King(18)

King signaled to Henry, who had come back after his call to Jackal. “Tell Sherri, if she doesn’t pass the next drug test, she’s gone. I’ve warned her about taking something before she gets on the stage.”

“She says she needs it to get on the stage.” Henry’s defense of the woman came as no surprise.

“She won’t need it if there isn’t a stage to get on. You can tell she’s high.”

“I’ll talk to her.” Henry withdrew at his sharp gaze. He was getting fucking tired of Sherri taking advantage of being his headliner.

King went back to observing Evie, who was ignoring him. He got up from his table, walking across the room. Usually, he sent for the ones he wanted to talk to and had someone bring them to his table. He was sure Evie would ignore the order, however.

When he pulled out a chair at her table and took a seat, she didn’t say anything.

“How are you enjoying the show?” King was amused at her pretended indifference to his presence.

Evie looked at him briefly before lifting her drink. “Are your girls always stoned?”

King’s mouth tightened. “No, usually I fire them.”

As Evie finished her drink, King motioned for Angel to bring her another.

“How are you enjoying staying with Penni?”

Evie’s face lit with affection. “You can’t not enjoy being around that girl. She’s in a perpetual good mood.”

“I don’t think Jackal would agree with you.” Her indifference disappeared at his sardonic comment.

“The fucker who kidnapped her?”

“He didn’t exactly kidnap her; he held her as collateral for one of his friends,” King reasoned.

“I think Penni would disagree with you.”

“He won’t be bothering her again.”

“No, he won’t.” Evie’s quick agreement had King wondering what measures she had taken to ensure Jackal wasn’t allowed another opportunity to get near Penni.

“If he fucks with her again, he might get more than he bargained for.” Her smug smile had King thinking he should pass on a small warning to the biker.

When Angel set Evie’s drink down in front of her, managing to rub her breasts against King's shoulder as she leaned over, Evie caught the movement with amusement.

“I don’t fuck my girls.” King interpreted her look.

“I don’t care who you fuck.” Her steady gaze didn’t shy away from his.

“You don’t mind sharing?”

“Never have, never will.”

“That’s a dangerous concept.”

She leaned forward, putting her face in his. “I know you’re old,” her insult struck a nerve, “but there is such a thing as condoms. I’m not the one who doesn’t practice safe sex.”

“I’m not old. I’m only forty-three.”

Sherri finished her set, leaving the stage.

“When’s the next show?” Evie faked a yawn.

“Fifteen minutes. Do you want me to show you around the club?” King offered, trying to regroup. He couldn’t seduce the woman if she hated his guts; he was actually going to have to work hard to get Evie to drop her guard. It was his own fault; so far, he had been the mastermind of fuckups.

Evie shrugged. “I don’t have anything better to do for fifteen minutes.”

King stood up, leading the way through the club. He took her backstage to the dressing area where he opened the girls’ dressing room without knocking. Sherri was getting dressed, and a new girl he had hired just a few weeks ago was sliding her panties on. Both women were naked from the waist up.

“King!” Pepper squealed. The girl dropped the top she was about to put on to run to him, pressing her bared breasts against his chest as she reached up to kiss him. King let her have his mouth for a second before raising his head, stepping back and taking her wrists in his hands to move her hands away.

“Sherri, Pepper, this is Evie.”

Both women studied Evie, sizing her up as competition on the stage, and their friendly looks disappeared. King could understand why, too. Evie looked sexy in tight jeans that hugged her ass, a wine-colored t-shirt leaving the tops of her breasts bare, and her black leather boots coming up to her thighs. Around her throat was a black leather collar that had silver studs.

King’s eyes roved over her. She had an air of confidence usually found only in men. He was becoming more and more attracted to her each time he was in her presence. If she wasn’t The Last Riders’ whore, he would have already made a move to fuck her himself.

“You going to work for King?” Pepper asked, sliding on her see-through, white angel top then putting on the fake wings.