I didn’t know how, but I knew Alex could make anything happen.
Maggie looked up at him from the filthy couch. “Where’s the money? Where’s my drugs?”
Confused, I watched as Alex pulled a fat envelope from the breast pocket of his Armani suit and dropped it onto the coffee table in front of her.
“There’s ten-thousand dollars,” he said. Then he leaned down and placed a plastic bag full of white powder on top of it. “Consider this a thank you gift. I trust we won’t be hearing from you in the future.”
But Maggie was already too preoccupied by the bag of drugs to answer. I watched, disgusted as she stuck her finger in her festering mouth and then shoved it, wet and slimy, into the white powder. Running it across her rotted teeth, she moaned.
“Alex, please…we can’t leave my brother here with her.”
“I know. That’s why we’re here. That’s why I set this up.” He fixed his dark eyes to mine. “But if I do this for you, Taylor, you have to promise to do something for me.”
I didn’t know what he wanted me to do. But if it meant saving my brother from this life, then I’d agree to anything.
“Yes. I promise. Whatever you need me to do, I’ll do it.”
And in that moment, my fate was sealed.
TAYLOR
On the Monday following my dinner date with Bull, I started working at the Kings of Mayhem clubhouse.
Driving into the compound, I couldn’t help but wonder if I was jumping from the frying pan into the fire. By all accounts, this job was less stable and more dangerous.
But then I thought about Noah and why I was doing this. The job was a lifeline, and I meant it when I told Bull I was grateful.
I looked at the picture of my brother hanging on the rearview mirror. Whatever he needed, I would do it.
Climbing out of my car, I crossed the large parking lot, heading toward the clubhouse and walked inside, entering the world of the Kings of Mayhem motorcycle club for the very first time.
The clubhouse was enormous, with a huge bar to the right, a row of red-vinyl booths hugging one wall, a small stage set up next to an old jukebox, three pool tables, and a mix of couches scattered throughout the rest of the room. It was a masculine place. All timber and galvanized iron, with a polished concrete floor and a high ceiling.
Across the room, a massive Kings of Mayhem MC logo was laser cut into a slab of iron, and backlit by hidden LED lights. And over the bar was a huge medieval chandelier of rusted chains and iron, lit up by industrial lightbulbs.
As I walked in, The Marshall Tucker Band’s, “Can’t You See,” filled the room from a surround-sound system.
Leaning up against the gleaming bar top were two bikers. One looked like Jason Momoa, and the other was a head taller, bald, and looked like he’d walked right out of a commando movie. They were talking to the girl behind the bar who was busy drying the inside of a beer glass. When I walked in, they all turned to look.
“You must be Taylor,” the girl said, setting down the glass and walking over. She was tiny, with a head of dark brown hair and big green eyes. She wore well-worn Daisy Dukes, and a faded Metallica shirt tied in a knot over her flat stomach. “Bull told me I could expect you. Randy was supposed to be here today to show you the ropes, but his mama has taken ill, so you’re stuck with me the rest of the week.” Her hand was cool and firm as she shook mine. “I’m Cherry. Nice to meet you.”
“Nice to meet you, too.”
She let go of my hand and nodded to the bikers still leaning against the bar. “And these two big lugs are Maverick and Ari.”
They were both big. Not as big as Bull, but still big. They nodded their hellos, but said nothing, their cool gazes suddenly making me wonder if I’d made a big mistake accepting this job. I mean, sure, the establishment was a lot cleaner than Slingers and there was probably a lot less semen on the floor, but the clientele was a lot bigger, and by the looks of it, a hell of a lot more dangerous.
But I was low on options, so I’d have to suck it up if I wanted Noah and me to have a roof over our head.
“I have to admit, when Bull told me he’d already found someone to replace me, I was surprised. I only told him that I was moving out of town a few days ago.”
“You’re leaving?”
“My boys and I are moving down to Florida.”
“For business or pleasure?”
“A fresh start.” The twinkle left her wide eyes, and with the light suddenly gone, they looked haunted.