“Ha. Ha. Ha. I’ll be up in the morning, and it will be to see your ass off,” Red said, pointing at Mary. “Dallas, can I have a minute?” I stood to follow Red to the corner of the room, hearing the ladies placing bets on whether or not she would indeed be up on time.
“What’s up?” I asked, noticing the troubled look on her face. I didn’t get too worked up, though. Red could be pretty dramatic over the least little things. You just never knew what was going to come out of that mouth.
“So, I talked to Lindsey yesterday and told her we were throwing you a welcome home party.” Fuck. I felt my face go ashen and my heart stop. “Don’t freak out. I didn’t tell her anything; I just said you had been away, which she clearly knows, since she’s been taking care of everything while you’ve been gone. Anywho, I told her and she told me she would be over here. Well, instead of coming, she just sent some stuff, and told me she was feeling under the weather. I know you have a lot on your mind, but I’m pretty sure she is stressed out, so you may want to head over to your office sometime tomorrow, just to make sure everything is okay.” Fuck. I had completely forgotten about Knox Companies and Lindsey. I had been so busy with the fight to survive that I had forgotten about the place that had made me who I am. I guess that’s how you realize what’s really important in life. For me, it was hanging out with a bunch of bikers and their ol’ ladies, not running a multi-million dollar company that would probably be in ruins by the time I returned. What was even more foreign to me was the feeling of dread I got at the thought of having to leave the comfort of Luke’s arms and this clubhouse to be there. I shook my head, trying to shake the annoying thoughts from my mind. I was too tired and had consumed too much alcohol to think about it tonight.
“Thanks, Red. I’ll handle it first thing in the morning. Hey, what was Brooklyn talking about earlier?” I asked, thoughts of Lindsey and Knox Companies going out the door once again.
“I’m really not at liberty to say. If Luke wants you to know, he will tell you.” The way she said it made the hair on the back of my neck stand up. It was almost like she was finding pleasure in my discomfort. “Some of the guys let their ol’ ladies know what’s going on and others just… don’t. Maybe after you have been around a little longer he will trust you with more information. Anyhow, I’m off,” she said, turning her attention back to the women. I had to cross my arms to keep from punching her in the back of the head. What a fucking bitch! I watched as she disappeared down the hall, leading to the bedrooms located in the back of the clubhouse.
The crowd of women had scattered. I noticed the guys were now done with their meeting, and everyone was departing to their rooms for the night. I spotted Luke across the room, engaging in serious conversation with Possum. I saw Punkin lurking nearby, and decided to join her.
“I wish they would hurry up. Hell, I’m tired,” she said, pulling another cigarette from its pack, and sticking it to her painted lips.
“May I have one of those?” I asked, remembering my promise to myself to try it once I had got home. Maybe the nicotine would help with my nerves, which Red had so conveniently got on.
“You smoke?” Punkin asked me, surprised, her black painted lashes reaching her eyebrows as her eyes widened.
“No, but when I was with Charlie, I thought of what I would give to have a cigarette. I just thought I would try.”
“Who’s Charlie?” she asked, not taking her eyes off me, or making a move to give me the cigarette my mouth was suddenly watering for.
“He was the man who kidnapped me.” Did she not know that?
“Oh, no shit? What, did he hold you for ransom or somethin’?” I looked into her bright eyes, trying to figure out if she was fucking with me or not.
“No, he took me and Maddie, then gave Maddie back to Luke, kept me for a couple days, then exchanged me for Frankie.” My eyes flitted back to the cigarette pack, hoping Punkin would get the message. She didn’t.
“I’ll be damned,” she said, taking a long pull from her cigarette.
“Punkin, can I please have a cigarette?” I asked impatiently.
“Yeah, honey. Sorry, I get sidetracked.” I should have asked what memory my kidnapping had triggered, but I was too busy snatching the smoke from Punkin’s fingers. “Don’t go to choking on that shit now, or I’ll have to give you mouth-to-mouth, and Possum will get jealous.” I smiled as I held the cigarette between my lips and allowed her to light it. I pulled a drag into my mouth and blew it out, without inhaling. “You like it?” she asked, smiling at me. Did I like it? It tasted different, but it wasn’t bad.