“Did Heidi come with you guys?” Tawny asks.
Maybe she assumes Heidi will join her in ganging up on me? That must be what Lilly’s thinking. She nudges me to turn and taps the little hammer patch on my side. “Oh, Tawny, did we tell you we’re all doing sisterhood patches? That’s Heidi’s. Isn’t it cute? All the guys started calling her Little Hammer so we thought that was perfect.” She gestures to the hammer also sewn onto her vest.
More eye-bugging from Tawny.
“Do you want us to have a little bee made up for you?” Lilly asks sweetly, gesturing to the “Queen Bee” patch on the front of Tawny’s vest.
Now that I’m not quaking with fear, I have a moment to take in Tawny’s shiny gold pantsuit. Reminds me of something my mother would’ve worn when I was a kid. Bitch or not, Tawny still has a fab figure and rocks the hell out of the gleaming lamé fabric. I’d rather cut out my tongue than say that out loud, though.
“No,” Tawny snaps. “I can’t believe the guys let you desecrate their cuts that way.”
Lilly shrugs. “Z thought it was a great idea.” She glances at Trinity and shrugs. “All the guys did.”
“How nice.” Seeing she’s lost this battle, Tawny’s gaze searches the room. “I see someone I need to say hello to.” She dips away from us before anyone responds.
All the adrenaline that had been keeping me upright and stone-faced seems to leave my body in a rush. My knees weaken and I slump against the barstool at my back. I doubt that’ll be the last time I tangle with her. I just hope I’m not alone for the next round.
Trinity grabs my arm and helps me onto the stool, then jumps on the one next to me. “You’re okay. You survived.”
“What’d she say to you?” Lilly demands.
The whole conversation recedes from my memory in a blur of bad feelings. “The usual.” I flap my hand in the air, as if Tawny’s words don’t matter.
“You’re such a clever bitch,” Trinity giggles and holds out her fist to Lilly.
Lilly taps her knuckles against Trinity’s. “Who, me?”
“Thank you,” I mutter, feeling I should say more but not able to. Few people have ever stood up for me in my life. Especially here.
“No worries.” Lilly squeezes my shoulder.
“Aw, you didn’t tell me everyone was wearin’ dresses.” Shelby peers around Lilly’s side. “Hey, Serena.”
Shelby’s cheery face seems to magically blot away the remainder of Tawny’s negative energy.
“You look cute.” I nod to her black liquid leather leggings and the sheer pink blouse peeking out from under her Property of Rooster cut.
“Cute?” She glances down and taps the toes of her shiny black high-heeled sandals. “I skipped wearing my favorite boots in the hopes of looking taller.”
“You’ve got legs for days,” Trinity assures her.
“Sorry, I wasn’t sure if we knew each other well enough yet to say, ‘you look sexy as fuck,’” I add.
Shelby grins. “That’s more like it.”
“Someone else thinks so too.” Trinity points behind Shelby where Rooster’s talking to someone while keeping his eyes on his girl.
Shelby’s cheeks turn a shade of pink to match her blouse.
“Awww,” Lilly and Trinity sing, making Shelby blush an even brighter pink.
“Y’all got any Sprite back there, or are ya gonna keep pokin’ fun at me?” she grumbles while fighting off a smile.
I turn and lean over the bar, snagging the cooler door open and reaching for a can of Sprite.
“Careful, there.” Someone presses my dress against the backs of my legs. “Or ya gonna flash the whole room.”
“Whoops.” I pop onto my seat and hand Shelby the can. “Thanks.”
“Thank you.” She holds up the can and pops the top.
While the three of them talk, my gaze wanders the room. A flash of gold catches my eye. Tawny. Yuck. Talking to a big, burly biker I don’t recognize. Spreading more misery, no doubt. People move and I catch the Virginia bottom rocker on his cut. I’ve only met one or two guys from that charter.
“Oh, that’s Pants!” Shelby stands on tiptoes and waves. “And Ice. I hope Anya came with them.”
Tawny darts away when Wrath lumbers into the circle to greet the newcomers. He lifts his hand, motioning for Trinity to join him.
“Later, ladies.” She grabs Shelby’s hand and drags her into the crowd.
“They call, we come,” Lilly smirks. “Sometimes literally.”
I cough and almost choke on a sip of water.
“Sorry.” Lilly thumps me on the back. “Couldn’t help myself.”
“No, it was on right on target.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
Grinder
Brother after brother stops to shake my hand and welcome me home. Some I remember. Some patched in after I went inside but still want to show their respect. I feel like a flesh and blood cautionary tale—here to warn all the brothers away from a life of crime.
“Had enough?” Rock asks me in a low voice when we have a minute alone.