Page 33

Lizzie—

Darko and I arrive at the clubhouse around 10pm for the annual New Year’s Eve party. Now that the snow is cleared from the streets, we took the bike. It was somewhat mild today, getting up to the mid-thirties.

I’m finding Darko will take any excuse to roll his bike out.

We’re both dressed in chaps and leather jackets, and with Darko as my windshield, it really was a nice ride.

Music blasts from inside the clubhouse, letting us know the party is in full swing. There are several other bikes parked outside, including Utah’s brand new one.

I guess all these guys are serious about riding anytime the roads are dry.

When we step on the porch, my hand in Darko’s, he turns and stops us before going through the door.

“I thought we’d crash here tonight. That okay with you? That way, I don’t have to worry about having just one drink. No way I’m putting you on the back of my bike if I’m not sober.”

“I appreciate that, and I think staying is a good idea.” I look toward the filled parking lot. “Who all is here?”

“Hang-arounds, friends of the club, probably some of the employees from The Cherry Bomb.”

“You mean strippers.”

He grins and presses a kiss to my forehead. “We call ‘em dancers, but yeah. Don’t worry, beautiful. I’m not lookin’ at anybody but you.”

We move through the doors, and Darko makes a path through the crowd with me tight at his back. I spot club members and a bunch of people I don’t know, even some guys with other patches on their cuts. But the sight that holds my attention are the dancers from The Cherry Bomb.

They’re in the middle of an area cleared for dancing, their skimpy outfits drawing the attention of men standing around the edge.

The driving beat pounds the walls, and their arms twine above their heads sensuously as their bodies gyrate.

I’m surprised there’s not a damn pole setup.

Darko pulls me along to the end of the bar where Rock holds court, his ol’ lady at his side.

Darko snags me a barstool and plants me on it, then orders us drinks.

Kate makes her way through the crowd and wraps her arms around me, kissing my cheek. “You made it.”

I can tell by her happy face and glassy eyes, she’s already tipsy.

I lean to whisper in her ear. “So, did buying Utah that bike pay off?”

She giggles and gives me an oh-boy-did-it expression. “Big time.”

I can’t help laughing along with her. It’s good to see her so happy.

With her arms still around me, she looks over at Darko. “This is my bestie, and you better treat her right.” She’s swaying on her feet, and I know those words wouldn’t come out of her mouth if she wasn’t half drunk.

Darko only grins. “Yes, ma’am. You got nothin’ to worry about, Kate.”

Utah loops an arm around her, guiding her off. “Come on, woman. I want to see you dance.”

The guys at the bar argue over who’s going to win the Super Bowl, and I lose interest, sipping my drink. After about thirty minutes, Evelyn wanders over and takes my hand. “Darko, I’m stealing your girl.”

Since she’s his president’s ol’ lady, I know he’s not going to object, and he doesn’t. The fact that everyone sees me as his girl doesn’t escape me.

“Bring her back before midnight, darlin’.”

Evelyn gives him a salute and leads me through the crowd and down the hall toward Rock’s office. She keys the lock, and we go inside.

“Have a seat. I’m going to find my secret stash of Fireball.” She digs through a shelf and pulls it out, then joins me in one of the two leather chairs.

I can still hear the music, but it’s so much quieter in here.

She pours us each a shot. “Here’s to men and letting them between our legs.”

I huff a laugh at her crude toast, but clink my glass to hers. “To men.”

The cinnamon flavored whisky shot warms all the way down to my belly, but it doesn’t burn.

“Who’s that other club out there?” I ask. “I saw some different patches.”

She nods. “That’d be my father’s club, the Iron Death MC. They’re out of Utah. Duck, their president is my father. He, Caveman, Ox, and Fish all rode over. My father misses me.”

“I bet he does.”

“I heard a rumor one of the dancers from The Cherry Bomb gave you a hard time when that shit with Gigi was going down.”

“Kiki? Yeah, she was a bitch.”

“I don’t personally know her, but I want you to know that in this clubhouse”—she points to the floor—“no one, and I mean no one , disrespects you. Understand?”

“I guess.”

“What I’m trying to say is, if she gives you any bullshit, you smack the shit out of her and put her in her place. Some of these girls will push the edges of what they can get away with. They think if a guy shows them any attention, and I’m talking just so much as watching them dance, somehow that’s an open door for them to make a move. Some of these girls think landing a patch is the golden ticket.”

“I suppose they would.”

“Darko is not into any of those women. I know for a fact he’s never been with Kiki. I can’t say he’s never fucked a dancer. The man has been single his entire life, but for as long as I’ve been around, there’s never been anyone special to him. Until you.”

“Really?”

“Yep. So do not let Kiki or anyone else tell you a fucking story about any bullshit like that.”

“I won’t.”

She lifts her index finger off her glass and points at me. “Be a badass. Lay down the law right from the start. Only way to show them it will not be tolerated. There’s not a man in this clubhouse who won’t back you. And no, you’re not an ol’ lady. Yet. But they all know what you mean to their VP.”

I hold my glass up, and she smiles and refills it.

“Now, if I’m being a nosy bitch, tell me to back off, but I know your husband died, and you’ve been struggling. Way I heard it, the life you had was a long way from this one.”

I down my drink. “Complete opposite.”

“And I’m sure as men go, Darko is probably nothing like your husband.”

“They are night and day. Sometimes I can’t understand how I can be attracted to both Darko and Matt for that very reason.”

“Tell me.”

“What do you mean?” I frown.

“Tell me the ways they’re different.”

I bite my lip. I suppose I’ve thought about it, but I’ve never put it into words. “Well, Darko is an Alpha, obviously. Confident and comfortable in his own skin. He exudes strong, unapologetic male energy. And that’s good for me, I think. I need someone who’ll call me out when necessary. Someone who isn’t a blind supplicant on the outside but secretly resents me. Ya know?”

Evelyn nods. “Darko is very upfront. It’s not always well-mannered, but it’s reflective of what he’s thinking.” She tilts her head. “Why do you think he’d secretly resent you?”

“Matt never openly challenged me, but he would quietly manipulate while pretending to be the nice guy. That was the problem. We did IVF, and it cost a lot of money. In the end, it didn’t work.”

“I’m so sorry, honey. That’s rough.”

“I’m not sure he even wanted to do IVF. I think he resented how much it cost, though on the outside he acted like he wanted to do it for me, like he wanted to give me the world. But then he made little comments that would get under my skin. Darko said something like that the other day, about wanting to give me the world if he could, and it made me wonder if he’d end up resenting me, too.”

“No,” she bites out, the word short and definitive, and she locks eyes with me.

“No?” I ask, wondering how she could know.

“Never. Absolutely not.” Evelyn shakes her head. “Darko would never let resentment fester. He’s an open guy. He’ll tell you if there’s a problem.”

“I suppose that’s true.”

“Tell me another difference.” She shifts in her seat and tucks her legs under her.

“Okay, well, Matt was driven to be a good firefighter, but outside work, he was a homebody. He had no real passion other than video games. Darko on the other hand, seems so worldly, and I’m sure he’s ridden all over the country and experienced so much. He’s the kind of man who likes to get out and live, not sit inside a house. I think that’s what I need right now.”

“I think you’re right.” She tilts her head, studying me. “There’s one more thing I need to ask you.”

“What’s that?”

“Darko is a package deal, and I’m not talking about the MC, though that definitely comes with the relationship. I’m talking about Eli. Are you ready to be a parent to a teenage boy with a chip on his shoulder and a ton of grief?”

“I see your point.”

“Though, if anyone can help him through it, it’s you. I saw the way you were with him on Thanksgiving. And by the way, you were right when you called us out. In that moment, I knew you’d fit right in.”

“Thanks. Well, to answer your question, I lay awake at night, asking myself the very same thing. It’s scary, because I don’t want to come between them, especially now, but Darko told me I’ve been kind of like a buffer between them, easing the awkwardness of two people who don’t know each other. I think having a third person at the dinner table makes conversation easier.” I shrug. “And I do know what he’s going through. He’s opened up to me a bit. But you’re right, it’s a big commitment, and they are a package deal. I think Darko has to be just as careful about any decision about me for the same reasons. He’s got to protect not just his own heart, but his son’s.”

She squeezes my hand. “God, girl. You’re so insightful. I really hope it all works out. I really like you, Lizzie.”

I grin and dip my head. After all, she’s the president’s ol’ lady. That’s a blessing from the MC’s queen, and I don’t take it lightly. “Thanks. That means a lot. Really.”

She checks the time. “I suppose I better get you to your man before he comes looking for you.”

“I enjoyed talking with you.” I stand, and she does too, giving me a hug.

“Anytime. And in the future, if you ever need to talk, all you gotta do is tap me on the shoulder and tell me it's Fireball time, and we’ll find some place and have a chat.”

“God, you don’t know how much I appreciate that.”

She hooks an arm around my shoulders. “Come on. And do me a favor. Point out Kiki to me.”

I grin. “Absolutely.”

Forty-five minutes later, everyone is gathered around, and Night Train is counting down the seconds to midnight.

“Five, four, three, two, one. Happy New Year!”

At the stroke of the New Year, a bunch of noise makers sound, and Darko sweeps me into his arms for a passionate kiss.

We break apart, laughing. Guys are shooting off party poppers, and streamers are flying through the air. Rock even rigged a balloon drop in the rafters, and gold and silver balloons rain down on us.

Several of the guys form a circle with their arms around each other, singing a drunken version of Auld Lang Syne . Of course, they begin humming after the first verse because none of them know the words, then collapse in laughter.

Utah is holding Kate up, and she’s not looking too good.

She meets my eyes. “Lizzie, the room is spinning.”

Utah sweeps her into his arms. “Time to put this princess to bed. Hey, Darko, you want to get the keys to my room out of my pocket and unlock it for me?”

“Sure, brother.” He passes me his near empty beer bottle. “I’ll be right back, sweetheart.”

“No problem. Go.”

I move to the bar. It’s mostly empty since people are still out on the floor. I’m barely there a moment when a hand on my shoulder jerks me around, and I’m face-to-face with a drunk Kiki.

She smirks. “He’ll never be yours. You’ll figure it out soon enough.”

“Stop embarrassing yourself. The only woman in this room who has Darko’s attention is me.”

She laughs and then throws her drink in my face. “Fuck you, you little bitch.”

Evelyn’s words ring in my ear. Be a badass. Kiki is taller than me, and I don’t think a slap to the face is going to put her in her place, so I do the only thing I can think of. I grab Darko’s beer bottle off the bar top and smash it against the edge.

Kiki’s eyes widen, and she stumbles back.

Now I’ve got every man in the area’s attention, but no one is behind me, and the ones near me don’t look willing to disarm me.

“You’re a fucking lunatic,” Kiki snaps.

I shake the bottle in her face. “Stay the fuck away from Darko. This is the only warning you’re going to get.”

Suddenly, Baja grabs Kiki in a bear hug and pulls her away, and I hear Rock’s voice bellow across the room. “Haul that trash out the fucking door, Baja.”

“You got it, boss.” Kiki is dragged away, kicking and screaming.

“She’s the one with the beer bottle.” She points at me. “Make her leave.”

A moment later, the crowd shuffles aside, and Darko shoves his way through to me.

“Let me have the bottle, honey,” a prospect behind the bar asks, holding his hand out. I pass it over.

Darko reaches me. “You all right, baby? You hurt?”

“I’m fine.”

He brushes my hair from my face, staring lovingly into my eyes. “Goddamn, woman. Did you really just break a bottle and threaten a dancer?”

“She wouldn’t shut her damn mouth about you. I had to put her in her place.”

He laughs. “Oh, sweetheart, you definitely did that.” He’s still laughing.

“It’s not funny,” I snap.

“No, it’s glorious.” He takes my face in his hands and kisses me. When he pulls back, Evelyn is standing next to us, grinning.

She holds up her hand for a high-five. “Way to set a bitch straight, girl. Bravo.”

Then she walks back through the crowd.

Darko stares at me, his chin pulling to the side and a puzzled look on his face. “You two best buds now?”

“Yes, I think we are.”

“Must have been a really good talk.”

“It was. And very educational.”

“I see. You ready to blow this party, my little badass?”

“Absolutely.”

We go to Darko’s room, and he takes his time stripping me, then himself, and takes me to the bed, moving on top of me.

He strokes the hair gently from my face. “It’s a new year, Lizzie. I feel like it’s gonna be the start of something great. I’ve got everything I could want. I love you, pretty girl.” Then he makes love to me, and it's slow and tender and everything about how he feels about me.

I wrap my arms around him, and my eyes get blurry because it's such sweet joy, and I’m happier than I ever thought I could be again.

Thank you, God, for giving me a second chance at happiness.