Jaded: (Beautiful Biker MC Romance Series), page 27
“Also,” she continued, “Lick tried to get it on with me a couple times, kissed me once, but I didn’t let it go farther because I knew Jojo was madly in love with him. He was fun and we partied together but nothing else happened. Jojo is a great girl. I’d never fuck her over that way.”
“Are you done or is there more?”
“That’s all. I made a pass at Deke once when I was drunk and feeling sorry for myself. Didn’t know he and his now ex-wife were together at that point so he turned me down gently and actually put me in a cab to get me home so I wouldn’t do somethin’ stupid. Or stupider. Now… you know. If you decide you can’t deal, please tell me so I don’t get more invested, because Jesse…” She let that hang and gave me a look.
“How invested are you?” I asked.
“See, I’ve been trying my hardest not to. Because I learned a long time ago that girls like me don’t get to keep guys like you.”
“Guys like me?”
“Guys who look like you, who fuck like you, who are smart and funny and who also take care of their girl. You don’t want a girl who’s been… around.”
“How do you know what I want?”
“I’m assuming from what I’ve seen that you’re a no bullshit guy who won’t want the hassles that come with a girl who other guys think is beneath the ‘ol lady status.”
“Have you taken a look in the mirror lately?” I asked. “Because a girl that looks like you, fucks like you, sings like you? Someone who isn’t plastic and manipulating and only out for herself? You’re a fuckin’ catch, Gigi.”
“Most people think I’ve already been caught too many times, that I’m not girlfriend material.”
“I’m not most people.”
“Because of your mom?”
“I grew up around beautiful women, plenty who were tough as nails but some who were broken, who didn’t know their worth because they were treated like all they were was what was between their legs. I knew ‘em, knew what was underneath. Know how it can be hard to shake off the stigma of being an exotic dancer, for example, because people think they know what you’re about. They only know that you dance for a living, they don’t know what’s underneath. I know some of the club hang-around girls are sluts. But a lot of bikers are sluts, too. Some of them are lonely. Some are just girls out to have a good time. Nothin’ wrong with that. That’s what the brotherhood is about – living life according to your own rules. Double-standard to think we should live that way but the women in our lives can’t.”
“But what about what the brothers’ll think of you having me around? They’re not gonna hassle you? Because honestly, I think Spencer was willing to give me a shot except that he knew the guys would ride him for it.”
“Don’t give a fuck if people think they can ride me for it.”
“I won’t fit in with the girlfriends. They’re gonna hate me. Be convinced they can’t trust me.”
“Jojo’s moved back. You’re tight with her, right?”
“I wouldn’t say tight, but I like her. She’s always cool to me.”
“Pippa was chill about you when she and I talked that first morning.”
She flinched.
“You still crushin’ on Spence?” I asked.
“No, it’s not that. That’s long over. I haven’t had anything deep with anyone, other than Edge and that isn’t what people think. We carried on a bit of a charade so people would leave me be and so I could stay there whenever I needed to. I just… I don’t know if I’ll fit with everyone and that might make your life hard.”
“Try. You’ve got me. You don’t need to make best friends with everyone, but I want you on my bike during rallies. I want you at the family parties with the club. And I want it known that you’re mine. And I want you safe, which means you’re at the clubhouse with me for now.”
“What if it doesn’t work?”
“If it doesn’t work, it doesn’t work. We’re giving it a shot.”
“It’ll hurt if it falls apart. If you find you can’t get past me not fitting in with the rest of the club.”
“What if it doesn’t fall apart? What if it works and you get everything you wanted?”
She bit her lip.
“You think it won’t hurt if you don’t try? You think you won’t think back on what we’ve had so far and regret not givin’ it a shot? Seeing if the club really could be the family you wanted for yourself? Yeah, my club comes with me. You’re so sure you won’t fit in, but have you given it a try as my girl? With me at your back?”
“You make too much sense.”
Finally, I suggested, “Tell you what, I could drop you at my mother’s for a couple days. Give you time to get your head together. You do that, get a breather feelin’ safe and I’ll feel better knowin’ Arch has your back. Then, couple days, you come to the clubhouse.”
She lost her defeated body language and nodded. “Your mother would be okay with that?”
“She’d jump at that chance. Just a couple days. I want you there this weekend.”
She knew about the fundraiser coming, how it’d be good for the club. And I knew a couple days under Fernanda’s influence might help her, too.
“Okay,” she relented.
I lifted my phone. “Start tidying. Pack. Okay?”
“Thanks, Jesse.” She kissed my mouth before she rushed to the bedroom.
I headed outside for a smoke and to make that plan.
***
When I pulled away from Arch and my mother’s, I got waves from Arch, Gigi, and Arch’s three girls who were there, who took to Gigi like forest critters took to Snow White.
Ma was busy at the bar, but I’d texted that I was dropping G off for a few days and she told me to call her with the scoop tomorrow.
13
“Don’t get yer beef curtains in a knot. I’m perfectly capable of lookin’ after my woman.”
This was Spence, riding Bront’s ass about his snit over the fact the salon was staying open. Bront figured it should be shut down.
“Besides, prospects don’t get opinions,” Spence added.
“Deke opened the floor up. I’m allowed to talk now,” Bront muttered.
I didn’t disagree with Bront, but Jenna was a spitfire, and I knew she’d balk at the idea of Rider telling her she couldn’t open up for her customers. We’d put armed brothers on site with the girls during business hours for now, until we couldn’t spare those resources.
As for Spence, he was lookin’ for every available opportunity to make sure Bront knew the score, knew Pippa was in Spence’s bed. Since Pippa worked at Jenna’s salon, at least they’d both be covered at once instead of having to worry about two separate locations.
We were crowded around the table; Deke had handed out assignments for the next few days and now we were going over safety measures for family members.
“Where’s your girl?” Skip asked, eyes on me.
And I did not like the tone he used, nor the volume with which he used it. He wanted an audience.
“Safely outta town, Skippy,” I replied.
“Coulda knocked me over with a feather hearin’ that one,” Skip put in, eyes flashing at the nickname.
“What’s this?” Little John asked from the edge of the crowded kitchen.
“Gianna from the falls,” Skip called over.
“Sweet butt Gianna?” Little John piped up. “What about her?”
I straightened.
“Not sweet butt Gianna. Jesse’s girl Gianna,” Brady corrected. “And I’m tickled for ya, brother.”
“Shit, sorry, Jesse,” Little John’s face went red. “Missed that tidbit of gossip.”
This time it was Deke that spoke up. “Not gossip. Just the facts. Jesse’s claimed her.”
“My bad. I missed the last couple churches. Just got back from my ex-mother-in-law’s funeral outta town.”
I jerked my chin up at him. “My condolences, John.”
“Nah. None needed. She was a miserable cow. I only went so I could take a piss on her grave.”
Scott who was on the other side of me choked on his drink as laughter filled the space.
Little John was one of the jolliest men you ever met. Except, from what I could tell so far, when it came to his ex-wife and, evidently, anything related to that ex.
“Anyway, congratulations. That little girl is a sweetheart,” John added.
“We all know how it feels to go where many men have gone before,” Skip muttered. “Good thing with that one, she’s still tight as a drum. Or she was last time I had her a couple weeks ago.”
That fuckin’ goof.
I was just about to reply with, “Was she conscious that time?” but Scott piped up before I got the chance.
“Yeah, well, not to tell tales outta school,” Scott called out, “but…” he paused for effect, “I’ve seen nearly every one of you assholes in the buff and for sure, givin’ it to her regular, Jesse’ll be the one to stretch her out.”
My face was like stone, eyes on Skip, who was shooting his mouth off without looking at me. But at Scott’s remark along with Skip’s reaction, a grin took its time to spread across my face.
And every brother around the table saw not only my grin, but the way Skip’s face went red at the suggestion my cock was bigger than his.
“I’d say nice of you to notice, Scoot,” I joked. “But keep yer eyes on your own paper.”
Scott and a couple of the other brothers barked out laughter. “Not that I try to look, but shit, man, the postmaster general called, and they’ve assigned you and Deacon your own zip codes.”
Scott was havin’ my back. It was who he was. He was great at injecting levity or redirecting peoples’ attention when the air got too thick in a situation. Most of the guys had their strengths.
“I’d say thanks, not so bad yerself,” Deacon put in, “But I’ve never taken the time to look.”
Scott stood, shrugged, then dropped his drawers to his ankles.
Skip’s face was redder as a bunch of us laughed in hysterics, Deacon giving Scott a slow clap.
Deke made sure to look for varied talents in putting his charter together. For me, beyond being good with mechanical shit and good with my fists, I can get past just about any lock and I’m good with a gun. Going back to being a kid I always wanted to know how things worked, figure them out. I was always pulling shit apart and putting it back together. Doing puzzles. Working at figuring mysteries out.
As for some of the other strengths in the club, Scott doesn’t just bring levity, he’s one of those model-pretty boys who looks like he’d be more at home in surfer gear than biker gear. He can charm the pants off just about anybody and his ability to diffuse volatile situations makes him an asset.
Deacon Valentine, Deke’s oldest son is as strong as an ox. He’s good with his hands and fists, also a whiz with numbers.
Spencer is good as a strategist too, along with being tough to beat in a fight. He and Deacon often sit down to map out plans and they’re good enough at it they could use all that for evil if they wanted to. And Spence could’ve fought the pro kickboxing circuit. He’s fast and his kicks are practically lethal.
Spencer and Deacon get their smarts from their father, who’s pretty damn good with strategy himself. And with Rider, the apple also doesn’t fall far from the tree.
If something’s broken and there’s a snowball’s chance in hell of fixing it, Rider is the one that can do it. He’s also good at teaching. Brother shares his wisdom freely. And as far as fixing shit as well as problem-solving he can fix nearly anything on the fly with MacGyver creativity. Ride’s good with technology, particularly surveillance. Also, explosives. Like me, he knows his shit when it comes to locking things down tight and finding ways to unlock shit others think seems tight. Rider and I regularly race against the clock and one another to unlock shit and see who’s faster. I’ve skunked him the last two matches. Instead of being a little bitch about it, he’s trying to up the game, welcomes healthy competition.
Also in the technology arena is Pudge, who isn’t just our chaplain, he’s also a computer whiz with hacker skills. You look at the man and he looks like he’s not all there. A conversation with him about anything technical and you’re floored with how smart he is. Guy got into computers back in the day, before people had them in their houses. He got a degree in computer science in the eighties and his shit is tight. I’m not surprised Deke pushed to have him join our charter when he got out.
And though a few of us are very good with weapons, Bronto was taken on as a new recruit last year due to his skills, recommended by Rash in the Sioux Falls charter who’s his cousin. That brother told Deke he needed to be our sharpshooter. Guy could knock a Tic-Tac off the end of your nose with a bullet or an arrow and not leave a mark.
Some of the other guys have decent skills. Connections in the underworld. Checkered pasts that might bring some specialties to the table with respect to weapons, drugs, heist-planning. Some of them are muscle. And some of them are just loyal brothers who will take your back, who will run through machine gun fire shielding any brother or his woman and kids.
As for Skip’s skills, word is that he’s a scrapper, though I haven’t seen him fight. And he’s our road captain. This should mean he’s good with safety, driving skills. Yeah, he can drive a big rig. Word is he used to win big at drag racing. Has a couple muscle cars where he won the pinks back in the day. I’m not convinced he brings all that much to the table. He’s got a big ego and a big mouth. Right now, his gaze wasn’t fixed on me, he was turning it to Scott for the verbal burn and I had a feeling Scott would be takin’ more prospect-style hazing.
“Be responsible with that weapon or you’ll shoot yer eye out, brother,” Rider mocked.
“Jesus,” Deke muttered. “Put the snake away, Scoot. Now, enough of the circle jerk. Those who’ve got shit to do, do it. Everyone else, eyes and ears open until it’s your turn to do the shit you’ve gotta do. Tomorrow’s a big day. Let’s keep our loved ones safe, look out for one another, and stay in contact. We’ll be here again tomorrow. Same time. Chris Forker as well. The finish line is in sight here, boys. Keep sharp.”
He smacked the table with his gavel, and we dispersed. Skip was directly in front of me. And he was intentionally walking slow.
I fought the urge to grab him by the back of the neck and whack his fuckin’ forehead off the table. I cracked my neck and moved out when he got out of my way, following Scott across the lot so we could get into the compound where a few of us would unload the trailer of supplies Skip brought back from Sioux Falls for everything we had planned.
My phone rang, it was Gigi calling, so I stepped aside to take it.
She was just checking in, making sure I was good. It was good to hear her voice, but I told her I was busy with club business and would phone her later.
When I caught up to Scott, away from other ears I said, “You realize Skip’s probably gonna make your life hell after that.”
Scott shrugged. “He just chirped me, sayin’ I’m lookin’ for the big cocks cuz I wanted to be stretched out again. I’ll cope. Fuckin’ douche move sayin’ what he said to you, so it’s no shocker what he just said to me.”
I ground my teeth until they squeaked at that. That Skip had the audacity to rib Scott about what the Jackals did to him on the side of the road when things first got amped around here was a dick move. Worse than that. And it said a lot about Skip that he’d do that on the side, too. He wouldn’t dare rib Scott about it in front of the other members.
“Don’t worry about it, Jess,” Scott waved his hand. “I’ve got thick skin. I definitely hit him below the belt with that, but it just rolled off the tongue because he was bein’ such a bitch to you. Don’t know if I’ve even seen the brother’s dick, to be honest. Though it says more about him than me that he’d use that as a verbal jab. What’s his problem with the Gianna sitch?”
“He brought her around first. Told her he wanted a thing with her, and she found out he was married. He’s pushed it with her and gotten away with shit he shouldn’t get away with. And he’s been sniffin’ around a little too much for my likin’. His asshole remarks on top of him sniffin’ around? He’s gettin’ on my last nerve.”
Deke approached, giving me a look of assessment.
“Need a minute with Jess, Scoot.”
“Got it,” Scott moved off.
“Don’t wanna play Judge Judy around here and hafta deal with schoolyard bullshit, but that shit back there gonna be a problem?”
“It might,” I replied.
“Only involve me if you need to. Hoping you won’t.”
“I know the protocol for beef with a brother. Givin’ it time. It don’t fizzle out, I’ll call him into the ring.”
“Good man.” He clapped the back of my neck and then squeezed. “Know it’s still early on for you, but again, you’re gonna go far in this club, brother, if that’s what you want.”
“Appreciated,” I replied.
“You should consider having her here Saturday. Make a statement.”
“Already plannin’ on it.”
“Good. Shit’s gonna be amped until then. I need you here. I know she’s not here so…” He let that hang.
“You got me. If there’s no time to pick her up, Arch’ll bring her to me. I know he’s watching her so my head’s in the game, Prez.”
“Good, good.” He slapped my back and moved off.
***
Thursday Night
Today was not a good fucking day. Rider’s woman’s salon was riddled with bullets while Ride and Spencer’s girls were inside with a couple of the brothers. Deke’s ex-wife caused a fuckin’ scene with a chick she brought with her. The place erupted with broken glass and bullets, and the chick with her got shot in the back by the Jackals.
No losses or injuries on our side, though. And that had me wondering if the Jackals’ sharpshooter was one of Fork’s inside guys.
The reminder of how amped things were and how much worse they might get left all of us uneasy. Deacon talked about going home to his woman with relief. Deke said something similar about having sweetness to crawl into bed with after a shit day like this and he certainly meant it given that the bitch that used to warm his bed was a big part of the day’s drama. The fact that after all that’d happened, the former Mrs. Valentine was working with the enemy had to sting not just Deke, but Deacon, Ride, and Spence, too.
