Chapter 25

Molly

“Ladies.” Zoe and I both turn toward Virus. He’s in the front seat of the SUV driven by Professor, and not even the club member’s scowling face can ruin our mood. “These are the cards to your rooms.”

Kai reaches over the seat and grabs one of the cards.

“Sorry,” Virus says and yanks the card back out of Kai’s hand and offers him a different one. “This one is yours.”

“No big deal,” Kai says, frowning at the newest MC member. “We would’ve figured it out when that card wouldn’t open my door.”

“That’s the thing,” Virus says as he hands us our appropriate cards. “Ladies, your cards open every door in the clubhouse. Others, including you Kai, have limited access.”

Kai shrugs as if he never expected, or even wanted, access to any room other than his and Professors’, but I have thoughts galore swirling through my head. Access to every door could be a very good thing for me.

“Every door?” Zoe questions.

I’d fucking pinch her if Virus wasn’t still looking back at us.

“Under Lynch’s orders,” Virus confirms before turning back around.

“Why are you wearing pants?” I ask Zoe, returning to the conversation we were having before the interruption.

“Because going naked seemed a little crazy.” She looks at me like I’ve lost my mind.

“We agreed to wear short skirts and tank tops.”

“I’m not risking Lynch finding out that I went out in public with my ass hanging out.”

“You do it at the clubhouse,” I counter. Hell, she’s been known to let a lot more than that hang out on occasion.

“I do a lot of things at the clubhouse that I would never risk in the outside world.”

She’s got a point, but it doesn’t make me feel any less out of place in my tiny blue jean skirt. She’s talking about her ass hanging out, but my skirt is so damn short, if I bend over, more than my ass would be visible.

“The parking lot is empty,” I complain when Professor pulls up outside a dingy bar. “And this isn’t a damn club.”

“I told the manager to play the music extra loud,” Professor says as he places the SUV in park. “It’ll be exactly the same thing.”

“Professor gets tetchy in crowds,” Kai whispers. “It’s better this way.”

“There isn’t anyone here,” I grumble. “Tonight is going to suck.”

“After a few drinks, you won’t even notice,” Virus says with a quick grin before climbing out.

Professor must have been serious about speaking with the manager because the bass of the music can be heard from the parking lot as we walk up to the tinted front doors of the bar.

“Hey!” Legs shouts as soon as we walk through the door. She’s holding a drink over her head like tonight is going to be the best night of her life.

“She got an early start.” Kai’s minty breath floats over my cheek, and I have a sudden urge for a mojito or twelve.

Beelining to the bar, I belly up and wait for the bartender to notice me.

“What can I get you?”

“Mojito, double rum, please.”

After placing my order, I turn and watch the small crowd of people. I don’t know where they parked, but everyone who’d normally be at the clubhouse on a Friday night is here. Even the hangarounds that I’ve seen on several occasions are gathered in small groups with drinks in their hands and shaking hips.

“Did you order already?” Zoe walks up to me and rests her forearms on the bar.

“This is the clubhouse.”

“What?” She leans in closer, cupping her ear so she can hear better over the blasting music.

“This is exactly like the damn clubhouse. Same people. Hell, they’re playing the same damn songs.” I can only listen to Cherry Pie so many times in my life, and my dad played shit like this over and over. He was always so damn coked-out all the time, I’m not sure he even remembered it. He acted like it was the first time each and every time it came on the radio.

A roar washes over the crowd just as the bartender is handing over my drink and asking Zoe for her order. The doors open and Boston, TJ, and Ronan enter like they’re the life of the damn party. Keeping my eyes trained on the door, I wait for it to open again, but Briar and Lynch never cross the threshold.

“Sister,” TJ says as he walks up and places a kiss on my temple before leaning close to Zoe to do the same thing. “Sister-in-law.”

Zoe, still not completely comfortable around TJ, takes a step back. “Where’s Lynch?”

I could kiss her for asking what I wanted to, more specifically where my brother’s best friend is rather than the club president.

“He and Briar are still in Detroit. Won’t be home for a couple more days.” TJ holds a finger up to signal the bartender, who, enamored by the look in his eyes, abandons Zoe’s drink order to take his.

“I hope you don’t plan on sticking around up here,” Zoe complains with her eyes still on her half-completed Long Island Iced Tea. “Service is shit for us when you bring out that smile.”

The backhanded compliment makes his lips turn up even higher.

“You said this was invite-only.” We all turn to see Legs standing near with her arms crossed over her chest. This poor girl. She isn’t going to last much longer if she doesn’t reel in this little jealousy streak of hers.

“It is.” TJ turns to face the crowd.

“Who is that?” Legs’s long slender arm points in the direction of the dance floor where a very pretty blonde girl is dancing all alone.

“How should I know?” TJ asks, but once his eyes are on her, he doesn’t bother to look back at Legs.

“I’ll tell her to leave.” TJ grabs her arm before she can even take a step.

“You’ll leave her alone.” The warning in TJ’s voice makes my own skin crawl.

“Okay.” Legs shrugs and runs her hand down his chest until she’s cupping his junk in her hand.

He doesn’t even acknowledge her because his eyes are back on the gyrating girl on the dance floor. Distracted, he doesn’t push her away either when he crosses the room to settle on a bench with her plastered to his side.

“She’s gonna be trouble.”

Tossing back my drink so fast my teeth hurt from the cold, I look over at Kai.

“It happens,” I mutter, flagging down the bartender for another drink.

“I imagine,” Kai agrees. “Can’t get this many good-looking guys around without a catfight or two.”

“Just a minute,” the bartender says as she stops to get Boston a drink before making her way to me.

“This bitch is helping all of the guys before us,” Kai whispers now that Cherry has finished sharing her Pie with everyone and the song is transitioning to a new one.

“Not for long,” I assure him as the smiling bartender tucks a twenty-dollar bill into her cleavage.

“What can I get you, doll?”

“It’s Princess,” I correct. Her eyes widen when I hitch my thumb in my friend’s direction. “Do you know who she is?”

“I’m Zoe,” my friend responds prematurely, holding her hand out for the bartender to shake, “It’s nice to me—”

Calmly, I lower Zoe’s hand before the bartender can shake it, but realization marks the woman’s entire face.

“Do you see the error in your way?”

“Meow,” Kai hisses with sassiness only he can get away with in a situation like this.

“I get that you feel the need to serve the guys first. They’re big bad bikers and set this whole thing up, but she is the most important person in here. If you can’t handle the traffic at the bar, you need to call in some extra help.” She swallows thickly, and I know I’m being a complete jerk, but this whole night was my idea, and I’ll be damned if I’m going to wait to be served.

A hand shoots over her head, and within seconds she has another woman standing behind her. “W-would you like for Tiff to serve you all night?”

“So you can keep sticking your tits in everyone’s faces? No, honey. We’ll stick with you. I’ll take another mojito.”

She leaves to make my drink as Tiff walks further down the bar to help someone else.

“This is why we don’t let you out in public very often.”

Zoe chuckles as I look over my shoulder at Pete. “Me? I don’t think I’ve seen you away from the damn gate since I was twelve.” He cringes once again, likely remembering Lynch making him go to town to purchase one of every feminine product in the store when I got my first period.

“Sneaky shit you pulled the other night. I could go without getting punished. If you’d take that into consideration the next time you gals try to pull another fast one, I’d be grateful.”

Cringing, I scrunch my nose. “Did Professor hurt you? I really didn’t think you’d get in trouble.”

“It was pretty fucking brutal.”

Zoe gasps, reaching out for him in shame.

“Brutal?” Kai pish-shaws with a whip of his hand. “He made you watch Carrie twice. Doesn’t really count as torture.”

“That shower scene.” Pete makes a gagging noise, and it wouldn’t be funny, but I’ve had a strong drink, and his eyes are legitimately watering with the throat action. “Jesus, I need a drink.”

We turn back to the bar just in time for the bartender to pass across my second drink.

“Pete here, would like a Bloody Mary,” I quip.

The bartender watches Pete’s back as he rushes away in the direction of the bathroom.

“Wow,” Zoe says with a hard laugh. “It’s really that bad?”

“He threw up like ten times during the movie. He was so dehydrated by the time it was over, I think getting his face beat in would’ve been his choice.”

“That’s awful.” Genuine sadness washes over Zoe’s face. “What if Lynch was home? He would’ve hurt him.”

Shaking my head, I place my hand on her forearm. “Lynch would’ve torn your ass up for being sneaky. I mean, if we had gotten hurt, Pete would be hanging in the yard, but we only got tattoos, which means your ass spanking is still coming.”

“Speaking of—” Zoe’s eyes light up at the mention of punishment from Lynch as she looks past me at Kai. “How did it go with the Professor?”

“Awful.” His arms cross over his chest as he sticks his lower lip out.

“Getting whipped not so much fun this time around?”

“I wish. He’s doing the whole orgasm denial thing.” His eyes roll. “It’s worse than it’s ever been.”

“So you just fuck someone else in the meantime.”

We all turn to see the blonde TJ was infatuated with join us near the bar.

“This girl has the right idea.” Kai laughs, but I’ve seen how he is with his man. He’s not going to compromise his relationship with Professor.

“I’m Kaci,” she says with a quick wave like she’s a cheerleader sent to get us motivated. “I see you guys have a designated bartender. Can I be your best friend for the night and hang out, so I don’t sober up between drinks?”

“Aren’t you here for one of the guys?” Zoe asks.

“I don’t know anyone here. I got an invitation in the mail. I’m here for free drinks and dancing.” She wiggles her hips for emphasis.

Her green eyes are absolutely gorgeous, even though they’re a little foggy already. I wonder how many drinks she’s had.

“A little unsafe to be here alone, don’t you think?” Kai asks with clear concern in his voice. “It’s like walking into a lion’s den with a steak tied around your neck.”

“The danger is what makes it so fun.”

Kaci and Kai start talking like they’re old friends, and as I look out across the bar, I see TJ with his eyes still drilling a hole in the back of her head. I hope she’s careful because that lion has claws and likes to draw his own blood from pretty little things like her.