Thing is, I may be part of this girl gang, but I’m also loyal to the boys. Puts me in a bit of a conundrum. But I can be true to both sides because I can share some silly, innocent childhood stories with the women while maintaining my friend’s privacy—because most of the things we did will always remain between us.
When we step inside the hallway, Metallica’s “One” grows louder as we make our way toward the main room. Some of the bedroom doors are closed, with faint moans sounding from behind them. Apparently, a few Unholy took a page from mine and Jester’s book and got an early start on the evening’s adult activities. Can’t say I blame them. Sex was a hell of an appetizer.
And I didn’t want to miss the fireworks.
Sex was also a pre-stress reliever because I’m taking the whole Daniel thing well. Or maybe I’m not shocked Davenport would drop to the level of murder. That he killed his son’s best friend is appalling, but if a person can manufacture a drug like onyx, put it on the streets of Mayhem, and send thugs to beat up a woman… It’s safe to say the man either believes himself immortal or he’s legit insane.
Whatever his reason, the Unholy will wipe him off the face of the planet.
A glance over my shoulder at Crow’s closed office door sends a shiver skidding up my spine. I can only imagine what “management” is discussing. What they’re planning for Daniel. It won’t be pretty.
Sanctum is packed but still not as busy as I expected, considering it’s a major holiday for the Unholy. They take freedomveryseriously. But from what Jester said, the clubhouse comes alive after dark, after the fireworks show ends, and the kids go home.
With the sun dipping toward the Appalachians, that’s not far off.
Kerri sticks close to my side as we follow the ladies to the bar. A big, bald beast of a man holds court there. He throws back a shot before greeting Jamie with a massive bear hug. She falls into his arms, laughing. When she steps back, he makes a huge deal of her baby belly, which is adorable, especially considering he looks like he eats babies for breakfast.
“Ferryman is jealous Jester is the baby’s godfather,” Ava whispers loud enough for the entire world to hear.
Ferryman carefully sets Jamie aside and shoots Ava a glare. “Heard that, Red, and fuck yeah I am.”
Jamie tsks at him. “I have three more unofficial adopted brothers before I get to you.”
He nudges her, which I’m sure to him is gentle. Poor Jamie needs to brace herself on the back of a barstool to keep from toppling over. “The way you and Wraith can’t keep your hands off each other, I’ll get my turn in no time.”
“Stay out of my womb, Ferryman.” She pats her stomach. “It’s full enough as it is.” Then to us, “Come on, girls. If I don’t get food in me soon, I’m going to gnaw off my arm.”
As we continue toward the exit, it feels like there are a million sets of eyes on us. The men with their lazy appreciation and the women with their open envy. Ava whispers to us (again, in a voice that carries way too loud to be considered a whisper) that Sadie used to be the Queen Bee with the wives and girlfriends. She recently passed the torch to Jamie, and now that she’s sitting on the throne, every female who has any sort of connection to the Unholy wants to be part of Jamie’s inner circle. What they don’t know, she adds, is that Jamie is super picky about who she surrounds herself with and that once you’re in, you’re in for life.
Guess that makes Kerri and me lifers.
We step outside and into the yard filled with Unholy. A group of hang-arounds—women who, literally, hang around Sanctum—keep to themselves. They stay a respectable distance from the girlfriends and wives, as it should be. We’re scarce, given these men aren’t the settling down type. But we’re the women with the power.
Jamie steers us away from the hang-arounds and takes us to where an older woman is being fussed over by a skinny and scruffy man with long gray hair. When he sees us approaching, he gives us a wide smile through his bushy beard.
“You be careful with my girl, Jamie,” the grisly older man says to Jamie. “She’s tired today.”
The woman looks so tiny and drawn, sitting in the lawn chair. She slaps him on the wrist. “Don’t you listen to Rooster. I’m fine.”
“Of course, you are, Sadie.” Jamie walks up to her and kisses her on the cheek. “What do you need us to do?”
Sadie uses her hand to shield her eyes from the sun’s glare. “Look how big that baby got.”
Jamie laughs and rubs her belly. “This girl is growing by leaps and bounds. Not that I’m surprised, given how big her daddy is. So”—she kneels in front of Sadie and takes the woman’s boney hands in hers—” what do you need from us?”
“Rooster, my love, you can go on with the men now. Us girls will be fine.”
“You sure you don’t need me to help with anything?”
Sadie rolls her eyes. “I said go on and get.” She shoos him away. “But give me a kiss first, you dirty old man.”
“Always got time to kiss the prettiest woman at the barbecue,” he says before kissing her. He whispers something to Jamie before walking off to join a group of older men.
When he’s gone, Sadie closes her eyes for a moment, looking like she’s been through it. She opens them, and there’s a wealth of sorrow in those soft brown depths. “Rooster’s right. I’m tired today. It’s not a good day.”
Jamie pats Sadie’s knee and stands. “You sit here and relax. We got this. Right, ladies?”
“Fucking A we do,” Tempest declares, but there’s a world of love and concern in her voice. “You chill and let us take care of everything for once.”
