“Yes! The Reapers! Their tech dude, Glitch, I think it was, he’s the one who found you for me. The Butcher put me in touch when I asked for his help and voilà, I’m now a full-on American citizen and here you are.” It feels appropriate to do jazz hands as I sing out, “Tadaa.” Of course, I didn’t account for the pool cue still in my hand and it promptly lands with athudagainst Grinder’s knee before clattering to the floor.
“I like a little pain, but it’s usually paired with pleasure.” Grinder bites his bottom lip as his eyes trail the length of my body, and is it hot in here? “Ow!” The moment is broken with a cue hitting Grinder’s back with enough force to make him flinch, but the mischievous grin that accompanied the lip biting remains in place.
“My sister is not your new fuck toy.” Moving back to the pool table, Sledge takes his next shot and Grinder pouts.
“Oh, come on, VP, I promise I’ll play with her real nice.” As he speaks, Grinder keeps his eyes on mine, locking me in place.
From what I have seen and heard so far, he is the fuck and chuck dude, but I’m not deterred. I’m fully prepared for the chucking.
After the fucking, of course.
“For fuck sake.” Sledge misses his next shot and glares at Grinder. “I’m blaming you for that shit.” He points to the table, which is currently missing the white ball, before standing between us, his back to Grinder. “Where are you staying?”
I wince and grimace, ducking to the floor to grab my cue. “Erm…” Standing, I turn and get ready for my next shot. And in it goes. “I had planned to rent a room somewhere, find a job, and eventually upgrade to an apartment or house.” Sighing, I pot another ball. “But medical treatment is expensive here.” Another ball.
“What did you need medical treatment for?” Sledge is the one to ask, but Grinder’s posture stiffens slightly as they wait for my answer.
I should have continued to concentrate on the pool table because their concerned looks are giving me warm fuzzies.
“You’re both kinda cute when you’re all worried.” Grinning, I spin on the spot and go for another ball.
“Not worried. Just need to know whose teeth I’ll be adding to my collection.” I’m not sure whether to be intrigued or disturbedby the fact that Grinder has a tooth collection. The one he took from Gas Station Dude was clearly one of many.
“You’re avoiding the question, little sis.”
“You know, you have accepted that I’m your sister pretty easily. Don’t you want any kind of proof?” I make quick work of potting the rest of my balls, triumphantly standing beside my pool cue and waiting for Sledge to realize he just lost.
Rubbing the back of his neck with one hand, Sledge ignores my victory. “I er…I kinda knew you were coming. I just didn’t know when.” I can feel my eyes widening. Did Mum find a way to tell him? She knew where he was and all I got was his fucking name? “Like I said, we worked with The Reapers. J gave me a heads up and had Glitch send over your picture about four months ago. I thought you would be here a lot sooner, to be honest.”
“Dude, you’ve known about your sister for four months and you didn’t tell us? Where’s the picture?” Smoke wafts from behind Sledge as Grinder tokes on his joint.
“I’ll be dead before you get your hands on that picture.” Sledge has his finger in Grinder’s face and it’s highly comical.
“Why? Is she naked in it? Did Glitch send you sister porn? And you thought I was fucked up.” Laughing, Grinder exhales more smoke from between his pretty pink lips, dodging Sledge’s palm to the back of his head.
While I silently watch them bicker, I smile. This is exactly what I’ve been missing. It’s clear that they have a lot of love and respect for each other, but that realization fucks with my plan to be fucked and chucked by Grinder. I should’ve just done it in the alley. Climbed Grinder like a tree and sat on his face until he suffocated.
The double doors at the end of the room open and I glance over to see if I can remember the name of whoever it is. I don’t…but Idoknow this man. The salt and pepper coloring to hisbeard, which is a little longer than I remember, the sheer height of him, the presence he demands just upon entering the room. If I hadn’t already met Hoops, I’d have pinned this guy as the club president.
The thing is, the first time I saw him wasn’t here, in this clubhouse.
It was four months ago.
The night I was stabbed.
Chapter Thirteen
Grinder
Iam not a jealous man. Never have been. My philosophy in life is that love and lust are like mountain water and fresh air, they belong to those who need it.
Until now.
The way Parker’s attention just shifted and froze on Shade the minute he walked into the clubhouse has my entire body tensing and readying for a fight to the death.
Not that I ever would. As calm and calculated as I am in a brawl, Shade is lethal, and losing to him in front of my girl would cause long-lasting wounds to my ego.
“Hey, you’re here.” As always, Vanessa bends over backward to take care of Shade. I mean, she’s a natural born caregiver but ever since her husband—Shade’s best friend and our old prez—died, she’s been keeping an extra eye out on him.