“Keep an eye on them. I want to know if anyone pays her special attention, who she talks to, etc. If she goes to the bathroom, I want to know how many squares of goddamn toilet paper she uses, you feel me? Eyes on her at all times. It’s her first time out of Sagebrush, and I have a feeling she’s gonna try something.” Cricket saluted me like the smart-ass he was, and Thor nodded his understanding. They both slid their leather cuts on over their shirts and headed out the door.
“And keep your damn hammer in your pants, Thor!”
Bones and I stood on the clubhouse porch watching as Thor drove them out of the gate and down the road in a club SUV. We were heading into Reno for business shortly, but I would try to ensure we finished early so we could stop by whatever club Lennon was dragging them to. I was interested to see how Indigo behaved in the wild, and I suspected I might be able to gain some insight into her hidden agenda tonight.
We headed inside to finish our burgers and change for our trip to Reno. Tonight, we’d be checking on Bear over at Savage Delights, our underground fight ring. I put on a black Henley shirt and rolled the sleeves up to my elbows, sliding my cut over the shirt. The faded blue jeans and black boots I already had on were good enough for Savage Delights, and I didn’t really care if I looked good for the fights anyway. It wasn’t like I was going out for a night of fun like Lennon andher.I slicked my hair back with some pomade and called it good. Bones came out of his room looking much the same as I did.
“Nice hair, Priest. Never seen you slick it back for the fights. You got a date I don’t know about or something?” I shoved Bones, who bounced playfully off the wall in the hallway of the living quarters of the compound, his laughter echoing in the small space.
“Screw you, man. I noticed you changed your shirt. Tryin’ to look good for Lennon? Hoping she’ll call you to come pick her up from the club?” I dodged a punch Bones aimed at my head and snickered as we trooped down the stairs.
“Too far, bro. Don’t even joke aboutgatitalike that.” Chuffing back a laugh, I held my hands up in mock surrender.
“Sure, man, sure. Heaven forbid yourkittenknow you’ve been inlovewith her for years.”
Bones’s expression turned as black as his hair, but he didn’t say any more on the subject. The look on his face alone was enough to make me drop it, and I felt a little guilty, knowing I was spreading my misery around. We walked over to our bikes and grabbed our helmets out of our saddlebags.
“Hey, man, you know I’d never say anything to her. It ain’t my place. We good?”
Bones strapped his helmet in place and slid his sunglasses on. Shaking his head, he said,“Yeah, man, we’re always good. Let’s get this shit show on the road.”
Shit show, indeed. Tonight should be business as usual, but something in my gut told me the girl who’d invaded my space and taken over my thoughts would prove to be the trouble I always believed she was. Bones and I started our bikes, the deep rumble resonating in my soul. Riding a bike felt like pure, unadulterated freedom. Releasing the clutch, I slowly led the way down the long driveway to the gate with Bones slightly behind me and to my left. Once we were both clear of the compound, we shifted into second gear and opened up the throttle, roaring down the highway to Reno.
The constant tightness I felt in my chest eased slightly whenever I was on my bike, thundering down the open road. I carried the weight of the club, my family, my guilt, and my resentment for Indigo on my shoulders, but for the moment, it was just me and my bike flying free. I took my first deep breath all day, allowing everything to wash away like a wave on the beach. Everything would be waiting for me when we parked in Reno, all the weight right back on my shoulders where it belonged, but I couldn’t deny that it felt good to set it down, even if only for a little while. Sometimes a little while was all you had, so you had to make it count.
Chapter 11
Indigo
Thor must be familiar with Reno because he didn’t even need directions to Lennon’s club. The club, Allure, wasn’t just a club. Apparently, it was attached to a resort casino called The Goldfinch. I’d never been to a club or a casino before, but I’d seen the movieCasinoon TV a few times, and I was pretty confident I’d fit right in. I think Joe Pesci and I would be really good friends if we ever met in real life. He had volatile energy like a teeny-tiny snappy Italian crocodile, which really resonated with me. If I ever got to meet Mr. Pesci, we could be crotchety crocodiles together and do crocodile stuff!
Thor pulled up to the side of The Goldfinch, where the separate entrance for Allure was located, and we all got out of the SUV. He handed his keys to a guy standing by a little podium, who got into the vehicle and drove off. I had no idea valet parking was a real thing. I thought it was one of those things you only saw in movies. This place must befancy. I looked down at my fishnet stockings and boots,suddenly nervous that I wasn’t as dressed up as I should be. Maybe I should have taken Lennon’s advice and worn heels after all. As we approached the entrance, Thor laid down the law.
“Don’t accept drinks from anyone other than Cricket or me. Stay where we can see you, and under no circumstances are either of you to wander off. Got it?”
Lennon rolled her eyes. “Yes, Dad.” I nodded along. I had no intention of causing any problems.
We walked up to the door, which was manned by a literal giant. The dude was one of the tallest men I’d ever seen. He must be seven feet tall and almost as wide across the shoulders as I was tall. He squinted his beady eyes at everyone he let in through the door, his huge hands clasped in front of his crotch in a resting bodyguard pose that a lot of lackeys adopt. I waved at him as we approached the door because I was friendly like that. He didn’t wave back, but he did allow us through the entrance.
“Thanks, Hodor!”
Cricket shuffled me through the door while the giant doorman glared at me, making his already squinty eyes look like tiny slits in his face.
“Jesus, you’re a crazy bird, you know that? Please try not to antagonize the Jolly Green Giant. I don’t feel like reenacting any scenes fromRoad Housetonight,” Cricket yelled into my ear over the music currently melting the speakers in the club. The lighting was incredibly dim, with colored spotlights moving throughout the room and casting kaleidoscopic beams of color on writhing dancers and the mass of people lining the bar. The bar ran the full length of one of the walls and was manned by three different bartenders. The floor had tables but no chairs; it was standing room only. Scanning the club, I saw a flight of stairs leading to a mezzanine, but it was blocked off with a velvet rope.
“Psh, youwishyou were as badass as Swayze!” I yelled back at Cricket, grinning at the look of mock horror he gave me. Dave and one of the other guards loved old action movies, andRoad Housewas one of Dave’s favorites. I think he had a man-crush on Patrick Swayze.
“You wound me, madam. And to think, I was going to buy the first round!”
Since I had zero dollars to my name, I scrambled to patch things up between us.“What Imeantwas you’re more of aDirty DancingSwayzethan aRoad HouseSwayze, that’s all.” I batted my eyelashes at him, hoping I was doing puppy dog eyes correctly.
Cricket grinned like the cocky bastard he was. “That’s what I thought.”
I could barely hear him over the music, but he radiated smug confidence as he followed Lennon to a table. He left me there, miming to Thor and Lennon that he was going to get us drinks. Obviously, I had never been in a club before, so I couldn’t stop my gaze from wandering throughout the space. Honestly, I was a little unsure why Lennon thought this would be so much fun. The music was very loud; the vibrations from the bass thrummed through me, making me feel itchy. The lighting made it difficult to see clearly, and so many people were packed onto the dance floor like sardines.
After a few minutes, Cricket returned with a tray littered with shots, two old-fashioneds, and two vodka tonics. Lennon made grabby hands at one of the vodka tonics while Cricket and Thor were quick to snatch the old-fashioneds, leaving me with the other vodka tonic. Cricket, Lennon, and I slammed our drinks back, but since Thor was our DD, he was on a one-drink limit and took his time nursing his beverage.
“Indigo, shots! Then dancing!” Lennon shouted at me across the table as she slid a shot my way. We both tossed back the tequila, and I licked my lips, savoring the flavor.
