If… no, he would not question that.
Ever.
When she ghosted from the fights after their interlude, he had to face the fact that he was just a fuck in the locker room for her. He loved sexually confident women. Women who weren’t ashamed of their drive and went for what they wanted instead of playing games. However, he was usually the ghoster, not the ghostee.
He didn’t like it one fucking bit. What stung the most was how he couldn’t stop thinking about her. Hand, mouth, pussy… for three fucking years. No matter what he was fucking, he’d pictured her.
“Okay,” Granite sighed. “Priest, talk to Lexi, gather the info you need to toss me some projections. Believe it or not, my friend, Mark, runs Saddles & Racks right here in Sin City. He’s got his head on straight and makes some bank. I’ll give him a call and see if I can pick his brain. Then when Priest gets the numbers together, we’ll put it to a vote.”
A roar of agreement filled the room.
“If that’s all… wait, Blast.” All eyes turned his way. “Let’s see it,” Granite ordered.
He’d just finished a chest piece three days ago. Blast removed his cut, draping it over his chair and lifted his shirt. It was still crusty, but it looked wicked. Phantoms’ ink always did because of what it meant. He’d already got his back patch, but Blast wanted more.
The whooping and fists on the table were deafening. Blast dropped his shirt and donned his cut. “Damn, Horns always does tight work. Who did it, Ripley?”
“Nope, Andy. She happens to be Lexi’s friend and so I talked her into coming to the party.”
“I don’t think I know her,” Thunder mused. Pound and Granite nodded their agreement.
“Damn, I know her. And Lexi ain’t got shit on her. That chick is stacked as fuck. I mean muscle and curves all in one package. Shit, she is fine, brother. Congrats.”
“Who’s Andy? No road name?” Thunder questioned.
“No, she’s not a Handmaiden. She’s been tattooing at Horns for some time, the only civilian working there. A Scorpio with a pet of some sort, and a pretty badass truck.”
Recognition sparked on Granite’s face. “Ah, yeah. She’s good. Only saw her once, but her work is crisp.”
“But shit, brother, did you have her fill out an application to come to the party?” Thunder interrupted. “Is that what it takes to get a woman to go out with the likes of you?”
Blast flipped Thunder off. “No, man. Chatting a lady up is how you lead to more than a sloppy blow job in the bathroom at Phantoms. Besides, she’s not exactly coming for me, per se, she’s Lexi’s friend. But, if I’m lucky…”
Blast trailed off with a wistful look, Granite officially closed the meeting and they headed into the bar for a drink. All that talk of bathroom blow jobs and stacked chicks had Thunder hornier than shit.
He bypassed the clubhouse bar and strode to the parking lot. “Where you headed, brother?” Pound was mounting his sled when he called out.
“Tails. Wanna come?”
Beside him, Trip answered, “A chance to see Sexy Lexi and other hot naked chicks? Um, no, sounds terrible. I’d rather go home and chew my toenails. Fuck yeah, we’re in, brother.”
4
Andrea
“Jesus, you live like a nun; your vagina is going to wither and die if you don’t get laid soon,” Lexi prodded as she held various shimmery tanks up to herself in the mirror.
“Drama queen, much? My vagina is just fine, and nowhere near becoming an old west ghost town, thank you very much.”
Lexi spun on her platform heels. “Do you hear that?” Dramatically, she placed her hand by her ear as if searching for the source of a sound. She leaned over Andy, who was laid out on the bed and started whistling, The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly.
Andy was a bit annoyed, but she had to admit it was comical. As she rose to sit with crossed legs and pick at invisible lint on the bedspread, Lexi ducked wildly. “What?” Concerned, Andy leaped up as her soon-to-be ex-best friend devolved in a fit of laughter and flopped onto it.
“Whew, I almost got taken out by a tumbleweed flying out of that thing when you opened your legs. Luckily, the creaking gave me enough warning to avoid the projectile.”
“Oh my, God, Lex. You are the worst friend ever,” she bitched, but Nestea plunged beside her.
“Just because I’m not a slut, doesn’t mean I can’t be happy.”
“Wait, are you calling me a slut?” The mock offense in her friend’s voice was glaring. Lexi was comfortable with who she was in every way possible. She was also one of the best people Andy knew. She would give a kidney to a stranger, hell, she had done just about that. She’d given bone marrow to someone she’d never met. Never boasted about it, never complained, never posted about it on her social media, just did it quietly. Even when she got a post-extraction infection and had to stay in the hospital, Andy was the only one who knew.
“Duh. You know you are.”
Lexi interlaced their fingers as they stared up at the ceiling. “Yeah, I am, but I’m happy and not hurting anyone else, and isn’t that all that matters?”
They laid there in silence for a while before Lexi turned and rested her head on Andy’s shoulder. “That’s what I want for you, to be happy again. You haven’t had that spark for three years. Not since you stopped fighting.”
Andy missed it so much, but the truth of the matter was, she was scared. Not much in life had ever scared her but taking another blow to the head did. If she weren’t able to create beautiful works of art on people’s skin, she would die inside. Fighting was great. Hell, most of the time it was better than sex. The rush anyway, and it lasted longer, but tattooing was her Zen.
“Honestly, Lex, it isn’t fighting that took it away. I mean, I miss it, but it’s something else. Something that’s lost to me and I don’t know what or how to get it back.” Andy had seen countless doctors over the years. Even tried hypnotherapy in an attempt to remember those few hours before the fight and the fight itself.
Everyone told her to leave it alone, it wasn’t important. Everyone but her best friend who understood her. Lexi had channeled Nancy Drew and pieced together so much of her night. Because her smoky eye and mini-skirt had been on point—as Lexi had told her when she’d left the apartment that night, it meant something. She remembered that and saying goodbye to Fern.
Good thing she’d looked hot as fuck—Lexi’s words—because a lot of people remembered her. Lexi had collected enough information and a few cell phone pics to cobble together most of her night. All but about twenty minutes of it.
But it was those twenty minutes that haunted her. No more than twelve hundred seconds in her entire life, but they felt like very important seconds.
“Maybe something major happened to you, maybe nothing happened to you. What I do know is that twenty minutes is robbing you of all the future minutes you have. You refuse to live. Hell, you won’t even really date.”
Andy looked down at her friend’s head on her shoulder. She flexed to show her displeasure. Lexi’s words hit a little too close to home. That didn’t sit well with her.
“That’s not true at all. What do you call tonight? Hmm, Miss Slutty Pants?”
“I call it, ‘I was already forcing you to go to this party with me and you just caved into Blast because he was in your chair for four hours, and you were already going.’ That’s not a date. That’s a ‘hey, I’ll have someone to talk to if Lexi heads to a room to get her daily dose of vitamin D.’ That’s what I call that.”
“That’s not…” Andy trailed off; it was true. She was already going to the party and Blast was a nice guy. She felt bad turning him down cold, so she played it safe.
Lexi raised her blonde head and rested her chin on her hand. Making uncomfortable eye contact with Andy before speaking.
“Look, I get it. Twenty minutes isn’t a long time in the grand scheme of life, but twenty minutes you can’t remember is massive. Especially when it nags at you because you have a
n emotion attached to it you can’t explain. So, I am not making light of how you feel. But is it worth obsessing over for years?”
Lexi was one hundred percent correct.
“Let’s see, twenty minutes. Maybe you hit the Lotto—”
“This is Nevada, we don’t have Lotto.”
“Look, smartass, I am trying to make a point. Maybe you crossed the line and bought a winning ticket. Maybe all your numbers hit in Keno. Maybe you ate the most perfect piece of cheesecake that was ever made, and you wept like a baby. Maybe you met the love of your life and he was waiting at McCarren for hours to whisk you away before he gave up and moved on. I get it. Missed opportunities eat all of us alive, we wish we could get a do-over.”
Tears started to sting Andy’s eyes. “Yes, that’s exactly how it feels.”
“But, isn’t it equally likely, that you drank a warm energy drink, ate something salty and bad for you from a vending machine, and spent the other fifteen minutes taking a shit in a public bathroom? Maybe you stepped in gum and that time was devoted to cursing and scraping.”
Lexi stood and pulled Andy to her feet. She cupped her cheeks and looked at her exactly how a best friend should. With all the love in the world but laced with reality and hard truths.
“I’m not saying you give up trying to figure it out. All I’m saying is don’t focus so hard on those seconds of your life that you turn a blind eye to what’s happening now. Moments yet to come even. Moments that will never be if you are living in the past.”
Lexi is right.
“Blast is a great guy, one of the best. Hell, all the Phantoms are. Give it a chance. Go to this party with him, not me. See what happens. If there’s no spark, well, at least you had a good time and met some new friends. Besides the guys you’ve already met at Horns.” Lexi went into the closet.
“Oh, Ripley and some of the Maidens might put in an appearance, so you’ll be right at home.”
She came out of the closet and tossed a turquoise off-the-shoulder, slashed up top at Andy. “That will be perfect with your skin-tight black jeans and my thigh-high boots. Oh, and I’ll do your makeup and Blast will be drooling.”
“Lexi?” Andy called as she shimmied into her jeans. “Thanks. For the prospective and for just being a true friend. But there’s no spark with Blast. I mean, he’s cute and all, but he just doesn’t do it for me.”
Lexi turned and propped her hands on her hips. Andy could see the words of protest forming on her lips as she removed her bra and put on the turquoise top Lexi had given her earlier.
“Calm your tits. Just because there is nothing there, that doesn’t mean I am not going into this open-minded. I’m going to mingle, make new friends, and have fun.”
“Don’t forget about the O.K. Corral. If you’re lucky, there could be a shootout.” And there are the finger guns. Such a weirdo.
“Gross. But you’ve made your point. I’ll take it under advisement.” Andy pulled on the boots while Lexi finished dressing. Each checked herself in the mirror as they exited the apartment. Andy turned back. “Bye, Fern. Be good while I’m gone.”
“Don’t wait up,” Lexi shouted over her shoulder as she climbed up into Andy’s truck.
Once on the road, Andy was actually starting to get slightly excited about finally cutting loose. It had been so long since she’d done so. She remembered how she oozed confidence.
Andy did whatever, and whoever she wanted. She was a lot like Lexi. That confidence was still there, but she’d changed after the knock to the noggin. Maybe it was just a crutch she used to not put herself out there. Either way, the more Lexi reminded her of who she used to be, the more she missed her.
I am going to make the most of tonight even if it kills me. The past is the past and I could’ve just been taking a dump.
“Anything I should know? Any Phantoms I should steer clear of?” Andy quizzed Lexi as they were pulling up at the gate.
“Not really. I mean, Bullseye has an old lady and his eye doesn’t wander, that’s who this party is for, but the other men are all single and decent guys. Oh, and they’re vegan.”
“Wait, what? Bikers?”
“Well, most of them are plant-based, a few are vegan, and some eat meat. It’s not like they advertise it on their patch. If you pay attention, you’ll notice they have a separate grill for the guys who eat meat, and you won’t see it inside. But you’d have to be looking to really notice.”
Andy could respect that, but she also respected a juicy steak and a potato loaded with butter. Now she was going to obsess with trying to figure out who ate what.
“Let me rephrase the second part of my question since you totally distracted me. Which Phantoms have you slept with?” Lexi turned with a raised eyebrow and Andy clarified. “Not that anything is wrong with that, but you know, I don’t want to breach that layer of separation to our relationship.”
“If you’re looking for a saint, you won’t find one here. They have club girls here like any MC. Most of the strippers at Tails are pretty much open for business with patched members. As for me, I’ve only slept with one.”
Lexi rolled down the window and popped herself out of the passenger window. “Hey, Davis. Just me and my girl here. She’s cleared.”
“Hey, Lex.” Davis checked the list. “S’That Andy?” Lexi nodded. “Nice to meet you. Blast told us to expect you. Follow the trail to the left and park out there with the other cages.”
Lexi slid back into the car and they followed Davis’ directions. Once parked, Lexi jumped out as fast as her stripper heels allowed. Classic avoidance.
“Lexi, slow your roll. Who?” She stopped dead in her tracks and turned.
“I’ve only slept with—”
“Andy! You made it,” Blast called as he jogged their way.
Lexi smiled and disappeared inside.
When Blast reached Andy, he gave her a hug and pulled back. “Damn, you are smokin’.”
She blushed at the compliment.
“Thanks. How’s the ink?”
“I’ve hit the itchy phase, so right on track.”
“Good. I don’t need to harp on the instructions since you weren’t a virgin going in, but follow the rules.”
“Yes, ma’am. Let’s go inside and I’ll introduce you and give you the grand tour.”
“Sounds good. Lead the way.” Andy felt a little bad when he dropped his hand to the small of her back and guided her toward the door. He felt this was a date, she was sure of it. Rather than set him straight, she went with it for now. Not to lead him on, but to see if maybe a spark could happen.
Before she could argue with herself, an orange shrouded phantom with guns for wings mural on the side of the building caught her eye. It was the same one she’d tattooed on Blast’s back just days ago. This one, however, had an artsier feel to it.
“That’s amazing, who did it?” she asked while pointing to the side of the building.
“That would be Billie, Bullseye’s old lady. The one we’re having the party for. He patched in just a few months ago, shortly after I did. She has a hell of an eye. Granite, that’s our president, has commissioned her to redo the signs on all our businesses.”
Andy approached the building and touched the paint. “Shit, if she knows how to handle a tattoo machine, she’d run me out of business.”
“No worries there. She is about to be busier than she ever expected.”
“Oh, why’s that?”
“Well, I’m not supposed to tell, but Bullseye set her up with a small studio adjacent to one of our properties and Granite has arranged for her to teach underprivileged kids art in a program the club created.” Blast leaned into her personal space from behind. “But, that’s a secret for now. At least until after the cake and shit.” He placed his arms on her hips and inhaled. “Damn, you smell good.”
Now she felt she had to say something. She couldn’t lead him on like that. Even in the name of living in the moment, it wasn’t right.
Disengaging
from his hold, she turned around, took a step back and looked Blast in the eyes. When she inhaled to speak, he beat her to the draw. “Not feeling it, huh?”
“No. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to give you the wrong idea.”
“You didn’t, Andy. You were upfront from the second I invited you. It’s all good, but you can’t blame a guy for trying, look at you. But hey, I’m still ready to give you the grand tour and enjoy your company if you’re good with that.”
She breathed a sigh of relief. “I am most certainly good with that.” She looped her arm through his. “Lead the way.”
Upon their entry, Blast yelled, “Incoming.” Then shielded her body with his.
“What was that?”
“That was Taps shooting off his little rubber chickens.” She raised her brow. Blast pointed to their feet where three tiny rubber chicken finger shooters lay.
“It’s not as weird as it sounds. Scratch that, it involves Taps, so by default it’s fucking weird. Come on, I’ll show you around.”
5
Thunder
Thunder sat at the bar shooting the shit with Trip and watching Trixie work the bar top using the horizontal poles overhead to give a show to anyone interested.
Thunder didn’t so much watch her as stare right through her. Not that he didn’t want to celebrate their newest brother’s old lady’s birthday. There was a lot on his mind. One of his buddies from his Air Force days had gotten involved in some shit he had no business being involved in and Thunder wasn’t sure of the best course to help him.
Flash had been one of his brothers in the military, and once a brother, always a brother. However, the Phantoms were his brothers now. If one had to trump the other; it had to be the club.
That was why he slammed yet another shot of whiskey and motioned for Heather, the club girl tending bar, to keep ‘em coming.
His first instinct was to set Flash up at his place and help him figure his shit out. Thunder’s house sat about a half a mile away from the clubhouse, just on the other side of Pound’s, but it was within the Phantoms’ compound. Their sanctuary. Anyone staying overnight or in the clubhouse, required Granite’s okay. Not because he was a controlling asshat, but because he took the safety of his family seriously.
Thunder (Desert Phantoms MC Book 1) Page 3