“Come in,” he heard from behind the door.
“Take a seat,” Zeus said, without looking up from the screen of his phone.
Devlin did as he asked and sat down next to Wolf at the rectangle table in the sacred clubroom where the club officers held their meetings. Or church, as they all liked to call it.
Dragon and Demon, the two cousins and peacekeepers in the club as the Sgt-at-Arms and Enforcer, sat on the other side of Zeus and opposite of Devlin.
“Can anyone tell me what the fuck Gwenn was doin’ inside of the motherfuckin’ Pink Flower without any of us watchin’ her six?” Zeus boomed, having no patience for friendly conversation tonight.
Devlin opened his mouth to stand up for Bondi, who’d let Gwenn and the bachelorette posse inside. As the strip club manager, he stood for everyone working for him.
Zeus wasn’t really interested in the answer to his question, as he continued, “And can someone also enlighten me why one of my oldest friends is suddenly acting up, threatening my VP?”
Wolf sat back in his chair and said, “We all know he didn’t mean it. And I can handle anything Dev throws at me.”
Devlin sighed in relief, but Wolf held up his hand and added, “But you can’t go around disrespecting and even threatening officers of the club, Dev. That shit ain’t flying.”
As a member of the MC in the past two decades, Devlin knew that. Officers held a different, higher position in the club. Demon stared Devlin down from across the table. “Heard there was some hot as fuck little innocent dancing tonight? Maybe we—”
With a slam of his fist on the table, Devlin stood. “Watch it, Enforcer. I’m not tellin’ any of you this twice. Teagan is off limits.”
Zeus said, “Settle the fuck down. Now, Dev.”
The ice in his president’s voice made Devlin stand attention and finally listen. He plunked back down in his seat.
“I can tell that whatever we were about to discuss will go over your head, since you’re goin’ ‘round making matters worse for yourself,” Zeus said.
“I have the right punishment for him,” Wolf said, and Devlin whipped his head in his direction. Wolf continued, “The Pink Flower needs more girls like our blushing little Miss Teagan. We all know we need to put some quality chicks up on stage after taking over the club.”
Devlin fisted his knuckles under the table. He counted till ten in his head, trying to keep a clear enough mind to stop from slamming Wolf’s face against the table for even speaking her name.
“Devlin wants nobody sniffin’ around the girl, but I say we need her to teach the other dancers how to fuckin’ dance a pole like her. It’s as simple as that. And if you don’t agree with me on that, then I’m really questioning your ability as a manager.”
Of course, Devlin knew Wolf was right. But he would defy any of them if they would suggest having Teagan up on stage again.
Zeus clarified, “I’ll have Gwenn talk to her. She knows the girl. She can ask her if she’s willin’ to share her wisdom with our dancers. We can hire her as an in-house trainer or somethin’.”
“And what if I don’t want her anywhere near the Pink Flower?” Devlin said, but already knew his words were futile.
“Take it as your punishment, bro. Seeing that little fluff of spring air every day, swirling that tight ass of hers in your face when she goes around working the pole to teach the girls her stuff…. I kinda like that idea of torture for you.”
Devlin muttered under his breath, “Motherfuckers…” and stood from his seat. Sparing none of them a glance, he walked out of church, passed the bar, and got on his bike. He had a gut feeling she would be pigheaded enough to accept the club’s offer and actually do it. He just couldn’t catch a break.