Page 7

Chapter Seven

B y the time I make it home, I feel both happy and sad. Cass is amazing but he’s leaving for a few days. That will give me some time to get my head together.

I walk inside and lay down on the couch. I’m exhausted and some trashy cable television sounds like good enough company for me to watch until I can’t hold my eyes open any longer. I doze off before the TV has been on for five minutes. I sleep peacefully despite being alone in my house. It’s been an adjustment over the last few months to live alone. I’ve always lived with my mom or a roommate, so this has been a learning experience.

I hate being alone, but I’ve been learning how to cope with it, or at least I’m trying. I wake with the first rays of sunlight, my phone buzzing on the stand next to me.

Cass: Good morning beautiful.

I smile at my phone.

Lilly: Good morning. What time’s your flight?

I look at the time. 7:03. This man is never going to let me sleep past eight. I let out a defeated sigh and get up, walking to the bathroom to brush my teeth and get my day started. I’m not a morning girl, but at the same time, I love being up and moving around early so I can get more done and feel like I accomplished more during the day. I pour a bowl of cereal and sit at the table in my small kitchen, phone in hand.

Cass: I take off at 7:30

This fucking sucks. I’m going to miss him while he’s gone. At least I’ll be able to talk to him this time.

Lilly: Text me when you land, boss man.

Before I can talk myself out of it, I snap a picture of myself making a goofy face and send it to Cass. A few minutes later he sends one back, a picture of him making the same goofy face. Man, he makes me smile so fucking much my cheeks hurt. I’m growing quite fond of this man.

Cass: It’s time for me to fly.

Mindy and I meet at the bar a few hours later to get things in order for the coming grand reopening of the bar. Representatives for the different liquor and beer companies will be in throughout the day and we both need to be present since Cass is out of town. Mindy’s sitting on the front porch of the bar at ten o’clock on the dot when I pull into the parking lot, with a smile and a cup of coffee. My kind of morning. She hands me a cup of coffee and a kiss on the cheek.

“Good morning, sunshine. Someone looks chipper this morning.”

“It’s just a good morning.” I smile, lifting my cup of delicious hot energy to my lips.

“That’s heaven. One of the many reasons I love you, woman,” I whisper, savoring the sweetness of my drink.

Mindy shrugs. “Eh, I’ve only known you for oh, I don’t know, half of our lives. So, four scoops of sugar in a tiny cup has always been the standard sweetness level for a Lilly cup of coffee.”

“How many of the vendors are supposed to be in today?”

“All of them, if my memory serves me right. Boss said that you and I are to manage all accounts; he doesn’t really want a hand in that kind of thing. Also, he doesn’t want his name in any of this. No one is to know that he is the new owner, or that he’s in an MC,” Mindy says.

My head snaps toward the driveway at the rumble of a motorcycle. Pulling down the drive is an orange and black motorcycle along with a blue and black one to his right. As they approach, I can tell that Scott is on the orange bike, but I don’t recognize the other guy. They’re both wearing the same cut that Cass wears. They park and step off their bikes. Scott meets us on the porch along with the other man who looks to be in his mid to late thirties. He has a goatee that nearly falls to his chest; his hair is dirty blond, short, and he has light blue eyes.

Scott greets me with our routine hug, the one where I jump into his arms, and he pops my back from the top of my neck all the way down my spine. I sigh in relief.

“That’s amazing,” I sigh as he sets me down.

Scott chuckles. “You’re welcome. Lilly, Mindy, I’d like you to meet Leo.”

Leo extends his hand to each of them. “Hey. Nice to meet y’all,” he says, shaking our hands.

“You too.”

“Leo and I are here to help out while Cass is out of town, so, anything you need, don’t hesitate to ask. It’s what we’re here for.”

“Thank you.”

“Cass said something about vendors coming in today. He asked us to make sure they didn’t give the two of you any problems and he wants all accounts set up in Lilly’s name.”

“Do what?” I pale at his words.

“Boss’s orders,” Leo says, laughing at the stunned look on my face.

“Is it because he doesn’t want anyone to know about the club?” I ask.

“Yes ma’am.” Scott nods his head.

“Come on, let’s get inside and check out what needs to be done while we wait on vendors.” Mindy ushers everyone inside. The four of us walk into the bar and Leo gasps.

“Holy shit.”

We all turn and stare at him.

“What?” Mindy asks.

“It looks great in here.” His eyes scan the bar as he turns in a slow circle. “He wasn’t joking, he went big with this one,” Leo says, more to Scott than anyone else.

“He did,” Scott agrees.

“This one?” I ask, confused.

“Yeah, this project. He always has some sort of business endeavor he’s got his hands in,” Leo says, still staring around at the interior of the bar.

“Prospect, that’s enough,” Scott warns. He’s clearly talking to Leo, but I’m not sure why he called him that. Prospect? I ponder it for a second before getting sidetracked. Leo and Scott take a seat at the bar while Mindy and I head to the office to check the calendar for the vendor appointments for the day. They will all be here today sometime between eleven and three.

“Is the bar open? I need a beer if I’m stuck here all day,” Leo says.

“Sure, it might as well be. What you drinking?” Mindy asks.

“Give me an ultra and a double shot of fireball.”

I hear the cooler doors open and the sound of a beer hitting the top of the bar as I duck back into the office. Scott pops his head around the door.

“You look happy today,” Scott says, walking in and sitting at the desk across from me.

“I am.”

“You have so much to learn.” Scott shakes his head.

“What do you mean?” I ask, curious.

“About our world. It’s not like yours. There are rules and terms and things you need to know before you get involved with Cass,” Scott says.

“Who said I was getting involved with Cass?” I retort.

“Cass did. He’s one of my best friends in this world, more than that he’s my brother and there isn’t much about him I don’t know. He told me a few days ago about y’all. Look, whether you’re ever going to be an item, or if you’re just having fun, you need to be aware of what’s going on around you.”

“Your brother?” I ask. I’m starting to realize I need to ask more questions. I didn’t know he had a brother.

“He’s my club brother. Blood doesn’t always make you family. That’s one of the reasons men strive to be part of clubs. For the brotherhood that comes with it. You need to know that the cut he wears is more than just a vest with a patch on it. There are responsibilities that come with it and it’s also like a giant bullseye sitting on the center of our backs. There are rivalries with other clubs, certain people we make it a point to avoid,” he says.

“Rivalries?” I laugh in disbelief.

“Yes. As crazy as it sounds, those do exist in the biker world.”

Mindy knocks on the door before walking in.

“Sorry to interrupt, but two vendors just showed up and I need you to come set up the accounts since they’re going in your name.”

“Okay, I’ll be right out.” I glance back at Scott, and he nods his head in understanding. This conversation isn’t over, and I still have tons of questions about everything he just told me. I walk to the front to find the vendors sitting at a table by the stage. They’ve both got computers in hand and are waiting for me to set up the accounts. It doesn’t take as long as I expected, and our accounts are up and running in no time. The day drags on as we prepare the bar for the reopening.

Mindy at least gets to get away and run some errands, getting everything we need to have a fully stocked kitchen as well as the coolers in front with vegetables and other necessities like juices and milk. I’m stuck here waiting for the other vendors to arrive.

"What else do we have to do?" Leo asks, staring around the building.

"Not a whole lot. Mostly just sitting around and waiting," I say.

"I'm going to sit outside and call my girl." Leo walks away from the bar.

"He doesn't care to be here, does he?" I ask, looking in Scott's direction.

"There aren't any poker machines and his ol' lady ain’t here. The only thing that piques his interest is the fact that there’s alcohol, but he doesn't care to drink alone."

"I get that. Unless you're the only one in an empty bar room and have free reign of alcohol."

"Sounds like you have some experience with that," Scott laughs.

“Me? Never. I would never take advantage of a full bar that’s completely empty when I’m having a bad night. Nope,” I joke, putting on my best serious face.

“Mm-hm,” Scott hums.

“So, about that conversation we were having earlier…”

“What about it?” Scott asks.

My phone chimes and Cass’s name lights up on my screen, making me grin.

Cass: Landed in Cali. How’s the bar?

“What?” Scott asks.

“Nothing.”

Lilly: Good. You want to explain why everything is going in my name?

“You talking to the boss?” Scott asks.

“Yep. Anyway, back to our conversation. What else is there that I need to know?”

“We’ll talk later. You’ll be seeing a lot of me this week, therefore, plenty of time to talk about that,” he smiles.

“Not fair,” I huff, folding my arms in protest.

“Oh well,” Scott says and glances down at his phone. He’s texting someone too. Probably Cass.

“What’s boss man got to say?” I inquire.

“It isn’t the boss man. It’s one of my pin cushions.”

“What the fuck is a pin cushion?”

Scott chuckles but doesn’t give me an answer. “Ask your boss. He came up with the term to begin with.”

I pick up my phone and tap out a quick text.

Lilly: What’s a pin cushion?

A few minutes tick by before I get a reply.

Cass: Roflmao. Tell my brother hi for me.

Ugh. That isn’t an answer.

Lilly: Is it what I think it is?

Cass: Probably. It’s a term I came up with to name Scott’s lady friends. He treats them like a pin cushion. Pokes them cause that’s all they’re good for.

I burst out laughing as I read his message. Scott looks at me, amused.

“What’s so funny?” He asks.

I don’t answer. He knows damn good and well what’s so funny. I double over, with tears nearly rolling down my face.

“Oh my god, you have a term for your fuck buddies…that is literally more morally degrading than the term fuck buddy itself.”

Scott laughs and shakes his head. “Yep. Pretty much.”

“Cass says hi, by the way.”

“I know. I was talking to him too.”

“Oh, that’s wrong.”

“Is not. I hear you like to shoot pool. Want to shoot a game?” he asks.

My cheeks redden as thoughts of last night play through my mind, wondering if that’s what Scott’s referring to. Did Cass tell him? No.

“Yeah, sure. I’ll go grab some quarters.” I grab my purse and get a handful of quarters. When I approach the pool table, I stop abruptly. They’ve been replaced since last night. Instead of green felt, there’s purple in its place.

“When did we get new pool tables?”

“This morning. I brought them in,” Scott answers.

“Why? What was wrong with the other ones?”

He scuffs the tip of his pool stick. “You sure ask a lot of questions.”

“Sorry.”

I lean down to rack.

“Nothing was wrong with the other ones, we just wanted tables with purple felt. He’s got a theme going.”

“Oh okay.”

I replace the rack and take a step back from the table.

“Have at it.” I point to the table. Scott breaks and runs out every last ball.

“I thought you wanted to shoot a game?” I ask inquisitively.

“I did.” Scott laughs.

“No, no. You just practiced. I didn’t get a damn shot!” I stomp my foot with my arms crossed, pretending to be offended.

“Awe. Well, rack again and I’ll try to give you a shot.”

I re-rack. Scott breaks and nothing falls. I shoot out six of my seven balls.

“Dammit.” Scott runs out all his solids and misses the eight ball on purpose. It was about a half-inch off and someone that shoots with his accuracy wouldn’t have missed such an easy shot by so little. I glare at him.

“Really?” I don’t need him to let me win. I hate that.

Scott giggles, trying to stifle his laughter. The door opens, and Leo re-enters the bar.

“You kicking her ass in pool already?”

“Maybe,” Scott says with a shit-eating grin. I walk over to the table and shoot the eight-ball straight in with one ball left of mine still on the table.

“Make that a definite yes, he’s kicking my ass.”

“She’s a little feisty,” Scott laughs.

“Noted.” Leo says with a finger pointed up.

“My girl’s going to come up here shortly. She gets off at three-thirty.”

“What time is it now?” Scott asks.

“Almost three o’clock.”

“Holy shit. Where is Mindy?” I grab my phone off the bar and dial Mindy’s number.

“Hello?”

“Hey woman. Where are you at?”

“I’m walking in the door now.” The front door swings open and Mindy walks through with hands full of grocery bags.

Leo and Scott both bombard her at the door and take the bags from her.

“Thanks guys. Y’all are so sweet.”

“Is there anything else in the car that we need to get?” Scott asks as he sets the bags down on the bar.

“Umm, yeah. I think there’s a case of water in the trunk. Oh, and three bags in the backseat.”

“All right. We got it.”

Scott and Leo head out to the car. I notice that Leo’s patch on his back doesn’t have all the same pieces that Scott’s does. There’s only one patch on his back, the bottom one, and it reads “Prospect” while Scott’s reads “Lucifer’s Hounds” on the top and “Baton Rouge” on the bottom with a demonic looking hound dog directly in the center, ears pinned back and teeth bared. Next to the hound is a small circle patch that reads “MC” and it is all proportionately purple and gold.

Mindy props her feet up on the barstool next to me. “I hate shopping.”

“You and me both. I’m glad you went, and I didn’t have to.”

“Thanks, you bitch.”

“Anytime love. Anytime.”

“So how are things going with you and the boss?” Mindy asks, raising her eyebrows at me.

“Things are going.”

“What’s so funny?”

“Nothing, I just find it amusing that I can now say that about my boss. But he wasn’t my boss when this started. I didn’t intentionally seek out my boss. Can you hear the bullshit from the regulars if they ever found out? I’d never live it down.”

“This is why they don’t find out. You know I’m not saying a word. And nobody else knows.”

“Scott does,” I say.

“He doesn’t count as a regular though, so you’re good to go,”

Scott and Leo had finish putting everything away in the back and Leo stands behind the bar, tying his shirt up like those slutty country girls do.

“Can I get you ladies anything?” he asks in the highest pitched voice he can manage while swinging his hips and blinking his eyes quickly in our direction.

We laugh at his impersonation of a bartender at the same time the front door opens and woman enters.

“Leo, what in the hell are you doing?” she asks.

I look at the woman closely. “Carrie!” I exclaim and wrap her in a hug. She’s the agent I met with about my house who was so kind to me.

“Hey honey!” Carrie says, hugging me back tighter.

“It’s good to see you.”

“What is my goofy man doing?” she asks, pointing at Leo.

“I didn’t know he belonged to you. Not that I cared who he belonged to. Okay that all sounded bad,” I say, giving her best apologetic smile. “I didn’t realize the ol’ lady that was mentioned was you.”

Carrie laughs. “Girl, you’re good. I know where my man’s heart is, and his heart is attached to his penis. He isn’t going anywhere, and I know I have nothing to worry about.” Leo walks behind her and wraps his arms around her.

“She is absolutely right.” He turns her around to kiss her.

Carrie’s smile mirrors Leo’s and they look great together; clearly they were made for each other.

“So how do you know my girl?” Leo asks, looking at me over Carrie’s shoulder.

“She’s the property manager of my house,” I say.

“Really? This is the new tenant you were talking about?” he asks Carrie.

“Yes, baby.” She kisses him on the cheek, rubbing her hand on his chest adoringly.

“Small world.”

Carrie turns in Leo’s arms to look around the bar.

“Oh my god. Cass did well with the place!”

I beam, feeling a sense of pride. “Yes, ma’am he did. He’s pretty great.”

“Somebody’s got the hots for the new owner,” Carrie notes.

“Of course she does. Where have you been?” Scott asks.

“Umm, at work. You know, that thing that normal people do on a daily basis?” she retorts.

“Hey, I know what that’s like. I’m working right now.”

“Yeah, looks like you’re doing so much work,” Leo says sarcastically.

“Nobody asked for any lip out of you, Prospect.” Scott smiles.

Leo shakes his head. “Always picking on the Prospect.”

I watch the interaction between them. They sound like siblings. Leo and Scott walk down to the end of the bar leaving me, Mindy, and Carrie alone.

“Mindy, this is Carrie. She works for the company that bought my house. Carrie, this is my best friend and co-worker, Mindy.”

Mindy extends her hand to Carrie. “Nice to meet you.”

“You too. I love my guys, but thank God there are women around here. Since the bar isn’t open, are y’all serving beer?” she asks.

Mindy giggles. “Yes ma’am, we are. What would you like, babe?” she asks as she walks behind the bar.

“Hey! While you’re back there, can I get another beer and another double shot of Fireball?” Leo asks from across the bar.

“Sure thing,” Mindy fixes his shot, and grabs his beer.

“I just want an Ultra, please.” Carrie sits down in the empty barstool next to me.

“I hear Cass is into one of the bartenders here. I bet I know which one,” Carrie elbows me with a smile on her face.

Mindy throws her hands up in protest. “Not me. Not this girl.” She points at me. “Her. Ask her. She’ll tell you all about her mystery biker.”

“Mystery biker?” Carrie asks, looking at me.

“Long story. He played Houdini for a while, and that’s what we referred to him as. He was mysterious. Sneaky.”

Carrie gives me a quizzical look. “Cass? Mysterious? I guess I could see that.”

I look down at my phone. Nothing. I open the message between me and Cass.

Lilly: How’s Cali?

I can’t help but let my mind wander to what he’s doing. As bad as I hate to admit it, I miss him. He has a knack for keeping a smile on my face. I picture his silly, smiling face. A smile spreads across my face at the thought of our pie fight last night.

“Lilly?” Carrie says, cutting through my reminiscing.

“What?”

“I was asking how you met Cass.”

“Oh,” I say softly, still smiling

“Well, you see, what had happened was—”

Scott laughs from the other side of the bar. “A story like that is always a good one.”

“I met him in Houston when I went on a mini-vacation. We met at a pool hall, and ended up spending a little bit of time together, then he disappeared. Then one night, I got hammered here after closing about a week or two later and I got woken up to him pretending to be a motorcycle in the lounge.”

“Pretending to be a motorcycle?” Leo asks.

“Yeah, you know, snoring.” Everyone bursts out laughing.

“Obviously, you have never been around Scott when he sleeps,” Carrie adds.

“Hey now,” Scott protests.

“You know it’s true. You can’t sleep within a mile of him without hearing him.” Carrie shakes her head at me while Scott hangs his head.

“That bad, huh?” I ask.

“I am not that bad.”

My phone buzzes, grabbing my attention.

Cass: It sucks. I never have anyone to travel with me. It’s no fun without someone to share it with.

Lilly: Wish I were there. I love traveling.

“Anyway. He and I have had a thing going on since. Don’t ask me what, cause I’m not one hundred percent sure, but…it’s something,” I say, finishing my story.

“Well.” Carrie takes a sip of her beer.

“When’s Cass supposed to be back from California?” Leo asks, directing his question to Scott.

Mindy pipes up. “He’s supposed to be back by Wednesday night.”

“Oh. Okay.”

“How did today go? Did you get everything set up?” Mindy asks, turning her attention to me.

“Yes ma’am. Everything is good to go. Now all we have left are the finishing touches inside, then open the doors on Friday.”

“That’s awesome. I’m so excited!”

I look around at the people at the bar. These are my people. I don’t know how to describe it, but they just are. This energy. This vibe. I love it.

My phone buzzes again.

Cass: I wish you were too; I could use good company.

Lilly: One day, maybe.

Scott claps a hand on my shoulder, and I jump nearly out of my barstool.

He snickers. “You stay jumpy, don’t you?”

“No, I just don’t like surprises.”

“What do you have planned this evening?” he asks.

“I’m not sure I have anything planned other than hanging out here. Why?”

“I was given indirect orders to make sure you are safe, so let’s take a drive,” he says.

“Safe from what?”

“Anything,” Scott responds.

Looking toward Leo and Carrie, he nods at Leo. Leo nods back. They seem to have already discussed whatever it is that Scott has planned.

“All right. I’m in. But I have two conditions,” I say. Scott raises an eyebrow.

“One, I drive,” I lead with that. Scott nods in approval.

“And two, we stop and get Taco Bell before we reach our destination.” I cross my arms and wait for any objection.

Scott nods his head again, barely concealing a smirk. “Done. Say goodbyes and get in the car.”

Stern and serious. Cass is keeping an eye on me vicariously. I turn to Mindy. “I’ll see you bright and early in the morning. We have to get in here and start stocking when the beer and liquor come in and we have to program the POS system, as well as a shit ton of other things.”

She pulls me into a tight hug and whispers in my ear. “You good?”

I nod into her shoulder inconspicuously. “Yes ma’am. See you then.”

Mindy presses a kiss to my cheek before sending me off. I hug Leo and Carrie at the same time with a quick “Bye, y’all!”

“Bye, love,” Carrie says.

“Okay, all ready. Let’s roll.”

“After you,” he says, holding the door open for me. I climb into the driver’s side of Betty. This is going to be great. Six-foot-two Scott is about to try and condense himself down to get into my low car. I laugh as he climbs in.

“What?” he asks.

“Nothing. Nothing at all,” I say. “So where are we going?”

“Just drive to the Taco Bell, then we’ll go from there.” He slaps his hands on his knees, which are bent against the dashboard.

“All right, all right. No need to get hostile,” I giggle.

“Not hostile.”

“Hey Scott?”

“Yes,” he answers.

“Can I ask you a question?”

“Sure, ask away.”

“Am I just a pin cushion for Cass?” I ask. For some reason it just dawned on me that maybe he isn’t serious about what he said. Maybe I am just a pin cushion.

“I don’t know. I don’t think so, but I really don’t know. My brother and I haven’t talked much about it. He’s been so busy with this new bar and working his other job that I haven’t asked.”

“Well, why is he keeping a guard dog on me? No offense.” I roll my eyes at my own words. “Not that I consider you a guard dog, I just feel like he’s making sure someone is always with me. So, I guess my question really is, is he having you watch me because he doesn’t want anything to happen to me or is he having you watch me because he wants to make sure I’m not out fucking other people?”

Scott chuckles at my question. “Lilly, you worry too much.”

We ride the rest of the way in silence, the only noise in the background being the radio playing an old country song so low that I can’t make out what it is.

I swing Betty around the drive-thru.

“What you want?” I ask.

“Umm. Get me a bean burrito and a Mexi-melt. Oh, and a Dr. Pepper,” he says, without scanning the menu. I order our food and pull around. Scott hands me his debit card and I laugh, not taking it.

“Nope. I got it,” I say dismissively.

“No, really. Use my card.” He hands it to me again. I ignore him and pay cash for the order then pull up. Scott grumbles in the passenger seat and I snicker at him pouting. He’s probably one of the biggest people I know and to most people, he would come off as intimidating or maybe even scary, and he’s sitting my car right now pouting.

“It’s not funny.” He folds his arms. I cannot contain my laughter any longer.

“Yes, it is. It’s hilarious. You’re pouting.”

He was probably trying to be serious, but the curve of a smile ruined that. The cashier hands me our food and I drive around to the parking lot.

“Here you go,” I say, handing over his food and drink as I park in a spot with a view of the highway.

“Thank you.” His expression is soft.

I would hate for him to feel like a guard dog, like this is something he had to do against his own free will. I don’t want to be categorized as some child who needs protecting and everyone ends up hating me because they’re always stuck babysitting.

“Where are we going?” I ask again. Scott shrugs his shoulders.

“I don’t really know, just riding around,” he says.

“All right.”

“Have you talked to my brother lately?” he asks. I shrug my shoulders at him as my only response. Two can play this game.

“I haven’t checked my phone since we were at the bar.” I pull my phone from my pocket. Four unread messages.

Cass: One day.

Cass: How’s the bar?

Cass: Lilly where did you go?

Cass: I guess I’ll text you in a little while.

I laugh and respond before he has a come apart.

Lilly: Sorry, Scott and I went for a Taco Bell run. It now seems I have a babysitter.

I smile at myself, entertained by my reference to having a babysitter.

“What you smiling about over there?” Scott asks.

“I told him that I now have a babysitter.”

“I’m not your babysitter, I’m just making sure you’re safe. There’s a difference,” Scott says matter-of-factly. I nod my head in understanding.

“There are people around here that will fuck with you when they find out that you’re Cass’s girl.”

“But no one knows that I’m Cass’s girl. I mean, I haven’t even been in public with him around here, yet. There is literally nothing tying me to Cass other than the fact that I work for him.”

“I get that, but you never know. So, just in case, I’m here. I’d do anything for him and right now what he needs me to do is look out for the woman that he’s involved with. That’s what I’m doing.”

My phone buzzes. Saved by the bell.

Cass: Lol you don’t have a babysitter. He’s just doing me a favor. I can’t be there to protect you, so he is taking my place.

His words give me a warm, fuzzy feeling. I smile at the stupid rectangle in my hand as another text comes through.

Cass: I’m missing you today.

Lilly: I was thinking the same thing.

This man will be the death of me, I swear it.

Scott crumples the wrapper of his burrito, dragging me out of Lala land and back to the present. He looks at me as if whatever I have to say is the only thing to be heard. I have his undivided attention, and I am not sure why.

“What?” I ask, unable to wipe the smile from my face.

“Nothing,” Scott shakes his head.

I reach over and punch his arm lightly.

“Where to now, babysitter?”

“Let’s go back to Creek’s. You need to practice your pool game and I’m sure it’s pretty dead right now anyway.”

“Sounds like a plan. Is there anything else I need to know?” I ask, pulling out onto the highway.

“There’s so much, but I can’t cover it all with you. Just be on the lookout for any patches coming in, especially red and green.”

“What’s red and green? Or, more so, who? Do their patches look like y’alls?”

“Red and Green are the Moccasins, properly known as Moccasins MC. Their patches don’t exactly look like ours. Theirs has a two-headed moccasin in the center, with Moccasin MC as their top rocker and Louisiana as their bottom rocker.” I listen intently, letting his words sink in. I want to be fully aware of what I need to look for.

“Okay. Red and Green. Moccasins MC. Got it. They’re the bad guys,” I chirp.

“Well, they aren’t exactly the bad guys, as you put it. They just don’t like Lucifer’s Hounds much. We have a different lifestyle than they do and a different view for the future of not only our club, but others as well. It’s Cass’s view and they can’t stand him because of it. Which is why he wanted me to keep an eye on you. They think they own the area that the bar is in.”

I cock my head to the side in question. “What do you mean different views?

Scott lets out an exasperated sigh.

“They want to sell drugs and guns and women. We want to do away with that altogether, in all of the clubs around us. Cass got the Hounds away from it and that started a movement among our brother clubs to follow suit. The Moccasins are one of the few left in this area that still take part in that shit.”

“Okay. Cass wants to modernize and civilize life in and around the clubs and these guys don’t. Why?”

“There’s good money in it. Money is power to them. There’s also good product in it; they’re the kind of people that use the drugs they get instead of selling majority of it.”

“But it isn’t money power to y’all too?”

“It is but it isn’t. We have actual businesses that bring in revenue for us, legally, but we don’t have to have a high income to be powerful. We’re one of the oldest and largest clubs in the state. Another reason the Moccasins aren’t so happy that we’ve been showing up around their town lately.”

“In their mind, you’re trying to fuck up their livelihood.”

“Their livelihood and their high.”

I turn into the long driveway to the bar. Once the parking lot comes into view, I notice Mindy and Carrie’s cars and the two bikes are all still here.

“Damn, Carrie and Leo are still here?”

“Leo can’t leave without me.”

“Why?”

“Because he’s my Prospect and he can’t leave me, especially around here. Our guys don’t ride alone out this way because the Moccasins are always around this area.”

“Wait, why would Cass buy a bar out here if this is where your rivals hangout?”

“Good question,” Scott says.

I park next to Mindy’s car and Scott clambers out of the car unceremoniously. He waits patiently for me to exit my car. He always stands with such a presence anywhere he goes. Almost soldier-like. Always quiet, watching every move going on around him, and always ready and waiting for anything that comes his way. I lean down and put my shoes on. It’s nearly impossible for me to drive with them on and it is such a habit to kick them off as soon as I get in the car that I don’t even realize that I do it anymore until I have to exit the car. Even if I’m only going five minutes down the street.

I step out of the car and walk around to where Scott waits.

“Let’s go see how drunk everyone is.”

Inside, we find Carrie, Leo, and Mindy sitting at the end of the bar playing cards with a stack of quarters in front of them. I walk up to the bar quietly.

“Having fun?” I ask, looking at Mindy.

“Always!” she says with a cheery smile.

“Yeah, she’s having fun. How could she not have fun with us?” Leo asks.

“Good point.”

Scott sets quarters down on the pool table, waiting patiently for me to notice.

“Ready for that practice game?” he asks.

“Hell yeah. I’ll rack.”

I smile at the memory of playing pool with Cass here. All I can see is Cass standing next to the pool table half-naked. I let the memory linger in my mind as I rack then step away from the table. The crack of the cue ball bursting through the rack shatters the moment in my mind and brings me back to the game in front of me. The cue ball flies from the table, and I retrieve it and start the game.

I run five of the solids out before I miss. Scott shoots six of the stripes then misses a straight in shot.

“You did that on purpose!” I glare at him, his smug look the only confirmation I need. “Asshole.”

I walk back to the table and shoot without aiming. I hate it when someone tries to let me win. Scott is laughing so hard when he gets back to the table that he can’t shoot and misses the ball altogether.

I shoot the rest of the solids and sink the eight.

“See, you won.” Scott pats me on my shoulder.

“Don’t,” I hold up a finger, pointing it at him. Scott’s phone rings and he abruptly exits, walking outside to take the call.

I sit down at the bar with the rest of our crew and watch as they’re still playing cards. I watch one hand before Scott taps me on the shoulder

“I’m about to head to the house.” I stand and give him a hug.

“Bye. Be careful,” I tell him as he squeezes me tight and cracks my back.

“Oh, that’s heavenly,” I sigh, half out of breath.

“Oh, mine next!” Carrie yells, hopping off her bar stool. Scott cracks her back next and she moans with each crack.

“Damn, she doesn’t even make those sounds for me,” Leo says walking over next to them. Scott finishes with Carrie, and she melts, his arms the only thing keeping her from hitting the floor. “My turn, dammit,” Leo says, waiting for Carrie to move.

Carrie steps back and turns to face me. “Bye Sunshine.” Carrie wraps me into a hug.

“Bye love!” I say, embracing her hug.

“We need to get together soon,” Carrie says on her way to the door.

“I agree, and outside of this place.”

“All right, Prospect. You ready?” Scott asks.

“I thought you’d never ask. Let’s go.”

I hug Leo and say my goodbyes as Mindy does the same. As Leo, Carrie, and Scott walk out, I walk back to the bar.

“They seem like really cool people. Definitely nothing like the bikers I’ve heard horror stories about,” Mindy says, cleaning up around the bar.

“No, they aren’t at all what people say.”

I smile at the thought. Oh shit. I never checked for a text from Cass.

I look at my phone and see that it’s already nine-thirty and I have three texts from Cass.

Cass: Okay good.

Cass: I wish you were here.

Cass: You’d love the view out here.

I smile as I respond.

Lilly: I’d love to be there but unfortunately the guy I work for left me here to take care of things while he’s out of town.

Mindy is staring at me when I look up from my phone.

“You talking to the boss?”

“Maybe,” I smile.

“Tell him I said he needs to get back so you and I can have a night off. Well, he needs to get back and hire another bartender.”

“No shit. We have the grand opening in three days and it’s just the two of us.”

My phone vibrates again.

Cass: I was starting to think I scared you off. Your boss sounds like a dick; tell him you’re needed in California for two days.

“What’s he got to say? You’re smiling awful big.”

“Probably just a load of bullshit, but it sounds nice.”

I begin typing again.

Lilly: I’d tell him that but there isn’t anyone to cover my shift.

Mindy is wiping down the bar and emptying ashtrays while I clean the tables for her. It’s a routine we are both used to and when we do it together it’s done in twenty minutes. I sigh as I begin lifting the barstools and putting them on top of the tables, starting by the stage and making my way back to the bar. Mindy’s done with everything but her paperwork as I sit down at the last barstool left on the floor. My phone chimes again.

Cass: That can be arranged. Get on the next flight out.

My smile spreads into a laugh. “Mindy, I can’t tell if he’s being serious, but he just told me he will get the shifts covered and for me to get on the next flight to Cali.”

Mindy’s head whips in my direction, stopping her abruptly in her tracks.

“What? Why are you still sitting here?”

“Because I don’t know if he is serious.”

Mindy laughs, throwing her hands up. “Then find out!”

Lilly: Are you serious?

I wait several minutes with no response. My mood begins to diminish, then my phone starts ringing.

“Hello?”

“Hi.”

“Hi.”

“Yes, ma’am I’m serious. Scott has a plane ticket for you. He’s on his way to you now.”

“Really?” I squeak, unable to conceal the excitement in my voice. After all, this is the kind of thing I live for.

“Yes, ma’am. Don’t worry about packing anything. I’ve got you taken care of.”

“Okay. Well, I guess I will see you in a few hours.”

“I can’t wait. Have a safe trip, beautiful.”

I hear the slamming of a truck door outside followed by Scott entering the front door.

“Damn, that was fast.”

“I have a delivery for you.” He hands me an envelope that contains a plane ticket and three hundred dollars in cash along with a black cloth bag.

“Thank you so much. Is it you that’s covering the shifts at the bar, too?” I can’t help the amusement in my voice at the thought of Scott behind the bar, dealing with drunks.

“Oh no. Ryan, one of the club guys’ wives is coming in tomorrow to train with Mindy.”

Mindy pipes up. “I guess I’ll be here in the morning then.”

“Ryan will have another girl coming in with her to train so we can give Mindy some time off as well,” Scott says.

Mindy runs around the bar, jumping into Scott’s arms, catching him slightly off guard. He stumbles back at the unexpected impact. “Thank you, thank you, thank you!” she yells, squeezing him in a long drawn-out hug.

Scott pats her back and sets her down. “Thank Cass. He had it arranged. I’m just the messenger today.”

Mindy’s smile is radiant and even though the exhaustion is written all over her face, the news of her getting to take a break makes her light up like a Christmas tree. One of the many qualities I love about my best friend is her ability to shine anywhere she goes.

“All right, Lilly Amber. Get the fuck out of here. There’s a sexy biker waiting for you and he’s only a plane ride away. That, and I’m ready to close this fucking place down and go to bed. So, go!” Mindy wraps me in a hug and ushers me out the door.

“Wait! Look in the bag and change into that before you leave. Boss’s orders,” Scott says, stopping us at the door.

I open the bag to find a navy-blue halter dress that falls just above my knees, a pair of black converses, and a tube of my favorite shade of burgundy lipstick. I smile as I change quickly into the dress and put on the lipstick. He’s good. I should give him that. The sizes are perfect, and he got the exact shade I wear. I wonder which woman he had go do his dirty work. One of the ol’ ladies, I’m sure, is behind the shopping.

I do a once-over in the mirror and twirl in this beautiful dress before I exit the bathroom with my clothes stuffed into the bag. I cannot believe I’m getting on a plane to go to California to meet up with this man. What am I doing?