The long, covered patio that ran the length of the house was covered in potted plants, some hanging, some on the floor in pots and some on tables that were scattered throughout the porch. The concrete area around the pool was littered with lawn chairs to suit anyone’s desire. Red chose a set of Balencia chaise lounges with a side table in the middle of them. I took off my towel and laid down, grabbing a pair of shades off the table and placing them over my eyes. Not only would they shield the light, but also help hide my feelings when she dropped the bomb.
“So, where do you want me to start?” I looked at her, completely relaxed, lounging in a chair in a skimpy bikini like she didn’t have a care in the world. That was the easiest question that I had answered all day.
“From the beginning.”
Chapter 2
RED
I about shit my pants when Luke called me a few hours ago and told me I was up. I knew this day would come. The day that I would have to tell Dallas Knox the truth. I secretly hoped that Luke would do it, but deep down I knew that Dallas couldn’t handle the truth from him, nor would he be able to handle her when she lost her shit. Now, here I sit, at her house, by her pool, in my Victoria’s Secret bikini that Regg had yet to see me in. On the outside, I knew I looked like I had it together. Dallas was probably wondering why I was so at ease. Little did she know, I was as nervous as a long tail cat in a room full of rocking chairs. This was not unusual though. I had managed to perfect this over the years. Being an ol’ Lady in an MC taught you how to deal with shit. No one ever knew what I was truly feeling. I didn’t want anyone mistaking my nervousness for weakness and in the life I lived, weakness could get your ass beat, or worse, take your pride. MC’s had a way of making you a better person. I was lost before I met Regg and with help from him and my MC family, I was better than I had ever been. I loved this life, but at times like this-it fucking sucked. I looked over at Dallas and I smiled to myself as I watched her try, and fail, to be nonchalant about the situation. She was the epitome of female perfection. Considering Luke was the epitome of male perfection, they were perfect together. She was broken. I knew it when I first saw her, but on the outside, she had her shit together-that’s how I knew she could handle the truth and this life. Her long brown hair was piled high on her head, much like mine. Her skin was a golden tan-the color you get from sunning and tanning beds, yet it was flawless without the slightest hint of it ever being exposed to the sun. My skin was tan, but I had to work hard to get it this way and use a bottle a week of moisturizer just to keep from looking like leather. Lucky bitch. I would have to get her secret. Everything about her was perfect. From her perfectly shaped nose to her perfectly pedicured toes-she was gorgeous. I hated her. Not really, but in a sense, it felt good to think. Dallas had just informed me that she wanted me to start from the beginning. Great. I drained my glass of vodka and Red Bull, which was no easy task, and watched as Dallas followed suit, then stood grabbing our glasses and headed inside. I didn’t need to ask. I knew she was going for refills. I looked around the yard and over to the area where the barn once stood. Luke chewed my ass for letting her out of my sights, but I thought her burning it down was good therapy. But, then again, I loved to burn shit myself. It gave you a sense of power.
Dallas returned and I watched as she handed me a full glass, sat down and took a deep breath. She was ready. Damn. I had a plan though. With a little bit of luck and a whole lot of vodka, maybe I could convince Dallas to follow my plan and if she did, it would save her once again, and give Luke the happiness he deserved.
DALLAS
Four drinks later, I was half sprawled out on the lounge chair and giving thanks to the vodka gods. I would never have made it through this conversation without them. Red didn’t fuck around. When I told her I was ready, she gave it to me. Not once did she stop to elaborate about anything, not that she really needed to. She explained everything in enough detail that I never had to ask questions. She held nothing back and didn’t seem to care if something hurt my feelings or made me cry. She was exactly what I needed, and although she would never know it, I was scared enough of her not to cuss her out or chew her ass like I would have if Luke had told me. I leaned back in my chair and watched as Red gracefully floated around the pool. I closed my eyes and let my mind wander back to the new found knowledge that had just destroyed my life, yet might have saved it.
“Okay, I’m gonna give this shit to you straight. I don’t want to be interrupted and I don’t want you telling me to shut-up. That shit gets on my nerves,” Red said, sitting up in her chair and turning to face me. She took her glasses off so I could see directly into her eyes and placed her elbows on her knees. She looked totally in control of the situation and I was happy to let her have it. I nodded my head in agreement, afraid that if I tried to speak, I would vomit.