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Rachel

I took a breather from the festivities, taking myself off to the bathroom so I could splash some water over my wrists.

Tonight had been a lot. And whilst I felt happier than I had felt in a long time, it was also overwhelming. The sea of faces had all blended into one, until I could barely recognise Dante in the crowd, never mind anyone else.

“Ooh, excuse me,” a woman said as I went colliding into her.

“I am so sorry,” I rushed out. “I was in a world of my own!”

“Don’t worry about it.” She gave me a kind smile. “Jenna.”

“Of course. Sorry, it’s just—”

“You don’t need to apologise. I know what it’s like when you first enter this place. I needed at least a week to recover after my first party. It will get easier. You won't always be the shiny new toy to fight over.” She leaned against the wall as she spoke, stopping her from swaying.

“I hope that comes sooner rather than later. I don’t like all of this attention.”

“The trick is you need to play them at their own games. These men, they like to pretend they’re the big, bad, and ugly.

It’s down to us to put them in their place.

” She pushed herself off the wall and linked arms with me.

“Be worthy of the attention you command, Rachel. Don’t let them make you feel nervous, intimidated, or any less than them.

They’d be nothing without us. Come on,” she said, pulling on my arm.

“Where are we going?”

“We are going to reserve one of those booths out there and have ourselves a breakaway party. Old ladies only. Let them sweat it out, wondering what we’re talking about. I’ll never tell if you don’t.”

I grinned at her, “lead the way, oh, wise one!”

She giggled, leading me through the doors, back out into the pub.

Dante turned to look at me as I passed, giving me a smile of approval as he saw my arm linked with Jenna’s.

He caught Shark’s eye, who looked at his old lady with such pride and admiration.

A knot formed in my stomach, making me think this might have been planned.

Some sort of conspiracy had gone off here.

But did it really matter? If I could make a friend here, and not feel so lonely, did it really matter how the friendship started? Or who encouraged it?

Of course it didn’t.

“Shark! Two of your finest. Make it snappy!” She called over to him as we took our seats.

“You’re the one who fucking works here. Do it yourself!” He yelled back.

“You’re the one who will be sleeping on the couch!”

“Was it two, you said?”

“Attaboy!” She leaned in and whispered to me, “See? Show them who is the boss. They soon fold.”

“I think if I spoke to Dante that way, he’d pour the drinks over our heads.”

“Yeah… you’ve got a point there. He’s err… Well he’s—”

“He’s a bad-tempered cunt,” I laughed. “You can say it. I know it, he knows it. ‘Do as you’re told, Rachel, don’t answer back, Rachel’” I said, imitating his voice.

“We are bikers ,” she immediately joined in. “You must listen to bikers!”

“We are manly men. Hear us roar!”

We both laughed, stopping our performance as Shark brought our drinks over, shooting us nervous glances.

“I don’t like this,” he muttered, hurrying away from us.

“Pussy!” she shouted back. “I told you; they don’t like it when we play them at their own games. They have church, we have… what would we call this?”

“Sin?” I offered after a moment's pause.

“Ooh, I like it. We’re off to sin.”

“Have fun at church, Darling. It’s time to sin!”

“I’ll have to tell the other old ladies. They’ll love this!”

“Are there many old ladies here?”

“A few,” she said, bringing her drink to her lips.

“Let me think, who here has an old lady? Oh, there’s Trent – that’s Zach’s son.

His old lady is lovely. She’s called Imogen.

Rooster and Chicken both have old ladies.

We call them the birds. They’re always together.

Then there’s Sasha. She’s Sunshine’s old lady.

You know the guy who works at the garage?

Sasha is an older woman, and she has a mean right hook, but she’ll take care of you, so long as you get on her right side.

Ant has an old lady, but I don’t know her very well.

She’s called Gemma. She pretty much keeps to herself.

And obviously you know big Mama. Everyone else is either single or has a girlfriend. ”

“What’s the difference?” I asked, trying to process all the names she had just thrown at me.

“Girlfriends tend to stay away from the club for one reason or another. It might be that the guy just hasn’t introduced them yet, or it might be that they don’t want to be a part of it.

Old ladies pitch in wherever they can. I work at the bar, as you know.

Gemma does the valeting of the bikes. No-one asked her to.

She says she enjoys it. Sasha walks the dogs – whenever Monster lets her, that is.

Imogen helps Vienna with the bookkeeping.

You should watch them one day. Vienna gets so mad when she starts demanding he justifies some of the expenditure.

They’ll kill each other one day, mark my words,” she grinned at me.

“The girlfriends probably couldn’t tell you who anyone is outside of their boyfriend, or Dante. Everyone wants to know Dante.”

“Why not Crash? He’s the actual leader, isn’t he?”

“He is. But Dante is the future, and everyone knows it. Crash has been stepping down more and more over the years. He’s still the leader, but it’s pretty much just a title for him now. He encourages Dante to take the reins. He’s ready for retirement.”

“I see.”

“You have nothing to worry about. Dante has never shown an interest in any of them.”

“I’m not worried. Dante will do what he wants, with or without my permission. I just have to trust that he’ll have enough respect not to cheat.”

“It’s up to the two of you to set boundaries. I know Crash and Big Mama have a rule; ‘what happens on the road, stays on the road.’ It allows Crash to sleep with other people – usually the whores in the other branches – whenever they’re away for days at a time.”

“Why?”

“I don’t know. It works for them, though. But then again, everyone knows the club whores sleep with everyone. Especially those in the higher ranks. See it like the Playboy mansion. None of them will be anything serious, but there are ranks amongst the whores, too.”

“And they don’t mind being called whores?”

“I never asked, to be honest. They’ve been called that for so long, I guess it’s just default at this point. I personally couldn’t give a shit who they slept with, how many men they’ve slept with, or anything else. If they’re enjoying themselves, fill their boots as far as I’m concerned.”

“What about Macbeth?” I asked, noticing him wandering around the room.

“What about him?”

“Does he have a girlfriend?”

“If he does, he’s keeping her quiet. Ever since he was replaced by Dante, he’s enjoyed his status in the club with none of the responsibilities. Son of the leader gives him a certain advantage over other members, and he knows it.”

“Do you know the history there?”

“Nope,” she said, popping the p. “I try to avoid Macbeth, to be honest with you. There’s something about the man that has always given me the creeps. He always looks like he’s sizing you up for his next meal.”

“I get what you mean.”

She leaned forward and lowered her tone.

“Between you and me, everyone always says Dante is the scary one. And whilst that’s true, there’s something about Macbeth that’s scary in an entirely different way.

At least with Dante, he doesn’t hide it.

The man is dangerous, but you’ll see him coming.

Macbeth will hide in the shadows, and he’ll strike when you least expect it.

Stay friendly with him but do what you can to avoid him.

You’ll thank me in the future, I promise you. ”