Almost every man in the club had a “usual” when it came to Shari, but the shine of club sluts had dulled for me years ago, so my regular was just a drink. I nodded.
She grabbed the Maker’s Mark and lemon juice and poured my signature whiskey sour as she sized up Deryk. “What about you, handsome?”
“Just a beer,” he replied, smiling back at her.
“But he’ll need you to hold it for two months, Shari.”
“He’s not twenty-one yet?” she asked, licking her lips as she did her best to rape him with her gaze. “Nice. I like ’em young. I like to teach ’em a thing or two.”
“Fuck, Shari, you don’t care what age they are as long as they’re breathin’,” my vice president, Wasp, said, leaning against the bar. “And even that’s questionable.”
“Fuck you, Wasp,” she said with an unashamed grin.
He looked her up and down. “Give me a sec. Let me meet the kid first.” He extended his hand to Deryk and said, “Welcome aboard, brother.”
“Thanks.”
Wasp turned back to Shari. “Let’s go.”
She grabbed a couple of beers and circled the bar to join him. He bent down and buried his face in her tits, grabbing her ass and hefting her up until her legs wrapped around his waist. Then he carried her to the stairs.
Deryk was staring again, so I nudged him and gestured for him to follow me. I showed him the kitchen. “Plenty of food in the fridge and the pantry. Sometimes club whores shop for us, sometimes the recruits do. Sometimes the old ladies organize potlucks and shit. Bottom line, nobody goes hungry around here unless they’re too stupid or lazy to fend for themselves. Got it?”
“Club whores?” he asked.
“The bitches hangin’ around, like Shari and the redhead in there suckin’ off Eagle. They’re a nice distraction from reality… a way to blow your wad if you get tired of using your hand.”
His eyes widened in surprise. “They just let anyone fuck them?”
“Not just anyone, no, but any of the Dead Presidents, yes.”
The surprise on his features turned to disgust and horror, no doubt assuming all sorts of messed up shit about me and my club.
“They’re not held here against their will, and we don’t make them do anything they don’t want to do. Look, we’re no saints, but nobody in this club would force a woman against her will. If they ever did, we wouldn’t need to call in the law, because we’d take care of it. Don’t be a dumbass, kid. What did you see? Did Eagle force his dick down Lacy’s throat?
“I’m not a kid,” he growled.
I smiled. “Good to see you have some balls, but answer the goddamn question.”
He shrugged again, and so help me, I wanted to knock him on his ass.
“No. Trust me, that one knows what she’s doin’. And Wasp sure as hell didn’t have to convince Shari to get him off. That thirsty bitch isn’t happy unless she’s got a dick in her, so you can wipe that fuckin’ condescension right off your face.”
He glared at me for a beat before dropping his gaze.
“Every man in this club served his country just like you did. The women that hang around, they appreciate our service and our cocks. They’re here because they like sex. I know you’re in culture shock, so I’m gonna let your attitude slide for now, but it’s getting old, fast.”
“I’m sorry, Link,” he said.
At least he knew how to apologize. That was something. Time to show him I knew how to forgive.
I clasped his shoulder. “Forgotten. But now’s a good time to go over the rules. No illegal drugs. You get caught with anything stronger than pot, it’s an immediate ass kickin’ and an eviction, and I don’t give a fuck about what sort of sob story you got. We’ve worked too hard to sacrifice the club’s image and well-being like that. You hear me?”
“Yessir, and I… I appreciate you letting me join.”
“Letting you join?” I chuckled, shaking my head. “You think we just give away membership? No. It’s a privilege to be a Dead President, one you have to earn. Nobody can give it to you. My dad served under your grandfather, and that convinced me to sponsor you, so your ass has the opportunity to show us that you can be the type of respectful, loyal brother who’ll add value to this club.”
Some of the dullness went out of Deryk’s eyes. Pulling himself a little straighter, he said, “Understood, sir.”
