Page 9 of Liberator (Serpent Sinners MC #2)
Chapter 9
“No one needs to fucking babysit me. I’m fine,” Rage informed us with a scowl that made his entire face turn red.
I waved Doc away and said, “Then, I’ll just sit here and chat. I came to visit anyway. Are you going to throw me out for that after I brought you something so delicious?”
“It’s not you I’m angry with,” Rage replied. “I don’t like sitting in bed unable to do things for myself while other people watch me. If I have to lay around I’d rather do it where I don’t have to deal with stares. It feels like I’m under a microscope.”
“Try spreading your legs open for a stranger while blood and gunk gushes out and screaming your lungs out as a baby pushes its way out of the smallest place imaginable. Then, I might feel sorry for you,” I teased.
He burst into laughter and said, “Okay, you got me there. I’m a whiny assed fool. I’ll stop bitching if you tell me what’s going on outside this room.”
“No one tells me much. I just work here, remember? Flame talks to me more often. I think she’s beginning to warm up to me, but to the others I’m just a fixture, kind of like a chair or something. Everyone seems to be a little on edge, which is understandable considering the bomb. Otherwise, there’s nothing new to report.”
“What do you mean, you’re just a fixture? Haven’t you said anything to Prime about wanting to be a prospect?” he asked.
I shrugged and looked away. “I tried once or twice, but Prime was too busy and I’m not one of his priorities. I don’t think he’ll like the idea anyway. Even Flame hasn’t pushed the idea yet.”
“Look, I realize things have been unsettled around here lately. Prime is preoccupied with the troubles the club is experiencing, and then there’s the issue of payback that literally blew up in our faces. However, I still think you should seek out a chance to speak to him. He’s a reasonable man, most of the time anyway. Catch him after he’s had a good dinner and a few drinks. If he’s relaxed he’s more likely to understand that you’re serious,” Rage advised.
“He may take Flame seriously because she’s been accepted as one of you for a long time. She’s let in on all the secrets even without being a member. There’s just something about her that all of you trust. I came from out of nowhere, with no one to vouch for me. My chances suck at best, but I promise I’ll try again. I’ve finally decided to not give up on myself anymore. I like being here. I want this strange family of misfits. I don’t even care whether what you do is legal or not anymore. This is real, and that’s what I want,” I confessed.
“Two are more convincing than one, so keep hanging with Flame and follow her lead. You may have to toughen up some and start to swear more, but I think you’ve got it in you. I heard a few nasty things come out of your mouth when you were having the kid,” he joked.
“Like Doc said, you’re not as funny as you think you are. Is there anything else I can get you once he’s back? I don’t work tonight, so I can run in here anytime,” I offered.
“You don’t need an excuse to visit. It’s boring and lonely in here and Doc just likes to rile me up so that he can argue. Come back whenever you want, even after they move me. You’re good company,” he answered.
I was flattered that he felt that way. I hadn’t ever been told that by anyone. The flattery brought me back to check on him several times while he was recovering, although I knew it wasn’t the only reason I wanted to spend time around him.
I was allowing myself to become involved. It infuriated me. It wasn’t anything I’d planned, much less wanted. If my past was any indication of how my life was meant to be, then Rage wasn’t supposed to be a part of it except that he was a member of the MC that I wanted to join.
Being a part of the same family was fine, but more than that was asking for trouble. I wasn’t a good bet for a relationship with anyone. I’d been used, abused, and abandoned. Worse, I’d handed my child over to someone else. At nineteen I was a screwed up has-been. Who wanted that kind of person around?
I’d have to be happy with Prime allowing me to become a prospect and expect nothing else. It had to be enough. I wouldn’t be alone anymore. That was as high as my expectations could go at the moment.
I continued working hard in the bar and trying to get the courage to speak to Prime. I managed to say a few words to him once in a while, even to tease him about me being one of his club members. He’d laugh and joke back, but I was able to tell he didn’t actually believe I meant it.
I needed to try harder. I promised myself I would.
The bar was busier than I’d ever seen it. It was as if someone had sent out messages for a party that had no actual defining purpose. It was a party for just the sake of partying. The parking lot was filled to overflowing and the tables inside were crammed full, many patrons having to lean against the walls as they joked and laughed with their friends who had been lucky enough to grab a chair. No one dared get up in case their seat was taken, so I was spending my time rushing back and forth to fill orders.
I suppose I should have been frightened by all the men from different clubs who wandered in, but I wasn’t. I considered the fact that I was too busy to be nervous or scared, however I doubted that was the entire reason I was calm and cool about it all. I was aware that I felt protected due to the overabundance of Serpent Sinners among the crowd.
Colt, the Sergeant at Arms who reminded everyone of a gunslinger from the wild west, was guarding the bartender. No one was going to cause trouble in his area. His steely gaze was more than enough to tell troublemakers to back off.
Stretch, the Treasurer who was extremely tall, stood at the entrance intimidating those who arrived with more on their mind than having fun.
Sweet the enforcer, Ditch the Vice President, and several large male prospects roamed among the crowd watching for any arguments that might arise.
Even Prime, the club’s President, had come in to make certain no problems arose. He tossed back a few drinks and joked with everyone who dared speak to him, but his eyes never stopped tracking the movements of members of other MC’s.
I had to squeeze between a group of very drunk men in order to take the tray of empty mugs back to the bar for washing. One reached out to swing me into his arms and Prime was instantly there to intercept him.
“She’s not part of the merchandise. Keep your hands off her and the other servers or get out,” he stated in a voice that may have sounded casual and quiet to the nearby observers but was cold as ice.
The man held up his hands in surrender and mumbled, “It’s too crowded in here anyway. I know a place where no one gives a shit who you touch or how many of the women you take into a broom closet. Hell, you could do one on the bar and every damn person there would cheer you on.”
“Then head out,” Prime replied as he shifted the man’s stance to face the door.
“I’ve got this,” Sweet announced from behind Prime. “I’ll happily escort him and his friends out. They were cut off from drinking ten minutes ago anyway.”
I dropped the tray onto the gleaming surface of the bar that Flame kept clean and shining no matter how crowded we were. I wiped the sweat off my forehead with my arm and gave her the next order.
“Someone else is going to have to deliver that,” Prime told Flame. “I need some time with Vikki, and she needs to cool down before she passes out.”
“I’m fine,” I argued. “There aren’t enough servers as it is. I can’t leave Flame with this mess.”
“Never argue with the Prez, chica,” Flame replied. “It’s the first rule of the club. I’ll be fine. We’ve got it covered. Jamie and Marie just came in. They’re fresh and you’re not. In fact, your shift was over fifteen minutes ago.”
She handed each of us an icy beer and turned to handle the woman who’d decided it was a great idea to dance on the bar.
Nervously I followed Prime to the hallway in the back. I was afraid he was going to tell me I’d worn out my welcome and needed to find another place to live. Nothing good lasted forever. I’d learned that lesson the hard way.
“What did I do wrong?” That was what slipped out of my mouth the moment we were alone. I instantly blushed and lowered my head to where I was staring at my tired, aching feet.
“Who said you did anything wrong? I don’t remember mentioning anything of the kind. I thought I sounded quite civil when I said I needed some time with you. I apologize if you misunderstood,” he answered.
My head swung up at that. Prime didn’t normally make apologies, especially not to a waitress. If this wasn’t to be a speech about my work or a dismissal from living in the clubhouse I had no idea what it could be about. He didn’t make me wait long for an answer.
“I understand you have a request that there be a change in club rules. It’s not often that I consider making changes of any kind, so it’s a surprise to myself that I’ve been willing to allow this one to stick in my head,” he began.
Damn! He’d finally understood that I wanted to be a prospect, and this was his way of telling me it was impossible. MCs didn’t make changes to their rules lightly. I was asking for a huge one.
“I’m sorry. I should have approached you more directly. You shouldn’t have to concern yourself with figuring out puzzles, and that’s what all my comments were good for. I really wish you’d reconsider and allow women to be prospects. Things have changed over the last few years. Women want more. I want more. Flame wants more,” I dared to add.
“I’m not reconsidering anything. Once I make up my mind about something it’s practically impossible to change my mind,” he said.
“But…” I began.
He waved away my protest and stated, “I’m not saying no, Vikki. You’re correct that the woman’s place has changed in this world. I may not agree with some of those changes, but others are for the best. Flame has proven herself over and over to be just as reliant and tough as my men. She’s held onto our secrets and faced more trouble than some of our current prospects with bravery I can’t deny. She’s leading the way for so many others, including you. However, you haven’t been around long enough or had a chance to prove anything of the sort. Therefore, it was necessary that someone speak to me in your behalf.”
“It was nice of Flame to mention my desire to you. I should have known she wouldn’t leave me out when she asked to become a prospect. She’s fair even to those she isn’t friendly with,” I replied.
“It wasn’t Flame who came to me, although I’m sure she will speak well of you when I have this same conversation with her. Rage was your champion. No matter how much I protested or found what I thought were reasonable excuses for making you wait until you’d given me more proof you were capable and trustworthy, he was able to give me a counter argument. It seems he believes I underestimate you. So, he put his honor on the line for you. Should you prove to be less than he believes, then he may find himself without the trust of our club members.”