“Oh, and I have something for you.” Maxie reaches into a bag I didn’t notice her carrying, pulls out a black tank top, and hands it to me.
I hold it up, examining the Royal Harlots MC Tijuana stamp. “This is amazing.” La Catrina with a gold crown, set over two skulls. “I love it.”
As a young girl, my mother explained to me the significance of the Catrina as a symbol of respecting death, but also celebrating the beauty and fullness of life. I ran my fingers over the design, knowing it would always hold a special meaning as the day I embraced my freedom to live my own life without the restraint of others.
“You’re now official. You would’ve gotten this after your first fight, but it’s even sweeter since you won.”
I hug the shirt to me. “You’ll never know how much this means to me.”
“You’re wrong, hon, I do know. From now on, you will never walk alone. You will have a whole band of fierce sisters atyour back.”
I swallow hard, choking back the emotion that makes Maxie uncomfortable.
“You are going to be the end of me.” She grabs me into a hug. “Now get showered and dressed. We have some celebrating to do.”
I head for the showers, repeating Maxie’s words in my head, because if I have to face Diesel at The Tropics, I’llneeda whole band of sisters behind me.
CHAPTER 25
DIESEL
“She had the nerve to yell at me to get away from the fuckin’ cage.” I pull my smokes out of my cut and light up. The nice buzz I had goin’ before the fights has turned into a pounding headache. “After she tells me to go out and support the fighters.”
“‘Cause you were distracting Martina,” Blood says. “She said support them, like sit in the bleachers, not bang on the cage during the fight.”
“Whatever.” I shake my head. “I wanted her to know I was there.”
“Right, thinking about yourself,” Smoke adds. “You would’ve done the same if somebody was messing with one of your fighters.”
I draw deep on my cig, then mumble, “I wasn’t messin’ with her. Just wanted her to know I was there for her.”
“In other words, messin’ with her,” Smoke deadpans.
“You better get your shit together.” Blood shifts in his chair. “‘Cause you and her are gonna be working out in the same gym, and I’m not gonna put up with any bullshit drama.”
“Don’t worry. She’ll work out with Maxie, and I’ll take careof my fighters, ‘cause she don’t mean nothing to me. No drama, no bullshit.”
My eyes travel to the entrance just as Maxie enters with Martina. The women surround her with hugs and congratulations, and I’m happy for her. In truth, I’d been keeping eyes on the door just waiting for this moment.
What I wasn’t expecting was the way my heart jacks up in my chest at the very sight of her. My dick always reacted, but this is different.
Shit, does she have to look so hot in the skin-tight jeans molding her perfect ass and the Harlots’ tank top? And, of course, Jared the prospect comes from around the bar to give her a congratulatory hug. Which is way too close and lasts way too long.
“Fuck!”
“Yeah, right?” Blood laughs. “Tell me again how she doesn’t mean anything to you.”
“What?”
“Your fuckin’ tongue is hanging out like a cartoon wolf, and your fists are clenched, itching to knock the prospect into next week.”
“Blow me.”
“You’re saying that to the wrong person, brother.” Bolt shoulder-butts me, and I think about knocking his ass onto the floor.
I flip him off instead, then grip my bottle of beer tighter than necessary.
“Just end the suspense and talk to her,” Smoke suggests.
