Scattered throughout the room were pool tables, clusters of people with alcohol and cigarettes and so much exposed, tattooed skin that it made my head spin. In another corner of the room was a stripper pole and it looked like women of all shapes and sizes were taking a turn on it, encouraged by the whoops and whistles that went up every time an article of clothing was taken off.
My father would kill me if he knew I was here.
“It’s not too late to change your mind,” Hannah shouted to Amy.
Amy shook her head. “You know I won’t chicken out.”
Hannah shot a look in my direction that clearly said,she’s hopeless.
“We’re here to have fun,” Amy pointed out. “So, let’s get some drinks going.”
“That’s my cue,” Hannah said. She slid out of the booth and headed to the bar. A few minutes later, she returned with raspberry cocktails.
Despite Amy’s tenacity, none of us were brave enough to leave the safety of our booth for anything besides refills and the restrooms. While I was still nursing my first drink, Amy had moved onto her third or fourth glass by now and I could see her gearing up to make a move, confidence high and inhibitions low.
“Do you think I could take a turn on the stripper pole?” Amy asked, her words slightly slurred.
“With all the alcohol in your bloodstream right now,” Hannah replied, “I’m sure you will try and I’m going to be embarrassed for you.”
“How about some water first?” I offered.
Amy shrugged. That was good enough of a response for me so I picked a path through the crowded bar over to the counter. I attempted to flag down the bartender but my voice was drowned out by the noise.
Two heavily muscled men with tattoos of skulls and flames seated on the bar stools beside me snickered. Suddenly, I felt wildly out of my depth in this place and I cursed Amy for dragging me into this.
A hand slipped over my shoulder and a lithe male body slithered into the space next to me.
“Hey, sweetheart, you’re lookin’ a little lost,” he said.
He didn’t appear to be much older than me, with a tattoo of chains stretched across his thin, protruding collarbones. He was so slim that he looked like he was swimming in his clothes.
“I’m fine, thanks,” I said.
I tried to shift away but the stranger tightened his grip on my shoulder.
“Come on, now. Don’t be shy. I can tell it’s your first time around this place. I’m Joey. Let me take care of you.”
“I said I’m fine,” I replied, louder this time even though my voice shook. I squirmed out from under Joey’s arm. Abandoning my quest for water, I turned, ready to head straight back to our table, safe with Amy and Hannah.
But Joey wasn’t taking no for an answer. He hooked an arm around my waist, pressing his face in my neck. My skin crawled and I wrenched out of his grip, stumbling into the bikers seated next to me. They grumbled in surprise then turned back to their drinks.
“I’m just being friendly,” Joey said. “A pretty little thing like you shouldn’t be left all by yourself out here on a Saturday night.”
“I’m with friends. And if you don’t leave me the hell alone, I’ll be calling the cops.”
At the mention of police, silence settled in a halo around me as people began to pay attention to the situation. They turned and stared but no one moved to help me.
Joey’s gaze flickered past my shoulder to my table. Then he smirked.
“I wouldn’t mind entertaining all three of you ladies for the evening.”
“Watch your fucking mouth,” a dark voice commanded, gravelly and rough.
I turned toward the speaker. The last person I’d expected to see was Crow standing there, wearing a black shirt and the same leather vest he’d worn when I met him. Standing just behind Crow was a hulking beast of a man. His thick, muscled torso was bare, gleaming with sweat, speckled with blood. His nose looked broken and there was a fist-sized bruise already darkening his jawline. He was the same cage fighter I’d seen a few minutes ago, the one as big as an ox.
Joey chuckled. “I got here first, old man. Get your own girl.”
Crow’s nostrils flared atold manand a tangible shift in the atmosphere came over the bar. The music died down. The loudspeakers went silent and everyone stopped to stare. People shifted to get out of the way, clearing a circle around Crow and Joey.