Page 16 of Next Level (Royal Bastards MC: Oakland Chapter #1)

TWAT WAFFLE

“T hanks, Tink, for cleaning. It’s always better when a woman does the cleaning,” Zip says as I walk up to the bar with a bucket of cleaning supplies.

Ever since I was little, the Royal Bastards have taken care of me, giving me small jobs around the compound. Even now that I have a real job, they always ask me first if I want to make some money. So, even though I don’t really need it, I still come once a month to do a deep clean of the place.

The only part of the clubhouse I don’t clean is the clubroom and office. Siren always takes care of the kitchen since she’s the one who cooks the most for the guys.

“No problem. It’s the least I can do right now. Helps keep me busy,” I say, bending down behind the bar and putting away the supplies.

Zip, Lip, and Lazy are sitting at the bar with Jay behind it. Most of the members are here hanging around. It was pretty tense having Samantha missing, but now that Ray got her back, everyone’s kind of letting loose today.

Once everything is put away, I stand up, noticing Jay standing next to me holding out a shot.

“Fireball.”

Jay nods.

He’s so quiet.’

“Thank you,” I say, taking the shot. “Aw, yeah.”

Damn, I love the burn as it goes down my throat.

Zip scoffs. “Tink, you and that damn Fireball. Doesn’t it make you shit fire?”

I put the glass on the bar and motion to Jay for another.

Not many people are allowed behind the bar, but since I was raised here, I am, except during parties, unless a member approves it. Usually, a prospect’s back here, but during the week, it’s low-key. I lean against the bar in front of the men, Jay chillin’ next to me.

“Nah, I’ve been drinking this shit since it was called Hot Damn. Remember that? Damn, I love cinnamon.”

While playing a game of pool, Chewy yells at Jay to bring him a beer. I try to grab it, thinking I could help out, but Jay grabs my hand, stopping me.

“I got it, Tink. I have to go check on Zoom and Dawg in the office anyway,” Jay says in a deep, low voice.

“Okay.”

Jay just stands there for a minute with his hand on my wrist.

Damn, the boy is fine. Quiet but fine.

The Royal Bastards are my family since this club has practically raised me.

I was always hands-off until my father passed away, and then I went wild, wanting to fuck everyone.

That was until Ray put a stop to that shit, telling me if I wanted to fuck around, that he’d be the one.

He wasn’t going to have me be a slutty club girl.

So Ray’s been my go-to guy, but damn if this boy right here isn’t giving me the ‘fuck me’ eyes.

“You good?” I say softly.

Jay snaps out of whatever lust-induced thought he was having, pulling back his hand and instantly rushing off.

I watch him.

“I think you got that boy all jacked up,” Lazy rasps out with a chuckle.

With a shit-eating grin, instead of looking at the men at the bar, I watch Jay’s fine ass move around the room.

I hope so because he’d be fun to play with. Sex is good with Ray, but he’s the one in charge. Sometimes, I want to take the wheel and play.

My phone chimes, letting me know I have a text message. My face lights up with excitement when I see it’s from Ray.

LEVEL: Tink, thanks for all the texts and calls. We will be home tomorrow.

I look around the room, and no one’s paying attention to me, as usual. I beam with joy because I know he hasn’t reached out to many people. Mostly Dawg and Zoom, who are both in the office right now doing stuff for Ray.

I respond instantly.

TINK: Just so glad she’s okay. See you when you get back.

When I see he’s not going to reply, I put my phone back in my pocket. I know he hates clingy women. He’s a great friend, the president of the Royal Bastards, and an overall genuine guy. Sex is fucking amazing with him, but I know we’ll never be a couple.

We’re just two friends hurting from the loss of our fathers and needed to let loose. Just trying to numb the pain.

“Tink, you gotta work tomorrow?” Zip asks, pulling me from my thoughts.

I work at the local hospital as a phlebotomist. I wanted to become an RN, but the cost and amount of schooling it required deterred me from pursuing that career path. I make a decent living. I have an apartment, a car, and money to spend on nice things, so I’m happy.

“Yes, I have to work, but I have this weekend off,” I answer, taking another shot.

“Fuck, here comes Trouble,” Zip announces.

I turn to see Vicki, Ray’s mom, and Twat Waffle, aka Tamara, Ray’s on-and-off-again slut. I never really had a problem with her until one night when Ray and I were fucking around out back, and she showed up, flipping out and wanting to fight.

Now, I can hold my own, but the club doesn’t handle girls fighting all that well. They don’t like drama, so I’m always on my best behavior, and the men here don’t care for Tamara, so they always take my side, which I love.

“Aw, the twunt is here,” I say low.

Lip hits the bar. “Ha. I love you, Tink.” He starts cracking up. “Twunt, I get it. Twat and cunt.”

I wink at Lip. “You know it.”

When the two of them enter, you can tell Momma Bear is on a rampage just by her facial expression. Vicki announces to the room, “Is my boy back with my grandbaby?”

Vicki’s the mama bear around here. Most of the time, she’s sweet and quiet, but then there are times like right now when she’s pissed, and people steer clear of her wrath.

Since no one usually pays attention to me and I’m always around, I hear shit. Shit like Ray hasn’t called his mom or Tamara since he’s been gone.

So if you know Vicki, that hasn’t gone well.

Warmth spreads through me knowing he just texted me. If he’d texted them, they would know he’s not coming back until tomorrow.

Lazy, who isn’t scared of Vicki, yells, “They ain’t here.”

Tamara’s eyes instantly meet mine as I stand behind the bar, and you can just see her wheels turning.

She hates that I’m part of this family and fucking, what she thinks is her man.

If anything, I’m fucking him, hoping to rid him of her.

Ray doesn’t do the whole girlfriend thing, and if he did, it sure as shit wouldn’t be with her.

Vicki slams her big-ass purse on the bar. “Well, when is he coming home with her?”

I move from behind the bar just as Jay emerges behind me. The men shrug, all taking a sip of their drinks. Tamara, the twat waffle, moves up to the bar, still watching me. I give her a fake as fuck smile.

Hearing the commotion, Dawg comes out of the office, “Momma Vic!”

When Vicki sees Dawg, her face changes instantly, and she beams. “Boy, where are my son and grandbaby?”

Dawg, who’s so tall that it only takes him a few strides to reach her, pulls her into a hug and explains, “Momma, I talked to him and he’ll be home tomorrow.”

He releases her, and she sighs, irritated. “Well, he could call his momma. I don’t like hearing from everyone else.”

Vicki turns around, finally noticing me. “Aw, Tink. How are you, baby girl?”

Hugging her, I tell her I’m fine and it’s good to see her.

I do notice her glance over my shoulder, probably to see where Tamara the twat is, knowing damn well we don’t get along.

I move to stand between Zip and Lip. Jay gives me his eyes, and I point to Zip’s beer and mouth, “Please.”

Instantly, I have a beer and a shot in front of me.

“Jay, I’ve been waiting for my drink,” Tamara comments, standing at the end of the bar.

Jay looks over at her and then back at me, rolling his eyes.

I cover my mouth.

Tamara snarls, “You best not be laughing at me.”

Why, yes, twaffle tits, we are.

Zip answers sarcastically, “No, Trouble, we would never laugh at you.”

Tamara moves down toward us with a grimace across her face.

“Why are you always here, anyway?” Tamara spits out. “Ray’s not even here.”

Zip’s about ready to defend me, but I place my hand on his forearm. “I’m here because they asked me to be here. Not like you, who just shows up.”

“You know he is just using you. Right,” Tamara says vindictively.

I scoff. “I like being used.”

Vicki’s voice sounds from behind us with a warning. “Girls. Behave.”

Tamara tries to play nice, turning her attention to Dawg, asking, “So did Ray just call or text you?”

“He called.”

I answer at the same time, “He just texted me,” and she snaps her head toward me. I lift my hand over my mouth. “Oh, you weren’t talking to me? My bad.”

“You lie,” she seethes.

I turn away from her and grab my drink, but before I can take a drink, I’m being yanked back by my hair.

The room erupts in chaos as we start to fight like two bitches.

Fuck yeah. Finally, I get to slap this twat.

I yell, “Fucking cunt!”

Twisting toward her, I let loose. These men have taught me how to fight, and I don’t play nice.

She may have my hair, but that doesn’t stop me.

I take her down, and my fists start flying, giving her a good uppercut to the face before punching her in the stomach.

I decided to pull a little hair of my own, only hers is easy to pull out, given they’re all extensions.

She screams like a little bitch, releasing my hair and grabbing my hand that is pulling hers.

Soon, two massive arms are around my waist, pulling me off of her, revealing she’s got a cut lip. The only thing she’s got from me is a handful of hair, but who the fuck cares? I got marks on that bitch.

I spit, “Fuck you, bitch.”

Vicki helps her friend up, yelling at her.

Dawg moves between us, facing Tamara. “You’re outta here. Don’t come back until Level says.”

“Fuck you, whore,” Tamara says to me as she stands up, yanking her arm from Vicki, then grabbing her purse. “I’m leaving.”

“By twaffle tits!” I snort.

Vicki grabs her bag and follows Tamara out, calling over her shoulder as she leaves, “Call me tomorrow, Dawg.”

Once they’re out the door, Dawg turns on me, placing his hands on his hips.

Shit, I’m in trouble.

I look around to see all the members surrounding me. When the arms that were holding me back loosen, I turn to see Zip smiling big.

I wait for someone to say something.

Lazy, of course, is the first to make a joke. “Twaffle Tits? Seriously, Tink, the shit you come up with kills me.”

The room erupts into laughter.

Dawg grabs me around the neck. “Ray’s gonna be pissed, but damn…Tink the tank got in some punches.”

Shit. Ray is going to be mad.

The men all start tapping me on the shoulder or rubbing my head, making my hair even more teased, and joking about my choice of words.

I love these guys.