I turn to walk away, but then I steel my shoulders and turn back. “You know, Anna, I wanted not to judge a book by its cover. I wanted to try and make a friend today. I came with honest intentions because no one has really told me anything about you… so I can make my own mind up. Whatever grudge you hold against this club, you need to let that shit go. You may be flawlessly pretty on the outside, but on the inside, you’re as ugly as they come. No one can change that but you.”
Neon’s smile grows so fucking wide while Anna scoffs. I turn, storming over to the bar. I need a drink. So much for making new friends. I’ll need to apologize to Neon later, maybe his parents too, but for now, I want something to calm my nerves. Not just from Anna, but from being in lockdown. I slide onto a stool as the club girl, Bonnie, eyes me up and down. Her rich chocolate skin shines brightly against the hues of the downlights behind the bar. She’s glowing like a goddess while her dark hair hangs down in soft curls. “What can I get ya, hon?”
“Something strong… to take the edge off.”
“We talking finger of whiskey here or all-out tequila slammer?”
“Yeah, I think we need to slam this baby home.”
Bonnie tilts her head at me. “Comin’ right up.”
Cherry and Prinie casually slide in, one either side of me. I dart from one to the other, but they keep facing the front like they’re here on some sort of a stealth mission.
What the hell are they doing?
“So… you spoke to Anna?” Cherry murmurs, keeping her head forward.
I turn to her. “I’m not sure if you’d call it speaking. More like I tried to be nice, then she accused me of trying to weasel my way into her family and bit my head off.”
Prinie snorts out a laugh. “Typical. Doesn’t even get her facts right before spouting off bullshit, the spoiled brat.”
I roll my shoulders, not wanting to get involved with obvious tension between the three. “Look, she’s a piece of work, that’s for sure. I don’t know what happened between you guys, but I honestly don’t want to get dragged in.”
Cherry softens her expression. “That’s fair. I don’t want her trying to come after Zero again. We’re in such a good place, I don’t need her meddling.”
“Are you serious right now? Cherry, since I’ve been here, I’ve seen the way Zero stares at you. Anna can try and meddle all she wants, but Zero isn’t going anywhere. You’d have to force him to leave you. It’s the only way anything would happen to your relationship.”
Cherry exhales, a slow smile crossing her face. “You’re right. I know you are. I let her get into my head last lockdown. It caused drama. I won’t let that happen again.”
“Thing is, Cherry, you’re his Old Lady. Hell, you’re the First Lady of this club. No one holds more power here than you. You’re a strong, independent, amazing woman. Don’t let Anna bring you down.”
“Wow! You have me believing in myself, and Anna isn’t even an issue for me,” Prinie chimes.
“Good. Now, I just need to find that confidence for myself.”
Cherry and Prinie both scowl at me.
“Hey, don’t give up on us now, you were doing so well!”
“I’m fine, honestly. I just wish I had the strength you do, Cherry.”
Cherry scoffs. “Honestly, I wasn’t always like I am now. I had an abusive husband who beat me day in and out until I was black and blue, and I didn’t leave. Not until Zero came in and swooped me off my feet. That man, he gave me my strength.” She lets out a small laugh. “Now, I’m the First Lady of the Houston Defiance. Pharmacist by day, drug manufacturer by night, so yeah… your strength can grow, Jovie. But you have to find it in yourself to get there. Guess I just called myself out on this whole Anna thing… fuck her!”
“Go back a step. Did you say drug manufacturer?”
Prinie side-eyes Cherry, and she shrugs. “If you’re going to be a part of the club, you need to know what you’re getting into.”
I steel my shoulders. “Okay… hit me.”
“The guys and I produce a tablet called Snow White out of the pharmacy once a month. We’re in business with the Militia, and they get a cut to keep the peace between us. We sell it on our side of town, them on theirs, and it works. Problem is, it’s hard making such large quantities in a tiny workspace. It’s hectic, but we get by. Just wish we had a better place for manufacturing, that would make shit a lot easier.”
I let out a small laugh. “Never pictured you as this lady crime boss.”
Cherry smiles. “They don’t call me Cherry Bomb for nothing. So, if I can come from being beat-up every day to running an underground drug ring, Jovie… you can do anything you put your mind to.”
“You’re kinda badass Cherry, but I gotta go tell Kevlar that Anna thinks I was trying to hit on Neon. I don’t honestly know what she was thinking…”
“Kevlar will understand you weren’t hitting on Neon. Everyone knows what Anna’s like, trust me.”
Bonnie slides my slammer across the bar, and I pick it up, saluting to the girls. “Here’s hoping.” I throw it back, the sting punching me all the way down as I turn to find Kevlar. “Because if there’s something I don’t want to fuck up right now, it’s the good thing I have with Kevlar and the kids. Goddamn, and it’s all because I was trying to be fucking nice.”
Cherry and Prinie chuckle.
“Don’t worry. Kevlar’s easy-going, you’ll see.”
I bob my head with a newfound respect for the queen bee around here, then spin to go in search of Kevlar. The main room is overcrowded with all the families, but I find him sitting with Ethan and Lou. The kids are with Bub and Fox right now as they sit discussing something. I don’t really want to have this chat in front of Ethan and Lou, but that slammer has given me the little bit of courage I need.
Striding over to them, I go to blurt it out, but Kevlar pats the seat beside him. “Neon came to see me.”
I tense, then sit. Shit. “I’m sorry. I tried to make friends with Anna, and she took everything out of context—”
“Jovie, stop!” He wraps his arm around my shoulders, pulling me to him. “I love that you tried, but honestly, Anna’s a lost cause. No one has been able to get through to her. The only one who can make her do anything is Neon, and even then, it’s at a bare minimum.”
Leaning into him, I relax. “So, you believe me?”
“Anna makes everything into something it’s not. Don’t let her get into your head.”
“Okay. I was so worried about how you’d react. I didn’t want anything to ruin this… us.”
Ethan and Lou keep quiet on the other side of the table as Kevlar leans in, kissing the top of my head. “I’ll tell you now, anything Anna says is not going to ruin us. Got it?”
“Okay, enough about that. How are you guys settling into the club? It must be difficult coming into a lockdown?”
“Not gonna lie, I’m not thrilled. I don’t know what Hammond is going to say when I tell him I’m here,” Ethan states.
“He doesn’t know?” Kevlar asks.