He strokes his jaw. “Yeah, makes sense. Bama doesn’t have the lottery.”
“Anyway, I saw a semi run ‘em both off the road. One laid his bike down on the interstate and the other went over the embankment into a ditch. I stopped to help.”
Sly nods. “They said you came runnin’. Also said they’ve got nothin’ but respect for the way you handled yourself, and they wanted me to know it.”
“Glad to hear it.”
“I was too. How a prospect behaves when he comes up against another club is a true tell of his character. You did good, kid.”
“This mean I’m one step closer to earning that patch?”
He grins. “Don’t get ahead of yourself. But, I will tell you this—you keep up the good work, your time’s coming.” He lifts his glass to me, and we both down the shots.
“Thanks. Means a lot.”
He nods, and tilts his head to the side. “Anything else you want to tell me?”
I panic for a moment, not sure what he’s referring to. “You mean about the Evil Dead?”
“I mean about anything. What I need most from a brother is honesty. I’ve got to be able to trust you completely before I slap that patch on your back, understand?”
“Yes, sir.” I splay my hands. “You can trust me.”
He points a finger at me. “Gonna be some tests comin’ up shortly. We’ll see how you do. Do well, and you won’t have to stay a prospect much longer, Saint.”
“That’s good to know.” I can’t help wondering what kind of tests he’s talking about, but I know better than to ask. If the man wanted me to know more, he’d share.
***
Kami—
Bear returns with our drinks, but thankfully a moment later he’s called away by one of his Kings’ brothers, who clasps a handle of vodka under one arm.
Bambi leans close. “That’s Chaos. He’s the President. I always stay out of his way.”
I nod, and after they walk off, a group of men move into the space they vacated. They’re not wearing cuts, so they must be what Saint referred to as hang-arounds. They start cracking insulting, humorless jokes, their eyes moving over Bambi and I like were free for the taking. I’m feeling flushed, and pull the neckline of my shirt away from my skin, fanning myself with the fabric. It’s hot as hell in here, and I also want to escape these drunken hang-around clowns with their raunchy jokes. “Want to go outside and get some air?”
“Sure.”
We make our way to the door, but Saint is no longer there. I wonder where he’s off to, and what job they’ve got him on now. He’s been replaced with one of the men I remember from their visit to the house, who gives us a chin lift.
“Ladies.”
“Hi, Crow.” I smile.
Laughter billows through the front door, along with the smell of wood smoke.
We exit the door, and find a group of men circled around a fire in a burn barrel, talking and joking. We mingle in with a couple of girls whom Bambi introduces as Leigh and Magnolia.
“Leigh’s father is Chaos,” Bambi explains.
“Oh, I see.” I return her smile.
Her friend, Magnolia, pipes up. “You’re brother is hot, Kami.”
Bambi and I exchange a look, and we burst out laughing.
It’s late, Bambi is chatting with some guy, and I’m sitting on top of the hood of a pickup, on my fourth drink, feeling a little woozy and wondering when Saint will finally get free, when my phone vibrates.
Saint: Where you at, short cake?
Me: Outside by the fire.
A minute later he walks over and grins at me. “How are you, babe?”
I smile, happy to see him.
“Your eyes are glassy. How much have you had to drink?”
“A few.”
He frowns, grabs my waist and lifts me to the ground. Everyone’s so drunk; I don’t think anyone even notices.
He holds me against him, and we’re staring into each other’s eyes. “I need to get you home. I think you’ve had enough.”
I can’t wait to leave and spend some time with him.
He pulls me back further into the crowded parking lot, and around the truck, and backs me against the side, drops his head and kisses me like he’s been wanting to do it all night. When he finally breaks the kiss, he looks over my head, checking, I suppose, that no one saw us. “Come on, let’s go.”
His arm lands around my shoulders and he walks us to his bike.
***
Sly—
“Ain’t no man looks at a sister like that.” Bear shakes his head, peering through the fire and smoke rising from the burn barrel.
Sly looks over to his prospect, takes a long hit off a joint, then passes it to the Nomad. “Let it go, Bear. Not your concern. I’ll deal with him. Besides, we’ve got some details to work out on that run this weekend. Come on.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Kami—
Saint helps me off the bike. I sway on my feet, and he tucks me to his side and gets me inside and to my bed. I sit and he kneels at my feet, pulling off my boots and then my jeans.
“Asia wants you.” I stare at his gorgeous face while he tugs.
He tosses my jeans aside and meets my gaze, laying his hands on the bed on either side of my hips. “Lot of girls want attention. But real women want respect. Be the girl that wants respect, Kami. Don’t worry about Asia. She holds no interest for me.”
“She’s gorgeous.”
He shakes out two aspirin and drops them into my palm, ignoring my comment. “Take these.”
I toss them back.
“Drink this.” He hands me a bottle of water. “It’ll keep you from having a headache tomorrow.”
I take a couple of gulps and he rises to his feet, towering over me.
“Finish it, babe.” He waits while I chug it down, then he pulls my shirt over my head, and I gasp. I’m left with only my bra and panties, but he moves to the dresser and digs through a drawer. He stalks back to the bed with a white ribbed tank, and pulls it over my head. It clings to my curves, and I see his eyes drop to my breasts and darken. I want him to touch me, but I’m so tired, I can barely keep myself from falling over to the pillow.
A moment later he’s tucking me under the covers and flicking off the light.
“Get some rest.”
I smile at him, close my eyes and I’m out within seconds.
***
I roll over, squinting against the afternoon sun streaming in the window. It aggravates the slight pounding in my head. Two water bottles sit on the nightstand, and last night comes flooding back.
Now I regret not drinking the second bottle of water he left on the nightstand. I’ll have to admit, the room was spinning and I’m surprised I was able to hang onto him all the way home on the back of the bike. I see my phone on the nightstand, and check the time. Good Lord, it’s already almost 4 p.m. I can’t believe I slept the whole day away.