I lean back in my chair and try not to shake like a fucking leaf. Lawson rubs at his temple as he works through the equations but Poe and Lyn settle into a full blown out-n-out fight.
"The club don't think he is. Fuck Diesel wants to rip his goddamn throat out, so your argument is a pile of shit."
"Poe, my argument isn't about your brother. It's about whether there's a stripper at The Boulevard that's there to spy on the club and send another brother away for hard time. You want Tomi in lockup? Hell, if it were Rue chasing her you’d care a helluva lot more.”
I grab my bag, ready to leave and Poe finally snaps, "Leave Lyn. I'm hanging out with my friend, whether you like her or not, that's what is happening here."
He storms out, leaving his own homework behind like it means nothing to him. Law grimaces and glances up at me. “He’s just pissed off, it ain’t you.”
I shrug because it’s none of my business really and I chew my lip as I sift through the last few pages of work. “So uh—what’s a Demon?”
Law chokes out a laugh and Poe buries her face in her hands, her answer muffled behind them, “They’re the fucking worst MC that’s ever existed. Also for like… reference or whatever… technically my sperm donor is the president of the entire MC. He’s literally the worst human on Earth so if you see anyone in a Demon cut, run. Run and call Tomi the second you can.”
I nod because, I mean, what else can I do? And we get back to work on the homework. Law is nice enough to me, doesn’t start shit or look at me like he’s judging me, but I’m still glad to head on home.
Poe grins when I give her a quick hug, thanking me with that big grin of hers plastered on her face.
I stop in at the tiny grocery store at the edge of town on my way back through. It’s not exactly a good area but it’s open even this late at night and I need some energy drinks to get me through tomorrow morning’s lectures.
The guy behind the counter leers at me when I walk in but I ignore him, stalking straight through to the drink fridges. I grab some candy bars too, I’m due for my period and I’m craving the sugar. I know I’ll regret it when I bloat but, fuck, Diamond has only given me two shifts next week anyway.
What does it matter if I’m a bit bloated for my online classes?
I turn around with my arms full of crap to find Tomi in the fucking grocery store with me, glaring at me like I’m his biggest fucking problem.
Oh God.
“What the fuck are you doing in here? It’s nearly fucking midnight and there’s a stabbing every fucking minute in this place.”
I clear my throat to try to find my voice. “I was… helping Poe out. Just driving through, I needed shit for class tomorrow. Is there… something wrong?”
He huffs at me and stalks towards me. “Something wrong? Yeah, I’m too fucking busy to be chasing pieces of ass around who can’t take care of their own shit.”
I frown at him glancing around but there’s no one in here but me. “I’m just buying snacks, what’s the problem? Is this like a turf thing or—“
He curses viciously under his breath at me. “Coldstone belongs to the Unseen, this isn’t a fucking turf thing. This is about me getting home and finding your car parked outside of the shittiest fucking store in the whole town dressed like you’re for sale. Pay for your shit and get out of here. Stop making fucking trouble for me.”
I nod and walk past him, still confused over what his problem is. I didn’t ask for him to come looking and I’m in jeans and a hoodie, even though it’s hot as fuck out.
The guy behind the counter rings up all of my shit, smirking at me the whole time but I ignore it, handing my cash over and taking my change.
I’m silently begging him not to say something that’ll prove Tomi right.
Of fucking course he does.
“Hey, don’t you work out at the strip joint? Yeah, you do! You’re the hottest one there! Fuck, you must have some sexy fucking titties under that ugly sweatshirt-”
He’s interrupted by Tomi’s fist breaking the glass on one of the displays. I jump a mile into the air and the guy shits himself, jumping back away from me like his ass is on fire.
“You ever speak to her like that again and I’ll cut your tongue outta your head and feed it to you, you hear me?”
The guy nods and clutches at his chest like he’s having a heart attack, all fucking terrified now he’s faced with the giant, tattooed biker. I don’t see him as the scary guy I once faced but this guy sure does.
He was just speaking to me like that so it makes no sense that he’d be defending my fucking honor. I mean… I am just a stripper. I’m a woman who sells her naked body on stage for tips.
Tomi had just said it to me himself.
Piece of ass.
I blink at them both until Tomi barks at me, “Ass outside, Angel. Get in your fucking truck.”
I do exactly what he says, leaving without checking to see if he’s following me, but when I start the Chevy and wait a minute for the engine to warm up, he stalks out and charges right up to my window.
I wince but I roll it down.
“Make sure you’re at the club party. Everyone goes and if your ass isn’t there I’m coming to find you.”
What the hell does that even mean?
I don’t get the chance to ask, he just turns on his heel and stalks over to his motorcycle, swinging onto it and letting the engine roar to life under him. When I just sit there staring at him, he waves his arm at me to go ahead, waiting until I’m on the road before he leaves himself.
Diamond calls me to tell me about the party.
There’s no fucking way I want to go but Tomi’s words are still ringing in my head so I know I have no choice.
I spend the day before at the library doing my classwork and I have a headache by the time I have to leave and head over there. I stay in my car for a good five minutes convincing myself I’ll get the hell through this. If Poe isn’t here I’ll just find Speck. Hell, if he’s bartending like he’s told me he usually has to, I'll offer to help him just to get a slab of wood between me and the drunken bikers.
There’s a lot of them.
Every last one of them is loud and drunk and fucking huge. If any of them try to touch me there’s no way I can stop them. I wouldn’t stand a fucking chance.
I finally get out when Mel parks up next to me, Lana and Farrah piling out with her as they all giggle and laugh together.
I’m almost jealous.
The bonfire is bright and the other girls disappear into the crowd the second they get there, mingling with the crowd of bikers as easy as breathing.
I wonder how long I have to be here for?
I’m hesitant as I tiptoe through the crowds, trying to be small and inconspicuous.
“Angel! Hey! Get your ass over here,” Poe calls out.
Thank God.
I dart over to where she’s standing in the parking lot by the bonfire, a beer in her hand and a friend standing there with her. She leans down to snag a beer for me from the barrel. I try to ignore the looks her friend is giving me, the loathing not even a little subtle.
I’m guessing this is Trink.
“Can you quit it? We’re trying to have a good night,” Poe snarks at her and then turns to me with a grin.