Jake lifts his fist and pounds on the door. Pudge answers a minute later, her eyes widen, and she covers her mouth with her hands. “Oh my God! You’re here!” She flies into his arms.
My smile slowly begins to fade when I don’t see Sonya. My frown furrows my brow. “Where’s Sonya?”
I have to wait to get my answer until their faces aren’t smashed together.
Pudge’s eyes meet mine. “I haven’t seen her for a few days, Cody. I can try to call her.” We follow Pudge into the apartment, and she grabs her phone off the couch.
“Don’t tell her I’m here,” I whisper while the phone rings.
“Where are you?” Pudge’s grin falters. “You’re at the club? Why? You were doing great staying away, why would you go back there?” I can only hear one side of the conversation, and it’s frustrating as hell. “Why does it matter? Sonya, you deserve better!” I hear Sonya’s voice rise, but I still can’t make out any words. Pudge hangs up the phone. “I can’t fucking believe her! She hung up on me!” she huffs angrily.
I step closer, worried there might be something wrong. “Where is she?”
Her eyes find mine, and something passes through them. “She’s at the Satan’s Sinners clubhouse.”
My frown deepens, and I’m completely lost. “The Satan’s Sinners? What the hell is that?” The name alone doesn’t sit right with me. Why the hell would she be somewhere called the Satan’s Sinners?
“It’s a motorcycle club. She’d been staying away from them, but it looks like she’s back there.”
“Why is she there?”
Pudge shakes her head. “I’m mad at her right now, but she’s still my best friend, and I can’t tell you that. She needs to be the one to explain.”
I cross my arms over my chest. “Where is this motorcycle club?”
Pudge’s head moves back and forth frantically. “Oh no, that’s not a good idea. She’s never even let me go there.”
“Pudge…” I growl her name and stare at her, her eyes seem to be etched with worry.
She sighs heavily. “Damn it. She’s going to hate me but come on. I’ll drive.”
We pull up to a closed metal gate, and a guy with a black vest walks toward Pudge’s window.
As she rolls it down, he questions her, “Did you make a wrong turn?” His eyes travel between the three of us.
Pudge responds. “No, I’m looking for Shug.”
Shug? I mouth the name. Why is she saying Shug? Who the hell is Shug?
“What you want with her?” His eyes drift to me then Jake. “You’re a long way from Hicksville, ain’t ya’?”
“You got a—” I start, but Pudge quickly cuts me off.
Pudge glares at me over her shoulder. “Cody, shut up!” Returning her gaze to the man at her window, she explains, “She’s been staying with me, and I talked to her on the phone not long ago. Can you please let us in so we can see her?”
“Don’t cause no problems, understood?”
Pudge nods in agreement. “We won’t. I promise.”
He opens the gate, and Pudge slowly enters, parking her car once we get closer to the building. As I step out of the car, I gape at the brick building in front of me with a painted devil’s head and two revolvers crossed. I take in the row of motorcycles and wonder what the hell I’ve gotten myself into.
“Who is Shug?” I inquire, but I think I already know the answer.
“Come on.” Pudge ignores my question.
Jake’s been quiet this whole time. “Babe, I don’t know about this.” His voice trails off as Pudge keeps walking closer to a closed door.
We follow behind, and once she opens it, we’re blasted with a thick cloud of smoke and the stench of weed. The room’s lighting is low, but the music is deafening. Scanning the room, I try to take in the scene. Women pass by with their tits on full display, their smiles brightening when they see me and Jake. Men in matching black vests gather around tables, the bar, and a pool table. It’s as if we were in a bar, but an X-rated one. “What the fuck is this place?” I demand under my breath.
People begin to stop what they’re doing when they realize we’re standing there. A huge man with dark hair and a dark beard approaches, stopping in front of us. His vest says Enforcer and Bear. “The fuck you doin’ here?” He crosses his arms over his broad chest—his arms are the size of my head.
“We’re here to see Shug,” Pudge speaks for us.
“Where’s Shug?” he shouts over the music.
“She’s with Chayser. I’ll go get her,” a scantily clad woman responds.
We wait a few minutes until Sonya comes sashaying out of a hallway with a man behind her. My heart begins to sink further into the pit of my stomach, and my pulse pounds loudly in my ears. She freezes when she spots us. Chayser takes her hand in his and leads her closer.
My jaw clenches as I grind my teeth together. Why the fuck is he touching her?
“You brought him here?” Sonya’s eyes glisten with unshed tears. Her gaze is focused on me, but she’s speaking to Pudge. No hello, no hug, no nothing, only a “You brought him here?”
“Can we go outside and talk?” I ask as my stomach begins to churn. The four of us barrel out the door, the man who was holding her hand and a few others following close behind. “What’s goin’ on?”
“Why didn’t you tell me you were coming?” she throws back, choosing not to answer me.
Pudge’s lips turn down. “You need to tell him, Sonya.”
Sonya’s eyes bulge while her mouth hangs open. “I need to tell him? Tell me why the hell you would bring him here?” Sonya yells at Pudge.
Jake steps between them, holding Pudge close to his back. “It’s not her fault. Don’t try and blame her, Sonya. You need to talk to Cody.” Jake pulls Pudge away. I watch as they get back into her car.
“What the fuck is going on?” I growl.
“I’m sorry.” She wipes away a fallen tear. “I never wanted you to find out. This place is where I grew up, where I’ve lived my entire life.”
My brow furrows. “Okay, why do you think I would care where you grew up? Where you live?”
She laughs, but it holds no mirth. “It’s not about that. It’s what I do here. I have sex with the members.”
I swallow hard, my lips press together. It takes a moment before I can say anything. “You have sex with the members,” I repeat, letting it sink in, but I’m completely dumbfounded. “How many of them have you fucked?”
Her lip quivers. “Almost all of them.”
I blow out a deep breath. “You’ve fucked all of those men?” I scoff, shaking my head. I think I’m in shock. “You barely touched me,” I accuse.
She dares to step closer. “Cody.”
I hold my hand out to stop her. “Why didn’t you fuckin’ tell me that? Everything was a lie!”
Her shoulders sag, her voice trembles when she tells me, “It wasn’t a lie. I didn’t want to be this person to you. I wanted to be better. I didn’t want you to learn about this part of my life. I’m sorry. I stayed away, and then we weren’t talking, and I thought…” Her words trail off as she sobs harder.