Page 72 of Taking What's Ours
Lola points her shot glass at me. “Don’t let Baja throw up walls after this.”
“What do you mean?” I ask.
“It’s his MO. He pushes women away.”
“Why?”
She motions toward the front of the clubhouse. “Because of shit like tonight. He doesn’t want to drag someone he cares about into this life because of it.” She studies my reaction.
“You see, he once—” Kate starts, but Lola cuts her off.
“That’s a story for Baja to tell, Kate.”
“Oh, you’re right. Sorry.”
I can’t help wondering what they’re not telling me. Right now, I’m not sure how to feel. I absolutely don’t like the fact that he’s out there right this minute chasing down these guys. I also don’t like the fact that something as simple as a sticker on his truck—because it indicates his MC—can draw such violence from the wrong people. I can’t help the fear that crosses my mind. Am I picking the wrong man again? “It this what my life will be if I stay with him?”
“Of course not,” Evelyn says.
Lola cocks her head. “Areyou thinking of staying with him?”
“I don’t know. Maybe. But after what you said, maybe he doesn’t want me to stay. He said he did, but—”
“Look,” Lola cuts in, “if you want that man, you’re going to have to fight for him.”
“What do you mean? Like fight off strippers like Desiree?” I snap with attitude.
Isabella sucks in a gasp. “What happened with Desiree?”
I cock a brow. “She came by the house. Seemed like she thinks she’s staked her claim on him.”
“Well, she hasn’t,” Isabella insists. “Trez and Baja are best friends. Have been for years.” She waves her hand dismissively. “She doesn’t mean anything to him, I assure you.”
“How do you know?” I ask.
“He’s never brought her around our house. Never introduced her to me, and he would have if she meant anything to him. I mean, I know some of those dancers from the Cherry Bomb hangout at the clubhouse now and then, but mostly that’s just because the club owns the strip club.”
“Let’s change the subject,” Evelyn suggests. “What are you all wearing to the Halloween party on Saturday?”
“Will they still have it?” I ask. “I mean, after the damage tonight, I thought it would be canceled.”
“Oh, we’re still having it,” Evelyn assures me. “The boys aren’t getting out of it that easy. Rock will get the windows fixed.”
Lola points at me. “And we’re still picking you up tomorrow for girl’s day out. Don’t forget. We’re getting costumes and hitting happy hour.”
“You girls are all crazy. They’re out right now, possibly getting shot. How can you think about anything else?”
“Because thinking about the other is stressful. You sign up for this ride, you have to know what you’re signing up for. We have to take this kind of stuff in stride,” Kate says.
“Exactly,” Evelyn agrees. “You take the man, you take the club.” She grabs the bottle off the desk and refills my shot glass. “Drink up, kid.”
Take the man, take the club.I let a sip of whiskey warm me and think about if I’m ready to make that deal.
Two hours pass, and I’m staring at the fire that’s now burned to embers.
Lola slaps her knee and almost snorts whiskey out of her nose at the joke Kate just made about the costume Utah wore last year.
“He had those strappy Roman sandals on that went all the way to his knobby knees,” Kate says, and Lola laughs so hard she can’t reply, but only nods and points at Kate.