Her father sat in his chair, listening. “Well, thank God it’s over. I’ll call a lawyer first thing in the morning to see about getting the divorce started. You need to change the information on your accounts and block Raul from trying to get his hands on your money.”
“I’ll take care of it,” Bailey promised.
“Immediately,” their father told her with a hard glint in his eyes which Jane had never seen before when he was talking to his youngest daughter.
“I said I would,” Bailey soothed in the little girl voice she always used to twist him around her little finger. Predictably, her father was pacified.
Bailey placed her napkin on the table, standing up. “I’m going to take a nap before I meet Cade for dinner.”
“Both of us are meeting him for dinner,” Jane told her firmly. “He offered to take both of us out.”
Bailey gave a quick nod, belaying the angry glare she wanted to throw across the room at her.
“Cade isn’t the type of man either one of you should be having dinner with.”
Her father’s reaction startled her.
“I thought you knew him…”
He shook his head. “I never met him before I hired him to bring you two home. He has a dangerous reputation with his enemies and women, Jane.”
“I wasn’t planning on a serious relationship. It’s just dinner.”
“For you. I’m not so sure about Bailey. You know how she is. She has to have someone waiting when she goes through a break up.”
Bailey took after her father in that respect, while she took after her mother in going after what she wanted.
“I wouldn’t worry. He said he was leaving tomorrow. What could happen in one night?”
* * *
Jane started to get dressed as the time grew closer to meet Cade. She didn’t have much of a choice with the limited clothes Killyama had brought her.
“Jesus, pick something already.” Killyama was lying across her bed, reading a magazine.
“I don’t know what to wear,” Jane confessed, certain her stepmother would have packed Bailey’s suitcase with several outfits.
Killyama raised her hand, searching carelessly through the clothes until she found a deep purple mini-dress. “Wear that.” She plopped back down on the bed, turning another page in her magazine.
Jane put it on, realizing she didn’t have any shoes to wear with the sexy dress.
Killyama gave an aggravated sigh, closing her magazine before going to her own suitcase to pull out a pair of high heeled boots.
“You ready for me to do your hair?”
“Please.”
Jane sat down on the bench in front of the bed. Killyama climbed off, grabbing the brush and hairspray she never left home without. She went to work on the short locks, teasing and spraying Jane’s fine hair to give it volume. When she was done, she lightly applied some make-up yet accentuated her eyelids with a darker color.
“There.” Killyama took a step back, admiring her handiwork. “You look sexy as shit. That bitchy sister of yours doesn’t stand a chance.”
“You think so?” Jane asked, staring at herself in the mirror.
“Fuck, yeah. You better go. Don’t give her too much time alone with the dude.”
Jane jumped up, giving her friend a hug. “I love you. You’re the best.”
“Don’t I know it?” She collapsed back onto the bed. “Have fun, girl. Wake me in the morning to tell me how he was.”
Jane left the room laughing. She went to Bailey’s door, knocking on it softly.
Her father opened his bedroom door.
“She left an hour ago. I thought you went with her,” he said, surprise on his face.
“I must have misunderstood the time.” Jane hadn’t misunderstood. Bailey was pulling a fast one.
She told her dad goodnight before leaving.
She would go downstairs. They should still be eating. She was determined to at least have an hour of Cade’s company, if nothing else than to tell him goodbye and thank him for his help. She told herself that over and over to build up her courage as she went downstairs.
When she entered the restaurant, however, she couldn’t find them. Bailey must have talked him into taking her somewhere else to eat. She wasn’t going to leave the hotel to search for them, though. Disheartened, she decided to return to the hotel suite.
She stepped out of the elevator, walking toward her room, when a door at the end of the hall opened and her sister came out, still straightening her clothes.
“I’ll be back in a few. I’m just going to grab my suitcase,” she said before closing the door.
Jane froze as Bailey sauntered down the hallway with a triumphant smile on her face.
“I’m spending the night with him,” she gloated as she drew near.
“So I heard,” Jane replied as she opened the door to their suite.
Bailey closed the door behind them. “You don’t have anything to say?”
“Have fun,” Jane told her, walking toward her room.
Her hand was on the doorknob when Bailey said, “Don’t be such a spoilsport, Jane. He’s too much for you to handle, anyway; believe me.” She gave a tiny shiver of remembered pleasure, rubbing salt into the wounds.
“You’re right; he is.” Jane turned the knob, opening the door, but another one of her sister’s wisecracks stopped her.
“You can have him when I’m done.”
Jane turned around, her eyes frosting over. “I don’t want him. I was going to thank him for helping us, but I shouldn’t have bothered. Dad’s money is thanks enough. Enjoy your relationship while it lasts, Bailey. I’m done.”
“What do you mean?” Her sister lost her gloating demeanor.
“It means I’m done saving you. No more rescue trips to foreign countries, no more late nights where I have to bail you out of jail, no more giving you most of my allowance because you overspent yours, no more anything, Bailey. I’m done with you.” Jane went into her room, closing the door behind her.
Killyama was standing in the middle of the room with a furious expression on her face. “I’m going to beat the shit out of her.”
“Leave it alone. I’m glad I’m finally free of her. What time does our plane leave tomorrow?”
“Not until four. It’s your dad’s private jet.”
“You think you can get us out of here tonight?” Jane pleaded.
“What do you think? Don’t I always come through for you?”
Yes, you do, Jane acknowledged silently.
Killyama, Sex Piston, T.A., and Crazy Bitch were her sisters. They were all she was ever going to need.
Chapter 15
“What bug crawled up your ass?” Sex Piston slid a basket of Popeye’s chicken across the table.
“I’m not hungry.” Jane slid the basket of food back.
“Shit, I’ll eat them.” Crazy Bitch snagged the basket with a long, manicured fingernail, dragging it toward her.
“You’ve been acting depressed since you came back a month ago. Did something happen while you were gone that you didn’t tell us about?” Sex Piston’s sharp gaze narrowed on her.
“No.”
“It’s what didn’t happen that has her so upset,” Killyama informed their friends. “She wanted to get laid, but her sister beat her to the dude.”
“Then forget him,” Crazy Bitch advised.
It isn’t that easy, Jane thought to herself. She had tried not to think about him, but he always ended up on her mind somehow. She kept picturing his dark eyes and dark hair and how he had kissed her. She couldn’t explain her reaction to the man whose attitude screamed loner. Hell, he hadn’t even been nice to her. The part that drew her to him was that he came across as rude and uncaring yet had done little things like calm her fears or let her lay on his legs when it had to be uncomfortable.
Jane had learned long ago that truly mean people didn’t do small kindnesses. In a way, his attitude reminded her of Killyama, who tried to co
me off as a mean-spirited woman, but underneath, she was protective and loyal.
“I have,” she lied.
None of her friends believed her.
“You haven’t wanted to go out since you came back.” Sex Piston slapped her hand down on the table. “Tonight, you’re going to the club. One of the brothers will take your mind off that fuck-bag.”
“I can’t tonight. I’m going to my dad’s house to help him pack. He’s moving back to New York since he decided to get a divorce.”
“What does him getting a divorce have to do with New York?” T.A. asked.
“Bailey doesn’t want to live here, so to make her happy, he’s moving back.” Jane was well aware that she would always come second in her father’s eyes.
“I’m surprised she stayed here as long as she has,” Crazy Bitch remarked.
“Dad’s been looking for a new property to buy. He closed on it yesterday.”
“Why doesn’t she help Daddy pack?” Sex Piston said snidely.
“Her divorce has run into a snag with Raul still in Mexico, and she’s upset.”
“I haven’t noticed it keeping her from fucking every man who catches her eye,” Sex Piston told them. “I saw her with Kevin Parker, and she was all over him. His wife should beat the shit out of her. Then Stud and I were coming out of the grocery store with the kids when we ran into Bailey. The bitch flirted with Stud like I wasn’t even there.”
“What did you do?” Killyama laughed.
“Told her I would kick her skanky ass back to Mexico if she talked to Stud again,” she said vengefully.
All the women at the table laughed except Jane. It was the truth; Bailey was chasing after anything that had a pair of pants.
“Let her pack your dad’s suitcases. You’re coming to the club. I’ll make Pike dance with you,” Sex Piston promised.
“I could help him in the morning…” Jane thought aloud.
“Good, that’s settled.” Sex Piston beamed at her.
Jane stood up.
“Where you going?”
“I’m going to get me a basket of chicken. I’m hungry.”
* * *
Jane wore her black leather leggings and styled her hair that Sex Piston had returned to her normal color of blonde after the trip to Mexico. Then she did her make-up and put on a top that Sex Piston had talked her into buying months ago. It was sexier than anything she usually wore, but she wanted to feel sexy and desirable tonight.
She had come to a decision. Tonight, she was going to get laid. She was going to drive Cade out of her mind by doing another man. The problem was in deciding which one of the brothers she was going to fuck and give her virginity to. She planned on finding one so drunk out of his mind that he wouldn’t notice the little detail that it was her first time.
Can guys tell? Jane wondered.
She had never meant to stay a virgin as long as she had. The sad truth was, no man had really put any pressure on her to give it up. They used her to get to the other bitches or her sister. The worst of them, however, were the ones who would act interested only to use her to borrow money.
She had thought a few months ago that she was finally going to lose her ancient cherry. She spent the whole day waxing, doing her hair, painting her nails, all in the effort to spark the guy’s desire. Instead, he showed up late, saying he had gotten a flat tire and needed to borrow money for another one. He took the money without even noticing she was wearing a dress and heels, leaving with a brief thanks. The next night, she was leaving the club when she heard him talking to two other brothers, who asked where he got the money for the tire. He told them he got the money from her and then laughed about how she had dressed and lit candles, waiting for him. She still remembered his words.
“Hell, I wouldn’t do her for all the money in the world.”
“I would,” another chimed in, “if I could put a bag over her head.”
The men all laughed.
Jane still remembered cringing at their words.
Giving her hair a final pat, she left her bedroom.
“About time,” Crazy Bitch said, dusting graham cracker crumbs off her lap. Grabbing one of the lint brushes sitting around the room, she rolled it over her slacks.
“Ready?” Jane asked, going to the door. Killyama was honking the car horn impatiently.
Crazy Bitch threw her a dirty look, slamming the lint brush down, and then they made their way out to Killyama.
They didn’t live far from the Destructors’ clubhouse. Where the weekend nights were usually packed with the brothers, there seemed to be even more motorcycles than usual tonight.
“Why are there so many here tonight?” Jane asked as she got out of the car.
Crazy Bitch shrugged. “Don’t know.”
Inside, the clubhouse was filled to capacity, the noise loud and the music blaring.
Killyama waved her hand toward the bar where all their friends were standing in a group with a drink in their hands. T.A. already seemed to be halfway drunk with Bear holding her steady.
“What’s going on?” Killyama asked Sex Piston after they had threatened the busy bargirl for a drink.
“The Blue Horsemen are here tonight with some new recruits wanting in. They’re going to give them a few tests tonight, so everyone wants to watch.”
That explained it. All the brothers liked to challenge the new recruits and to watch them get their asses whipped. The ones who fought the best got the better jobs.
“Where are they?” Crazy Bitch asked as she and Jane both searched the room for new faces.
“They’re over at the big table.” Sex Piston nodded her head at the table against the wall.
All the women turned to look at the new recruits, and Jane’s eyes widened when they were caught and held by a man she had thought she would never see again.
Chapter 16
Cade nodded his head in acknowledgement.
“Fuck,” Killyama muttered.
“What’s wrong?” Sex Piston looked back and forth between Killyama and Jane.
“That’s Cade, the one who saved me and Bailey.”
“Which one?” Sex Piston asked, her eyes narrowing on the table.
“The one with dark brown hair and dark eyes.” Jane looked away from the table, taking a sip of her beer.
Sex Piston slammed her drink down on the bar and started toward the table, but Jane pulled her back.
“What are you going to do?”
“I’m going to thank him for saving you, and then I’m going to get Stud to kick his ass out of here.”
“Don’t, Sex Piston,” Jane pleaded. “He didn’t do anything wrong. I’m the one who wanted him. I should have realized I wasn’t his type.”
“What the fuck do you mean by that?” Crazy Bitch asked.
Jane gave a self-deprecating smile. “It means I know.”
“Know what?” Sex Piston asked.
All her friends looked confused.
“It means I know I’m the ugly one.”
“What!”
Jane laid her hand on Sex Piston’s arm. “It’s the truth, and you all know it. I’m the ugly one in the group. You know, the one who never gets asked to dance or for my number. Men only talk to me to get closer to one of you.”
“That’s not true,” Crazy Bitch chided.
“Yes, it is, and you all know it. It’s okay. I’m used to it. Someday, I’ll find a guy who thinks I’m the pretty one,” she said optimistically, “and won’t need to put a bag over my head.”
“Fat Louise, that couldn’t be further from the truth,” Killyama spoke out.
“It’s true. I heard Dozer tell Bear that one time.”
As the women all stared at Bear accusingly, he turned ashen.
“I think Stud needs something,” he mumbled, moving away.
“I’ll kill that motherfucker. When I get done with him, he’s the one who’s going to need a bag.” This time, Sex Piston moved toward Dozer, who was unaware of his immediate d
emise.
“Leave him alone, Sex Piston.” Jane clutched her friend’s arm tighter. “He just said what everyone else thinks.”
“No, they fucking don’t,” Sex Piston snapped.
“Yes, they do,” she said, resigned. “Anyway, I came here to have fun.”
The women all grew quiet as Jane climbed onto an empty barstool.
“Are we going to party or not?”
“Hell yes!”
The women climbed up on the stools next to her, and Jane gradually relaxed, loosening up.
After a while, Pike came up behind her. “Want to dance, Fat Louise?”
She slid off the stool. “I would love to.”
Jane tried not to feel self-conscious when she saw Cade watching her as they stepped onto the crowded dance floor. Pike talked as they danced, showering her with attention that would normally turn her head. She knew Sex Piston had probably pestered Stud into asking the man to dance with her, but Jane wasn’t going to look a gift horse in the mouth. She wanted Cade to think other men found her attractive, even if it wasn’t true.
They danced several more songs before they noticed the bikers going outside.
“The fights have started! Let’s go watch.” Pike grinned.
Jane followed him outside, finding her friends in a place up front.
Recruits were pitted against each other in groups of two. The winners would face off against each other until only four were left. Those four would then take on a member. Those who won their fights would become recruits; those who failed went home with bruises and their tails tucked between their legs.
They weren’t invested in the outcome for any of the men, so the women watched silently.
Cade was matched with a man who was twice his size. The recruit was arrogantly confident of himself and swung his fist out, aiming for Cade’s jaw. He was stopped mid-swing when Cade grabbed his hand and twisted it behind his back. Cade then threw him away from him, adding to the insult by bringing his boot up to kick him in the ass.
“Show off,” Sex Piston grumbled.
The next time Cade was up, he fought someone who was his size. He had removed his shirt, and his upper body had Jane practically drooling, wanting to run her tongue over that six pack he was carrying. Reason returned when she remembered Bailey’s gloating look as she had come out of his room.