Page 6

Thad is a dead man walking. As are the men he partnered with. Being under Big Daddy and Wood’s protection doesn’t mean that I’m out of the line of fire. My going to Big Daddy and revealing their plot to kill him makes me their number one target for revenge.

Low was right to deny me the use of a phone. If my location is discovered, then I’ll be putting every man and woman here at risk. I have to do my part. Play my role. I have to stay hidden long enough for Big Daddy to take down our enemies.

I have to make the best of my situation.

The clothing selection is slim pickings, but I manage to pull together some tank tops and booty hugging shorts that will make decent pajamas along with some underwear still in their packaging.

Next on the list is cleaning supplies to tackle that nasty ass bathroom.

If I have any luck, I will find some rubber gloves.

I find an empty plastic bin and begin filling it with toiletries and spray cleaner with bleach.

In a drawer marked for medical supplies, I score some gloves.

“Hey girl.” A chick with caramel colored hair and doe eyes pokes her head into the room.

I haven’t spoken to her much. I think she’s one of the club girls.

Meaning she puts out for any member of the club who wants to sleep with her and in return they take care of her to a degree.

At least that’s how Gwynee explained it to me when I asked about some of the ones I noticed were living at Big Daddy’s mansion one day when Cecilia was doing my hair.

“Hey.”

“Is there anything I can help you find?”

“A hazmat suit to tackle the bathroom on the third floor.” I smile and she laughs.

“I don’t think you’ll find one, but I will do you one better. Come with me.”

I don’t know if I can trust her. Gwynee told me tales about how awful some club girls can be.

Territorial. Jealous. Spiteful. Downright bully behavior you’d expect from someone in middle school.

However, I don’t have anyone here truly in my corner and judging by the way Wood’s wife was looking at me, beggars can’t be choosers, and I need all the help I can get.

Low is sweet, but she is loyal to her family, and I can’t trust her to always be honest with me. I don’t know that this Madz chick will be truthful either, but we’re on more even playing ground here. Our invitations to this world can be revoked at any minute.

Madz leads me a few doors down to a bedroom nearly three times the size of mine. Being a club girl comes with some perks, I see.

“You can use my private bathroom until the guys clean their mess.”

“I could kiss you right now. Figuratively that is.”

“No worries. I know how gross them probies are. I noticed you didn’t bring anything with you on the ride here. I’ve got plenty of clothes. Seriously, help yourself to whatever and you can return it when you get on your feet.”

“Who are you? My guardian biker babe angel?”

We both laugh.

“Something like that. Tough luck with your husband.”

“Does everyone know?”

“Oh yeah. But don’t worry about that. Everyone knows everything about everyone here.”

Man, I hope not.

“Towels are in the bathroom.” She opens a dresser drawer. “This would look kick ass on you.” She hands me a wide-necked tee that says Chainsaw Mafia on the front.

“You’re a Jackyl fan?”

“Oh yeah. I’d totally do the lead singer.” Madz grins. “He’s my celebrity crush, even if he is practically old enough to be my grandfather. I met him at Sturgess one year. He was totally cool.” She hands me a picture she had tucked in the corner of the mirror hanging over her dresser. “See.”

The photo is of her meeting Jesse James Dupree. She’s not wrong. The man is sex on legs, especially when he’s performing.

“Meet me down at the bar when you’re ready and don’t even think about cleaning that upstairs bathroom. Make the guys do it. If you let them take advantage of you, they will.”

“Noted.”

“Good. You’re a woman in a man’s world, but never let them forget you hold all the power right here.” She grabs her crotch. “Don’t look at me like I’m crazy. Behind every powerful man is either his mother or his woman. And stay the fuck away from the ones that have those weird ass moms.”

“What do you mean weird ass moms?”

“Don’t tell me you’ve never met those mommy’s boys that are still attached to the apron strings.”

“The what?”

“That might as well be still sucking on mommy’s titty because they don’t make a decision without her input. And if she hates you…shit. Your life will be hell and trust me, they don’t like anyone.”

“Got it. I’m still married and my life is too up in the air for me to be worried about men and their mothers.” I’m only worried about a wife murdering me in my sleep.

“Jess. Can I call you Jess?”

“Sure.”

“We have a lot of hot single bikers around here. Trust me. You’re going to be thinking about it sooner than you think.”

My belly does a dip and my heart drops to my feet. There’s one man that’s not single. Woods is married, but I can’t stop thinking about him. He has a great fucking smile, and he makes me laugh. Too bad he’s a cheating asshole.

But doesn’t that make me a cheater, too? I’m married, same as Woods. Even if I hate my spouse, I’m a cheater and no better than Thad or Woods.

“Damn, that was fast.”

“What?”

“Where did you go to just now? Someone is on your mind.” Her deep red lips tip into a full grin. “You like someone.”

“No.”

“You don’t have to tell me who, but I know the men around here better than most. In ways a lot don’t. I’m not bragging. Only stating facts. If you like one of them…” She lifts her right shoulder. “Then I may know something to help or steer you clear from a total player.”

“I don’t know any of them well enough to like them.”

“You spent a few days on the back of Woods’ bike.

You slept in his motel room. A woman knows within the first five minutes of meeting someone if she’d fuck them.

It’s basic biology and chemistry, babes.

It’s who we are as a species. We were designed to seek out a partner and procreate.

And I’ve heard that he and his wife made a deal when they got together.

Whatever he does on the road stays on the road.

Or in some cases who he does, but I’m guessing since you’re here, you didn’t fuck him.

” She studies my face, but I do my best not to react.

“Does he screw around behind her back often?”

“I’ve never seen it for myself, but he wouldn’t be the first biker to cheat.”

Or the first wife. I keep the thought to myself.

What does it say about me that the same night I left my husband, I fucked another man without a second thought? I should regret my night with Woods and yet I don’t.

I more than liked sex with him.

He’s the best I’ve ever been with.

How am I going to bear staying here? Seeing him and his wife. Seeing him be with his wife, knowing that he’s been inside me. Was he thinking of her when he was fucking me? Will he think of me when he fucks her?

My head is so fucked.

Evil men want me dead.

And all I can think about is the way I felt when Woods smiled his stupid smile at me and called me butterfly.

The same smile he probably gives to his wife.

I’m so going to hell.

Maybe I’m already there.