the door, even though he had never been there before.”

“I didn’t need him to hold the door for me.”

“Just saying, I would have opened the door for you.”

She had seen Calder around the club with different bitches. She had also seen him being nice to them. She couldn’t see him roofieing any of them, either. Even at the height of his drug use, he had never even offered her a joint.

“So, why does Stud think Rider is a pussy?” All the bitches had fantasies about The Last Riders.

“He said that, when they were searching for Raul, all he wanted to do was go home to make sure the women were safe and Shade wouldn’t let him. Everyone knows that you keep your strongest man to protect the clubhouse and the women. Stud said that he whined the whole time to go back.”

“Anything else?”

“That’s not enough?”

“Have you seen Rider through a woman’s point of view?”

“I can’t say I have.”

“He’s sexy as fuck. He may not be Shade’s choice of watching the women because he didn’t want to leave the fox watching the hen house.”

She slapped her hand down on the bar, laughing at Calder’s expression. Then she sobered when she saw Dozer carrying in the case of beer. The brothers moved closer to the bar, calling out to him to hand them one. Nearly squished, she started to snap at Looney when he almost elbowed her in the jaw while trying to reach for one.

Before she could, Calder swiveled on his bar stool, his arm going around her waist to pull her snugly between his thighs. With his other hand, he took the beer from Dozer’s hand, giving it to her.

“Want me to open it for you? I wouldn’t want you to break a nail.”

“I got it.” She twisted the top off as the other brothers emptied the case before she could take her first sip. “Fuckers, have five other brands to choose from, yet they always finish mine off first.”

“You want one, Calder?” Dozer asked, the last one in his hand.

“Give me a Bud. Put that one in the cooler for Crazy Bitch for later.”

When the brothers moved away with their beers, she jerked away. “You trying to prove you’re nicer than Sam? Don’t bother. I didn’t break up with him because he didn’t hold the door open for me.”

“Why did you break up with him?”

“When I want you to know my business, I’ll tell you.” Dismissing him when she saw Greer Porter coming in the door, she grabbed her beer and returned to the table where The Last Riders and her crew were sitting.

The man arrogantly ignored that he was the center of everyone’s attention. “Why did you need to see me in such a hurry? If you’re wanting product”—his eyes went from Shade to Knox and Diamond—“I don’t sell anymore.”

Greer worked part-time as a deputy sheriff. His wife, Holly, was BFFs with Diamond. Diamond had told them that Holly had put a stop to Greer’s pot selling, which no one believed he had done, except Diamond and Holly. Stud regularly bought from Greer once a month.

“Holly told Diamond that you’re an expert at hiding your stash. Knox said the same thing; that the state police have given up trying to find your plants or your stock.”

“The police can’t find their ass with their own two hands.” He disdainfully sniffed. “But I do take after my pa, and the feds could never catch him moonshining.”

“Have a seat, Greer. We want to ask a favor from you. Knox, get Greer a beer.” Viper motioned for Greer to take a chair that one of the brothers had positioned at Viper’s side.

Greer distrustfully stared at everyone who was staring back at him. “I ain’t gonna kill anyone.”

Viper leaned back so Knox could set the beer down in front of him.

“Not that I would mind, but Holly wouldn’t be happy. I got a kid on the way, and I can’t raise it from prison.”

“We don’t want you to kill anyone. The Destructors and The Last Riders have decided to bet on who has the best club.”

“You want me to referee? I’m down with that.”

“No, we’re not going to fight it out. We want you to hide my jacket, Stud’s for the Destructors, and Calder’s for the Blue Horsemen. We’re each putting in keys to a motorcycle.”

“Be easier to fight it out.”

“Dude, what are you getting at? This way, no one gets hurt and we can remain friends.” Killyama looked like she was about to break Greer’s beer bottle over his head.

“Sounds like a pussy way to find out.”

Viper and Stud gave everyone warning looks to keep some of the brothers from beating the bastard to a pulp.

“Can you do it or not?” Viper ground out.

“What’s in it for me?” His question was the first interest Crazy Bitch had seen in his eyes since he had entered the club.

“What do you want?”

Greer grinned, running his fingers over his temple, his eyes going to Diamond. “Wife’s expecting…”

“We know.” Becoming irritated, Viper gave Train a side look. “Get me a whiskey.”

“Me, too,” Stud brusquely requested before Train could stand.

“Diamond said Holly can have eight weeks maternity leave. I’m thinking twelve sounds better.” Greer stared at Diamond questioningly.

Viper turned toward Diamond. “The Last Riders will pay Holly’s salary for the extra four weeks.”

“That’s fine. I’ll be taking my own maternity during that time.”

“Then it’s a….” Viper’s smile vanished when Greer started shaking his head.

“I went to the grocery store the other day. You know how much diapers are?”

“Yes.” Viper’s face was becoming red with anger. “Since you’re Aisha’s godfather, you know I do.”

“Yeah, well, I didn’t have a clue. Might have put off knocking Holly up if I did. A year’s supply would come in mighty handy.”

“The Destructors will pay for a year’s supply of diapers,” Stud offered.

“Satisfied?” Viper ominously grabbed his knife from his boot, but Winter took it away before he could open it.

“Seems to me that The Last Riders and the Destructors are donating to pay my fee; I think it’s only fair the Blue Horsemen contribute, too.”

“What do you want?” Calder shouldered his way to stand beside Stud.

“I got Holly a brand-new truck. Every Sunday, she makes me wash it and gas it up. It’s a pain in my ass to spend my time doing it.”

“The Blue Horsemen can take care of that,” Calder agreed.

“Make sure the tank is filled to the top, too… for a year.”

“Anything else?” Calder glared down at Greer, showing his patience was running out.

Crazy Bitch would have to remember the tactics that Greer used to get his demands met. The fucker had three groups of bikers ready to beat him senseless, yet he wasn’t even sweating.

“Yeah, don’t forget the wax.” Greer tilted his beer back, finishing it off. “I better get home. Holly will be waiting for me.” He turned his head to look over his shoulder at Calder. “When someone comes to wash Holly’s truck Sunday, send the jackets. I’ll send an email to Viper, Stud, and you after I hide them. After that, you’re on your own. Don’t be trying to get me to give any hints. And so you know, it won’t be hidden anywhere on my property. I ain’t gonna have my backyard dug up to settle a bet.” Greer stood up, staring down at Viper expectantly.

Confused, Viper stared back. “What?”

“Shade said you would make it worth my time to get here in thirty minutes. I made it in twenty-five.” Greer held his hand out.

“Viper… we don’t know the sheriff here. You’ll spend the night in jail,” Winter cautioned her husband.

Viper’s chair scraped back as he stood, removing his wallet. Taking out a hundred, he slapped it down into Greer’s waiting palm. Then Greer’s palm went out toward Stud, who looked like he was about to have a seizure. Taking out his wallet, he placed another hundred on top of the other one. When Greer’s hand went toward Calder, Crazy Bitch nearly howled in laughter. Calder took out his wallet, counting five twenties.

“You can see who has more butter on their bread by the bills a man carries.” Greer’s fingers snapped closed as he turned to leave, stopping by Diamond. “Let’s just keep this to ourselves. She would have expected me to do it for free because she’s friends with you.”

“All right. It’s a good thing she didn’t come tonight when I invited her. She said you were under the weather, and she needed to get home and make you some soup. You don’t look very sick,” she said caustically.

“I’m not.” Greer shrugged. “But I wasn’t about to let her go to that movie. I don’t want her getting any ideas. You dumbasses should take a lesson from me.” He smirked as he went toward the door.

Crazy Bitch couldn’t hold back her laughter any longer.

“I’m glad you find it so funny.” Calder’s hand had gone to the chair that Greer had been sitting in as if he was going to throw it at the departing man.

Crazy Bitch laconically stood, making sure she was standing so if anyone threw anything at Greer, it would hit her first.

“You sure he isn’t a Last Rider? He fucked all of you and left with a smile on his face.”