"That's good. It'll be a kick-ass time. This year most of the old ladies will be comin', and some of the brothers are bringing their girlfriends, so we gotta be on high alert. We don't want anything happening to the women." Banger took a gulp of beer and pointed to his vice president. "Hawk's gonna take it from here."
"I got a call from Steel, and he's have a fuckin' bad time with that goddamned brat club, the Skull Crushers. You remember the three punks who tried to deal meth on our turf a while back?"
Several grumblings and curse words filtered among the membership. "They must be causing all kinds of hell, ‘cause Steel isn't the type to ask for our help," Jerry said.
Steel was the president of the Night Rebels, an Insurgents affiliate in southern Colorado. He, Hawk, and Throttle went way back from the time they all joined. Steel had started out as an Insurgent but had to head back to his hometown, Alina, in southwestern Colorado to take care of his sick mom. Missing the camaraderie of the brotherhood, he contacted Banger and Hawk, and the Night Rebels sprung up as a support club to the Insurgents. The two clubs had a clandestine relationship, and the Night Rebels operated under the control of the Insurgents, although, to the public and law enforcement, they appeared to be a separate club.
"We need to help ‘em out. What does Steel want?"
"He wants to know if we're down to kick some Skull Crushers' asses if they don't heed his warning and quit selling smack and crystal on Night Rebels turf. Since we get a percentage of all monies collected at the club's dispensary, the fuckers are also selling on Insurgents' turf. Again."
"Don't these fuckers ever learn? You'd think that, after we eliminated some of their members last summer, they'd fuckin' get that we mean business. These punks are dumber than shit," Chas said.
"Agreed. We just need to take a vote on whether we're gonna haul our asses down to help our affiliate brothers."
The consensus was unanimous-help the Night Rebels stamp out the new club in town who didn't give a shit about respect or rules. After church was over, the brothers shuffled into the great room to down a few drinks, play pool, and enjoy the club whores. Throttle sat at one of the tables, a bottle of beer in front of him, as he surveyed the room. Rags was practically buried in Wendy's pussy and Rock sat on a chair, his knees spread wide to give Rosie the access he wanted while his fingers played with her swaying tits.
Throttle leaned back, his hands laced together on top of his head, and realized he hadn't fucked a woman in nearly three weeks. That was a record for him. The closest he'd come to fucking was when he'd kissed that smart-ass witch at Hawk's shop. He hadn't been to the VP's shop in over a week, and he was surprised he hadn't heard from Miss Know-It-All. Maybe she was getting it from the cowboy; that thought made him madder than hell. Not too sure why, because he'd decided he didn't need to put up with her shit. He'd only wanted to try her out, but he had no interest in her other than another fuck to add to his overflowing list. Hell, he could fuck the club girls anytime he wanted-and he usually did-although he hadn't wanted to for the last few weeks.
Throttle grabbed his beer and guzzled it. He and Rags had been killing themselves working in the hot sun for ten hours a day. When he got back to the club, he was beat. Anyone would be. He stared at Rags as he pounded into Wendy's heat. Rags is younger than I am. He's twenty-nine to my thirty-five. Each year makes a big difference. It was funny that a month before he'd been able to fuck three club whores and still be up for a foursome romp with Rock. But then it wasn't as hot outside a month before. That was it. He was sure of it.
"Why aren't you getting in on some fun?" Jerry asked as he sat down next to Throttle. "Isn't this your scene?"
"I'm beat. Working in the heat is a bitch."
"Never seemed to bother you before."
"Well, today it is. Are you taking notes on who's fuckin' since you can't do it with anyone but Kylie now?" He was sick of Jerry's stupid questions. Couldn't he be tired? Shit, I need to get my own place.
Jerry laughed. "I don't give a damn who's banging who. I'm so happy with Kylie. I still can't believe she's all mine."
"Glad your fuckin' Pollyanna dreams came true." He finished his beer and saw Hawk coming over to him. He wanted to ask about Kimber, but he wouldn't dare. Since the day they'd shared the searing kiss, he'd wanted to drive by the shop to see if he could catch a glimpse of her. Pissed for even thinking of doing a pansy-assed stunt like that, he forced himself not to go near Hawk's shop. But at night, when he drifted to sleep, his dreams were filled with her softness, her scent, and the taste of her mouth.
"I haven't seen you at the shop this past week. Have you already lost interest in Kimber?" Hawk chuckled then downed his shot of Jack.
Throttle stiffened. "We've had a lot of gigs, and I've never been fuckin' interested in her."
"Could've fooled me." Hawk's blue eyes twinkled, mocking Throttle. A slow burn rode up his spine.
"Who's Kimber? I thought a chick was behind your sulking," Jerry said.
"She works at the shop. She's one of my best mechanics."
"Isn't she the one you were spastic about?" Jerry looked at Throttle, who stared straight ahead, his jaw taut. "Can't say I blame you. I can't wrap my head around a chick fixing my Harley."
"Don't let Kylie hear you say that or she'll rip your ass." Hawk threw back another shot. "Come to think of it, Cara would too. You do know my woman is Kylie's mentor, right?"
Jerry groaned. "Just fuckin' great."
Throttle pushed his chair back and stood up. "I gotta go."
"Didn't mean to drive you out," Hawk said.
"You didn't." He stomped out, slamming the door behind him. As he sat on his bike, breathing heavily, his phone beeped. He looked down and saw it was his sister, Dawn.
Dawn: Whatcha doing?
Throttle: Not much. Y?
Dawn: A big spider in the basement.
He laughed aloud, glad his sister's paranoia cut through his anger.
Throttle: Where's Pedro?
Dawn: Out on his ass.
Throttle: Already?
Dawn: Shoulda done it sooner. Olivia says hi.
His sister played the Olivia card whenever she wanted him over right away. She knew Throttle adored his eight-year-old niece. He was like a surrogate father to her since her own dad disappeared once Dawn had told him she was pregnant. The douche was a tourist staying at the Hot Springs Hotel the summer Dawn had worked there. They'd had a two-week affair, and then he'd gone back to Phoenix, promising to call her, only he never did. When she'd found out she was carrying his child, she'd reached out to him but he'd shut her out-changed his phone number, moved from his old address, and shut down all social media. So Throttle had stepped in, and he'd tried to be there for her whenever he could.
Throttle: Leaving the clubhouse now. See u in a few.
The Harley jumped forward and headed out the parking lot. He took a shortcut to his sister's house and came up the alley, parking his bike in her backyard. The neighborhood was an up and coming one, but there were still enough worn houses with overgrown weeds to classify the area as shabby. He'd told Dawn many times that he wanted to buy her and Olivia a nicer house in a better neighborhood, but she told him she didn't want his handouts. Throttle was determined to move them out and place Olivia in a private school. The girl was very smart, and he sensed she was bored with her current classes.
Before he could get off his bike, a girl with long brown braids, dark almond-shaped eyes, and a wide grin came barreling to him. "Uncle Throttle," she said. She flung herself at his open arms and he easily picked her up, her small arms clinging around his neck. "Why haven't you been over to see me? Do you know it's been over ten days since you came over here?"
"You sound just like your mom. And I'm sorry. I've been so busy that I lost track of time."
"Don't do that again, okay?"
He laughed. "Okay. I hear you got a badass spider hanging out in the basement."
She nodded. "You gonna catch it?"
He shook his head. "Nope."
"Mom's gonna be mad at you if you don't. She's been real scared and won't let me go downstairs."
"I'm gonna kill the fucker. You wanna help me?"
She shook her head. "I'll wait upstairs for you."
He kissed her cheek before he planted her on her feet. "Let's go."