Wed to the Bad Boy(111)

Men everywhere, in the corners, against the bar, hanging out outside. You could hear their voices. Feel the base of them in your chest as they laughed, talked, argued.

Everything was charged. Like a fight could break out any moment, and that would be the end.

But that was what happened when there were independent clubs coming together to discuss alliances. It wasn’t like those charters, the one with a single ruling body. No, each club had to delegate people to be in charge, and each club had to show submission to each other in some way.

Except for Snake.

I’d never seen him, only heard about him when I was a kid and he was in his prime. Just like Uncle Mick, and my father. They were from a rougher generation. The kind that solved their arguments with their fists instead of guns.

Because beating people to death with your bare hands was considered much more masculine. I snorted and fought the urge to roll my eyes at him.

I could see why everyone looked to him as a leader. He’d lived this long, which was a feat most men hadn’t gotten to.

Men like Sean and my father.

He was smart too. I saw the way he eyed the room. I saw how he read people. I bet he knew things that no one else did, just from watching everyone interact.

But that also made him so much more dangerous.

Was getting involved with him really worth it?

I looked over at Cullen, who had his arms wrapped firmly around my sides. He was still so angry. So full of hate. Like it was a permanent state of being for him.

I guess that was why they called him Rage.

But he wasn’t emotional, at least not in a way that let it affect his decisions. I could see that when he interacted with the club. He was angry, but he was slow and methodical.

And he watched people, just like Snake.

The two of them were alike in a lot of ways, and to be honest, that was scary.

What exactly had I gotten myself into?

“Bunch of ol’ ladies hanging out by the jukebox,” Snake said as we all took a seat at a table. “Might want to go and get yourself acquainted. Don’t want to be seen with the Hog Whores. Won’t paint you in a good light,” He pointed to them, and looked at me. I thought of Audrey.

He was telling me to go so he could talk to Cullen.

“Sounds like a good idea. You know any of them over there?’

“Yeah, my ol’ lady,” he chuckled. “Tell Red I sent ya. She’ll welcome you real proper.”





Cullen

I leaned back against the wooden chair and looked over at my girl. She was nervous. I could tell by the way she walked toward them, but after a moment she straightened up and turned back, looking at me for a moment before moving forward and introducing herself.

There she was. My girl. Confident and tough as she interacted with those girls.

“She’ll be all right. Lala is like royalty around here. Her brother, her father, we respected them both. Hell, we respect you too.” Snake flicked his cigarette off an ashtray and then put it back in his mouth, sucking until that cherry lit bright orange.

“What about Bones?” I asked, curious as I flagged down the waitress. I needed a beer.

“Well, let’s just say you’re here for a reason instead. Wasn’t his choice.”

“So, what’s the deal with Hound’s Breath?” I asked, my voice low.

“Motherfuckers aren’t just dealing in meth. They have the heroin trade locked up too. I got a guy over in Turtlecreek who wants it though.”

“You got a lot of guys in the drug business.”

“It pays to know people. I want it out of my neighborhood, or as out of it as I can get it. And I hate those little shits. They run around, vandalizing, selling drugs, acting like they’re big boys, but really, they’re still pissin’ in diapers.”

“Tell that to Troy. Prospect we have to put under tomorrow.”

“Heard about that, sorry. It’s a damn tragedy. But it’s also the life.” Snake didn’t sound like the kind of guy who gave a shit about prospects, so him saying that went a long way. He was working at this alliance. Wanted it as much as we did.

The question was why.

I nodded, grabbing a beer from the waitress who brought two down.

“Just bring a pitcher next time, darlin’.” Snake said as he looked her over.

“Careful. Ol’ Red’ll claw your eyes out.” I’d heard about her from Mick and Donna. Woman was a damn hellcat.

“Maybe, or maybe she’d like a piece too.” He winked at me and then chuckled, the type of laugh that only a man past his fifties could get away with.

He’d seen some shit, and I knew it.

“So, you want to go after the heroin dealer?”

“I do.”

“Why are you so eager to help us?” The buzz of the crowds made our conversation practically private, hell, I could barely hear it.