“They’re from the Vegas chapter,” she continues, nodding toward the blondes. “Bush used to spend a lot of time out there with them.”
My stomach tightens.
“They seem… close,” I say, hating that my voice sounds small.
Crystal smiles, slow and knowing. “Oh, they are.”
The words land like a punch.
I watch as the first blonde playfully shoves Bush’s shoulder. He catches her wrist, but doesn’t let go right away.
“They’ve got history,” Crystal adds lightly. “Club history. Vegas parties get wild.”
I swallow. Of course they do. Of course, Bush has history. He’s not some untouched fantasy hero. He’s a biker in an outlaw club. He’s lived an exciting life and had experiences I can’t even imagine.
Still, it hurts more than it should.
“Don’t worry,” Crystal says, squeezing my arm. “Men like Bush? They always circle back to what they really want.”
Her eyes flick to me, assessing.
“And sometimes,” she adds with a faint smirk, “they just like having options.”
Options. The word echoes in my head as Bush finally glances around the room. When his gaze finds mine, everything fades. All the noise, the Vegas women, and Crystal all vanish until his expression shifts. He looks like he just remembered I’m here.That hurts more than seeing him greet the women. He forgot about me.
“Zara, come over here. I want you to meet some friends. They’ve come here to help you,” Bush says, rushing toward me and wrapping his arm around my shoulders. He pulls me into the crowd until we’re standing directly in front of the first blonde.
She’s as beautiful as I thought. The name embroidered on her kutte is Chill. I’m not sure how to act, but I hold out my hand to her. She shakes it and gives me a brilliant smile. “Zara, is it? I’m Chill. This is my guy Hunter.” A stunning man with light hair and green eyes smiles at me as he places his arm around Chill’s shoulders. He’s also wearing a kutte, but his is denim. I know from the other guys in the clubhouse that this is the kutte prospects wear.
“It’s nice to meet you both,” I say. “I’m sorry you had to leave home and come here. Although I’m not sure how you’re going to help?”
Chill chuckles. “We’re going to be your bodyguards. Chrome thought women might blend in better than a bunch of musclebound bikers. Especially, my girl Viper. Viper, this is Zara.”
The second blonde woman comes over to greet me. She towers over me and is almost as tall as Bush and Hunter. “You look like a model,” I sputter out.
She laughs. “That’s why I’m here. I used to be a showgirl. You know, the big headdresses and skimpy outfits?” Viper holds her hands up to represent the towering headdresses that I’ve seen on ads about visiting Las Vegas.
“You were a showgirl?” I ask, dumfounded. “How did you wear those headdresses? They must have weighed a ton.”
“Close. They were heavy, but they built up your strength. Thanks to them, when I joined the Demon Dawgs, I was always tougher than I looked.”
“You’re patched member?” I ask in surprise. “I didn’t know women could join a motorcycle club.”
“We’re the only two, for now,” Chill says. “Puma, our President, is different. He doesn’t care about gender, only results.”
“I guess the other clubs are okay with it?” I ask, unsure of how much I can pry. The truth is, I’m curious. It’s like meeting an imaginary creature.
Chill shrugs. “Not all of them, but no one fucks with Puma.”
Bush laughs. “Don’t kid yourself, Chill, no one fucks with you or Viper, and not just because of Puma. Chill was a Marine. She’s tougher than most of us. Viper is not only tough; she earned her road name because she and her brother, Rattler, raise poisonous snakes.”
“I heard my name,” an attractive blonde man with green eyes, wearing a kutte joins us. Following him is a man with brown hair and brown eyes, and another gorgeous woman who is almost as tall as Viper. Her ebony skin glows, and she has the most brilliant gold eyes. She looks like a panther in human form.
The guy wearing the kutte holds out his hand. “I’m Rattler, this one’s twin brother.” He jerks his thumb at Viper. “This is my guy, Randy, and my girl, Bianca.”
“The three of you are together?” I ask.
“I’m a lucky girl,” Bianca says with a laugh as Tony joins us.
