His eyes indicate the fear he hasn’t been willing to show much until now. Maybe the depth of his trouble is starting to sink into his pathetic little soul.
I don’t want him passing out, I want him to feel every bit of this as a reminder of what happens to someone who gets anywhere near the people we protect. I’m even happy to let the fucker live if he takes the message back to his crew.
Only when his face looks like pulverized meat and he’s no longer standing but lying on the ground do I stop. I give him one last kick in the nuts for good measure, watching blood leak from his mouth as he groans.
I should have used my fucking bat, but I don’t want to kill the fucker. “Keep him alive but send him back to his owners with a fucking message: Desert Riders come tiptoeing around anymore and they’re going to get more of what they got at the last rumble in the desert.”
And for that, I’ll sure as shit use my bat. My crew doesn’t need to be told anything else. They’ll have a little fun with him, blow off some much-needed steam, but he’ll live to see another day. But only because I said he should.
I head into the club through the back entrance. Carver gives me a nod as I pass through to the bathroom to clean up. When I come out, he’s no longer at the bar. A quick glance around causes me to grin. Pearl has her arms around his neck, looking into his eyes like a lovesick schoolgirl. Carver moves her aroundthe dance floor to a slow song being played by one of my recruits who fancies himself a DJ.
Fucking kids.
Everyone’s having a good time though. Maybe it’s not a bad way to put him to use tonight. Saves the ladies a little money, and I can live with that. We’ll see how the others react to him after tonight. They’re either going to give him a nod of respect for showing up for the ladies or give him crap for being a pansy ass.
Time will tell how this recruit turns out.
They don’t all make it. We’re a peculiar breed. We know a like member when we see him, and we don’t suffer outsiders at all. And this one, I’ve still got my eye on him.
Heat prickles my skin, and I turn.
Onyx starts to get off her stool, but I close the distance between us, and she decides to stay where she is. “I was going to come over and tell you thank you for the help,” she says.
I eliminate any personal space at all, stepping so close that I can smell the floral scent of her perfume and the mint of her toothpaste through the sweetness of the alcohol. “Not necessary at all. Happy to help.”
I slide into the bar seat next to her. “I’ll take a beer.” Brandy gives me a nod, moving up and down the bar trying to fill everyone’s orders. I gesture to another recruit across the room, and he comes over. “Why don’t you help Brandy behind the bar until the crowd dies down? She can’t even keep up.”
If he doesn’t like my suggestion, he doesn’t say a damn word, just gives me a nod and heads behind the bar to do as I’ve asked. Recruits, you have to test them in the damnedest ways, see what makes them tick, what makes them spark, and what may cause them to turn or betray you in the worst of ways. Time will tell for him too.
Brandy slides a bottle of beer my way and Onyx downs the shot of Tequila in front of her before turning those smoldering green eyes on me. “Thank you for dealing with that. I never even saw that coming tonight. You also did a nice job officiating the wedding. I know Pearl appreciated you doing that for her and Carver.”
I give her a smile. “It was nice to dust off the cobwebs. I got that certificate to marry a previous VP of mine to his ol’ lady years ago. Glad to put it to use again. Especially for Carver. He’s a great man.”
Onyx nods and a long strand of dark hair falls over her shoulder. I have the strongest urge to reach out and push it behind her ear, to feel just how silky and smooth it really is but I refrain as her eyes meet mine and she does it herself. “I wasn’t sure at first, but Carver’s a perfect match for Pearl.”
I turn…
Pearl and Carver walk downstairs, closing the distance across the room, to stand beside our stools, hands joined looking like the love starved fools that they are. I’m glad it worked out for them, but it doesn’t happen that way for most of us.
Most of the women out there these days are nothing like Pearl. They want a man in power, in a position that holds respect but then the minute your back is turned they’re boozing it up and in bed with one of your fucking recruits.
I should fucking know, but never again…
Better to just have a little fun, blow off some steam and go your own separate ways. Pearl slides in next to Onyx and Carver next to his new bride. Pearl taps an empty shot glass on the bar. “Tequila shots for all of us,” she says, gesturing down the line of us at the bar. Brandy gives us all a smile and sets up a row of glasses.
I give Brandy a head shake and gesture to my beer. Let the wedding crew and the Harlots have a little fun. After whathappened, I want to keep a clear head. Onyx looks toward the door, and then to Pearl. “Brandy, make mine a beer,” she says.
Pearl looks down the line a little glassy eyed but happy as can be with Carver’s arm protectively settled around her shoulders. “You have to drink with us! It’s my special night.”
Onyx inhales a breath. “I’m going to just stay clear headed for a while, okay?” Pearl’s eyes narrow. She knows Onyx isn’t telling her something and damn it all, it’s her special day.
I bend and whisper, so close that I can smell the scent of whatever Onyx wears on her skin. A faint floral aroma that a man could fucking drown in. “The boys and I are protecting you all tonight. Take the shot with your friends. I respect the hell out of your intentions, but the Royal Bastards are here. We’ve got you and the Harlots tonight.”
Those determined green eyes meet mine head on. That gaze of hers is a powerful weapon, that’s for damn sure. It looks like she may be wrestling with ceding control of protection for her president, but she knows me and the boys helped them the last time they got into trouble and that we wouldn’t let anything happen to them on our watch.
She finally nods. “Thank you, Hawg.” She turns to Brandy and gives her a big smile. “Add one to the line, baby!”
Pearl cheers and Carver looks over the ladies’ heads to me and raises his beer in a silent thanks of his own.I’ve got you, brother.It’s the least I can do for the man who’s been there for me in the darkest of times, times he doesn’t even fully know the truth about.
