She furtively glanced toward the other couples.
“Let’s do it. I can’t afford to miss more work.”
Calder gave her a searching look. “When did you miss work?”
“Stud is coming over.” She was relieved to be able to skate past the question.
Sex Piston stayed behind, talking to Viper and Winter. Crazy Bitch knew she was trying to distract them.
“The clue is under the rock.”
“No shit.” She was dying to get at the clue. That Stud and Sex Piston knew it was under the rock showed it didn’t take a genius to figure it out. If they knew, then Viper and Winter knew also. Giving a ragged sigh, she accepted the inevitable. “Unless either of you can pull a chain out of your saddlebags, we might as well work together.”
“I was hoping you two would be practical.” Stud grimaced. “She said to make sure that you know it’s not going to be a habit.”
“Same goes here,” she agreed wholeheartedly. “Let’s get this done before some other assholes come along.”
Stud didn’t look pleased that he was one of the assholes who had come along when they had already been there.
“They know it’s under the rock,” Sex Piston said as they drew closer.
The men immediately went to the large rock as the women followed excitedly behind them.
“If it’s too heavy to move, I have a towing cable.” Viper grunted as they tried to move the rock.
“Of course you do.” Crazy Bitch rolled her eyes.
“What does that mean? You don’t think we already knew where the clue was?”
Crazy Bitch had to give Winter props for defending her man’s honor.
“No, I meant it as a compliment, that he is always prepared.”
“That’s fine, then.” Winter gave her husband a look filled with pride and love.
They were trying to knock it over when Shade pulled up with Lily at his back.
Shade threw an arm over Lily’s shoulder when they got off. “Need some help?”
“No!” the women yelled out, but the men had already moved to make room for Shade.
Crazy Bitch stopped watching the men struggle with the rock and went to the overlook to see if she could see the road that led up the mountain. Squinting, she watched to see if others were coming, unconsciously moving nearer to the edge.
She felt herself lifted backward.
“We almost had it!” Stud muttered as Calder pulled her farther away from the edge.
“Stay here.”
“I was fine. There’s a chain—”
“Which you were leaning over! I catch your ass that close again, the only clue you’ll be getting are my handprints on your ass,” Calder warned.
She didn’t scare easily, but his angry visage had her tongue-tied, leaving her only able to nod.
Calder went back to the rock, his anger tangible as he and the others strained, finally turning the rock over.
Stud bent down and pulled out a plastic bag. Unzipping it, he took out a sheet of paper and unfolded it.
“Read it out loud!” Crazy Bitch demanded.
“It wouldn’t make any sense if I do. It looks like a grocery list. One pound of potatoes, two cans of diced tomatoes, an onion…”
Crazy Bitch snatched it out of his hand, reading it. “Did he put his grocery list there by mistake?”
“Give it to me.” Sex Piston snatched it from her hand, going toward Stud’s bike.
“Where are you going with it? I want to take a picture of it before we put it back,” Winter berated her.
“I’m going to shove it up Greer’s ass. You can have it back when he’s done shitting it out.”
Stud caught her around the waist, taking the letter away from her. Taking a picture with his phone, he then gave it to Viper, who was standing near him.
“I’ll text it to you, Calder,” Stud said as he walked his wife toward his bike.
“Viper!” Sex Piston shouted as Stud forced her onto his bike. “Tell Greer I’m coming for him.”
After the others took pictures on their phones, the men moved the rock back into its resting place.
“How did Greer do that by himself?” Crazy Bitch overheard Lily asking Shade.
“He didn’t. Tate and Dustin probably helped him.” Viper wiped the sweat off his forehead.
“He used that big truck he’s so proud off,” Shade disagreed.
“The brothers are going to be pissed when they realize the clue is hidden under the rock.” Crazy Bitch got on the back of Calder’s bike. “None of you better share. Make them move it themselves.”
“Why? It’s pointless.” Lily’s soft heart had her wanting to give the clue out.
“Shade?” Crazy Bitch turned her head toward him at the sounds of more motorcycles approaching.
“I’ll handle it.” He steered his wife away to his bike. Starting it, he gave Lily no chance to talk before riding off.
She waved gleefully as Rider and Jewell, and Cade and Fat Louise arrived.
Squeezing Calder’s waist as they rode back down the mountain, she waited until he was filling the gas tank before taking off her helmet, showing him what she had with a wide smile.
Pausing when he saw it, he finally asked, “Do you know the answer to the clue?”
“Fuck no, but did you see who Rider’s partner is?”
“I saw her, but I’ve never talked to her. Why?”
She raised her hand for him to high-five her. “He’s riding with Jewell. We can cross him off our list without having to worry about him. He’ll spend more time fucking her than searching for the bike we’re going to steal out from under his nose.”
11
The two regulars who were having their hair done sensed the tension between their hairdressers.
Crazy Bitch ran the comb through Sophie’s damp hair as Sex Piston cut Zoey’s long curls. The two friends had been friends since high school and were taking a day off work for a girls’ day out. Usually, she and Sex Piston would talk as they worked. Neither had said a word since they had returned from the road trip.
She was clipping layers into Sophie’s hair when Killyama, Fat Louise, and T.A. stopped inside to see if they wanted to go to lunch.
“Does it look like I can go out?” Sex Piston’s refusal had their friends taking seats to wait.
“I can go get takeout,” Killyama offered. “What are you in the mood for?”
“For you all to leave me alone so I can work in peace.”
Crazy Bitch looked at Sex Piston in the mirror before glancing at the rest of the women. Fat Louise’s hurt was palpable when she started to rise.
“Sit your ass down. I’m supposed to be the biggest bitch here, but right now, you’re beating me. The contest was supposed to between us and The Last Riders. Not against each other in the club. Why are you so determined to win?”
Sex Piston dropped the brush she had been using as she confronted her. “Look who’s talking. I didn’t see you and Calder waiting to share the clue with Fat Louise.”
“No, I didn’t. I waited until we were at the gas station to text her.”
“You did?”
“Yes. I didn’t want to share with her in front of Rider and Jewell.”
“You should have seen their faces when Cade and I took off.” Fat Louise laughed. “They didn’t know it was the rock, and neither did we until Crazy Bitch texted.”
“Then why didn’t you tell me yesterday that the first clue was a mountain?”
“I’m not that generous. You know what I’m driving; I want the motorcycle that Stud built. He can build another one with spare parts—he’s got a garage full of them. My bike is shot, and my car may have fond memories, but it would be easier to stop it with my feet than the brakes.”
“I don’t care about either bike. If we win, you can have it.”
Sex Piston’s customer was becoming irritated at her stopping work on her hair.
“What do you care about?” Fat Louise asked as she pulle
d out a candy bar from her purse.
“Stud’s jacket.”
Crazy Bitch hit the side of her forehead with her palm. “Bitch, if I win, you can have it. Besides, it’s supposed to go back to the club whose team wins it.”
“You see Ginger doing that?” Sex Piston grimaced, brandishing her hairbrush like a bat.
Crazy Bitch could see the point she was trying to make.
“Yes, after she prances around with it on for a while.”
“I’ll kill her first.”
“You don’t have to worry about it. I’m going to win it, and I promise not to try it on before giving it back to Stud,” Crazy Bitch promised.
“What if you don’t?” Sex Piston started the blow-dryer. “Winter feels the same way. The ones who got there early are the ones who want it badly.”
“There you go. Pike and Ginger weren’t there this morning,” T.A. spoke up over the sound of the blow-dryer. “Neither were Bear and I, but Crazy Bitch saved us the trip.”
Sex Piston shut the dryer off. “Doesn’t Calder mind you sharing the clues?”
“Not if we’ve already gotten them. We talked about it at the gas station when I told him I was going to text it to Fat Louise and T.A., but they also agreed to share their clues if they get there first.”
“What if they win because of a clue you gave them?”
“Then they win.” She shrugged, finishing the layers then starting her blow-dryer. The shop filled with the sound of them drying their customers’ hair.
When Crazy Bitch finished, she started curling Sophie’s hair.
“I’m sorry. Ginger makes me nuts, always being up in Stud’s grill,” Sex Piston seethed.
“You want me to take care of her?” Killyama’s cold offer had their customers’ eyes widening.
“That bitch is mine to deal with. I’m done talking about her. You figure out the next clue yet?” she asked, removing Zoey’s cape.
“No. Calder is going to the store after work and picking up the groceries. We’re hoping that seeing the groceries together will give us an idea.”
“I cook a lot, but that recipe stumps me.” Sex Piston went behind the cash register.
Zoey took out her credit card, giving it to her. “If it’s a recipe you need help with, you should ask Sophie. She’s the best cook in town.”
Crazy Bitch took out her phone, flipping to the list that was Greer’s clue.
Sophie took her cell phone, frowning in concentration. “It looks like he wants you to make cowboy casserole.”
“I’ve made that before. I should have recognized it from the ingredients.” Sex Piston gave Zoey back her credit card.
“You forgot to tell me how much it was.”
“No charge. Your cuts are on the house.”
The women beamed.
“Sex Piston, I don’t know who Ginger is, but you don’t have anything to worry about. Greg went to Stud’s shop when his bike needed work done on it last week, and he came home saying Stud was showing him pictures of Star’s birthday party. Greg said he showed him more pictures of you than Star.”
“Thanks, Zoey. And you, too, Sophie. You saved me a trip to the grocery store.”
“We’ll see you next month.” Sophie gave her a tip, which she held in her hand until they left. Going to the tip jar, she dropped it inside.
“I should text Calder and tell him he doesn’t have to go to the store.”
“Why? I’d let him fix you dinner.” Fat Louise put what was left of the candy bar into her purse.
“I would, too,” T.A. chorused.
“I’ll go get us some burgers while you decide.” Killyama left as Crazy Bitch swept both stations and started a load of towels in the washer out back.
She decided not to text Calder. Even though they knew it was a cowboy casserole, it didn’t say where they would be able to find the next clue.
“How does Sam feel about you spending time with Calder?” Fat Louise asked as she helped straighten the hair magazines Sophie had looked through.
“I’m not seeing him anymore.”
“Why not? I thought you and him were having a fuck fest when you both took the same days off.”
It was gratifying to know that her punches had forced him to lose time from work.
Crazy Bitch hadn’t wanted to make it uncomfortable for Fat Louise to work around Sam, but she didn’t trust the bastard as far as she could throw him.
“I don’t want you to say shit to any of the brothers or Killyama, but he tried to roofie me.”
Sex Piston took the broom away from her. “Hell no, I’m not going to keep my mouth shut about it. When I tell Stud, he and the brothers will kick his fucking ass.”
“I know, and when they are finished with him, Killyama will scrape together what’s left and make hamburger out of him.”
“Then why not?”
“I don’t want Fat Louise to lose her job. Sam might complain that the Destructors beat him up, and everyone in town knows that Fat Louise belongs to the club. You still want that promotion you applied for last month?”
Fat Louise bit her lip. “Yes. It’ll give us another five hundred a month, and I can even work from home a couple days a week. It’s in the same office where Sam works.”
“That’s why I haven’t said anything. Once you get the job and get past the probation period, then Stud and Killyama can have him. The only reason I decided to say something now is because I don’t trust the bastard not to slip something in your drink to get back at me.”
Sex Piston clenched the broom handle. “Then let’s go to the sheriff’s office and report it.”
“I don’t have any proof. I never drank it. He was just acting weird. I should have saved it and took it to the sheriff’s office, but I threw it at him.”
Sex Piston’s lips thinned into a line. “As soon as Fat Louise gets that job and is off probation, the bastard is dead meat.”
Crazy Bitch looked out the window. “Killyama is back.” She hurriedly changed the subject. “You think that clue of Greer’s was an actual clue or him just wanting us to cook for him?”
They threw ideas around as they ate.
After lunch, T.A. and Fat Louise left to go back to work. Killyama hung around until Sex Piston was finished so they could go to the club together.
She waved them off when they wanted to wait for her, but she was in middle of a perm.
Exhausted, she turned the open light off after she finished and locked the door on the way out. When she turned toward the parking lot, she stopped, seeing Sam leaning against her car. She hadn’t seen him drive into the lot while she had been working, nor had she seen it when she had come out the door.
He must have parked on the side, she thought as she walked forward. She would be damned if she ran like a scared rabbit and went back inside.
“What do you want?”
“I want to make sure you’re not spreading rumors you can’t back up.” The mild-mannered man she had dated was gone. The ugly expression he made no effort to hide gave her the willies.
“I don’t spread rumors. Fucker, I’m giving you a heads-up; you need to stay the fuck away from me before you discover a world of hurt that you never knew existed.”
“I’m not afraid of the Destructors. You’re not the only one with friends. You’re the one who should be afraid of me.”
“You’re threatening me?” she scoffed. “Your idea of getting laid is to roofie a defenseless woman. I’m done talking to you. I see your ugly face come near me again, you won’t be missing work; you’ll be claiming disability.” She shoved him away from her car door to open it, making sure she didn’t turn her back to him as she slid into the seat then slammed the door closed.
Sam was walking back to his car when she started driving out.
Safely on the road, she started shaking. It had enraged him that she had dared to shove him away from her. Sam had a loose screw, but she had already found that out when he tried to drug her.
She shoul
d go to Stud and tell him what was going on, yet she couldn’t bring herself to do that with Fat Louise wanting that job. She and Cade had a kid, and Cade had sunk money into going into business with Killyama’s friends, Hammer and Jonas. They were bounty hunters. With Cade joining them, they had been able to guarantee higher bonds. Until they were able to recoup their investment, they needed Fat Louise’s paycheck.
All Crazy Bitch wanted was a bath and bed, but she had forgotten about Calder until she saw his motorcycle sitting out front of her apartment.
She smelled the food he was cooking as she climbed the stairs. She had given him a key so he wouldn’t have to wait outside for her to get off. However, she hadn’t expected him to already be cooking.
He opened the door before she could. Looking flustered, he then turned back to the stove. He had changed from his jeans and T-shirt he had worn that morning into shorts and a tee so faded you couldn’t make out the words scrolled across the front.
“You hungry? You’re late. I was afraid I would burn it before you got here. I took a shower to clean off after work. I hope that’s okay?”
“I told you I didn’t care when I gave you my key. I’m starved. It doesn’t smell burned. How’d you figure out the recipe?”
“I didn’t. I just put it all in a pan.”
“It’s called cowboy casserole.” Reaching for the plates in a cabinet, she held them out for him to spoon the glob he had made.
“Casserole.” He gave each of them a generous portion before turning off the stove. “I fucked that up, then.”
“I’m sure it’ll taste the same.”
They took a seat at the counter, both of them experimentally tasting the food.
“It’s good. If Greer gives us another recipe, it’s all yours,” she complimented.
“It’s not much of a clue. We still don’t know where the next clue is.” Calder stood up to get a second helping.
Crazy Bitch scooted her plate across the counter, not bothering to get up. “Hit me again.”
Calder smiled, giving her what was left before sitting back down.
“Thanks for cooking.”