Page 99 of Indecent Lies

“Let me give you a piece of advice I wish someone had told me years ago. Before you look down your nose at these men like I’ve watched you doing for the last ten minutes, oh, yeah, missy, I noticed alright, you should know they are thebestmen anyone, you included, would be lucky to know. They are loyal to a fault, if they call you theirs they will do anything for you. Judging them for how they look and talk, for the rumors you've heard, because they're not drinking out of fancy china and they thinkfuckis a verb to go in every sentence, that’s your own issue.”

Color stained Poppy’s face. Under the scrutiny of not only the furious woman and the male eyes, she wanted to shrink back

“I won't let anyone look down on them like they're shit trodden into the Louis XV Savonnerie carpet.”

“I—I didn't. I was defending my friend.”

“Yes, you did.” Zara's voice was firm. “You get to do that one time. These bikers are my friends,my family. And what you have to know is, while they wouldn't lay a finger on you. I'm a whole different kettle of fish if you do anything to shade or anger one of them. And if you’d asked, they were praising Texas for what he did last night, defending you against the man who drugged your drink.”

What?

“What?” She said quieter.

“The boys…myboys brought that filthy asshole to Texas and he sorted the problem.”

Oh…

Shock and surprise had Poppy mute.

She didn’t know, she had no idea and now she was desperate to talk to him.

“I didn’t… I didn’t know that.”

“No, you didn’t, maybe think about that the next time you judge someone for how loud and boisterous they’re being.”

The woman was giving her a verbal beatdown in the mildest tone and she did it with a baby bouncing on her hip.

Poppy might be a little in awe.

“Icy, if you’re done fighting, I wanna get you and my kids home before it fuckin’ pisses more snow.” The man at the back said and he came forward, hooking Zara around her neck and sort of plastered her back to his chest. They looked like such a compacted unit.

Emotion and tears stung Poppy’s throat and she watched the pair turn, in a spontaneous instant she called out.

“You say I judged them, well you judged me too, you don’t even know me.”

Zara turned and half smiled. “Girl, I was you. Years ago I walked through the MC doors and I was you, looking down my nose at something I didn't understand. But I was given a second chance to know and love these men and I'm so thankful for it and them. This one here with the scruffy bun and beard, holding the prettiest little girl in the world. He's mine and I'd fight alligators for him. Do you know why? Because he'd slay demons for me no questions asked. These are Texas’ people; this is who he is. If you care about him like you just went to war for him, then think on that. Accept him for himself, not who he is right now.”

“Okay, Oprah.” Her husband said, “time to fuckin’ go. Pretty-boy, let’s roll.”

“Sure thing, prez.” The Thor one said and winked at Poppy on his way out behind them.

“I didn’t know.” Poppy muttered, with the rest of the eyes still on her, she glanced at Paige who smiled with sympathy. “I didn’t know you did that, that Tait did that. I’m sorry. I’m sorry.” She said again and made her feet move behind the counter. “I’m sorry,” she said this time to Paige. And then. “You don’t have to fire me. I quit.”

She heard her name from several voices, but she didn’t stop, just grabbed her coat from the hook and took off through the back door and out into the snow.

Shamed and embarrassed for her outburst.

Mortified beyond belief that she’d yelled at not only the bikers, but it seems the biker queen too.

Well, shit.

She really did make enemies spectacularly.

TWENTY-FOUR

“Panic at the disco… I mean bakery.” - Poppy

She didn’t wait a second when she heard his key in the door, Poppy skidded across the wooden floor in her fluffy knee socks and was on Tait like a wild rabbit attack.