Chapter 1—Kooper
“What afuckingnight,” I mumble as I push open the clubhouse door. I’m loud enough for a few brothers to agree with a grunt as they head to the bar and I go to the pool tables, picking up where I left off.
A few hours ago, we were all bullshitting over cards and complaining about losing to Flint. Fucker has always been good at cards. I half suspect he counts them, but whatever. I only ever stay for a few hands, and then I’m at the pool tables. I was here playing a round with Domino when Flint rang the alarm that Chains’ woman and kids were under attack. Then shit really went south when we learned a few things, mostly about her, and got a ton of questions as to why the Devils Damned are after her.
That woman has to have balls of steel to have lived in hiding under her house most of her life and still seem normal. Not sure I or any brother would have turned out right in the head after who knows what she went through.
“Want me to rack them?” Flint calls as he meets me at the tables, and I nod. Ten seconds later, a prospect gives me a beer, and all is right in the world. Chains has a mess to deal with, and as a Hound brother, I’ll deal with it when he asks me to. But till then, I’ve got no place to be but here drinking and shooting the shit. We all know shit is about to go down. You don’t get a few dead Devils Damned and not have more crap to come, but right now ain’t that time. So Ido what all Hounds do—live my life till I’ve got to defend it. And right now, life is fucking grand.
Till it ain’t.
I’m not pissed about Chains’ old lady waking up from whatever General gave her to sleep it off. Don’t even care that she’s yelling and throwing a fit about needing to see the kids. A yelling woman ain’t new in this place. Usually a vamp or some wannabe girlfriend is making a ruckus that most of us tune out.
What drives a nail into my good mood is when I see a certain pain in the ass sneak behind the bar. One who’s shit at hiding, since Bulldog also sees and calls her out, skimpy outfit and all. I might find her annoying, but that doesn’t mean I’m blind. No makeup, but she can still pull the eye. She’s young, maybe younger than some of the girls who hang around here. But her eyes? If you look closely enough, you can tell she’s seen some shit and knows more than those twice her age. She’s wearing close to a vamp-style outfit, even if she thinks it’s suitable pajamas for the night. If she were anyone but the boss’s kid, she’d be kicked out right about now.
Nowshe’sthe one making a scene. I swear to Christ, we can’t have one normal night without someone bitching, and usually it comes from the fairer sex.
“Might learn a few things while you’re down there,” I chirp when she complains about the floor being sticky. I don’t know why I spoke up, but I’ve got no reason to shy away from her. She’s an annoying brat who always gets her way and needs to start learning things.
“Fuck off, Kooper. I ain’t about to get on my knees to blow your fucking ugly ass.”
I roll my eyes at her stupid comment. It’s so not happening.
“Never fucking wanted you to. Just thought you could learn how to clean up after yourself for once instead of getting us to do it.” I turn my back on her and go back to the game.
Ruby ain’t my problem, just a nuisance I don’t understand. I get families being in the club, even if I’ve got none of my own here. And sure, she’s the president’s only kid and the only thing he has left to live for. But still. Ruby’s in college. She needs to stop hanging around the clubhouse and running to Daddy anytime she needs something. She has to grow the fuck up like the rest of us.
“Why do you always got to put her down like that?” Flint asks with a slight eyebrow raise sent my way over the pool table.
I ignore the look as I line up my next shot. “Girl’s got to learn one of these days that she can’t just expect her dad, or any of us, to pick up after her.” I sink the two ball and walk around to take another shot, glancing up at him briefly before I look back at the table. “Maybe she ain’t the only one who needs reminding.”
Flint shakes his head. “Ruby’s special.”
His words make me miss my shot wide, and he snorts at the look of shock on my face, I’m sure.
“Not like that,” he says. “She’s Law’s daughter. The president’s daughter is always treated like glass, no matter what club you’re with.”
Now it’s my turn to snort. “Glass ain’t even a word that should be used within a ten-mile radius of describingthat one. I’ll give you that she gets special treatment, but at the end of the day, she’s still outside the club. Women come and go. Even if she becomes someone’s old lady one day, she’s going to need to be a bit tougher at taking care of her own shit. I feel sorry for whoever claims her ass. He’ll either have balls of steel, or she’ll have them around her neck.”
“I think the saying is ‘She’ll carry them in her purse.’” Flint aims for his shot, and I shrug as I grab my beer and take a swig.
“Never seen Ruby carry a purse. And if she had a man, she’d take his balls, stab them with a needle, and just wear them around her neck to show not only him but God and country as well who he belongs to.”
“Kooper.” My name is bellowed across the bar, and I look toward the voice, but I already know who it is. Only one man can get away with yelling at me like a child and not get a fist to the face.
“What did you do now?” Flint asks as he eyes the president, who’s waiting for me to come over.
“No clue,” I sigh as I set the pool cue down, grab my beer, and head toward the boss. Some might think his bark is worse than his bite since he’s got a look that some say is the silver fox incarnate. At least that’s how the vamps around here describe him. They’re always trying to get on his dick, but the guy has zero time for club pussy. He had an old lady once and never wanted a replacement.
I knew of Special K, but other than knowing a name, it never went beyond that. From the way the boys who were close to her talk about her, she seems like one helluva woman. If I had that as my old lady, I wouldn’t want to taint any memory with a girl half the damn club’s been with either.
“You need something?” I look right into his dark almond eyes, giving him the respect he’s earned. Not just from his position in the club; being the president doesn’t come with instant approval from everyone. It’s earned. Good bosses know how to get everyone on board. Even if they disagree with a situation, they trust the man making it. Like we all do with Law.
“My office.” He leaves the“now”part out as he turns and heads up the stairs, knowing I’ll follow.
I don’t drag it out. When he crosses into his office, I’m shutting the door the moment he takes his seat, and then I take the one across from him in front of his desk.
“What did you want to see me about?”
