“You talking to me?” He heaves himself out of the pool, his ugly red face dripping with water. He looks like one of the guys from ZZ Top except that he’s fat.
“You see this?” He points to a patch. “I’ll put you both in your grave.”
“Dozer? That’s Blade’s girl.” The woman I just stuck up for pets his wet arm. He looks at her then me, his beady eyes taking in my body. His disgusting perusal makes me feel violated and dirty.
“He needs to put a leash and muzzle on you. I’m gonna have words with him. A woman needs to know her place.” He grabs the woman who gazes up at him like he’s a god rather than the fat serial killer he looks like. “Drop down and blow me.” She instantly drops; her knees crack as they hit the concrete.
“Are you kidding me?” I jump up and back away. She ignores me and unzips him taking out his soft, disgusting penis.
“You people are insane.” In a flash, I’m running back to the house. His laughter trails after me. I don’t even stop when Edge asks me if I’m all right and keep running until I’m in my room, locking the door. My heart races, and I run into the bathroom and lock that door too. Gulping the air, I choke on it. I have to get control of myself, can’t let these guys scare me. But they do—they are not nice. And my fantasy that I’m getting a better life has slapped me in the face.
There’s a knock on the door, and I clutch the sink, my breathing more rapid. “Eve? You okay?” I look around the bathroom. Hide. I open the shower door and curl up in the corner. Memories of my mom telling me to hide as a child threaten to come out. Closing my eyes, I will them away—I never want them to come out. “Go under the sink Evie. Mommy needs to talk to this guy for a bit.”
“But why, Mommy? I hate that guy. He smells.”
“Go and don’t tell Daddy.” She pushes me into the small moldy-smelling cabinet as I wait for her to do what she has to do to get that bag of white powder. I hate that white powder. I wait, crying, surrounded by the bottles of cleaning supplies we never use.
“Eve? What the fuck, Angel?” I open my eyes to see Blade’s handsome face with Edge behind him. Both of them frown as I crouch even farther into the dark cave-like feel of the shower.
“What happened?” He looks at Edge, his voice harsh.
“I don’t know. She ran up the stairs as if someone was chasing her.” Edge looks at me with pity, and that I won’t allow. I reach for the built-in stone chair as I stand.
“I’m fine.” Both of their heads swing back to me.
Blade runs a hand through his hair. “Go see if you can figure this out. I need to talk to Eve.” I should be scared. His eyes look fierce. Instead my heart starts beating normally again. Edge backs out of the bathroom and I look into Blade’s green eyes. He holds out his hand. I don’t take it and try to mold myself into the stone.
“Fine.” He steps into the shower and grabs me. “What happened?”
I should tell him. But what do I say? A really mean man, one of your guys, made his girlfriend give him a blowjob because she tried to get him out of the sun?
“I…” I lick my lips. “I don’t fit in here.”
His eyes narrow. “You don’t have a choice.”
I cringe. “Maybe we can keep track. You know, like you let me go in a year.” It’s stupid and I can’t believe I said it.
He backs up and crosses his arms. With his boots and clothes on he looks huge in here.
“So… how are you planning on paying over ten grand?”
“I gave you my virginity—shouldn’t that be worth something?”
He looks like I slapped him. “You want to be a whore? Fine, I’ll treat you like my whore.”
A cough behind us makes us turn. “Um, Prez. Dozer wants a word with you.” Edge looks almost sorry for me. God, can my life be any more fucked up? Blade stares at me. I shift uncomfortably beneath his penetrating gaze. He sneers as if he finds me lacking, then pushes open the heavy glass door of the shower leaving me clutching the cold stone wall.
BLADE/JASON
“Maybe Eve should stay put tonight.” Axel signals for another beer.
I lean my head back on the red leather booth, wondering if he’s right. The conversation we had earlier is still too fresh. I shouldn’t be arguing, engaging with this girl. We’re not a couple, yet the more I’m around her, the more the lines are blurred. The asshole inside me is tempted to have her show up so I can fuck her in the corner since she’s willing to be a whore. But I won’t. I rub my face and look at the stripper in front of us. The music is thumping as Deedee slides into splits. She smiles and slowly pulls her silver G-string to the side allowing us prime view of her waxed pussy.
“Fuck.” I slam my whiskey, ignoring Deedee.
I rub my forehead. “Let’s see, in the last forty-eight hours…”
I tick off her transgressions starting with my thumb. “She’s stabbed Dewey, causing him pain and humiliation.” Then my index. “Gotten in a fight with Dozer trying to defend his old lady.” Raising my next finger, I add, “and she’s a klepto according to Dolly.” I reach for my whiskey. “Why wouldn’t I want her with me tonight?”
“Nice, a klepto.” He nods. “Don’t forget she likes to play with knives.” His sarcasm is thick.
I look past Deedee’s spread legs to the door. We’re at the Pussycat, taking over the VIP section as if we’re royalty. My eyes are like radar, taking in the night crowd that’s filing in. It’s Saturday and this club is one of my favorites. It makes a lot of money and it’s classy for a strip club. The girls are beautiful and the clientele wealthy. Axel and I own it and our manager, Derrick, is a partner too. We gave it a facelift a year ago and it’s paid off hugely. The dive it used to be is transformed into the trendy place for millennials to bring their bosses, wives, girlfriends. The Disciples don’t usually hang out here—it scares the suits. But I needed to get the hell away from everything, meaning the blonde in my bedroom. So here I sit, drinking whiskey with Axel. The whole upstairs is closed tonight for us. A group of about five girls are pouting and flashing the bouncer. Cricket, one of my guys, gives the bouncer the okay and the girls climb the stairs. All of them are wearing dresses that barely cover anything and too much makeup and hairspray.
“Text Edge to keep her in my room tonight. Tell him to make Dewey stand guard as part of his punishment.”
Axel raises a brow, but he pulls out his phone. The girls make it up the stairs and I stand.
“I need to walk around. Where’s Derrick? The lights are too bright on the stage.”
He looks up from his phone at the stage then back to his phone. I know he’s getting ready to lecture me about why men like us don’t have girlfriends. I don’t want to hear it, especially since I can’t seem to get Eve off my mind.
“You want a private dance later?” Deedee twirls in front of me. “Please, Blade, I’ll make it worth your while.”
She pushes her large fake breasts out. Her long blond hair swings past her ass. It’s dyed blue on the ends. She wraps a tan leg around the pole. I’ve fucked her a couple of times. But she started to get clingy and I’ve avoided her since.
“Not tonight, darlin’.” I give her ass a playful swat as I rush down the stairs and through the office door. Only to be greeted by Ox’s white ass thrusting into Lindsey. She’s bent over the manager’s desk moaning like a porn star.
“Christ. Where the fuck is Derrick?”
Lindsey smiles at me. Ox doesn’t even lose his stride and keeps fucking her. “Bar,” he grunts out.
“Finish up.” Shaking my head, I walk to the long black bar with fluorescent pink lights illuminating it. We’re full nude so we can’t sell alcohol, but we do. You have to have the right connections and money.
Derrick, my manager and partner, is instructing a girl on how to use the computer. He’s in his mid-forties and used to be a professional wrestler. You would never know it looking at him now. He wears nothing but Tom Ford suits and designer shoes. But he runs this place with no tolerance for any
bullshit. He also brings in a ton of business, making way more than he ever did in wrestling. Plus, he’s someone outside of the club we can trust.
“The lights are too bright,” I tell him. He looks over at me and rolls his eyes.
“No shit. My office is occupied.” I sweep the room and can’t help but smile. The red walls along with the massive number of lights and lasers make the dark stage seem like a show rather than a strip club. The booths and tables along with the chairs around the stage allow for everyone to have an optimal visual of the girls.
“He’s done.” I watch as Ox exits the office, his face flushed. Lindsey says something to him as she walks toward the dressing rooms.
Derrick eyes me. “You okay?”
“Lot of shit happening lately,” I yell.
He pulls out a bottle of Macallan Fine Oak and pours me a full glass.
“It’s hard to be king.”
I grin. “That it is.” Taking the glass, I head back up to the VIP area, which is now packed with bikers. The three poles are being used by different strippers.
My phone vibrates.
Edge: She’s not happy
Me: I don’t care
I shove my phone back in my pocket as I look down, slumping back into the booth with Axel. Ryder is sitting next to him, a shot in his hand.
“Everything okay?” Ryder’s brown eyes sweep my face.
“Yes,” I snap.
“I heard about what happened with Dozer. He’s getting old and mean in his old age.” Ryder smiles at Roxy who slithers up to us.
“Who’s gonna be my lucky guy tonight?” She licks her glossy red lips for effect.
“Well, that depends on what you’re feeling like, baby.” Ryder grins as he scoots his six-foot-six frame out of the booth.
Axel takes a sip of his beer. His passive-aggressive quiet disapproval is getting on my nerves.
“What?”
He sighs. “Blade, when you became president, you knew that having a wife or kids was not in the cards. Look at your dad and mom. Look at everyone who has a wife. You know they will use it against you.”
I laugh. “I think you’re jumping the gun.”
“Am I?”
“I’m not marrying Eve, and she can’t have kids so it’s perfect,” I growl and shake my head. “Ryder told you his dream?”
“No. I’m not blind, man. This one is different. You look at her different.” He picks at the label on his beer.
“Just be careful. You’re putting a big X on her and she doesn’t know the game.”
I close my eyes. He’s right. I know he’s right. I take a huge gulp of the Macallan. “God that’s good whiskey. I need to ride, get out of town. Plan on Hemet tomorrow.” Women are everywhere. I often wonder what attracts them to us. Most of the guys treat them like shit.
“I’m restless. I should take Daisy in the office.”
He smirks. “Just be sure and get her name right when you come.”
“You’re making too big a deal of Eve. She has a tight pussy and that’s it. Don’t get confused.” I sneer into my glass. The numbing effects of the booze make me aggressive.
“Hey Ryder.” I motion with my fingers. “Tell Daisy to meet me in the office.”
He looks over, his eyebrow raised then he mimes that he can’t hear me. Then back to fondling Roxy.
“Dick,” I yell.
He gives me a thumbs-up. “Doing it for your future, Prez.”
“Whatever. I’m satisfied with my whiskey.” My eyes drift down to the stage in time to see Crystal dance. As I watch her strip, I feel nothing. Her glittered body moves gracefully, but all I see is Eve swooping down in my black towel picking up my T-shirt. Her long, silky legs glisten with small drops of water. I’ve never been someone who noticed movements in a woman. Maybe it’s because when I was a kid, my dad was dragging me and my brother Chuck to strip clubs. But with Eve, she has a walk, a way she moves that reminds me of a ballerina.
“Prez. Hey man, you okay?” I’m jolted back to Lana Del Rey’s sultry voice. Crystal slinks around the pole to “West Coast” and I have to blink to get rid of my visions of long honey-blond hair instead of harlot red.
Axel shakes his head at me. “Maybe you should slow down if you’re gonna be in any condition to ride tomorrow.” I look up at the lasers and deep red moving spotlights and grin at him.
“I’m fucked, Axel.”
He frowns and nods, bringing his beer to his lips. The music and booze take over my mind and I lean my head back. This time I don’t fight it. Letting my eyes close, I see her swaying in front of me, her head thrown back as she laughs and dances only for me.
“Blade, brother? You want to take off? Or you want to sleep off the hangover with your woman?” I crack my eyes open to Axel and Ryder standing over me. I sit up and rub my hair and scalp before I focus on where we are.
“Derrick told me to tell you to fuck off and make sure we tip the cleaning crew.” Axel grins as he twists the top off a beer.
Leaning back on Derrick’s deep leather couch, I look at my guys. They both look a hell of a lot better than I feel. Maybe I should go back to the compound and crawl into bed with Eve. My cock likes the idea.
“Jesus, what time did I pass out?” I look around the dark office. The air conditioner clicks on, blowing cool air in the room.
“Beer, Prez?” I never drink while I’m on my bike, but this morning I might have to make an exception.
I look around at the large gray safe sitting to my left. “Open the safe. I need a line if I’m gonna ride.” They both grin. Ryder punches in the code and we stare at all the goodies Derrick keeps in there.
“Fuck, this is why this guy is our partner.” Axel exhales.
I grunt, taking in the cash, guns, and whatever kind of drug you want. Along with bottles of Dom, Cristal, and other pricey shit. A bunch of passports and drivers’ licenses sit stacked in the corner.
“Toss me some coke.” I motion to Axel who has his nose stuck in the safe like it’s a refrigerator and he can’t wait to make himself something to eat. He tosses me a bag and I take Derrick’s envelope opener and bring the white powder to my nose.
“Yeah.” My eyes sting as the coke makes its way into my system. “All right, let’s do this. I’m gonna piss and let’s get the fuck out of here.” I swing open the black door and the smell of alcohol hits me as I walk to use the john.
“Tomas,” I yell over the music he’s playing as he scrubs the bar mats. He looks over at me and turns down the music.
“Make sure you use bleach. If a cop stopped in right now, it would be an expensive bribe.”
He looks around the large dark club, the only light from the open back door.
“Sí.”
I nod, banging open the door. I piss, splash some water on my face, then take the stairs two at a time to see the damage in the VIP section. Numerous bikers lay buck naked with girls draped over them. Cricket and Dillon are in the corner fucking a girl, their exclamations of “fuck yeah” echoing in the room. I shake my head, thankful I passed out. The thought of waking up next to a naked girl I don’t know is completely unappealing.
“I’m riding out to Hemet. Cricket, when you’re done, take the guys and girls out of here. Tip the shit out of the poor assholes who clean this place up, and call me later.”
He doesn’t stop thrusting, but he does respond, “On it, Prez.”
I pull out my phone and scroll through my messages before I take the stairs. It’s only seven so Eve probably won’t be up, but I call her cell using the number Dolly gave me anyway. It rings and goes to voice mail, which pisses me off. I tend to get aggressive on coke, and as I’ve grown older, I rarely use it. The blood pumps in my temples as I run a hand through my hair and call again. It goes straight to voice mail. I take a breath and call Dewey.
On the fourth ring, “Yellow.”
“Took you long enough,” I say.
“Prez?”
I sigh. “Yes, Dewey, it’s me. You taki
ng care of my Angel?” When I realize what I’ve said, I almost bite my tongue.
“I’m watching her, Prez. Don’t you worry about anything. I’ve got it under control.”
“Where are you? You sound like you’re in a tunnel.” I walk outside to the sun where it’s warm enough for me not to worry about a jacket. I light up a cigarette trying to get the dumpster smell out of my nose. The alleyway is littered with broken-down cardboard boxes. Squinting at the people walking by with coffee, I grit my teeth. Maybe I shouldn’t have done that bump. I’m aggravated with everyone.
“Just outside your door.”
“Listen.” I inhale, the nicotine giving me a moment of calm. “I need you to wake up Eve. I need her.”
I hear him shuffling around then a loud shriek.
“Get the fuck out, you perv. I swear to God, I’ll cut off your penis this time.” I hold the phone away. Axel laughs behind me and I turn.
“I guess I should have told him to knock.”
More screaming. Poor Dewey is trying to apologize and tell her it’s me. “Tell him to fuck off,” she yells. I raise an eyebrow as Axel chuckles.
“Wildcat.” He shakes his head, stretches, and smashes his beer bottle at the wall. I frown and wonder if he snorted the same coke. He’s looking a little crazy.
My boots crunch as I walk through the shattered glass over to the street area. “Dewey?”
“Prez.” He’s panting. “I’m scared of her. She’s… not happy, and she told me to tell you to fu—”
“I know, I heard. When she’s calmed down, tell her I’ll be back in a couple of days and to turn her phone on. I want to be able to get ahold of her at all times. Got that, Dewey?”
“Yeah, I got it. I hope she forgives me. She’s so great.” He sighs and I can almost see his sad face.
“Just don’t go into my room without her permission. I’m counting on you to take care of my girl.”
Axel snorts, and I flip him off. “Don’t forget, Dewey, I want her phone on at all times.” I push end and flick my cigarette at the dumpster.
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