1
Jinx
As of late, the air in the Steelwood clubhouse has felt heavy. As if gravity is heavier here than anywhere else, every shift seems to drain my energy completely.
Leaning back, it takes all the strength in me not to fill the air with one long, stretched-out groan.
I’m so fuckingbored.Sure, there’s this whole other club drama happening in the background, but it’s not making things exciting. Instead, it’s just stressing everyone the fuck out. Where is the fun in that? No one is acting like themselves. I can’t be the only one who’s noticed.
Ever since all this drama came with the arrival of Ghost’s new girl, nothing has been the same.
Sure, there are still parties, but there’s always a bundle of people who can’t enjoy themselves. Someone has to watch and protect the place because there’s nothing worse than a bunch ofdrunk idiots trying to aim a gun. Then, when thefunends, once the sun is up, everyone acts likethis.
Like they’re expecting the worst to happen at every waiting moment. All because this is the first time the clubs felt this threatened.
I’m already tired of playing the waiting game. So boring. Hell, the jukebox has dust collecting on it because no one has fiddled with any of the tracks. Maybe if someone turned on a playlist, everyone could loosen the fuck up.
As Smoke brings up the weather, I realize just how deep we are.Christ. At this rate, I’ll save Crimson Road the trouble and blow my own brains out.
My prayers for something exciting are answered when I notice Judge making a grand appearance. When his attention is already dead set on us, I can’t help but want to thank him for his presence alone.
He doesn’t look happy. Then again, does he ever? This anger is something different. He seems more on a war path if anything. Yeah, it’s not going to be boring here for much longer.
The conversations immediately come to an instant halt. Be it from respect or a bit of fear, we all wait to see what he has for us. At the bottom of the chain, we’re always the last to find out anything. With Diesel spending all of his time at the hospital to take care of Ruby, we’ve been in the dark outside of what we’ve heard in surrounding conversations. Not much to get from that, though.
As the president fills us in on what’s been happening with Crimson Road, what moves are being made, I feel it—the heat of a blazing sun against my side.
Drifting my attention away from Judge, I follow the feeling. In the corner of my eye, I see it.
Penelope is looking at us all, worried. As of late, if she’s not giving us gentle smiles, she’s got that look on her face. Shedoesn’t deserve to be stressed about everything going right or wrong with another club.
Next to her, her identical twin.Raven.The woman has set her glare on all of us, but most of it is aimed directly at Judge. A weight forms in the pit of my gut, promising me a dreadful future.
He’s not here to update us since our captain is out, is he?
Whatever he’s bringing to our table involves those two. Not to say the twins are trouble or anything. They’re more like background noise. They tend the bar and keep the fun going.
Penelope is cute, but she’s definitely already claimed by the president. Raven, on the other hand, is the opposite. She’s…something.
Pulling my attention back forward, I watch him lean against our table, his expression growing more serious and grim all at once.
“I’m under the suspicion that someone might try to go after our women. While I know the others can take care of their old ladies and keep them safe, I’m concerned about the twins. With everyone running about, no one is keeping an eye on them. That needs to change.”
All in unison, my brothers glance at each other, all thinking the same thing.
Penelope’s name won’t even be brought up, solely because we don’t want to be put on Judge’s shit list, and Raven… No one likes a mystery.
She keeps to herself for the most part. A master at cocktails, sure, but there’s always the worry of her poisoning those she doesn’t like. Doesn’t help that she’s threatened my life more times than I can count on both hands. All because she carries around her anger like a badge.
She’s dangerous. Unstable. Not someone people usually fuck with. Only the oldest members, those who have known her long enough, even dare to linger.
It’s crazy how different Penelope is in comparison. She’s a sweetheart, the club’s innocent beauty. No one minds her. Her sister is Satan with breasts. Simple as that.
Lately, she’s not my biggest fan. I’ve heard she’s been talking about me behind my back. My definition of fun must be her nightmare. What a killjoy.
“Penelope is taken care of.” Judge clears his throat and shifts like he’s uncomfortable. “But Raven needs someone. You bunch are the only ones who are free. Who wants to volunteer?”
Silence welcomes him, and I have to swallow down a laugh.
