“Busy huh? Looking for some stress relief?” she purrs.
Fuck. So much for that hope.
“Nah, I’ve got a plus one tonight,” I state, not entirely sure how she will react to Tessa and really not wanting to risk upsetting Tess on her first night here.
“Wait, what! You? You brought someone? Like a real live, living, breathing, female someone?!” she asks, instantly perking up and looking at me like an excited puppy.
“Uh. Yeah,” I say hesitantly. I’ve never seen Kiki like this and am not sure where this is going. Honestly, that seems to be happening a lot lately; what the hell is Tess doing to me?
“It’s about damn time!” she laughs, slapping both hands onto the bar, bracing herself as she leans forward, digging in to start the interrogation. “So, is this the one you were thinking about?”
“Thinking about? When?” I ask, lost, shying from the intensity in her eyes.
“Oh, come on Sawyer. Don’t play stupid. You’re not pretty enough for it,” she teases. Why do I feel like I’m on a run into hostile territory all of a sudden? “You really think I don’t know when a man’s mind is somewhere else? It sure as hell wasn’t my mouth you were fuckin’ that night,” I choke on my beer in shock and embarrassment. Well, fuck me. I had hoped it wasn’t that obvious.
“Keek… I… um…”
“Oh shut up. You know I don’t care. I just hope you snagged whoever it was. I’ve never seen you so distracted and tied up in knots like that,” she says, waving off my stuttering response. Talk about shocked. Clearly, I’m a shitty actor. Tess has had me so wrapped up in knots, no clue how to act and seemingly making the wrong move at every step of the way. She’ll have me wrapped around her damn finger before I even realize it. Deciding to just come clean, I may as well take the path Kiki has laid out for me.
“Yeah, her name’s Tessa. Just moved to town a few weeks ago and is living in Clay’s rental,” I say quietly, trying to keep it between us. Then realizing that intensity is still staring back at me, I quickly add, “be nice.”
“Oh, I’m always nice,” she says with a wink before moving off down the bar to tend to the other Brothers vying for her attention. With a shake of my head, I settle onto a barstool, draining half the beer.
This is going to be a long ass night.
As I attempt to sort out all the shit piled up in my head that Kiki has so generously pointed out, a solid hand claps me on the shoulder and King slides in next to me.
“Prez,” I acknowledge, nodding my head and inclining my beer toward him.
“Sawyer.” King nods in return, motioning for Kiki to bring him a drink. “How ya doing son?”
“Can’t complain. Getting ready for the run down to St Louis next week. Hear from Boulder?” I ask, settling into ‘Club Business Mode’.
“Yep. He’ll have his guys waiting at the drop site in Caseyville on Tuesday. Remy has been up my ass about getting in on more runs now that he’s patched, so I want you and Axel to bring him along and break him in; maybe it’ll shut him up for a while,” King says, more humor than frustration in his tone. I can’t help but chuckle, knowing exactly what King means. Tonight’s little get together is for Remy, Myke, and Ike; our newest members getting patched in. Remy’s young, eager, and chomping at the bit to prove himself and make his mark. Reminds me entirely too much of myself when I was that age. Myke and Ike on the other hand are twin troublemakers who may be giant pains in the asses, but those fuckers can break into anything and anywhere.
“Alright. I’ll get the truck ready this weekend,” I say, mentally running through the list of things to prep before the run.
“Naw, I got a better idea this time. Buddy of mine has a couple horses he might want to auction down south. Remy seems like a kid that likes animals, right?” King says with an evil glint in his eyes and I let out a loud, deep laugh. “Got a trailer retrofitted with a couple holds for the haul and room for a couple horses. Thought we would take that for a spin and have him take care of the livestock while you and Axel deal with Boulder and his guys.”
“Dear Christ Prez! Not pulling any punches with him are ya?” I laugh.
“Not pulling punches with what?” Remy asks, coming up to my other side. I just laugh and shake my head, slapping him on the back a few times and motioning to Kiki to get me the shot. The kid is beanpole, all arms and legs topped with a mop of unruly brown curls. He’s 22 but you would never know it by looking at him. He looks like an overgrown twelve-year-old with his clean-shaven jaw and bright overeager smile.
“Never you mind, son. Never you mind,” King says with a conspiratorial laugh.
“Yeah that’s not terrifying Prez,” Remy says with an eye roll, “what the hell is this?” he asks, his lip curling in disgust at the shot glass Kiki sets in front of him.
“Special requirement, have to make sure you can handle the next run,” I deadpan. The ‘P.R.O.B.E’ is a mixture of Prosecco, Rum, Ouzo, Bourbon, and Everclear served neat in a low ball. Dark and bubbly, smelling of anise, alcohol, and sweetness, it definitely is not a drink you would expect to find at a biker bar, but it’s my special way to see how earnest a fresh patch really is.
King looks at me with a raised eyebrow, “I’m not pulling the punches, eh?”
“Just down it Remy. I need to know you can fit the cover we’re running,” I say, completely serious. His eyes light up, thinking he’s in for something special.
He breathes out and downs the drink, gagging on the riot of flavors. “The fuck was that!? And what the hell kind of cover would need to drink that god awful mess?” he sputters, eagerly taking the beer Kiki has offered him.
“Top Secret, I’ll fill you in later,” I smirk. King pulls the most serious face I’ve seen in a while, giving the kid a nod of approval but a smile cracks the façade.
“Aw, goddamn it! I thought I was done with this shit,” cracks Remy, taking it in stride but clearly not impressed with having to deal with more hazing. King, Kiki, and I fall into rolling laughter.
“So, do I even want to know who Gage is prancing around with?” Remy asks as we settle.
“God you really don’t waste any time, do you? Had your patch for what, an hour? And you’re already bustin’ a Brother’s balls?” King laughs. “Although I’m pretty sure you had that coming Sawyer,” he adds with gesture to the now empty P.R.O.B.E on the bar.
“You kidding? Never thought I’d see the day when Sawyer would show up with a chick who wasn’t already hanging off his cock! I was starting to think he’s more of a monk than Padre!” Remy retorts, slugging me in the shoulder.
“Oh, look at baby Remington getting all mouthy now that he’s got his patch!” I say, pulling him into a headlock and grinding my knuckles into the top of his head. He pulls himself free and straightens his Cut on his shoulders, sitting back down.
“Shut up asshole. All I’m saying is that it’s good to see you not walking around here like you’re ready to kill someone for once,” Remy says, his tone sincere. I start to retort but realize I don’t really have a response to that; the kid isn’t wrong. I’ve been one cranky motherfucker for a long time now and I’ve noticed that even some of the Brothers give me a wide berth. I nod my head and incline my beer toward him in acknowledgment, he does the same and thankfully lets it go.