“I think I’m okay,” I whisper.
“You’re still shaking. We should get you back to the clubhouse,” he suggests.
I nod my head. “Yeah, that’s a good idea.”
“Do you think you can handle riding on the back of my bike?”
“We can take your shoes in the car,” Sienna tells me.
“Yeah, it might help to keep my mind occupied,” I tell Rascal. “And thank you, Sienna. I appreciate that.”
“No problem. Get to the clubhouse and take care of yourself,” she tells me. “We’ll see you there later.”
I hug Sienna and Minx, then head out with Rascal. The ride back to the clubhouse helps me calm down even more. It’s so freeing, feeling the air blowing through my hair. When we get to the clubhouse, Rascal walks me inside.
“What can I do for you,” he asks.
“Chamomile tea and lavender in my diffuser,” I say.
“Chains,” Rascal calls out.
“What’s up?”
“Make Marley some Chamomile tea and bring it to her room,” he demands.
“You got it,” Chains replies.
We walk into my room, and I flop down on my bed. Rascal fills my diffuser up with water and drops some lavender into it, then sits on my bed.
“Do you wanna talk about what happened back there?”
“Honestly? No,” I admit. “And you can stop pretending like you care."
Before he can respond, there's a knock at my door. Rascal moves to answer it. Chains is standing there with a giant coffee mug.
"Here's the tea you wanted," he says to Rascal.
"Thanks." Rascal takes the cup, closes the door, and brings me the tea. "Is it really so hard to believe that I really do care?"
"Yes, it is." I take the tea from him, sipping it slowly. "Now, can you please leave?"
He lets out a defeated sigh. "Text me if you need anything."
"I won't need anything." I lay down, turning my back toward him. A minute or so goes by before the door opens and closes again, and he's gone.
14
Rascal
The next week, Marley barely comes out of her room. At least, she barely does when I’m around. I know she’s doing whatever she can to avoid me, so I do my best to stay out of her way. I like that she’s been coming out of her room more and I don’t want to stop that. I do miss bickering with her and ruffling her feathers.
Tonight is the Halloween party. It’ll be the first time we’ll be in the same room for more than five minutes since she had her panic attack last weekend. I haven’t been able to stop thinking about her all week. Talking with Niko last weekend didn’t help. He mentioned he spoke with Marley the day I came back from Colorado, and he’s convinced he’s her father. She hasn’t spoken to him since. I’m guessing that’s why Marley was crying when I went to her room that day, but she hasn’t talked to me.
“Yo, the party is starting soon. You dressing up?” Shade interrupts my thoughts. He looks like he stepped right out of the 1920s with the outfit he’s wearing.
“Yeah, I’m headed to my room to get ready now,” I tell him.
“Thank the gods I’m not the only one dressing up.” Shade laughs.
“I know a couple of the guys are,” I say. “Mostly y’all fuckers with Ol’ Ladies.”
“Yeah, and what’s your excuse?” He smirks.
I flip him off and walk down the hall to my room, leaving him laughing behind me. I shower and dress within thirty minutes. I slip into a pair of black trousers, a white dress shirt, suspenders, and a holster, sliding my cut on last. I take my time making my way back to the main room. When I walk in, most of the brothers are here, including ones from Phoenix, New Orleans, and the new guys from Denver. I walk to the bar to get a drink. Chains, Knuckles, and Mouse are all working the bar tonight, so Tink and Lolita can have some fun.
“Chains, let me get a beer.” I sit on a barstool. He brings me a beer and walks away.
“Lookin’ dapper, bro,” Sketch says. He’s dressed to the nines, too.
“Where’s your Ol’ Lady,” I ask.
“Same place as all the other chicks. Still at Minx’s house.” He shakes his head with a grin. “They’re fashionably late or some shit.”
As if on cue, the clubhouse door opens and in walk the women. They’re all dressed like flappers. Each one is wearing a different color dress. My eyes instantly find Marley, and I can’t take them off her. She’s wearing a black flapper dress that hugs her body in all the right places. It’s short, falling just above mid-thigh. Her tits look like they would pop out if she moves the wrong way. Between how short the dress is and the heels she’s wearing, her legs go on for days. I can’t help but imagine them wrapped around my head as I feast on her cunt.
“Fuck me,” I mutter.
Sketch turns in the direction I’m staring and chuckles. “She won’t, but good luck.”
He hops out of his seat and heads for Wren. I watch as Marley and Tink make their way to the bar. Chains makes his way back to my end of the bar.
“Want a refill,” he asks
“Yeah, and a shot of Jack,” I tell him.
“You got it.” He gets my drinks, setting them down in front of me before moving on to someone else. I down the shot and leave the bar, stealing another glance at Marley. This time, her eyes are already on me, burning with lust. My mouth tips an inch in a half-smile, and I walk toward the pool tables. Hollywood and Tech are chillin’ while Saint and Buzz play a game.
“I’m gettin’ shit faced tonight,” I announced.
“Did Marley turn you down again?” Saint laughs.
“Fuck off. I haven’t talked to her since last weekend,” I admit.
“Bet that’s been tough,” Hollywood says in a hushed tone.
I take a seat where I’m in perfect view of the bar where Marley is still standing. She’s fucking stunning in that outfit. I watch as she and Tink leave the bar, walking toward the table Sienna, Wren, and Minx are at with their guys. Ruger meets Marley at the table, her smile falling when she sees him. I chuckle to myself.
“What’s so funny,” Hollywood asks.
“Ruger can’t take a fuckin’ hint,” I tell him.
His eyes follow my gaze. “He never could. Why don’t you go be her knight and save her from him?”
“Nah, she doesn’t want that either.” I down half my beer in one gulp. The next thing I know, some of the cut bunnies are hanging all over Tech, Saint, and Buzz.
A couple hours go by, and I’ve drunk so much I’m actually tipsy. Tech and Buzz keep bringing over trays full of shots for the five of us, and I kept downing them, one-by-one. Trix’s eyes find mine and light up as she stalks toward me. I groan.
“Hey, baby,” she purrs out.
“Trix! Ras was just talking about how much he wanted a lap dance,” Saint tells her. I shoot him a death glare, and his dumb ass smirks. I let her do her thing, so I don’t have to hear her bitch. The entire time she dances, I have my eyes on Marley as she dances with Tink on the makeshift dance floor. She moves her body so seductively, knowing I’m watching her. I notice Ruger watching her, too.