Goddamn, Tonsils. The name fits because the guy can’t keep his mouth shut about certain things. Like women. “The repairs are almost done. Pretty sure we can open the new chapter in a few months.”
“Are you ready for it?”
The Iron Norsemen continue to grow. Instead of letting our chapter get too big, I decided to establish a new one in Shreveport. Though I own the property outright, I’m willing to take a chance on the club. We need fresh blood and new territory. Once the clubhouse opens, Tonsils will run things in Holly Beach until I’m sure the new chapter is established.
“I need the change, Belle.”
“And what about the girl?”
“What girl?”
“The one I can smell all over you.”
The words hit me hard and I stare at her like I don’t know what she’s talking about. Belle is the mother hen of the club. She keeps things running behind the scenes. Manages the women and, as a professional RN, stitches wounds and sets broken bones. In return for her invaluable service and loyalty, she gets to ask questions the other old ladies can’t.
“Nothing to worry about.”
She shakes her head. “I know better. The last time you spent the night with a woman . . .”
“I showed up with Angel.”
“Yeah,” she says.
“This is different.”
“How?”
Sam staggers over with a shot glass and hands it to me. We fist bump and then I down the whiskey. “Get me another.”
He nods and walks off.
“I like her.”
“Enough to introduce us to her?”
“She’s not old lady material.” Not yet. Not until she explains herself to me—why she didn’t tell me she was a virgin before we made love. Old ladies are expected to be completely honest. Trust is the number one factor where my club is concerned.
“No one ever is. That’s never kept a man in leather from doing what he needs to do.”
She’s right. Caveman mentality is common enough among one percenters. See something you want, take it. But there’s something about Serafina that holds me back—beyond the virgin thing. More than just a look in her eyes or the secretive life she leads. Yeah, she gave me her body, then ran away without a proper goodbye. I’ve never known a woman who did that.
“We fucked all night and when I woke up, she was gone.”
Sam returns with a longneck and more whiskey. I take the beer and the half-empty bottle of Jack Daniels and gesture for Belle to follow me. We find an empty table in the back of the room and sit down together. I guzzle right from the bottle and offer it to Belle.
“Maybe she’s afraid of you.”
“Maybe,” I agree loosely. “Or maybe she ran away because she didn’t tell me she was a virgin.”
Belle’s eyes grow wide as she takes a swig of whiskey. She coughs as she lowers the bottle from her lips. “What?”
“After I woke up alone, I went looking for her. I found a note in the kitchen that said thank you, nothing more . . .” I explain everything, hoping she can help me figure out what the fuck is going on in Serafina’s head. “Once I found the bloodstained blanket, I understood better. But Jesus Christ, Belle, the girl is driving me crazy.”
“Give her some time.”
“How much time.”
“She’s young and inexperienced. Seems you’ve been in this position before. Look at it from another perspective, you could have ended up with damaged goods like me.”
