Eventually, Bear grins at my discomfort and yells out, “Hey, Kami, come on out here. We want to meet you.”
A minute later, the door creaks open and she comes around the corner hesitantly. My gaze drops to her hand, and I thank God she was smart enough to have taken off her ring. Her eyes connect with mine, and then she looks around. “Hey.”
Mako holds up his empty. “Fetch me another beer, will ya, darlin’?”
“She’s not here to serve your ass, fucker. Get it yourself,” Bear growls.
“I don’t mind.” Her eyes dart between Bear’s and mine.
Bear snags her hand. “Sit down, honey. He can get it himself.”
Mako stands. “Christ, it’s just a damn beer.”
“And you’re two feet from the kitchen, prospect. Get it yourself, and don’t make me say it again.” Bear pulls her to sit between him and me on the couch. “So, how old are you, darlin’?”
“Seventeen.”
The smile on Bear’s face disappears. “Oh.”
That changed his tune fast enough.
He clears his throat and straightens a bit. “So, you’re in high school?”
“Just graduated.”
Bear extends his hand. “I’m Bear, by the way.” He points at Crow. “That’s Crow, and the asshole in the kitchen is Mako.”
“I heard that.”
“No one cares,” Bear yells back, giving his attention back to Kami. “You’re here for the summer, huh?”
“Hmm mmm.” Kami’s eyes sparkle. “That Nomad patch on the back of your vest, what’s that mean?”
He grins, eating up her attention. “Means I’m not tied down to any one chapter, though I’m seeing more and more reason to stick around Uprising.”
I practically roll my eyes at his flirting. “Bear, she’s seventeen.”
“Yeah, damn, that’s jailbait. I’ve been burned by that before.”
I arch a brow and he meets my gaze over her head. “Long time ago, man.”
“So, how was Magnolia when you dropped her off last night?” Crow asks, stirring up trouble for me whether he knows it or not.
“Fine.”
“She’s after you, dude,” Mako adds, returning with a beer and plopping down.
“Yeah, but I’m not interested.” I glare over at him. “Heard Asia made a play for you the other night. How’d that go?” The minute the words are out I could kick myself for bringing her name up in front of Kami. God knows the turn this conversation could take.
“Everybody in the club knows she’s lookin’ to land a patch,” Crow adds.
“Well, I ain’t got one of those yet,” Mako adds.
“She don’t seem to care. Heard she hit on you last week.” Bear turns to me.
“You’re the only patch I see. Maybe you want her.” I give it right back.
“Fuck no. Too many guys have already been with her. Girl like that, she’s got clinger written all over her. I ain’t lookin’ for an ol’ lady, no matter how gorgeous that bitch is.”
Kami looks uncomfortable as hell, and I feel for her.
Bear looks over at her. “Sorry, darlin’, guess I should watch my mouth around a sweet young thing like you.”
“No problem.” Kami smiles, trying not to stir the pot, but I see the glances she’s been giving me, especially when Magnolia and Asia were mentioned.
Bear drains his beer and stands. “Let’s hit the road, boys.”
“So soon?” Kami asks, and he grins.
Crow and Mako stand, and Bear lifts his chin toward Kami, and can’t resist adding, “Bring her to the clubhouse party tonight.”
When I don’t nod, because I’m hoping like hell that’s not an order, he lifts a brow, waiting. He’s a patch, so I have no choice but to comply.
“Yeah, sure. If she wants to come.”
“Oh, she wants to come.” He grins at my obvious discomfort, slaps a hand on my shoulder and walks out, following the others to the bikes parked in my back yard, the ones I never heard roll up.
The minute they’re gone, I whirl on her. “Well, now we’re fucked.”
“Why? I thought they were okay.”
“Okay? None of this is okay. You didn’t see him hitting on you?”
“Well, yeah, but he cooled when he heard my age.”
“That’s not gonna protect you for long. He was fucking interested.”
“But he said sisters were off-limits. I heard him.”
“Unless he gets my okay. And I’ve got a bad feelin’ he’s gonna press me for that okay.”
“Oh.” She shrugs. “So I won’t go.”
“Yeah, that’s not an option anymore. He told me to bring you.”
“So?”
“So, he’s a patch. What they say goes.”
“That’s crazy.”
I sigh. “You’re just going to have to avoid him all night.”
She stares at me wide-eyed. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to cause trouble.”
“This isn’t your fault.”
“Now you have me scared.”
I pull her to me and kiss her forehead. “Don’t worry. I’d never let anything happen to you, understand?”
She stares into my eyes and nods.
I hope to God it’s a promise I can keep without pulling a knife on someone tonight.
CHAPTER TWENTY
Kami—
I’m standing off to the side of the green felt table watching several members of the Kings of Carnage shoot pool. My eyes travel around their clubhouse, taking it all in as I sip on my drink. I never in a million years thought I’d see the inside of one of these places.
Loud music blasts from speakers somewhere, and the place is packed. Saint told me there are a lot of hang-arounds and friends of the club up tonight. There are also a lot of women. Saint said some of them are club girls, some are club brats, and some are Centerfold’s girls—strippers from the club, come to party and make some extra money. Apparently they don’t do shit for free—his words, not mine.
Sticking with our cover story, I’ve been introduced as Saint’s sister to everyone, which is fine with me.
I listen intently as the men sputter crude stories laced with profanity, occasionally all erupting into hearty laughter.
A pretty young blonde introduces herself as Bambi. She’s sweet with a friendly smile and we chat for a while. Saint is busy doing prospect duties, which tonight includes watching the door. Every once in a while he comes and checks on me. He’s reminded me more than once to stay where I am because he’s got a clear view from the front door to the pool table.
Bambi leans close and talks in my ear so she can be heard over the music.
“Just an FYI, Asia is after your brother.” She extends her index finger from the side of her cup, pointing toward a tall girl with dark hair down to her ass, big boobs and blue eyes framed by long fake lashes.
My eyes skate over her from head to toe. She’s wearing a strapless short dress in ice blue. “That one?”
“Yep. Of course, I don’t think it matters which one of these guys, she just wants to land a patch, any patch. Guess Saint just got lucky. Of course he doesn’t have his patch yet, but I’m sure he’ll get one.”