Rage coats my tongue. “Keep her name out of your mouth.”
He lifts his arm as if to stop me from spewing more threats. Tremors run from fingers to wrist and he stares at his hand before setting it on the bar and pretending to casually lean. One of the girls behind the bar swings by and slides a glass of amber liquid his way.
“I don’t have a problem wiff her,” he slurs even though it looks like it’s using up all his effort to get out each word.
Christ, he’s more fucked up than anyone told me. “Great. Glad we cleared that up.”
Tawny hooks her arm around my elbow and leans into me, pressing her breasts into my side. “We were reminiscing about the old days.”
I extract myself from her hold. “I wasn’t a fan of you using me to make him jealous back then, and I ain’t a fan of it now, sweetheart.”
Sway lets out a harsh laugh. “Things haven’t changed much.”
“I don’t know, brother.” I shift my gaze to Tawny. “The more things change, the more they stay the same.”
“I said I’d try,” Tawny whines.
“I’m not just talking about you, Tawny. Christ, you’re still as self-centered as ever.”
Sway cough-laughs. “You don’t know the half of it.”
“Oh, shut up.” Tawny steps away from me and slaps Sway’s chest.
He catches her hand and yanks her to his side. Makes sense whatever strength he’s got left is used to wrangle his wife. “What else you been up to since you been out?” he asks me.
“Work. Staying off my P.O.’s radar.” Knocking up my girlfriend. But no, I promised Serena I wouldn’t tell anyone this weekend. And fuck knows these are the last two she’d want me to share the news with.
“Yeah, been there. Sucks.”
The few years Sway’s spent in and out of prison don’t quite compare to my stretch of fifteen. But I’m not here to play a game of who’s had it worse. I nod instead. “Determined to stay on this side for good.”
“Amen.” He lifts his glass toward me and takes a deep sip. “I hear Priest is supposed to swing by. That should be interesting.”
“He sure seems to shake things up whenever he makes an appearance.” I can’t resist poking him where it must hurt. From what I understand, last time Priest visited, he ordered Z to remain president of this charter, leaving Sway…out in the cold.
“That bitch Valentina always acts like she owns my clubhouse,” Tawny grouses.
I raise an eyebrow. “Pretty sure it was never your clubhouse to begin with.” I turn and settle my gaze on Lilly standing by Z’s side in the middle of the room. “And it’s definitely not yours now. So, you should chill the fuck out and enjoy the party, sweetheart.”
Sway coughs and pounds his fist against his chest. “You weren’t kidding about things staying the same.”
Serena
I push off the barstool, intending to find Gray. Last I saw him, he was talking to Tawny and Sway. Might as well get it over with.
A firm rough hand shackles around my wrist. I don’t need to turn around to know it isn’t Gray. He’d never manhandle me so harshly.
I jerk and pull but his hold tightens. Spinning around, I recognize one of the bikers from Virginia.
He grins at me. Handsome, but scary. “Hey, sweetheart. We haven’t met before.”
Is he dense or insane? Or does the Virginia charter not recognize the importance of a brother’s property patch? Wearing one is supposed to mean, no one touches me.
Tears sting my eyes. What is it about me that invites people to violate every boundary? Even ones put in place by other people?
Steel spine, Serena.
“Let go of me.”
“Aww, come on. Show a brother a good time.” He squeezes my wrist harder. “We just had a long ride up here and you’re the prettiest thing I’ve laid eyes on in days.”
Cheap compliments like that used to be a potent elixir. A dash of sugar to ease the sourness a man was eager to shove down my throat.
Now, it ticks me off. I’m not that compliant, needy girl anymore.
“Get your hands off me.” My voice quivers with old fear. The few times in my life I did assert myself, the punishment was quick and cruel. Somehow, I manage to keep my chin lifted and maintain eye contact, though. “Now.”
Asserting myself with the women associated with the club is important, but standing up to the men matters more.
“Don’t be like that.” He flashes a boyishly bumbling smile. “Besides, I’ve heard you’re always down for a good time.”
Shame slides over me. People here will always remember me as that girl. No matter what I wear or what I do, I’ll never escape my club girl past, will I?
With my free hand, I tap the vest. “Are you unable to read? Grinder’s my ol’ man. He’s going to kill you.”