The boys both nodded and Wrench continued to explain what he had, giving us a short lesson in Italian Mafia history while he was at it.
“He said we had hurt his family, but they were the ones to send Target in the first place. There’s got to be more to this?”
“Quite possibly, but I’m fighting to see what.” My brain was turning so fast, trying to figure out all these stupid riddles. “We emptied his room. Was there anything there?”
Blizzard shook his head. “We didn’t find anything overly suspect. But we didn’t exactly go through it with a fine-tooth comb.”
“Do it.”
He nodded.
“I want extra security on the gates, three guards at all times, one full member always.” I saw a few of my men screw up their faces, but they didn’t argue. Usually protecting the gate was a prospect job, because let’s face it, it wasn’t that hard. But I didn’t trust a prospect to let someone in that they didn’t know just because they knew the right things to say.
“Any other matters to discuss?” I eyed my men. This church had been called especially so we would leave normal business discussions for our regular church time.
Camo raised his hand. Camo had joined the club fresh out of the army. He was honorably discharged due to shrapnel in so many parts of his body, he’d lost count after his crew had been hit by a roadside bomb. Like most army men, he craved the brotherhood that the club offered. He was never found in anything other than army issue pants and could blend into any area or situation.
I gave him a quick nod.
“The club girls are dropping like fucking flies. Any chance we are gonna get some more round here?”
I rolled my eyes but saw a few other members nod in agreement.
“When things calm down a little, we’ll open Friday nights to girls from town and hangers. There might be some interest.”
“What about that hot piece of ass Chelsea hangs out with from college?” He grinned.
“Leave Rose alone you fucking horn dog,” Blizzard growled from his seat beside me, glaring at Camo down the table.
Camo held up his hands at Blizzard’s outburst and I couldn’t help but smirk.
“Dismissed.”
My brothers all filed out, but Blizzard stayed still glaring at the other man even as the doors closed.
“You got a thing for her?” I asked.
“She’s not club whore material,” he said, avoiding my gaze.
I laughed. “That’s not what I asked.”
He turned in his seat and glared at me. “I dunno. She doesn’t want anything to do with me or the club anyway. She’s made that quite clear.”
“And when did she make that quite clear?” I asked, rather amused by the turn of events.
“When I tried to invite myself into her apartment the other night, and she told me no,” he mumbled.
I chuckled. Blizzard was a ladies man. A huge ladies man. He was laid back, funny and charming. The fact that he’d been turned down would be a massive shock to his system. But I knew he wouldn’t leave it there. Like every red-blooded male, we all wanted what we couldn’t have.
“Maybe she’s just playing hard to get. Like you said, the girl isn’t club whore material.”
He screwed up his face at the word ‘whore.’ “Nah, it was more than that. When I pulled her out of that club, you should have seen the way she looked at my bike and my cut. It wasn’t quite fear, but there was something there that turned her off.”
“There’s a lot of people around who don’t like bikers. Our reputation precedes us.”
He stared at the large table, the club logo hashed out in the middle. “Maybe.”
“Chelsea will have your balls if you mess with her.”
I caught the cheeky gleam in his eye even before he spoke, “Why would she need mine when she’s got her pockets full with yours?”
“Fuck off,” I growled, reaching out to smack him but he dodged it, jumping out of the seat with his regular grin now firmly back in place. “Go get me some answers, asshole.”
He snapped me a salute before heading for the door. Heading for my room not long after, I gave out orders to a prospect to run around and tell the girls they could come out. I opened the door only to find Sugar and Harlyn tucked up on my bed, reading a story.
Harlyn caught my movement first. “Daddy!” she called, untangling herself from her mother’s arms, leaping off the bed and running the few steps over to me.
I picked her up with ease, resting her on my hip, missing this girl like crazy. It killed me that she was so far away and my visits to see her were kept to a minimum. She was my daughter and I’d missed her first steps, her first words, her first haircut, her first visit from Santa. I’d wanted to see her grow up and be a positive influence in her life, not the barely there dad who sent money and presents in hopes it made up for my absence.
Sugar was right. Sending them away had been a mistake—one I would forever regret.
But things would be different now.
I wouldn’t make that same mistake again, and when this was all said and done, Sugar and I were going to sit down and have a very serious talk about the future. We may not have a future together, I think we both realized that a long time ago, but my future with Harlyn was going to be strong.
Of that, I was sure.
“You want another drink?!” Harmony called over the music.
I bobbed my head up and down before throwing back what was left in my glass. We’d decided on a night out. First we’d called it a girls’ night out, but that had quickly changed and Kit protested against letting us out alone. This was how we ended up at Glow, the strip club the Troy chapter owned in the local city.
That was the compromise we’d been given. Not really a compromise on the men’s part, but we took what we could get.
Missy, the woman who ran the club, was a riot. She’d joined us as soon as we had walked in the doors. I had the feeling she had an ulterior motive for joining us, though, as she and Tally, Kit’s VP had been giving each other side glances every two minutes since we walked in the door.
With a few vodkas in my system, I nudged her in the side. She turned to me with the most beautiful smile. Missy was stunning. She wore just the right amount of makeup to accentuate her features without looking like a hooker, and her body was all hourglass—slim waist and round ass.
“You and Tally have something going on?” I asked slyly with a wiggle of my eyebrows.
I caught the blush on her face before she had time to turn her cheek and shake her head. “Why would you say that?”
I looked up and caught him staring at her for like the hundredth time in the last hour. “Because that boy has been eye fucking you since he had you in sight.”
She brushed her hair back from her face and chuckled softly, but didn’t answer.
I sighed dramatically. “Come onnn…I need some excitement. Are you two doing it or what?”
Just as I finished, I realized the room had become quiet as the DJ was announcing the next girl on the stage. Everyone at the table stared at me with amused faces. Even Missy giggled at the awkward situation and Tally smirked at me from across the table, giving me a devious wink that only made me more frustrated that I didn’t know the answer to my question.
I wondered why Harmony was taking so long with my drink so I went in search of her. I found her at the bar with Kit trying to drag her away, pointing to the hallway that led to the private rooms. She was laughing and pulling back, but I could see he was breaking down her defenses. I walked up and threw my arms around her shoulders, poking my tongue at Kit like a spoiled child.
“She’s mine for tonight, buddy!” I grinned. “Take your…ding-dong, and use your hand if you’re desperate.”
Harmony and Kit laughed, but he released her hand. “It’s called a penis, Chelsea. P-e-n-i-s, penis!” he taunted, knowing the word made me cringe. I’m not sure why it did, it was just one of those words I didn’t like. Kind of like how some people hated
the word moist, or throbbing.
I screwed up my nose, only making them laugh harder. Grabbing my drink off the bar, I pulled at Harmony’s hand. “Whatever! She’s mine.”
Harmony gave him a quick peck on the cheek as I pulled her past. Those two had an intense connection, even after only knowing each other for a short time. As much as Harmony had fought against it, I admired Kit’s persistence. He knew he wanted her and he wasn’t about to give her up for anything.
I thought about Optimus. He just wasn’t like that with me. Sure he chased me and had me in his bed over any other girl ninety-nine times out of one hundred, but I was beginning to think it was more out of convenience and pleasure than anything else. We both know that the chemistry we had together was explosive—something I’ve personally never experienced with anyone but him. But he never fought for me like Kit did for Harmony.
She nudged me in the side as we took our seats back at the large table that the club was gathered at. “Are you okay?” She’d obviously noticed the quick change in my mood, but I wasn’t about to let Optimus destroy a night out with my best friend. I plastered on a smile and leaned into her. “Are Missy and Tally doing it?”
She eyed me for a second, I’m sure curious as to what was going on in my head. But one of the things I loved about Harmony was that she didn’t pry. She knew I’d come to her when I needed her and she was okay with that. She understood that it was just who I was. And she accepted it.
Her eyes moved, looking over at Missy and Tally, who’d suspiciously moved to sit next to each other and were sitting extremely close having a quiet conversation.
“I don’t know. Do you think? Tally doesn’t really touch the girls at the club. I mean like, he’s the biggest flirt, but I’ve never seen him actually do anything. Do you think that’s why?”
Missy looked up and spotted us staring. She quickly sat back, shuffling her body a little away from Tally, who frowned as she did.
Definitely a story there.
“Harmony! Come dance with us.” I heard someone call as they came up behind us.
I recognized the girl as one of the strippers I’d seen on the stage earlier in the night. Harmony had told me the night before that she’d become close with a couple of the girls who worked at Glow.
She explained that the club girls who lived at the Troy chapter were different than the girls we had back home. They were sneaky and devious, the type to stab you in your sleep if they wanted your man. Since she’d been here in Troy, she had had more than one run-in with club whores, but they had ended pretty quickly when Kit had thrown their asses out to the curb. Harmony was an Old Lady, and not just any Old Lady, she belonged to the President of the club. There was no way Kit was going to let some power-crazed club girl get away with treating his woman like shit.
If you can’t show respect for the club, you didn’t deserve their help or protection—end of story.
While we had girls back home, that could be a little crazy and possessive of the boys, most of us seemed to get along pretty well. The attraction to the men in the clubs couldn’t be helped really. While they were outlaws, and we all knew they had businesses on the side that we were kept in the dark about, the men were also, for the most part, genuine and gave a shit about us. We respected their rules and they treated us like human beings.
Unfortunately, some woman were just bitches—that was just life.
“Not tonight, honey. My friend is here,” she said gesturing to me. The girl gave me a big smile, she seemed sweet.
“She can join us. The more, the merrier!” she said, beaming.
“Chelsea doesn’t dance,” Harmony explained, laughing. I shrugged. I didn’t care if people know I couldn’t dance. It was a fact. I just didn’t have rhythm when it came to music and I wasn’t really sure how to move my body or make it look good.
“What do you mean she doesn’t dance?” Missy piped up, clearly shocked.
“I can’t. This amazing body just doesn’t know movement.”
Missy frowned. “I thought you said you were a runner?”
I nodded. “I am.”
“And you like sex don’t you.”
I rolled my eyes. “Duh.”
Missy pushed her chair back and came around the table. “If you run, then you know rhythm and movement. You just gotta learn, baby.” She held her hand out to me. “Come on, I’ll teach you.”
I shook my head. “Trust me, people have tried.”
“Come on, Chel. Please!” Harmony gave me some ridiculous looking puppy dog eyes that only made me laugh, but soon the whole table was cheering, telling me to do it.
I sighed. “Fine! But nobody is allowed to laugh.”
I took Missy’s hand and she grinned triumphantly. “Babe, I promise, if these bastards laugh, I’ll ban them from Glow for a month.”
The table groaned in unison.
“Can you do that? Doesn’t the club own Glow?” I asked skeptically as she pulled me toward the now empty stage that was closest to where we were sitting.
She smirked. “They may own it, but this place is mine. And without me, they wouldn’t have any girls to strip.”
Some slow music started as we climbed the steps and instantly I watched as Harmony and the stripper, Honey, began swaying and twisting with the sound. Harmony was stunning, her long blonde hair falling down her back and swishing back and forth.
I knew when we were done that there was no way in hell I was going to be able to keep Kit from dragging her to some room and having his way with her. But I didn’t mind. My best friend was happy, and that was all I cared about.
“Okay, I want you to think about running,” Missy said as she stood in front of me.
“Trust me, right now that’s all I’m thinking about,” I muttered.
She rolled her eyes, but moved forward and gripped my hips in her hands. “Close your eyes.” I sighed but did as she asked. “Okay, so at first you’re just going to start off slow, like a walk. But instead of your feet, I want you to put that movement into your hips.”
She pushed at my hips and I moved them from side to side, thinking in my head about the beat I would walk to while I was warming up.
“Instead of just throwing them side to side, I want you to twist them a little, and use your waist as well. Dancing isn’t just in the hips, it’s in your whole body.”
I tried to listen and do as she told me, attempting to keep my movements in some sort of time to the bass of the music, much like I would when I was running. I often used the bass of a song to keep a steady rhythm with my feet, it helped me to push further and faster.
“Great,” she exclaimed. “Now speed up a little, you’re getting a little faster.”
We practiced for a while before the song changed and Missy began to talk to me about how to use my arms.
“It’s just like having sex with yourself,” she explained causing Harmony, Honey and I to all laugh. “You’re going to move your hands over your body like you could imagine your man doing.”
I sighed but took a deep breath. I’d gone this far already, why not imagine I’m having sex with myself on a stage full of people. It wasn’t like I was embarrassed about it, wasn’t like I hadn’t had sex in front of people before.
My hips swayed side to side as I slowly moved my hands over them and up the sides of my waist. I cupped my breasts just quickly, running my fingers around them lightly like a feather before continuing to lift my hands up into the air. One arm stayed up as the other drifted down it, tickling over the skin as it came down and around my face.
“Open your eyes, Chelsea,” I heard Missy say excitedly.
My eyes popped open and I was facing the rear of the stage, but what I saw was myself. My body flowed and moved to the music, it may have been slow and there wasn’t a huge amount of movement, but what I saw was sexy and sensual. I gasped, but I didn’t stop, enjoying watching my body twist and sway as my hands roamed it just like a lovers would.
It was mesmerizing.
&nb
sp; I was dancing.
The song came to a stop too soon. My body halting with it. But then came the booming sound of applause and whistles and hoots from the people behind me. Harmony threw her arms around me and squeezed before stepping back. Her face looked as though it was about to split she was smiling so hard.
“That was awesome. You were dancing.”
I couldn’t help but laugh.
I was dancing.
I looked over at Missy, who stood to the side of the stage with a smirk on her face. The woman was good. More than freaking good, she was amazing. The cheers continued and I turned toward them and gave a small curtsy—not so easily in my short mini.
Harmony hooked her arm through mine and we walked off the stage. “Lucky I told all the boys that they had to keep their hands off you. Otherwise, you’d be getting mauled right now.”
I laughed, a little relieved. Unfortunately, there’s only one man I wanted to maul me, and he was back home.
“Another drink?” Harmony beamed.
I swallowed tightly and nodded. “Hell yes, another drink.”
I groaned as I rolled over on the bed. My head throbbed and there was a trail of drool slipping from the side of my mouth and down my cheek. I wiped at it with the back of my hand.
Fuck, I was sexy.
Even though my head pounded and I felt a little like I might be sick, I knew I wasn’t in my own bedroom instantly. The bed felt like I was sleeping on a rock and the sheets smelt like they had been locked away in a grandma’s closet next to the mothballs for about ten years. Just that smell alone was enough to make me heave.
Luckily there was a glass of water and some aspirin sitting next to the bed as per usual. I silently thanked drunk me as I threw a couple pills in my mouth and chugged the glass of water, forcing it down. I was one of those people who got hangovers just from the smell of alcohol. I don’t know what it was about me, but it had always been the same. You’d think it would put me off drinking, but instead I had taught myself to leave what I needed next to the bed the night before instead.
In my brain, it seemed logical.
The room I was in was small, but it was private. Harmony had even managed to score me one with a small toilet and shower attached. At first I wondered what brother I’d kicked out for the couple of nights I was there because, let’s face it, I knew it wasn’t a club girl’s room. But as I climbed in the shower I was grateful that I didn’t have to drag myself out and see people as I went in search of the communal bathrooms.
Chelsea (The Club Girl Diaries Book 2) Page 8