Chapter Eight
Chloe stared at the envelope Meghan handed her. “It was in the mailbox,” said Meghan. “With the other mail, but no stamp.”
“Thanks.” Chloe waited until Meghan left to open it, but the meticulous block printing of her name on the outside already told her who had written it. She stopped before taking out the folded piece of paper. Gorgon was still upstairs sleeping. Should she wake him so he could read this for her, or let him rest and deal with it on her own?
No. He’d want to know. No stamp meant someone had stopped in front of the property, on State Route 113, and casually put this in the mailbox. Chloe ran up the stairs and went into the room she shared with him, breathing a sigh of relief that he was awake.
“Hey, baby. I overslept.”
Chloe held out the envelope. “Meghan found this in with the mail.”
“What is it?”
“I didn’t want to read it without you. The printing is Brad’s.”
“What? What the fuck?” Gorgon snatched the envelope out of her hand. “Are you sure?”
“Positive.”
Gorgon read it, then let out a string of curse words that would make the devil himself blush.
“What does it say?”
He gave her a thoughtful glance before finally handing it over. “Don’t you worry, Chloe. We’ll take care of this fucker for good. I give you my word on that.”
Chloe, you sure looked sexy up there the other night dancing. But did you really think you could hide from me in a strip club? I’ll be seeing you soon. Can’t wait to pick up right where we left off. You are mine and always will be. I’ve come back for you, and this time you won’t get away.
She dropped it on the floor and backed away. Gorgon was off the bed in a second, folding her into his strong arms. “They’re just words, baby. He can’t touch you. We won’t let that happen.”
“What should we do?” Her body wouldn’t stop trembling. “Should we call the police?”
“They won’t do anything. We’ll let Donny know.”
“Can we move the mailbox off the side of the road so he has to come on the property to reach it?”
“He’s a spineless asshole, and we can’t move the mailbox, sweetheart. Government property and all that bullshit. Listen, he’s just fucking with you, Chloe. Don’t let him get inside your head.” Gorgon kissed her tenderly. “You’re safe here.” He cupped her face. “Do you hear me, baby? He will never come inside this club again. And if he comes onto the property at all, someone will know about it.”
She nodded. “Yes. Okay. You’re right.” But he’d already been inside the club once. Would they really be able to stop him if he tried to get in here again?
****
Chloe strapped on her dome and straddled the passenger seat on the back of Gorgon’s Harley, hoping they weren’t pushing their luck by going into town. It had been five days since Brad had stood inside the club, smirking at her while she took her bows after her first set, and two days since the note arrived.
Five days, and no one had actually seen him but her. Five days, and still no word from Donny or his men about why Brad was back in Ohio, or even if he was. Five days, and she had given up work because of her paranoia about glancing out over the crowd and seeing his face again. Five days, and she couldn’t help wondering if she had hallucinated him.
You didn’t hallucinate the note.
“You ready, Legs?”
She gave Gorgon a thumbs-up. He had enough to worry about, and he was out today because he was trying to make her happy. She didn’t want to spoil this day for either of them.
Next to them, Rai was still adjusting her dome and glancing around, as if unsure whether this was a good idea. But her trepidation was for different reasons. This was the first time she’d be out riding on open roads. And even though she was a passenger, she and Tannin had ridden with her and Gorgon on the trails behind the club only one time. But that had been slow and sheltered. This would be in traffic, with people around.
Chloe tapped Gorgon’s right shoulder, and he turned his head. “What is it?”
“Rai is worried. Look at her face.”
Gorgon nodded and turned off the ignition. He dismounted, waiting until Legs had the bike steady before walking toward Tannin’s bike. Tannin hadn’t yet turned on his ignition. “You okay?” Gorgon asked.
“Yeah,” said Tannin. “She’s just a bit nervous.”
“You’re gonna be fine, Rai. We’re not going very far. Legs and I will ride behind you two, okay?”
“Thanks. I appreciate that.”
“You’ve got your hand signals for Tannin down pat?”
“Yeah. I guess so.”
“We’re both experienced riders, and so is Legs. We won’t let anything happen to you.”
“Okay.”
“You ready now?”
Rai nodded, then cut her gaze toward Chloe. Chloe gave her a huge smile and two thumbs up. “You’re going to love this, Rai.” Now, if only she could convince herself everything would be fine.
Once they were each ready again, Tannin and Rai eased out onto State Route 113 and headed toward downtown Creek Ridge. It was a warm, sunny Sunday so there was a lot of traffic, and as they made their way into the town center, they were forced to move at a snail’s pace. The only difference between this ride and the trails was the people. Chloe thought they actually might have been riding faster on the trails.
They parked the bikes in front of a strip of stores, one of which was Creek Ridge Tattoos. Next door was the place where they had all their cuts made. Gorgon had confided to her this morning that Tannin had ordered a jacket and a vest for Rai, to mark her as his old lady. He was giving both to her tonight.
Gorgon had described which of Tannin’s colors would be on Rai’s cut, and the patch Tannin had designed himself to make the cut unique for her. Chloe smiled as she traced the patch on her own special cut that marked her as Gorgon’s old lady. He had designed it, too, and she wore it proudly.
“Why don’t you two take Rai in there with you?” asked Tannin. “I’ve got to check on something real quick.”
Chloe grabbed Rai’s arm before she could ask what he had to check on. “Come on. Maybe you’ll get some ink, too?”
“What? Me? No way. I’m too chicken.”
“It doesn’t hurt. Just stings a little.”
They opened the door, and Chloe breathed in the fresh scent of cleaning products. Rai wrinkled her nose. “Bleach?”
“Hey, it means it’s a clean shop.”
The owner, Jed Baerens, gave them a big smile and walked over, shaking Gorgon’s hand. “Hey, how ya doin? Who’s gettin’ inked today?”
“Legs has a very special one in mind.”
“Oh yeah? Come on over. Let’s talk about it.”
“Come with us, Rai,” said Chloe.
“I’m fine here.” She stared at the photographs of tattoos Jed had done, plastered all over the wall behind the counter.
“I don’t bite,” said Jed, winking at her.
“She’s Tannin’s old lady,” said Gorgon. “He went next door for a minute. Rai, meet Jed Baerens. He does all the ink for the Brothers and most of the women at the club.”
“Nice to meet you,” said Rai, shaking Jed’s hand.
“Haven’t seen you hangin’ round this bunch before.”
“She’s new, but Tannin got hit by the thunderbolt.”
Jed snapped his fingers. “That’s what you should get, then. A thunderbolt, right through a heart. Come on. Let me show you some designs.”
Chloe and Gorgon exchanged a smile. That was the exact image Tannin had ordered for Rai’s cut. “You should, Rai,” said Chloe. “It would be an awesome surprise for Tannin.”
She sighed, a very uncomfortable expression on her face. “I’m afraid of the needle.”
Chloe took off her left boot and lifted the bottom of her leggings, exposing the wrap-around wreath of tiny roses and thorns that Rai had seen before. “This took two hours for Jed to do, and I swear to you I practically fell asleep during it.”
“That’s true,” said Gorgon. “I was here with her.” He pulled the top of her t-shirt down to expose the butterfly on her left breast, just above the nipple. “Even this one didn’t hurt her. Took Jed about what…”
“About forty minutes,” he said, “only because insects take time to get right or they look like cartoon drawings. Rai, how are you with getting shots at the doctor?”
“Not usually a problem.”
“And, not to be nosy, but any experience with kinky stuff?”
Rai gave Chloe and Gorgon a droll look, and all three laughed.
“I’ll take that as a ‘yes’,” said Jed. “If you can handle that kind of discomfort or outright pain, you can handle this.”
“Look at designs with me,” said Chloe. “Just do that much for now.”
Even though Rai nodded and followed both Chloe and Jed to the room where he kept books filled with designs, she didn’t look convinced. Gorgon told Chloe he was going to go next door, and would be back before she was ready to get her newest ink done.
Jed got called over by one of his artists, and told the women to take their time browsing through the books. Chloe could barely contain her excitement for Rai. Being presented with her very own cut was a big deal. It hadn’t been that long since Gorgon had give Chloe both her vest and jacket.
“Hey, look at this one,” she said. “What do you think?”
Chloe peered over Rai’s shoulder at the stylized image of a thunderbolt, orange in the center with radiating red and purple waves surrounding it. It pierced a blood-red heart, from which tiny hearts dripped instead of blood.
“Wow. Rai, with your coloring, this is perfect. Where are you going to get it placed?”
“I don’t know. Where would you suggest?”
Chloe learned close. “Considering Tannin’s love of impact play, I’d get it put on your butt cheek.”
Her face colored slightly. “Um, my cheeks are currently covered with bruises in various stages of healing.”
“Jed has seen it all. He won’t think anything of it.”
“Okay … but is it safe to put a tat there?”
“As long as the skin’s not open, yes.”
She still didn’t look convinced. “Show me what you’re getting.”
Chloe reached into her vest and pulled out a piece of paper. “This. On my left hip.”
“Oh my God. It’s so you!” They both laughed. “It looks similar to the patch on your vest. Excuse me … your cut.”
“I know, right? That, and it also looks like the sign outside the club. That’s why I want it. Gorgon is over the moon happy about it.”
“I’ll bet he is.” Rai gave her a sideways glance. “Are you happy being his old lady?”
“Very. Why are you asking?” Concern shot through her. “You’re not regretting saying ‘yes’ to Tannin, are you?”
“No. Not at all. I love him like I’ve never loved anyone. I’m just hoping I fit in with the MC.”
“You do. But you’re sure about Tannin, right?”
“Oh God, yes. Absolutely.”
“I don’t mean to pry.” Chloe paged through a booklet filled with butterfly designs. She wanted another one on her right breast, but something different than the one on the left.
“You’re not prying.” She glanced over her shoulder, but the guys weren’t back yet. “May I tell you something?”
Chloe glanced up from the book, hoping this wasn’t something Rai would ask her to promise to keep from Gorgon. “Of course.”
“I’m uncomfortable with what Donny has done,” she whispered.
“You mean to Jennifer and Timmy?”
Her eyes widened. “You know about that?”
“Yes, of course I know. Rai, Gorgon told me everything. Listen, I know this is not what you’re used to, but nothing is going to happen to you. To any of us. We have Donny’s protection.”
“And now I work for him.”
“Exactly. See? He never would have offered you a job if he didn’t know you’re here to stay.”
“Or, maybe he asked me to keep me quiet?”
“But why wouldn’t you? If you betrayed him, you’d betray all of us.”
“I’d never do that.”
“So what are you afraid of? Because I understand you being afraid of Donny himself. He’s very intimidating. But what I’m saying is that he won’t hurt you. He won’t hurt any of us.”
“You thought he was going to force me to have sex with him.”
Heat rose up Chloe’s face and neck. “I need to stop listening to Tarot. I should have known that was a bullshit story.”
Rai glanced around, but no one was close enough to hear them. “It’s not that I’m afraid of him hurting me. It’s that what he did was criminal, but to him it’s simply business as usual.”
“Yeah. It is.” Chloe kept her voice low, but it was difficult not to right now because anger rose up in her, white-hot and intense. “So is what your ex-husband did to you. He took off with another woman and left you to pay off his debt. And so is what Brad did to me. He’s got arrest warrants in this state and he came back anyway, just to harass me!”
Rai nodded quickly. “Okay. Okay. I see your point.”
“Look, I really like you. So does Gorgon, now that he knows you’re in this for the long haul. And Tannin is head-over-heels crazy about you. But you have to decide if you’re okay with who and what we are, because agreeing to be Tannin’s old lady is as serious to him as if you’d walked down the aisle in a white dress. It’s that serious to all of us.”
“I know that, Chloe. I won’t hurt him. I swear to you. I’m very much in love with him.”
“I’m glad to hear that.” Her heart broke at the pain on Rai’s face, so Chloe gave her a quick hug. “It’s going to be all right.”
“I know. It’s just hard coming to terms with losing my company. I worked very hard for it.”
“I know you did. But now you can work hard here, for us.”
Finally, Rai smiled. “And I will.” She glanced down at the books. “All right. Help me decide on a design. I’m getting my first tattoo today.”
Although what Rai had just said sent relief and happiness flooding through Chloe, her words brought back a reality that Rai was possibly unaware of. Rai was still an outsider to some, only because she hadn’t been here as long as everyone else. Chloe had heard the talk. A few of the members and several women were resentful that Rai had shown up and stolen Tannin’s heart within a week.
But not Chloe. She understood Rai, and really liked her. Even Gorgon had warmed up to her. And what Chloe had told her about Tannin’s love was true. He adored Rai. And now Chloe knew without a doubt that Rai adored him, too.