Although I wouldn’t want to be Kodiak. Patched in, but already on probation. The guy was nuts. He worked for Bullet. Good Girl Studios earned their name. I couldn’t help cracking a smile. Kodiak claimed it was a tough job, but someone had to do it. I’m not sure I’d call fucking former whores on camera a tough job.
Maybe for the girls. I’d heard stories about him. Huge dick, liked sex rough and messy, and didn’t give a fuck about rules. Not societies, and apparently not Blade’s. Hence the probation. And he still wore Heller colors. Now, I was sounding like a pussy.
“If you want to hang out for a minute, I can handle things back here,” Steele said.
“Thanks. Can I get a whiskey sour for McKelle?”
With the drink in hand, I made my way up to the pool table. McKelle already had a side hustle with Vega. He maneuvered around the pool table trying to find the best angle.
“You could use the three ball to sink the five.” McKelle pointed out the path on the table. She gave me a quick kiss as she took the drink from my fingers.
Vega laughed. “Good one. You could. Not me. I’d hand you the game.” He bent over the table and lined up his shot.
“I’m going to win regardless.”
He barely tipped his head to lift his gaze, and he smiled at her. “I’m not sure if I should be more scared of your game or your confidence.”
“Do you want to make a side bet?”
“Side bets are off,” I said. “She plays dirty.” And I was the only one she played dirty with.
“Don’t spoil my game,” she said to me.
“Now, I’m interested,” Vega said and laughed. “I already have twenty on the game.” Without a good shot, he tapped the three ball and set himself up defensively. He straightened. “What’s the bet?”
“I’ll call all my shots. If I don’t miss, you take a ride on the back of my bike.”
He grumbled with a smile. “I’ll pass.” He held up a finger. “One. I’ve seen you ride. Two.” A second finger lifted. “It ain’t a Harley.”
“Harleys are for criminally inclined—”
Kiss slapped a hand over McKelle’s mouth. “I love you too much to see you buried out back. Don’t insult a Heller’s ride.”
“Three.” Vega held up another finger and leaned closer. “Old ladies belong on thebackof the bike.”
McKelle crossed her arms over her chest. “Good thing I’m not an old lady.”
“Four.”
“Here’s four,” she said and flipped him her middle finger. “Forget the bet. I’ll just take your twenty.” She lined up her shot. “Twelve in the corner.” The cue ball cracked against the twelve, spinning it into the corner pocket.
Vega laughed. “I’ll bet you the next round of drinks.” He glanced over to Blade and the rest of the board, then turned back to me. “Unless Cruz ends up buying rounds tonight.”
The coil of anticipation in my gut tightened. When a prospect sewed on his patch, drinks were on him. The MC was packed. If Dozer put me up for a vote, I’d be broke and in debt by morning, but happy as fuck.
Blade and the others disappeared into the boardroom. My knee jostled as my focus shifted between the closed door and the floor. I swalloweddown the lump of insecurity lodged in my throat and turned to Blue. “Have you heard anything? You’re close to Bullet, and he’s tight with Rogue.”
“All anyone is talking about is Tank getting out of the country club.” His voice lowered. “I don’t think it’s going to happen for you tonight. Dozer isn’t thinking about your patch.”
Because I had shit examples of fatherhood growing up didn’t mean I didn’t get it. Tank getting out of prison was a big deal for Dozer and the MC. It just didn’t mean much to me. I wasn’t denying I could be a selfish prick. I proved it to McKelle a couple times a week.
I had a fuck-all attitude. Why wouldn’t I? I had a blank space on my birth certificate for a father and a stepdad that hated my guts. He proved it every day while I was growing up.
A ten-year-old kid wasn’t supposed to be competition. I could handle being called a piece of shit, useless, and I could handle the whippings of the belt. Not that I hadn’t earned a bit of discipline. I’d been an angry teenager, too stupid to realize I gave him exactly what he wanted. I think he would’ve killed me if he thought he could’ve gotten away with it. He’d laugh at my tears. Fucking prick.
The worst part. My mom knew. At first, she made excuses for him, but that only lasted until she had his kids. The perfect fucking family. Then she decided he was right. I was a piece of shit. To keep me from being a bad influence on my siblings, she moved me out of the house and into a shed in the backyard.
Fuck her. Not really. Fuck me because I loved my mom.
