“How do you feel about him?” Angel asked.
Shannon looked down, running her finger around the rim of her glass. “I…I’m really starting to like him. He takes care of me. Makes me feel safe and protected.”
“Besides that,” Angel pressed.
She shrugged. “He won’t take my crap. He calls me on it. No one has ever done that before. And he makes me laugh.”
“I think it’s sweet that he’s waiting,” Angel told Shannon. “Don’t you?”
“Yes. It’s sweet, but...”
“But what?”
“What if he breaks my heart?”
“What if he doesn’t?”
Shannon shrugged.
“Are you attracted to him?”
Shannon got a shy smile and blushed.
“You want to jump his bones,” Crystal observed with a grin.
“He’s making it difficult not to want him,” Shannon admitted.
“Hmm, maybe you need to make it just as difficult for him. Turn it up a little.”
“What do you mean?”
“I think this calls for a run to the mall for some major lingerie shopping,” Angel suggested.
“Oh, no…I don’t think I need to tempt the tiger anymore.”
“What about when he wins the fight?”
“What do you mean?”
“Do you have something special to wear? At least some sexy underwear for when he peels those clothes off? I mean, the boys gonna fight for you. He deserves for you to make it a little special, don’t you think?” Crystal asked.
“I guess that would be nice.”
Angel got up. “I’m going to go get some more queso. We’re going to finish this pitcher, then we’re heading to the mall.”
Crystal and Shannon watched her walk back inside.
While they had a moment alone Shannon thought it a good time to bring up what happened at the clubhouse party Friday night. “So, you and Wolf. Was Cole angry?”
“No, he was cool. I thought he was going to blame me for the trouble. I should have known better. Cole’s not like that. He was more concerned for me than anything else. I think he did have words with Wolf, though.”
“So, you and Wolf?”
“Yeah, me and Wolf.” Crystal looked down. “Please don’t tell Angel. I’ll never hear the end of it.”
“Of course not.” Shannon wasn’t sure what else to say, so she kept quiet.
Crystal continued in a soft voice, “Cole’s right. I can’t keep letting him use me like that.”
“Was that how it was? Is that all you think he was doing? Why would he be jealous if all he was doing was using you? Why would he care? Because obviously he does care...at least on some level.”
“Maybe we were using each other.”
“Maybe you were needing each other.”
Crystal shrugged. “Maybe.”
“I admit I don’t know these men very well, but…”
“What?”
“Wolf didn’t strike me as the type to purposely hurt you like that.”
“I know he’s not, I just wish he’d stop jerking me around like this. If I’m not what he really wants, then he should just leave me alone.”
“Then maybe Cole’s right. All or nothing. If it can’t be all, then it has to be nothing, because clearly friends with benefits is not working. For either of you.”
Crystal nodded, and then changed the subject, putting on a bright face. “So, tell me about this new guy, Shane.”
Shannon grinned. “Shane, hmm?”
Crystal shrugged, “Seems like he’s going to be sticking around.”
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Four nights later, Shannon was back at the clubhouse with Crash.
Cage fighting. She couldn’t believe she was here, about to watch this spectacle. She’d seen it once or twice on TV. Two men in a cage, beating the crap out of each other. Punching, kneeing, kicking, headlocks, it seemed like anything was allowed. Beyond that, she didn’t have a clue about it or how long it lasted. Did they just keep at each other until one was a bloody pulp? She didn’t know the rules, or even if there were rules.
When they arrived at the club, the parking lot was packed with bikes, rows and rows of chrome and steel glinting in the moonlight. Crash had told her that there would be guys coming in from the Dead Souls, the War Dogs and even some guys in town from several other Evil Dead chapters. Fight night apparently drew a crowd.
They were a little late in arriving. Crash snagged them each a bottle of beer from the bar, and then led her through the hall to the back warehouse where he’d shown her the cage. There was a crowd gathered around, cheering on the two competitors who were currently in the cage.
Crash worked his way around to where Cole, Red Dog, Green and Wolf stood. Angel, Crystal and Mary were also there, standing a few feet away, and Shannon greeted the girls, who were all glued to the fight, while Crash talked to Cole.
“What’s going on?” Crash asked, his eyes on the two men currently in the cage fighting.
“Cajun is fighting Jake,” Cole told him, standing with his arms folded, watching the fight.
“You got money on this fight?”
“Nah. You?”
“Nah.”
“Guess who’s up next,” Cole teased with a grin.
“Who?”
“Last minute change by Mack. Wolf and your boy, Shane.”
Wolf and Shane? “What the hell?”
Cole’s eyes went to Crash, and then back to the cage. “Mack suggested they work their problems out in the cage.”
“Shit. Thought that was through.”
“It was.” Cole looked over at Crash. “You know Mack. Always got a lesson to teach.”
Crash grunted.
“Our prospect did us proud. Beat the crap out of the Dead Souls prospect.”
“Good thing, too. I had fifty bucks on that fight. He lost, I’d have beat the crap out of him.”
Cole smirked. “You’d have had to get in line, brother.”
“I hear that.”
Red Dog jiggled his empty beer in the air, catching Mary’s eye.
“Sorry, I have to go. Herr Fuehrer needs a beer,” Mary said to the girls and stalked off.
“Baby, don’t be like that,” Red Dog called after her, but she’d already disappeared through the crowd.
Turning back to the cage, he grumbled, “Goddamn, I’m sick of being in the dog house.”
“Dog house. That’s funny,” Green chuckled.
“Ha, ha, ha. Shut the fuck up.” Red Dog turned back to other guys.
“What’re you in such a pissy mood for, Dog?” Wolf asked.
“Every time Mary gets pissed, she cuts me off.”
Wolf grinned. “Maybe you’re the only one lonely.”
“What’re you trying to say?”
“If one lawn service isn’t doing the job, you call another.”
“What the hell’s that supposed to mean?”
Wolf shrugged. “Maybe Mary put some more men on the job.”
Dog looked over at Cole. “Did he just insinuate my wife’s fucking around on me?”
Cole tried to hold back a grin. “Well, it was steeped in a hypothetical, but yeah.”
Dog turned back to Wolf. “Well, aren’t you just a little ray of sunshine?”
“I said, maybe,” Wolf clarified.
Red Dog snorted.
“But while we’re on the subject, cupcake, I’m thinkin’ she won’t have any trouble filling the position,” Wolf tormented him with a grin.
“Twist the knife, why don’t ya,” Dog grumbled.
“Don’t listen to him, Dog, he’s a hopeless alcoholic,” Green put in with a laugh.
Wolf leaned around Dog and slugged Green in the chest, right where he’d heard Green had gotten his nipple pierced earlier in the day. “Go get something pierced.”
Green clutched at his chest, doubled over and ambled off with a groaned, “Son-of-a-bitch.”
“Fuck, I
wish you hadn’t said anything,” Red Dog admitted, his head dropping.
Cole chuckled. “Ignorance is bliss for a reason, Dog.”
They watched the fight. Sometime during the third round, Shane made his way through the crowd to Crystal. Wolf watched him like a hawk from his place on the other side of Red Dog. He watched him dip his head to Crystal, and then heard him ask her, “I’m up next. Can I get a kiss for luck?”
Then he watched her pull his head down for a long, slow kiss. Shane moved off toward the other side of the cage, to the area reserved for fighters to get ready. Crystal turned and looked right at Wolf. She held his gaze a moment. As he watched, she put her little chin in the air and headed off in the direction of the hallway toward the front bar.
Wolf moved to follow her but felt a firm hand on his bicep, halting him. He turned back, and Cole got in his face, his eyes moving from Wolf to Crystal’s retreating back. “Told you once, brother, cut her loose.”
“I did.”
“Yeah, then let this slide. You fight him, and you leave that shit in the cage. You feel me, brother?”
Wolf nodded, pulled his arm free and moved through the crowd, following Crystal. He caught up with her in the long hallway. Wrapping a large strong arm around her waist, he halted her progress and backed her up against the wall. “Fifty bucks says I beat the crap out of your new boyfriend.”
“Yeah, and when you win I’ll make the check out to arrogant, selfish dickhead.”
Wolf clutched his chest and snapped back, sarcastically, “Ooww, right through the heart, babe.”
Mack came through the back door and down the hall. Taking in the scene between Wolf and Crystal, he let out a frustrated breath. “Just so I know, who am I supposed to be mad at?”
They both answered simultaneously.
“Him!”
“Her!”
Mack looked between them and shook his head. Then he turned to Wolf and growled, “Don’t you have a fight to get ready for?”
“Right,” Wolf snapped, and with a final glare at Crystal, he stalked off.
When he was gone, Mack turned to her. “You okay, darlin’?”
She nodded, her eyes still on the door that Wolf had disappeared through.
“You and him, that’s done,” Mack ordered.
“I know,” she whispered, her eyes still on the door.
“I’m serious as a heart attack, babe.” He watched her eyes move to his. He saw the sadness there as she nodded. Mack reached out a hand and brushed the side of her head tenderly. Then he curled his arm around her neck and turned her toward the door that led to the bar. “Come on, sweetheart. I’ll buy you a beer.”
A little while later, they were all gathered around the cage as Shane fought Wolf.
Cole leaned close to Crash’s ear and yelled to be heard over the crowd. “Jake knocking out Cajun bodes well for his future in the club. Guys are already lining up to sponsor him.”
Crash nodded. “Jake and Shane will make good prospects.”
“Word is you’re up next. Green’s chompin’ at the bit.” He nodded across the room to where Green already had his gloves on and was shadow boxing the air, his powerful shoulder muscles already showing a sheen of sweat.
Shannon heard Cole’s words, and her eyes moved over Green. She wasn’t particularly fond of the man, but she had to admit, he was built like a brick house. She swallowed, beginning to worry about Crash. Not that she didn’t think he could hold his own, but as her eyes moved to the two men currently pounding on each other, this was all becoming very real. Someone could get hurt. Seriously hurt. God, she didn’t want Crash to get hurt.
She broke her eyes from the savageness of the spectacle taking place in the cage, and her eyes traveled across the crowd gathered around the cage. She spotted Mack and another man who was wearing a cut with a different patch on the back. It wasn’t Evil Dead. His patch said Dead Souls. And then she remembered, that had been where they’d taken her after pulling her from the back of that van years ago. They’d stopped at the Dead Souls clubhouse. Some ramshackle place out in the mountains somewhere.
Angel stood to her left with Mary, and Crystal had moved to her right. Poking Angel in the side, she nodded towards the man. “He looks familiar.”
Angel followed her eyes, and then replied, “That’s Wyatt, President of the Dead Souls.”
Shannon nodded.
Angel and Mary both became engrossed in the fight, whistling and cheering for Wolf. Shannon’s eyes moved to a pretty blonde hanging on the side of the elevated cage. Misty.
“Come on Shane!” Shannon turned to see Jake cheering his buddy on.
“Get him, Wolf!” Misty shouted.
“Wolf’s back with Misty?” Shannon asked Crystal, eyeing the girl standing near the cage, cheering Wolf on.
“Yup.”
“He ever do that before? Go back to one of them?”
“Nope.”
Shannon’s eyes ran over Crystal’s face, noting the way her chin was tilted up. “He’s making a statement, then. I’m guessing this is about you.”
“Yup.”
Shannon grinned and looked back at the cage. “So, my question is, who’re you pulling for?”
Crystal gave her a grin. “I’m kind of hoping Shane wipes the floor with him.”
Shannon let out a chuckle, shaking her head. “You are so bad.”
“Hey, why should I be the only one hurting?”
Shannon put her arm around Crystal, giving her a squeeze. “I’d say you are so full of shit, but I’m not sure you’re joking.”
“What about you? You’ve got something on the line for the next fight coming up.”
Shannon gave her a shy grin and mimicked Crystal’s accent back at her. “Yup.”
Crystal shoved her away, laughing. “Bitch.”
Shannon teased Crystal, eyeing both Wolf and Shane, “Umm, hmm, hmm. Nothing like a gorgeous ripped hunk of man all sweaty and powerful, and showing off all those muscles.”
“You said it, sista. Fight night, gotta love it. A bunch of men beating the shit out of each other, and a bunch of women getting off on it.”
“Especially if one of the guys in the cage is beating the shit out of someone for you.” Shannon gave Crystal a knowing look.
“Umm Hmm.”
Angel let out an ear piercing whistle, really getting into it.
Laughing and covering her ears, Shannon turned to her. “Damn, girl, you could blow out an eardrum with that whistle.”
“Sorry. I get excited.”
“Do you come to all these fights?”
“No, but I wouldn’t miss this one for the world.”
“Why is that?”
“Because Crash is fighting tonight. For you.”
“He’s not fighting for me.”
“No, but you are the prize,” Crystal put in from her other side.
“Oh, God. I never should have told you that. Does everyone know?”
“I don’t think so. Not from me,” Crystal replied.
“What about you?” Shannon asked Angel.
“Umm.”
Shannon’s eyes narrowed. “Who did you tell?”
“I might have mentioned it to Cole.”
“Angel!”
“What? I’m sure he didn’t say anything.”
“Right. That’s just why they’re all staring over here.” She nodded toward some of the MC that was standing off to the left.
Crystal looked Shannon up and down, taking in her sparkling silver sequined tank top and jeans, and she grinned. “Yeah, that’s got nothing to do with how you look. Right.”
Shannon rolled her eyes.
They watched three five-minute rounds with one minute of rest in between. Rusty was playing referee, an actual whistle around his neck and everything. Shannon looked over noting they had a red digital time clock that counted down each three minute round. “They take these things seriously, huh?” she asked Angel.
“Oh, yeah. They have some b
ig money down on these fights.”
“Really?”
“They drew names a couple of days ago to see who would fight who. Then there’s time for the bets to be placed.”
“How often do they have these fights?”
“Once a month, maybe.”
The clock counted down the last thirty seconds of the final round as Wolf and Shane circled each other. They were closely matched. Shane was younger and quicker, but Wolf was more skilled and stronger. Shannon wasn’t sure who she wanted to win. She just hoped neither was hurt too badly. As the time wound down, the level of crowd noise rose.
Wolf had Shane pinned against the cage, wrestling to get a hold and bring him to the mat. Shane was evading and finally was able to push Wolf back and move from the cage to the center. Wolf was immediately after him and before he saw it coming, nailed him with a spinning kick to the head that brought him to the mat.
Shane lay there, out cold.
Rusty grabbed Wolf’s wrist and yanked his arm in the air, declaring the winner.
The crowd roared.
Shannon looked toward Shane’s unmoving body, hoping he was okay. As she watched he began to move, and then pulled himself to his feet. He and Wolf embraced, pounding each other’s back. When they broke apart, Wolf turned, not toward Misty, but toward Crystal, his eyes connecting with hers. Shannon looked from Wolf to Crystal. They were so not done with each other. Then Crystal spun and pushed through the crowd, disappearing.
On her left, Angel cheered on Wolf, whistling and clapping, totally unaware of the subtext of what had just happened.
Crash moved up behind Shannon. He put an arm around her shoulders and pulled her to him, murmuring, “She’ll be fine.”
A few minutes later, Rusty yelled from the center of the cage, “Crash. Green. You’re up in fifteen minutes.”
Crash’s arm dropped from around Shannon.
Cole offered, “Come on, brother. I’ll help you with your hand wraps and gloves.”
Crash looked down at Shannon, his hands catching both of hers. “Can I get a kiss for luck?”
She looked up at him and swallowed. “If you promise not to get hurt.”
He chuckled. “Oh, I guarantee he’s gonna try and hurt me, babe. You gonna kiss it and make it better later?”
She felt his thumbs brushing over the tops of her hands. Her eyes moved over his grinning face and somehow, like it always did, his teasing humor calmed her fears.
CRASH: An Evil Dead MC Story (The Outlaw Series) Page 29