“I hate to admit it, but not really. In the last year she was hardly ever here.”
“Do you know what type a business she has that she’d meet strange men in a hotel? I can’t believe she’d meet them for sex.”
“Excuse me.” They looked up at the interruption and saw Greaser standing there. “Everyone will be here by ten for the meeting. And I overheard your question. Addy’s a party planner.”
“What the hell is that?”
“She plans parties.” Greaser actually laughed. “I saw her a few days ago, she was planning a wedding for the rich couple that’s in all the papers. She also said she just got done with some high-profile judge’s anniversary party.”
“Oh, so they really could be her clients.”
“Yes, the only fancy place in town to throw a big shindig is the hotel. I went to one of her parties for a family member a couple months ago. She does a good job.”
“Thank you,” Burt said, and downed another shot. He liked that he got a little inkling of what she did for a living. “You’re the VP, I’m going to put this to you now, and I’ll bring it up at the meeting. That skank Abe fucked does not, I repeat, not get a property patch, ever. Understood, no matter what Abe says, the answer is no, and I’ll need you to back me up on this. If Abe’s really not into her, and she goes after another member, she will never, ever wear a property patch associated with this club.”
“Understood,” Greaser said. “If you didn’t suggest it, I was going to, but I’ll back you. And just so you know, for me, this is separate from my job.”
“Shit, you’re business partners with Abe, aren’t you?” Burt asked. The club members had called Lincoln, Abe, because of his name. He was tall and had a small beard, but he wasn’t as lean as Abe Lincoln had been. He had broad shoulders and was at least six foot four. Burt would hate to have to have a fight with him, but he would if he had to. But, my god, to do that to your own wife, knowing she was going to show up and find him in the act. Of the two people he thought had a strong and reliable marriage and could last any storm, it was Lincoln and Addison Murphy. What a mess.
*****
Link walked to the other side of the patio and glared at the woman who had just fucked up his life. He noted she had a bloody nose and gave a silent nod to his wife for what she had done to the other woman. Too bad he was still too drunk to actually remember seeing Addy hit her, it would have been epic. “Why did that woman pull me off you? I wasn’t finished. If I continued to work you, you would have been ready.” Steph looked at him with doe eyes, and Link could only think of one word when he saw her tears. Fake. Her tears, her hair, her tits, everything about her was fake.
“You better get the fuck out of my space before I call the cops and have you arrested for sexual harassment or rape. I was fucking asleep and you opened my jeans and tried to suck me off.” He grabbed his phone to make a call and saw her pale and she turned and started toward the clubhouse, but was stopped by Mary. He turned away and punched a wall beside him.
“Feel better?” He whipped around and saw his best friend and business partner standing there.
“No.”
“Patch meeting in an hour.” Greaser looked at his friend, and when he saw him about to decline, he said, “Mandatory.”
“I’ll be there,” he said and watched as Steph was dragged by her arm toward him.
“Why the hell did I have to pay for the beers, I’m your old lady now, I shouldn’t have to pay.”
“Excuse me?” Link stared at the woman in shock. “What makes you think you’re my old lady? I have one of those already. Don’t want or need another one. You will never, ever be my ole lady, and as a patch holder, and the Sargeant at Arms of this club, I will make damn sure you never become one. As far as I’m concerned, you’re banned from this place for life. You’re only the skank who just raped me to try to take me away from my wife. I’ll even bet you made up those lies about her to try to getme to leave her! Now I have to go to a patch meeting, then get my sorry ass home to try to fix what you just fucked up.” He looked at Greaser and shook his head. His expression portrayed he smelled something foul in the air. “Get her the fuck out of my sight before I do what I vowed I would never do. I want to bitch slap her into next year.” Link shook his head, turned on his heel, and walked away.
“You can’t talk to me like that!” Steph called after him as he walked away from her.
“He can, and did.” Greaser stared down at her with a look of disgust on his face. “Just because you tried to suck him off, it doesn’t mean you have any right to him. You just messed up a fantastic five-year marriage to the woman he’s loved for the last eight years. He’s going to need his space. I suggest you make yourself scarce for a long, long while.”
“You can’t talk to me like that. You’re not my old man.”
“He can and he did,” Mary said from behind Greaser. “I warned you weeks ago not to stir up trouble with Link, you did, and as thepresident’sold lady, I’m telling you, you’re not wanted here. Leave and don’t come back.” Mary crossed her arms under her breasts and glared at the younger woman. “You’ve been hanging out here for years fucking anything that crooked a finger at you, and you’ve been after Lincoln just as long. Somehow you spread lies about his wife and you caught him at just the right time to fuck him. Now his marriage is on the rocks, all because of you. I’m in charge of the women of this clubhouse, as of right now, you are banned.” Mary pointed to the entrance of the clubhouse, and when Steph didn’t leave, she said, “Move it, bitch. I want you out of here now.”
“Fine, but you haven’t seen or heard the last from me. I will have Link to myself.”
“Whatever, but you’re not doing it on club property. And if Addy’s smart, she’ll take the house in the divorce.”
“Who’s Addy?”
“Lincoln’s wife.” Mary spat at her, and said, “Now get the hell off club property, or I’ll call the cops.”
“I’m going,” Steph said, and stormed off the patio and into the clubhouse. She was surprised when everyone looked up, then turned their backs on her. Even her friends that hung out at the club. Suddenly feeling like she might have done something wrong, she grabbed her purse and hurried to the front door. She looked back and saw Link, and when she lifted her hand to him, he also turned his back on her. “Fuck,” she whispered and hurried out to her car. “I’ll get you, Lincoln Murphy, mark my words, you will be mine. No one will ever love you the way I do,” she whispered to herself as she left the property.
Link was still drunk when he stumbled into the patch room and fell into a chair. He looked around and realized that none of his brothers would look him in the eye.
“I called this meeting because of what happened earlier tonight,” Burt began. “Without getting into details, I’m issuing a new bylaw, effective immediately.” He paused and waited until he had everyone’s undivided attention. He stared at Abe until he looked him directly in his bloodshot, drunken eyes. “From this minute forward, no hangers on. That means no woman that isn’t attached to a patch holder, a striker or a prospect is allowed on club grounds. If they are married or seriously dating someone, that woman is allowed. No one else. We can’t control who other clubs bring in when we have our parties, but I will damn well control who comes to my house. We clear?” Everyone nodded or agreed except one. “Abe? You hear me?”
