Mayhem (Deathstalkers MC #5)(45)

"All right, before we all start sharing sob stories and holding hands, let's get out of here." Tracie walks toward the door, snatching up her leather purse from the bed.

"Way to ruin the moment, Trace. You look great, Jaz." Lucy offers me a smile. "I need to get some stuff done around here, but I'll see you later." Lucy blows us both a kiss, one Tracie makes a big show of catching and throwing back at her, then walks out of the room.

Still unable to comprehend that the woman in the mirror is actually me, I glance one more time at myself.

"You look great."

I look over at Tracie and nod. "Come on, hot stuff," she says, grabbing my hand and tugging me from the room.

By the time we get downstairs, my confidence has waned somewhat and my eyes are trained on the floor. I don't even notice that Tracie has stopped walking until I walk straight into the back of her. "Sorry."



       
         
       
        

"Lesson one: walk like you're the only girl in a room full of starving men. Know that you're desirable and use it to replace the confidence you don't have yet. Looking the part is only half the battle. You gotta carry the look for it to work. I can guarantee you right now that you'll be these guys' wet dream tonight." I scrunch my face in disgust. "Yeah, well, as much as it might not appeal to you, you have to admit it feels good, right?"

I look around, seeing the guys staring at us. At first, I think they must be looking at her, until their eyes are making contact with mine. One guy even licks his lips. My instincts tell me to shrink away. Cutter would get mad if I was letting them look at me.

No, he wouldn't.

Dylan would.

Let them look, I think to myself as I scan the room again, taking in the way they're looking at me. Their gazes scan my body, there's fire in their eyes. A spark of something shoots up my spine, making me stand taller, making me hold my head up higher. Wow, it feels good to know you're desirable. This feeling is one I haven't felt in the longest time.

"Lesson two: when your man is around, don't notice them looking at you."

She winks at me before leading me out into the car park and into a sporty silver car.

"I like this." I run my fingertips over the sleek curve of the hood.

"Thanks. Torch hates that I drive myself, but I refuse to be Driving Miss Daisy twenty-four seven." She shakes her head as she laughs and I can't help but smile with her.

When we pull out of the lot, a bike pulls in front of us. My heart begins to race when another cuts in behind, following us. Tracie notices. "Those would be the babysitters. Normally I only get one, but given current circumstances, we get two."

"Are they staying with us all day?"

"Probably. They're prospects so it's not like they have club business to do."

My eyebrows draw together. How can they be with the club and not be a part of it?

Tracie laughs, wiping at her eyes. "Wow, Cutter didn't go into much at all. That boy. Okay, prospects are like interns-they want to be a part of the club, but they aren't yet official members. You have to hang around the club for a little before someone sponsors you in and basically says you deserve a spot. Once they do, you're a prospect. They're like the brothers' bitch-boys. They follow orders, ask how high when they're told to jump. Eventually, most earn their patch and become a brother. Some don't."

"What happens to them?" I'm almost afraid to ask.

Tracie shrugs. "They're told to leave."

There is so much terminology I have to learn, so much I don't know about this life. 

"Per Lucy's request, I will not get into the details of the club girls. Besides, I think your head might explode. You do need to understand that they serve a purpose. They keep the brothers happy and serve the club when asked to. Some brothers cheat with them. The good ones don't. Most of those girls are vile and ruthless-patch chasers. But no brother would ever take a club girl as his old lady. Take what Izzy said seriously; they give you any shit you give it back. You don't, they'll walk all over you, and they'll be assholes about it."

"Okay." There's a lot of information to take in but my mind is stuck on her "some brothers cheat" comment. A sharp pain hits my chest when I think of Cutter with one of those girls.

"Don't." I look over at Tracie. "Don't go jumping to conclusions. He's a good guy."

I nod, knowing that she's right.

"It's a lot to take in at once. Nikki and I grew up in the club so it's all I've ever known. Izzy and Lucy were both newcomers, though, so if you need coping strategies for dealing with all this, they'll be your girls."