Legs smiled, patting my hand, “Hey, girl. You doing okay?”
“Yeah, why?”
“You seem off. Not yourself.”
Blowing out a deep breath, “It’s just I’ve known you all my whole life, and this is… different.”
“It’s nothing for you to be scared or nervous about. You’ll just get to see us. Not the moms who run after their kids, but the real us. I think you’ll like what ya see.” Legs laughed, the others following suit.
“I know I’ll like you, I just don’t know if you’ll like me.”
“Oh nonsense, girl.” Bubbles spoke. “We love that you’re feisty and speak your mind. You do that with us, just not with the brothers.” She winked. Now that I’m an ol’ lady, I knew that my mouth was a direct reflection of Cruz, and I’d need to keep myself together.
“We’re all a bit crazy in our own ways. You’ll learn soon enough, Princess,” Flash said, pushing her long blonde hair to her back. Her green eyes were covered in a smoky eye shadow, making them pop in a very sultry way.
“Shots!” Bubbles yelled.
“Thanks, girls. But I’m taking it easy.” I’d gotten drunk many times in front of these women, but always at the clubhouse where I could crash in Pops’ room, never in public.
“Hell no! You drink. This is a celebration.” The waitress placed a shot down for each of us. “To our new, patched sister!” They raised their glasses as I followed their lead. Downing the liquid, I could feel the burn all the way down, and after about the fifth shot, I was feeling pretty damn good and loosening up.
My stomach actually hurt from laughing so much with these women, and they were right. This was an entirely different side of them, and one that I really really liked. All my nerves and worries melted away as the night went on. These women treated me like, well, one of them. They didn’t handle me with kid gloves or hold back; that’s what made me fall in love with them for a second time in an entirely different way.
We watched the men shooting pool and doing whatever it was they were doing. Every once in a while, I’d get a chin lift from Cruz, just letting me know he saw me. The night was going better than I could have hoped.
These women were fun. They were more fun than I’d had in a long time, and that included my time before prison. It was actually remarkable that not one of them asked me about it. Part of me thought it would be the topic of conversation with them, the idiot who got set up by some bitch. Not one made fun of me in any way, though, and that, totally put me at ease. I’m sure they’ll ask at some point, but not tonight, and I could kiss each one of them for it.
“Heads up, ladies,” Legs said, looking at the men across the room. My eyes shot in that direction while three young women, wearing barely any clothes, approached our men. Two of them were smart; they actually walked away when Becs and Dagger turned them down. The third wasn’t as smart. I watched before my very eyes as Cruz nodded his head the direction she came, my guess, asking her to go. But the dumb bitch didn’t get the hint. Her hands began roaming his arm as he stepped out of her grasp.
Fury boiled inside of me. I wanted to cut this bitch up.
“Let’s go,” Flash said quickly. But I was a bit apprehensive. I knew that if I went up there, I’d be beating the shit out of this bitch, and I didn’t want to embarrass my brothers or sisters.
Flash saw my apprehension. “You let that bitch keep pawing your man, it will happen every fucking time you come here. It’s your job to end it.” With her encouraging words, I knew what needed to be done. Sliding out of my chair, we walked towards them. My fists clenched so hard my nails dug into my palm. I was gonna try to be civil first.
“Excuse me,” I said, tapping the woman on the shoulder. She turned around scowling at me.
“What?” she barked as I brought my hands in front of me, holding them together… or more like holding them, so I didn’t punch the living shit out of her.
“You need to back off.” She eyed me up and down looking at the leather on my body, but not deterred. She even glanced at the women standing behind me, and it didn’t faze her. Stupid bitch.
“Fuck off,” she said as she turned back around, her hand going directly to Cruz’s arm. Looking up in his eyes, I tried to make him see the fiery rage that was burning inside of me. With a lift of his chin, I grabbed the bitch by the back of her hair, pulling her far away from Cruz. My sisters formed a circle around me, but stood back letting me have the control.
“Fuck off, huh, bitch?” I threw her down on the floor as she fell with a crash in those stupid heels. “Stand up!” I yelled. She got to her feet with a wobble.
“What the fuck is your problem?” she barked.
“You wanna know what my problem is? You’re touching my ol’ man. He told you to get the fuck off… and your dumbass didn’t listen. Then I asked you the same thing, and you didn’t listen. So now this…” I swung, my fist connecting with her pretty little face, sending blood flying.
“You bitch.” God, this woman, clearly fell off the stupid wagon.
Picking up my leg, I kicked her directly in the stomach, then took my right hand and pummeled her face twice, being sure the cut was nice and big. “Bitch, huh? No, I’m his ol’ lady, and this shit don’t fly with me.” After two more punches, I felt a strong hand on my shoulder. I could feel Cruz’s body become flush against mine. I stood there watching the idiot crawl over to her friends, chicken shits that never helped her once. At least I knew my sisters had my back.
“Let me see your hands,” Cruz said as I turned to face him, not knowing if he’d be pissed I caused a huge scene. His smile made my knees week. The pride in his eyes was so bright for me. I held up my hands as he touched them gently. Without them being taped up, they took a good hit. I had several scrapes and blood, and of course, the bruising, but nothing that wouldn’t heal.
Cruz let my hands go after inspecting them as his lips came down hard on mine. My arms instantly wrapped around his neck, pulling him tightly to me. As he pulled away, he whispered, “Thanks, Babe.” Then he smiled in his sexy way. “Let’s get you a drink, Slugger.”
Rolling my eyes, I followed him back to the table as he ordered me a shot of Jack.
“Damn, girl,” Legs said, sitting down. “Your Ma always said you could fight, but I’ve never seen you in action. Damn, you kicked ass.”
Smiling, I felt the burn of the liquor slide down my throat.
The night turned out to be a huge hit. And even though I was a bit tipsy, Cruz proved he could handle my ass just fine on the back of his bike. Another one of my worries smashed to smithereens.
Pulling up to the clubhouse, people were floating all around, which surprised me considering we were out with four of the brothers. Guess the others decided to have a party. Women were in abundance throughout the club, most of whom were eyeing Cruz like he was their next target. I felt the daggers darting out of my eyes at each one, making them turn away from my man.
Cruz never once let go of my hand, except when he hugged the brothers from the Davis chapter as he walked by them. I felt completely out of place here, for some reason.
As Cruz moved us to his room, he locked the door behind him. “You stay in here with the door locked. I’m gonna go get Cooper and bring him in.” I nodded my head as he left the room.
Stripping out of my clothes and putting my tight yoga pants and an ‘I Support the Ravage MC’ t-shirt on, I grabbed a bottle of water out of Cruz’s small fridge. Downing the bottle quickly, I went in search of some medicine to kick the headache forming in my head.