by Rachel Cade
His cooing mixed with her sniffles.
Setting the box over her knees, she felt the stinging in her eyes of coming tears.
Her fingertips grazed over the edge of the charm before they covered her mouth.
“Look, Max.” She wiped her eyes, lifting the box to show her son. “Isn’t it beautiful?
Lyndie was trying on the necklace when a hard knock hit her front door.
Lyndie looked in the direction with annoyance. It sounded like a man’s knock, and she wasn’t in the mood for salesmen.
“Surprise. Happy birthday!” Lyndie’s brows rose when she saw not only Peggy in a bright green dress, but her daughter Victoria, who she hadn’t laid eyes on in years.
They were holding balloons and cupcakes.
“The cupcakes are for you two to take on the road,” Peggy added quickly.
“What?”
“Lyndie, you spent your birthday home last year.”
“I was pregnant,” Lyndie said, eyeing the woman with half a smile.
“And you didn’t have to drink,” Peggy remarked. “But tonight, you better.”
“I came by to visit Mom,” Victoria cut in, “and we were coming to see you anyway. But when she reminded me of your birthday, it turned into a mission.”
Lyndie’s eyes cut between the both of them. “Shit.”
They weren’t going to take no for an answer, so it looked like Netflix with Max was going to have to get put off.
She found a t-shirt and a pair of white capris to wear.
“You have a good time.” Peggy held Max on her hip and Lyndie leaned forward to kiss her munchkin.
“I’ll take care of her, Mom. I know Lyndie’s a party virgin.”
Lyndie’s head whipped to her. “A party what?”
“Where are we going, Vic?” She followed the girl in her hot pink sundress outside.
Victoria’s Escalade shined pink in the Nevada sun. The huge silver rims that were almost as big as the wheels.
“Are you a rapper?” Lyndie asked.
“Ha! Move your ass.” She grabbed her hand before rushing them off the steps.
“Lyndie, you need to change out of that.”
“What’s wrong with it?” Lyndie glanced down at her outfit; beneath it, she could feel her new necklace weighing against her skin.
“You look like you’re going to a soccer game.”
Lyndie didn’t remotely care. As soon as they hit the town’s limits, she felt the car accelerate. “We’re just going out for a couple of drinks.”
Vic chewed hard on her gum, her eyes hidden behind huge sunglasses.
“We’re not just going for drinks. We’re going to Jonas’s.”
“Who’s Jonas?”
“Not who, where.” She thumbed behind her. “I have some clothes I bought in the back. Look through it and pick something out.”
Lyndie reached behind the driver’s seat and picked up the black shopping bag.
“Did you buy anything with breathable fabric, my God!” she asked after rummaging through it.
“Quit complaining. Those are perfect bar hopping clothes. Quick question. What the hell are you still doing in Amber Falls?”
Lyndie sighed as she continued looking through the clothes. “Working, raising my son.”
“Girl, you can work anywhere. That’s an excuse. Why didn’t you ever leave?”
Lyndie watched the road as it sped by. “It’s home.”
“It’s a dump.”
“Vic. It’s a small town, but it’s not a dump.”
“Mom told me Will’s the Sheriff now.”
“Yeah.”
Vic shook her head. “I know-”
“I don’t want to talk about Will.” Lyndie raised her hands. “Let’s just focus on the night ahead and having a good time.”
“Okay.”
Vic turned on music at some point, and though the bass vibrated the seat, Lyndie must have been tired as hell because she managed to still nod off.
“Wake up, birthday girl.”
Vic’s hand swayed her shoulder.
Lyndie grimaced, wiping her eyes. Max had a bad night and she’d barely gotten any sleep before she had to get up.
They were still driving, but they weren’t on a road anymore. For miles all around, it was desert.
The sun was going to set within the next hour.
“Vic.” She straightened in the seat, almost groaning at the stiffness in her back. “Where the hell are we going?”
Vic turned the music down. “I already told you.”
“Where’s the road?”
Her friend smiled.
Lyndie’s head snapped as two men on an ATV whizzed past the passenger side of her truck.
Two more passed the driver’s side, rushing in the same direction.
Vicky pointed. “We’re following them.”
As she accelerated, Lyndie saw more vehicles on the horizon. It was so hot beyond the air-conditioned truck that a haze of heat blurred the air several feet above the ground.
Lyndie’s jaw lowered as the neon “Jonas’s” sign threatened to burn her eyes. It sat on top of a building that looked like the gateway to hell.
Cars and trucks were lined around it like a tailgate party. There were bowls of lit fire that led to the massive front door.
The truck came to a stop.
“We’re here and you’re not even dressed.”
Lyndie blinked. Were they even still in Nevada?
“Is this place safe?”
“Lyndie.” Vicky sighed, snatching off her sunglasses. “You have got to leave that Suzy Homemaker shit in Amber Falls. At least for one night.”
“Is this the part where you tell me to have fun and loosen up because I can’t figure out how to do it myself?”
Vicky nodded.
“I’m not a Suzy Homemaker, alright?” Lyndie felt the need to defend herself. It irked her that someone she hadn’t seen in three years felt like they could read her so easily. “A weapon would be more useful than a bra top in a place like this.”
A few pops made her lurch. Some fireworks were going off on the side of the building, streaming stars up in the air.
“The bouncers here are cool, for the girls at least.”
Lyndie wasn’t comforted at all, but reached for the leather shorts.
“You look good.”
Lyndie’s feet hit the ground in Vicky’s borrowed black platforms.
Five-inch heels were not something her feet were used to.
The white top she wore over the black bra showcased plenty of her stomach and most of her shoulder.
“Come on, girly.” Vicky rounded the car and grasped for her hand.
Men had already started making noises as soon as she locked the door.
Lyndie took in a heaving breath of desert air and moved with Vicky toward the imposing entrance.
As they walked up, Lyndie caught various blasts of alcohol and weed. By the time she realized they’d bypassed the line, she should have been high as a kite.
“Vic don’t quit!” A top-heavy grizzled man in a jean vest smiled at her as they approached. “And you brought fresh meat.”
Lyndie took another quiet breath instead of widening her eyes.
“Be sweet… it’s her birthday.”
“Birthday?” He smiled, showing off a missing tooth as he backed up, ignoring the complaining line. “You ladies head on in.”
The heavy door creaked as he opened it.
Lyndie followed Vicky into the cavernous space and the bouncer closed the door behind them. There was a small thud barely heard over the live band.
The ceiling stretched high above their heads, and the crowd was scattered over all parts of the place. Red carpeted stairs that lead down to the main floor where scattered tables were littered over it. To the left of them, a live band was playing on stage, “south of the border rock.” It wasn’t bad. A long dark wooden bar covered most of the far wall.
The place was alre
ady raucous and only half full.
Vicky lead her through the crowd straight to the bar.
“There’s a lot going on here.” Lyndie felt herself smile as she sat on the stool, the surface in front of them was covered in loose peanut shells.
Vicky grinned back, shrugging. “It’s Jonas’s.”
“She has returned. And she brought a friend. What can I get you two ladies?”
The bartender ‘s voice sounded like he smoked a thousand cigarettes a day. He looked like an older man in his forties, olive skin and dark hair. His weathered hands rested on the bar.
“You want wings?”
Lyndie nodded.
“Wings,” Vicky said. “A double.”
“And fries.” Why not get a full meal?
“And fries,” Vicky repeated as she touched her arm. “I think the guy in the back makes his own sauce. You’re gonna love ‘em.”
Lyndie wasn’t sure why they were ordering food from the bartender, but didn’t raise any questions. She was going to relax and go with the flow tonight.
“I know you said you don’t want to talk about Will and this is the last time, but he’s a piece of shit for how he treated you.”
Lyndie didn’t outwardly agree only because she didn’t want to egg on more conversation. But it was nice to have someone on her side.
The bartender slid drinks in front of them in tall purple flute glasses that looked like bongs.
“This is called the Lotus Fist. They named it after me,” Vicky added with a smile.
“Since when are you called Lotus Fist?”
Vicky took a good sip. “Since I knocked a dude in the chest for grabbing my ass. He had a heart attack and they had to call an ambulance for the skeez.”
Her smile grew at hearing the story. “You sure live a crazy life.” Lyndie took a sip of the drink. It was surprisingly fruity and the alcohol blended well.
“I have a confession too,” Vicky started.
“This is good.” Lyndie had to give props to the drink.
“I work here sometimes.”
“Okay.” Lyndie took a longer sip, then put the drink down.
“How do you feel? Good? You look good – I already told you.”
“Thanks.” Lyndie wound her shoulders. “I feel alright. I didn’t bust my ankle in these shoes, so I’m proud.”
She turned and lifted her leg.
A man whistled out of nowhere.
“Beat it!” The sweaty guy was about to approach, but kept moving at the bartender’s yell.
Lyndie lowered her leg and her brows at the same time while Vicky’s laugh picked up in the air.
“He was a piece of shit.” Lyndie reached for some of the fresh peanuts the bartender put out. “Will.”
“Most of ‘em are, girl.”
Lyndie folded her mouth down instead of groaning.
“You said you work here?”
“Yeah.”
No wonder she was so familiar with everyone.
Ten minutes later, their wings were brought out. Lyndie’s stomach clenched at the smell. The whole meal looked delicious.
After devouring two, Vicky said, “Stay at the bar in case a fight breaks out. I’ll be right back.” A quick kiss to the cheek and Vicky was gone, leaving Lyndie with her chicken and fries.
Lyndie ate in silence, ignoring a few leering stares from some guys at the end of the bar.
Vicky was right about the sauce; she was tempted to lick her fingers.
“You drinkin’?”
Lyndie looked up from stuffing a fry into her mouth, planning to ask for another Lotus Fist.
Noa leaned down, resting his elbows on the bar across from her.
Bright eyes were intently watching her, and for a moment, they slipped below her neck to see she was wearing her new necklace. A necklace that should have melted completely off.
Chapter Fourteen:
Hypnotiq: Part 2
Noa sat in the balcony of Jonas’s with his boot hiked up on the edge of the table. Bleed was on his right and Chaos was on his left.
“You think this shit with Tin is going to work out?” Bleed’s voice cut through Noa’s thoughts.
“Shit, I don’t know,” Noa answered honestly.
“That Sheriff’s going to give problems,” Bleed added.
“I already told him I’m in for a few months and then I gotta head back out on the road.”
Chaos was making a decent house of cards from ripped up match boxes. He blew a huge bubble that Noa really wanted to pop.
“Yeah. Probably the same for me.” Bleed knocked back a black flask. He never drank anything but that. What was in it? Noa never asked and he sure as hell never tried to sip.
“What the fuck are you two doing with Ignacio?” Noa asked, looking at both of them.
“Some dude owed him some money.” Chaos finished the roof on his mini house. “Why are you pissed about it I thought you guys were cool?”
“Weren’t you down there for like two years?” Bleed added.
Noa frowned at the reminder.
“Listen.” He relaxed his back into the booth. “Death Skulls in Tijuana are different. You blink and it’s the wild west down there. They got the government, the Cartels… Let Ignacio deal with his own shit.”
“They don’t really do Santeria down there, do they?” Chaos asked.
Noa sighed hard. “Like I said, they’re different.”
“It’s a scare tactic.” Bleed lit a cigar with one of Chaos’s loose matches. “Folks are superstitious down there.”
Chaos curled his lip before grimacing and turned back to playing with his house.
Noa had known him for about five years; Bleed, he’d known for eight. They’d always been Nomads. He met a few when they were brought in for a job and then they were gone one day like a puff of smoke. Back in the day, he never questioned the lifestyle; he’d been too focused on his own chapter.
Then after the explosion, he knew that was what he needed. He couldn’t completely remove himself from the club, but he didn’t want to be attached or obligated to anyone.
“What if I’m superstitious too?” Chaos asked, leaning forward so he could see Bleed over Noa.
“Then you can add it right behind stupid.”
Noa snorted as Chaos flipped both of them off.
Noa mushed at the back of Chaos’s head, then froze when he noticed two women step towards the bar.
One was Vic, who he definitely recognized, but the other one…
Platform heels held cinnamon legs that went on for days, but that wasn’t what held his attention. His eyes dipped down her exposed back and the leather shorts.
“I’m going down to the bar.” He snatched his leg from the table.
Chaos turned sideways in the booth so Noa could pass. “Bring me back a beer?”
“No.”
Noa started down the steps with Chaos’s swears hitting his back.
He knew those curves…
*
This was exactly the kind of place he would hang out, but his presence caught her off guard. His hair was straight tonight and parted down the middle, and the shiny tips were resting against the bar.
He was wearing those wrist bands again, the soft leather ones.
Were his eyes glowing in the dimmed lighting or was she drunk?
Even with the jerk he’d been and the lies, her body still jumped at the sight of him. Proof her heart was still stupid.
“Right now, I’m eating.” Lyndie chewed, keeping it neutral. “Wings and fries.”
Like he couldn’t see her plate between them.
Why was he on the bartender’s side?
“Care to share?” He wasn’t wearing a shirt under his vest, which revealed a generous expanse of abs and tattoos. Lyndie nodded absently.
Noa reached down and grabbed a couple of fries, popping them into his mouth.
“I’d like a Lotus Fist, please.” If he was there, she might as well order.
He poin
ted down at the fries. “These are good.”
“I know, right?” At this point, her lower half was screaming. Giddiness accelerated her heartbeat. Because she was happy he was there. Happy she could spend a few moments of her birthday with him.
“Lotus Fist?” Noa bared his lower teeth in disapproval. “That fruity ass thing?”
“It’s good!” Lyndie had to defend it.
“I can do you one better.” He strummed the bar with ring covered fingers. “How about a Desert Rose?”
Lyndie’s mouth opened a bit. “And what’s that?”
His eyes narrowed. “Do you want to try it or not?”
“I just want to know what’s in it.”
His shoulders moved a bit as his voice rose over the strong guitar note. “Sometimes you just gotta trust people.”
He backed away from the bar and Lyndie continued her dinner while her new bartender, with his wide back to her, prepared her drink.
An amber glass was set in front of her, with gentle smoke coursing over the top of the mystery liquid.
Noa poured himself a shot.
“It’s smoking,” Lyndie pointed out.
“Like its namesake.”
She looked up from it to meet his grin.
“You usually come to strip clubs?”
Lyndie almost choked as she tried to taste it.
An announcer’s voice piped through the air. “Hope you guys are ready for the show!”
Deafening cheers went up.
“Jonas’s is happy to bring to you, all the way from Vegas, Vicky Lotus!”
Lyndie turned just in time to see the stage curtains part again and there was Vicky, on a pole in a string bikini under blue lighting. She spotted Lyndie and offered a wink before easing into her routine with one string of a guitar.
The rowdy crowd showed appreciation for every move, littering the stage with money until it completely covered the floor.
When she said she worked here, Lyndie assumed she was a waitress or bartender.
Not quite.
“How is it?” Noa was next to her now, the bar no longer a divider.
Noa stared down at her. He was close enough to get a better smell of her perfume. If she was wearing any.