"I've been thinking about Rebel Circus, and ... I think it could use some help. Of an artistic nature."
Jayce nodded, eyes flicking to Tank again before nodding. "Okay."
Rose shot Tank an annoyed look, but he wasn't moving. She'd have to deal if it got her in a twist that Jayce had the urge to check in with Tank each time she said something. "I noticed that night I was there with my friends how the show looked from the audience. And I think it needs someone to oversee the dancers and their routines." She took a deep breath. "And they need to properly learn how to work the pole. It's better that they put on a good show without cracking their heads open."
"Would you teach them?"
Now she looked a little surprised. "Umm, well ..."
"Not to get your man all worked up or anything, but it's no secret you're the only one that stayed here any length of time that knew how to not only dance but actually make a show of it." Jayce smiled. "And I'm risking a punch to the head just saying that."
Tank shook his head, and now Rose smiled at him, her posture relaxing a bit. "I'd like to teach them. And I'd like to really make use of the venue better. But it would require some renovations. I think if we really try to make it a destination for more residents than we have at the moment, we could be pretty busy every night, not just Friday and Saturday. For example, one of the clubs I worked at in Chicago had theme nights on Thursdays. Toga nights, a Halloween freak show that was a lot of fun, and with a name like Rebel Circus, I think a lot of these things would really work in."
Jayce nodded, giving her a smile of respect. "I like that thought. I know Coco's been swamped lately running the place. It takes all her time with administration and paperwork. The artistic side of things really took a backseat, you're right." Now he swallowed hard. Tank knew these were the kinds of ideas Trinny would have had. "Go for it. You're acting artistic director or whatever the fuck it's called. I'll get Coco to add you to the books as a manager. If you want to renovate, pick a slow couple of weeks and start getting it all ready, if you have time."
Rose nodded. "Of course I have time. I'm not doing anything else."
"We're not hurting to cover the costs, but take Coco to the bank to get a loan for renovations. We'll be able to cover payments, but it's best to look legitimate. Paperwork always helps with that."
Rose nodded, smile broadening to its usual mile-wide state. "Okay. Thanks, Jayce."
Jayce squeezed her elbow and kissed her cheek. "Thank you, Rose."
"We'll keep the place running until she's back," Rose assured him.
Jayce now turned his smile to Tank. "She's good at this."
Tank nodded, saying slowly and stilted, "I know she is."
"Keep her around. Don't fuck it up."
Then Jayce was gone and Rose was hugging him so quickly it took him a moment to wrap her up in his arms. "I didn't need you at my back, Cowboy."
"Obviously."
"But thank you."
He grinned, then looked down at her. "Excited?"
She nodded. "Ever since we started talking about this, I'm getting so many ideas ..." She stopped and tightened her grip on his shoulders. "You think Gertie would help? I want murals done."
One eyebrow went up. "Murals?"
She nodded. "Rebel Circus needs placards on the walls for its dancers. Like our own side show but instead of the Bearded Lady we got the Big Breasted Beauty or whatever."
Tank burst out laughing but kissed her at the same time. "You're going to be good at this."
She waited patiently while he said it, then put her hand to his cheek. "I hope so."
Tank turned his face to kiss her palm, then held both her hands in his. "We need to go go get a few groceries for the clubhouse. "
"How come?"
"Run tonight. With so many gone, Jayce wants the women sequestered here."
Rose's eyes looked troubled but she nodded anyway. "Okay."
"You can talk Circus ideas with Gertie," he pointed out.
"Always trying to bribe me."
"You don't take much bribing, English."
Chapter Forty-Three
"I mean, when a headliner leaves you'd have to repaint the mural, but I think it makes it look like we're always staying current." Rose leaned back into the sofa. "I just feel bad asking you to do all this. You're going to be so busy."
Gertie chuckled and rubbed her stomach, nowhere near showing her "delicate state" through her clothes yet. But she'd assured Rose her stomach was growing, and it was so weird to have it hard as opposed to soft. She'd joked that this was the firmest her stomach had ever been. "Are you kidding?" the redhead laughed. "Brady has me cut to half-days at the shop already. And all I do is sit at the desk there. Buck won't let me do anything at home. He's got one of the girls coming in to clean once a week. It's making me nuts."
Rose smiled. "If I were you, I'd enjoy the pampering."
Gertie shrugged. "It's not so bad, I guess. But it will give me time to work out some sketches." She leaned back with Rose. "I think it could be fun. It could be like a circus tent, but a classy one. Like, deep ruby-red striped wallpaper. Rough wood furniture like it was thrown together with salvaged pieces."
Rose nodded. "I'm with you. I'm wondering if we could get swings in there. Like, girls that just swing over the audience all night."
Gertie's eyes got wide. "That would be so cool!"
"I mean, I've worked in clubs where girls were just in cages dancing overhead. But acrobatics would be awesome. Beyond my level of expertise, for sure. And I wonder what an insurance company would think of that."
Gertie giggled, then in an official voice carried on. "You are not covered in the event a dancer falls off a swing and injures a customer."
"Imagine the worker's compensation forms."
They were both cackling, but Rose really wanted to do it. Plus, the sparkly outfits that would require? It had to happen.
"I think we could even draw people from Bakersfield if we went this extravagant."
Rose nodded. "Absolutely. I know guys just want shaking boobs and ass, but every now and then they want a little variety."
Gertie's smile slipped at that, hands on her stomach again. She looked down, silent, and Rose wondered if she'd miss-stepped. "Gertie? What's wrong?"
She shook her head. "Nothing. Sorry. I'm ... I think it's the hormones. I'm starting to have mood swings."
"Sorry. I didn't mean to bring anything up—"
"No, it's not that. It's just ... I'm going to get fat. I'll be big as a house, and I'm worried. About Buck."
Rose frowned, turning half towards the woman. "Worried about him how?"
"He'll think I'm disgusting."
Rose had seen the way the man looked at his old lady. There was no way in hell that was happening, but trying to just tell her that wouldn't do anything. Not if she was really in a funk this bad.
"Jolene told me how things used to work in the club, back when Jayce's dad ran things. For all I know, it still works the same way."
"Gertie, what are you talking about?"
"They used to fuck around on their old ladies on the road. It was always understood that on the road anything went, and their women weren't allowed to even ask." Gertie shrugged. "I don't think Buck has since we got together. No, I know he hasn't. But if I'm all big and gross and tired all the time ... why wouldn't he? I mean, you know what he looks like. He's gorgeous. Even when I'm standing with him, women are eyeing him up like he's available."
Rose didn't mean to, but a laugh burst out anyway. It surprised the both of them, and she covered her mouth, eyes wide. "I'm sorry."
"I don't see what's so funny about that."
"It's not you, Gertie. Just ... you being worried about him cheating on you just struck me as ... absurd."
Gertie's hands tightened on her belly. "What?"
Rose sat forward. "You only see women looking at him, but I can see the both of you together and you're so fucking perfect it's actually ridiculous."
"What are you talking about?"
"Gertie, you're so pretty. You really can't see that?"
The woman's hazel eyes were stunned. "I am?"
Rose put her hand on her shoulder. "Gertie, the two of you look like you're made for each other. As handsome as Buck is, you're just as beautiful. And while these women are eating him up with their eyes, his are only on you. Takes two to cheat, Gertie. I think your man can control himself. And when he told everyone you were pregnant? He wants this baby so badly."
Gertie looked sheepish. "I didn't want to like you as much as I do."
Rose took her hand away, honestly taken aback. "What?"
Gertie's look was all apology. "Rose, you are so gorgeous and tall and thin and you were a stripper, which means you're insanely confident and all the more sexy because of it ..." she shook her head, her red hair falling over her shoulder. "I think I was jealous. Jolene, too. We were saying how intimidating you were." Then she sighed. "But you're nice. And genuine. And caring. So you have absolutely no faults. That makes it hard."
Rose did burst out laughing at that, and Gertie broke into a smile.
"Jesus, we can be so stupid. Can't we?" Rose muttered.
Gertie nodded. "Idiotic. But at least we can admit it."
"And for the record, I have a lot of faults. From time to time I had the tendency to run away before anyone could really care about me. Plus there are the acid burns."
Gertie gave a sad smile. "I can't say the burns make you any less attractive. It's almost like a birth mark, really. I doubt anyone meeting you for the first time would even really wonder about them. As far as the running away ... everyone has something I suppose. But I think our big teddy bear likely has you tied to Markham now?"
Rose's grin broadened. "Yeah, he has."
"I like the way you light up when you think of him. Tank's one of those guys that made me feel so comfortable. Just by being him."
Rose nodded, catching sight of her man across the room talking to the other club member, Richey.
"You worked with Trinny, right?"
Rose nodded, attention coming back to Gertie. "Yeah. One of the best bosses I've ever had."
Gertie bit her lip, hands roaming over her tummy again. "I really wish she'd come back. She's raised kids in this. And ... I really want another mother to talk to about all this. My mom's dead."
Rose was surprised. She didn't know that. "Really?"
Gertie nodded. "I have a sister-in-law that had kids, but I'm not quite at the stage where I want to talk to them about something so personal. And they've only had limited contact with Buck. It didn't go so well."
Rose had no idea what to say to that. All her life it had really been her and her mom, and even with the ocean between them it still felt that way. "I guess I would have my mom to talk to," Rose mused out loud. "Didn't realize how lucky I am."
Gertie's head snapped around. "You're thinking about kids?"
"Well, in that theoretical way, yes. I guess. It would be nice. I think he'd be a great father."
Gertie's smile went supernova. "You have to. The two of you have to have kids. Tank is the best with little kids. I can't imagine how awesome he'd be with his own."
Rose gave a laugh at that. "I'm the slightly hesitant one, I guess. I haven't had any real urge to have children until the moment we found about you and Buck. I'd really rely on him to know what the fuck to do."
"It'd be nice to have another mom around."
They fell into quiet while Tank and Richey crossed the room to the doors. Before they left, Tank blew her a kiss and she mimed catching it, holding it to her heart. Then they stepped out into the fading daylight.
"It's so cold at night," Gertie mumbled. "It’s like winter and spring switched places on us this year."
Rose nodded. "I know." Then she went back to their previous conversation. "Jolene and Mickey never had kids?"
Gertie bit her lip. "Not my business to share, really. But she'd tell you anyway. They can't have kids, I'm not sure why. They've been together for a really long time, and it never seemed to matter to them. Which is too bad. Mickey likes kids too. Jolene kind of avoids them somewhat. I think she'd really like them but she doesn't want to let herself dream, I guess."
"And they couldn't adopt?" The second it was out of her mouth she realized how dumb it was.
"Mickey has a record and he's known as being in an MC," Gertie pointed out, unnecessarily. "I don't think that's in their cards."
Not for the first time in the last little while, Rose reflected on the life she’d decided not to carry to term. Stories like Jolene's were the only thing that made her feel the flicker of regret.
"You want to know one of my faults?" Rose asked, careful and uncertain.
"Sure. Might make me feel better."
"I had an abortion when I was twenty-two. He was a married man, owned the club I was working in. He paid for it. Paid for my boobs, too. But once that was over, he was done with me. I really thought he was going to leave his wife."
Gertie exhaled slowly. "I'm sorry you had to make that choice."
As far as reactions went, it was a really good way to state it. It indicated she took the subject seriously, but also showed she wasn't in a state to condemn for it. In Rose's experience the only woman who had a right to an opinion on it was another woman who'd had the same decision to make, and they were also the last ones to pass judgment.
"Jolene will hate me for that."
Gertie looked startled. "I doubt that."
"They can't have kids," Rose pointed out gently. "And I got rid of one."
Gertie shrugged. "Well, you don't have to tell her. And really, it's not her business. Or her right to be angry. If you don't want to tell her, don't. It's not my secret to tell. That's incredibly personal." Gertie reached out and squeezed her hand. "But thank you for telling me. I'm always so honored when people trust me enough to tell me things about themselves."
Rose leaned over and gave her a hug. "I see you as a friend, Gertie. I only have a few, and I don't think any of them are nearly as trustworthy as you are."
Chapter Forty-Four
The fading light cut across the tall fence surrounding the compound. Richey and Tank settled on the picnic table, feet on the bench, while Richey lit a smoke and Tank opted for a cigar. If he wasn't riding he may as well enjoy a little luxury.
They passed time talking of nothing in particular. Tank realized he knew very little about Richey, other than the fact that Mickey had sponsored him after the kid had caught someone breaking into his shop to steal car parts. The kid had laid a careful licking on the fucker and kept him tied up until Mickey could get there and deal with him himself.
It was impressive since the kid had been eighteen at the time, and the would-be thief had to have been at least thirty-five, with about seventy pounds on him.
Tough little shit; that was Richey.
They were disputing the body styles of the Sportster versus a good old Fat Boy when the rumble of a bike brought them up short. Tank got to his feet, crushing out the cigar on the table top and putting it back in his kutte pocket. Richey ground out his Marlboro under his boot heel and shot Tank a look, reaching into his waistband.
Tank nodded, reaching for his own Ruger and bringing it up to the ready. No need to freak out the women yet. The bike was enough to bring Rusty and Tims. Tank told Tims to head back inside and watch the door, but not to alarm Gertie, Jolene and Rose.
The gates to the compound were open just enough to admit a bike, and when only one rolled through and killed the engine Tank was alarmed. The bike noise stopped which had to mean this guy was alone.
"Shut the gates," Tank told Richey. He didn't want to leave the barn door open if more were on their way, waiting around the corner.
Richey nodded, circling the biker with a wide radius as the man dropped his kickstand and swung a leg over to dismount. Richey kept one eye on him, gun pointed downward, then rolled the gate closed and engaged the catch that would keep it that
way.
The rider was looking at Tank as he pulled off his lid. Now Tank was really thrown, as he found himself staring at Bark, the Fed. The Mad Gypsys' rat.
His guard didn't drop. Richey stayed behind the man and to the side as Tank strode forward, Ruger at his thigh in a deceptively casual way. "Bark," he greeted the man, letting his surprise show. "What the fuck?" No matter how hard talking was, swearing came off like greased goose shit.
Bark stowed his helmet away, and that was when Tank noticed his split lip and black eye. There'd been a brawl. Some more trouble in the Gypsys' camp.
"Jayce on the Sachetti run?"
Now Tank hid the surprise, but he shouldn't have even felt the tickle of any kind of shock. "Yeah." No point in lying. "Are they in trouble?"
Bark shook his head. "No. Thor wouldn't try to interfere in Sachetti business. More trouble than he needs right now."
"So what brings you here?" He wished like hell it didn't sound like he was drunk when he spoke, but it didn't seem to register with Bark. Or maybe he knew all the details of Tank's injuries. The guy always seemed to know way too much.
"You got the families on lockdown?"
Richey shifted his feet, but Bark kept his eyes on Tank. "Yeah."
"If they're in the clubhouse, I'd recommend moving them."
"Why?" One-syllable words always sounded normal.
"The Gypsys want a little eye-for-an-eye."
"We didn't kill anyone's wives," Richey snapped. "How is that threat an eye-for-an-eye."
Tank raised his hand to quiet him, and he was starting to see the power of a guy that didn’t talk too much. Richey shut up and Bark's attention stayed on the VP. "How many?"
"Half the club are on their way. I had a bit of a falling out with Thor. I'm not out of the club but he took my kutte. I'm on probation."
"You had plans," Tank stammered out, refusing to get flustered.
"I think my plans are fucked. I didn't know about the attempt on your life, so they're cutting me out of their shit. If I had to guess, it would be because Gertie escaped on my watch. They're suspicious on that, plus you have easily made three of her attackers disappear. I think I'm under suspicion."
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