Chapter Three
Army stacked bottlesof vodka, whiskey, and gin on the glass shelves behind the bar, glancing every once in a while at Tawny as she gyrated around the pole in the middle of the stage. From the way the audience whistled, he knew he’d made the right decision in hiring her for the gentlemen’s club. Army was the manager of Lust—one of the many businesses the Night Rebels owned in Alina.
“Do you have any kahlúa in those boxes? A couple of customers are asking.” Aspen bent down low and rearranged her tits in the barely-there glitter top she wore.
“Lemme check.” Army took out his knife and sliced open the top of a box. “There are a few bottles in here. What do they want? Black Russians or straight up?”
Aspen looked down at the notepad. “One Black Russian and a double shot with one ice cube in it.” She hopped up on the stool and placed her leg over her thigh, then took off her high heels and massaged her foot. “That feels so damn good. These heels are killing me tonight.”
Army glanced at her five-inch heels, and Stiletto popped into his mind. It’d been two weeks since he’d been in Durango, and every fucking day he thought about her. He shoved open the ice bin and filled both glasses.
“Whoa. One of the dudes just wants one ice cube,” Aspen said.
Army grabbed another glass. “What kind of a pussy order is that? One fuckin’ ice cube.” He placed a cube inside the glass then poured the shots in it.
Aspen giggled. “Are you having one of those days too?”
He grunted and placed the two drinks at the station. “There you go.”
“If you need to unwind, Charlie just came in and he can take over. You want me to get him?” She put on her shoe and grimaced when she stepped down from the barstool.
“I don’t need you to tell me how the fuck to run the place.” Army bent over again and pulled out liquor bottles.
“I was just trying to help,” Aspen said, her voice quivering.
He looked up and saw her crestfallen face. “Don’t pay any attention to me, Aspen. I’m just in a pissed-off mood. Nothing personal.”
“You’ve been in that mood for a couple of weeks. Anything I can help you with?” She smiled warmly at him.
“I’ll get over it. If you see Charlie, tell him to get the last two boxes of inventory in the back room and bring them to the bar.”
“Will do.” Aspen’s eyes shone and she blew him a small kiss then walked away, balancing the drinks on a tray.
Aspen had been crushing on him since she’d first come to Lust as an exotic dancer. Army had hoped that her infatuation with him would lessen over time, but it’d been over a year and it seemed like her feelings for him were even stronger. He’d explained to her that club members were not allowed to date or hook up with any of the employees at any of their businesses, but that didn’t seem to dampen her ardor for him.
“Aspen said that you needed these boxes.” Charlie put them on the bar.
“I wanna stock the shelves and the cupboards before the evening crowd gets here. Give me a hand. I’ll be back in a few.” Army walked through the semi-full bar and slipped behind the black curtain. Several dancers ran around in various stages of nakedness, but Army didn’t pay any attention as he made his way out to the back patio.
Leaning against the stucco wall, he dug into his cut’s pocket, took out a joint, and lit it. As he inhaled deeply, he watched the red and gold leaves tumble from the oak tree that took up more than half of the back area. Bright gaps of sunlight broke through the thick interlocking branches, which would soon be sparse and bare. Army stomped his boot on the terra-cotta tiles. “Why the fuck can’t I get her out of my mind? This fuckin’ blows.” He threw the joint on the ground and stubbed it out; it was supposed to relax him, but instead, it made him antsy and madder than ever.
“Hey,” Eagle said as he came outside. “Taking a break?”
“Yeah. Once the Saturday night crowd fills up the place, there’ll be hardly enough time to take a piss.”
“Seems like it’s always that way,” Eagle replied. “Rooster’s looking forward to his birthday bash tonight. I’m sure his old lady ain’t.” He chuckled.
“Shannon’s always on his ass about cheating. She called me last night and told me she’d hold me personally responsible if one of the dancers gives him a lap dance.” Army shook his head. “I told her he’s gonna be at a fuckin’ strip bar and if she had a problem with it to take it up with Rooster and leave me the fuck alone. She can be such a bitch sometimes.”
“She shouldn’t be telling a brother anything.” Eagle took out a joint. “Want one?”
“Nah. Most of the dudes from the Fallen Slayers are gonna be here tonight.”
“Steel said we’re closing down at midnight for the party. It’ll spill over to the clubhouse after two.” Eagle glanced over at Army. “You planning to go to Durango anytime soon?”
Army stiffened. “Why?”
“Taylor was asking Cueball. He said you told him if the recruits were interested, you’d go up more often. Said he hasn’t seen or heard from you in about two weeks.” A cloud of smoke enveloped the two men.