Page 71 of The First Cut

“I know. But it’s rude to play with your food.”

A surprised snort of laughter bursts out of me. “Smart ass.”

Turning back to Elmo, who is watching us with an air of curiosity on his face, I give the order. “Strip her, burn off the tattoo, and throw her out.”

“No! Please. I don’t have anywhere to go!” Razzle screams as Manny and Gunther step forward to help Elmo. Gunther throws Razzle a look of disgust.

“Should have thought about that before you tried to touch an old lady. ?Bout time you learned your place.”

“But she’s always been fair game. Khan and Driller didn’t care. They found it funny. Hell, they were the ones usually egging me on. I was just doing what was expected of me.”

Lola shakes her head at her. “The club might be all about the brotherhood, but the women make a sisterhood too, and you shit all over that every time you turned on me. You can blame Driller and Khan all you want, but we both know you got a sick satisfaction out of watching me brought low. Don’t worry, though, Razzle, you weren’t alone in your way of thinking. You were just the only one stupid enough to do it in plain sight.”

Lola’s words lead to muttering from the crowd. I look around and see faces flushed with shame.

“Strip her.”

Nobody moves for a minute before Jolene and Jess, a couple of old ladies, move from the crowd and start ripping at her clothes as Gunter and Elmo hold her still.

Manny shakes his head and walks over to us, his eyes moving from me to Lola. “Hey, Lola, you look like you could use a drink. You want a Coke or something?”

She looks startled for a minute, that he’s talking to her.

When she doesn’t answer he grins. “I could make you a fancy mocktail, if you like.”

That perks her up. “Actually, that sounds pretty good.”

“Awesome. Come to the bar when you’re done here, and I’ll get it ready for you.”

“Thanks, Manny,” she returns softly.

I let my gaze move from her to the others in the room watching her. Everyone ignores a screaming Razzle beingdragged away. Byte and Snoopy, one of the older members, walk over as the crowd goes back to doing whatever they were doing before.

“Always hated that bitch,” Snoopy says in greeting.

“So it wasn’t your pasty ass I saw plowing into her at the weekend?” Byte drawls.

Lola snorts before burying her face against my arm.

“I’m old Byte. Can’t afford to be picky, and pussy is pussy. Oh, there’s Germ. That motherfucker owes me twenty bucks.” He starts to walk away before tossing out a “Later Prez, Lola” over his shoulder.

“Bye,” Lola whispers as Byte stares down at her. “You saw that, right?”

“Saw what?”

“People being nice to me. Elmo, Manny, and Snoopy—kinda. Okay, Snoopy only said my name, but he didn’t sneer it, so it counts, right?”

“Right, doll,” I say softly, swallowing down my anger. Byte looks just as pissed. It’s good to see the mindset shifting, but the fact that she’s surprised by people being nice to her says it all.

“You wanna play pool with me, Lola?” Byte offers.

Her mouth drops open for a moment before she looks at me.

“Up to you.”

“Okay, sure, Byte. I’ll play.”

“Stay with Byte. I’ll go get you a mocktail, whatever the fuck that is, from Manny.”