“She said she wanted to leave town to start over fresh. I guess when I told her I was from San Jose… hell, I don’t know why she picked this place.”
“She came for you, obviously,” Crash says.
“If she did, why was she pissed when I recognized her?” I ask.
Cole leans back in his chair and points a finger at me. “You stay out of Sonny’s. Understand?”
“Um… well, we sort of started seeing each other.”
“What the fuck are you talking about? Since last fucking night?” Cole barks.
“I went back and apologized to her and Tiny. I asked to buy her breakfast, then we went for a ride on the bike and watched the sunrise. I made sure she got home all right. We agreed to start seeing each other. I’m goin’ back there later today to fix her sink.”
“To fix her sink?” Cole looks at Crash. “Is that code for sex these days?”
Crash chuckles and shrugs.
“She could be the one, prez.”
“The one what, moron?” he snaps. “She’s a dancer in the club the MC owns. You don’t see where this could all go to shit? Hell, it already has. I’ve got guys who apparently don’t think the rules apply to them. You put Tiny in a spot, made him break the club rules, and put his job on the line. You think you got the power to do that?”
“No, I was wrong. I got carried away by this girl.”
“She’s the club’s headliner, Cody. Ronnie says she brings in more business than Velvet ever did. Do not fuck that up for us.”
“I want to see her.”
“You want to fuck her, fuck her. I don’t give a damn, but you stay the hell out of the damn VIP rooms, you hear me?”
“Yes, sir.”
“You cause any problems, I’ll ban you from Sonny’s entirely. You won’t even be allowed in the parking lot to pick her up. You got that?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Only reason I’m cutting you any slack is because I respect your father and your service in the military. I get you were shocked to find out you knew this girl. But what I’m not okay with is you thinking you’ve got a right to tell Tiny to break a rule. Like you’ve got that kind of weight to throw around. He complied because of that patch you wear, and that puts our club in a bad light. That’s not how I run that place. Patches don’t get special treatment. It’s the only reason we’ve kept the standards at that place and drawn the talent we have. In one night, you fucked that all up.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Get the fuck out of here.”
I walk out through the clubhouse and outside, dipping my head to light a smoke.
TJ follows me out. “How’d it go?”
“Not as bad as it could have. I still have my patch.”
“I see that.”
“He’s pissed, though, and he’s got a right to be. I fucked up. Threw my weight around with Tiny, and that was some fucked up shit. I don’t know why I did it.”
“Pussy will do that to a man. Especially one with world-class tits and ass like Ginger has.”
“Shut up about her, TJ. Right now, you’re makin’ me want to put my fist in your face.”
He grins. “You got it bad, bro.”
“Yep. Never felt like this before. Somethin’ about this chick, ya know?”
