“I have to be honest,” I say. “No one will miss me today.”
Music infiltrates the bedroom. I can’t make out the song, but the beat is making the pictures on the wall vibrate.
“Um, no. Dolly is already asking for you. See, we all need the woman who has stolen Axel’s heart and moved into his room.” He grabs my hand, pulling me up.
“To be honest, he did it to help me. It’s not like he wanted me to move into his room.” Both of them are staring at me like I’m crazy. Rolling my eyes, I continue. “What I’m saying is… it’s not like were dating.”
“Jesus, Antoinette, let’s go.” Doug swings the door open.
I bite my lower lip suddenly wanting to be anywhere but walking down the stairs heading toward God only knows what.
“Can I have another sip, please?” I whisper.
“Small one. And no, Cindy, you have to drink water.” He hands me the tequila. This time it goes down easier, still burning, but at least I don’t feel like a fire-breathing dragon.
Downstairs, the scene is crazy, and the number of bikers is staggering. In the game room, people are packed close together, drinking and smoking. The snap of the pool tables and dinging of video games echo in the background along with some song by Ozzy Osbourne.
It’s like the clubhouse has come alive, not only with Disciples but with tattooed women of every size, wearing tons of makeup and bikinis or short dresses.
“Am I being paranoid or is everybody looking at us?” I say into Doug’s ear as my eyes scan the room. “How many Disciples are there?”
“Probably three hundred, maybe more,” Cindy says. She must have overheard me, but her real focus is elsewhere, her eyes locked on someone in the crowd.
“For the love God, don’t do it.” Doug jerks her forward as we go out the front door.
“I need to have it out with him. I need to tell him exactly what—”
Ryder, who was in the corner with a woman, walks over to us as I mold myself into Doug’s back.
“Antoinette.” I jump at his stern voice. “Axel’s still with Blade and Poet. So, stay with Doug.” His eyes bore into me as he takes in my dress and gives me a nod of approval. I almost laugh because I look absurd, like I’m a solo wallflower surrounded by a massive amount of poison ivy.
“Let’s go,” he says, grabbing Cindy’s arm. My mouth opens to say something, but nothing comes out as I watch Cindy willingly go with him.
“Oh God.” I blink in shock at their retreating backs. “What do we do, Doug?”
“Nothing.” He takes a swig from the bottle. “She’s been dying to fuck Ryder for weeks. All we can do is be there for her.”
“She said she hated him.” I grab the bottle for another sip, feeling much more relaxed. Doug snorts and pulls me around a large group of biker wives. At least that’s what I’m assuming since they’re all wearing vests saying “Property of.”
The sun beats down with not a cloud in the sky as we make our way toward Eve and a tiny dark-haired woman wearing bright red lipstick and red flats.
“I need sunglasses,” I hiss as he drags me forward.
This has to be Dolly, and next to her is a tall, redheaded god. He’s striking. With his arm hanging casually around her shoulders, he laughs at something Rip said.
Dolly laughs with Eve, then screams when she sees me with Doug. I cling to Doug—it’s as though I’m about to be introduced to the queen, what with all the fuss they’ve made about Edge and Dolly.
Don’t do what Eve and Dolly did. It rings in my head as we stop in front of her.
Dolly looks me up and down and her eyes mist with tears as she almost claps but puts her hands to her lips as if she’s praying.
“Baby doll.” Doug laughs as he lets me go and grabs her. “Look at you. I missed you.” Edge frowns then goes back to laughing with Rip.
“Holy fuckety fuck.” She grips Doug’s T-shirt and stares at me wide-eyed.
“I told you.” Eve beams at me like I’m some kind of mythical creature.
“I just… Oh my God. Edge—” She reaches for his hand and stays in Doug’s arms. “Rip, be quiet.”
She pulls back to karate chop her way into their conversation. Edge’s lips twitch as he gives her his full attention.
“This. Is Axel’s.” She points at me. And I want to slink backward. Instead, I plaster on a smile and hold my head high.
Edge turns to me. His eyes are blue, but not like Axel’s sapphire blue. Edge has turquoise eyes and they’re definitely intimidating, which is stupid. They all are, but Edge seems to have an anger that the others don’t. He stares at me and smiles.