Page 7 of Bristol

“Yeah, thank God. Oversized t-shirts are great and all but it’s nice to wear something that doesn’t feel so much like a sheet-turned-shirt.”

Sebastian quirks an eyebrow at me and smirks. “Good.” He chances a quick glance at my chest before he walks off with Slim in tow. The short stout man walks over, and he extends his hand to me.

“I’m Joey. Tattered Saints, Gulfport Chapter President.”

I shake his hand. “Bristol, the lost girl who’s taking up space at the moment.”

That earns me another smile from him. “Take as long as you need. We need a good woman around here.”

I almost choke on the laugh I stifle. Even though it wasn’t a direct stab at Princess, that’s how it sounded. “Thank you.”

When Joey walks inside leaving Maurice and I alone, I hug him. I think I catch him off guard because he’s awkwardly patting my back for a second before he wraps his big arms around me, embracing me.

“Thank you. Thank you so much for getting me out of there.”

“No problem, sweetie. I wish I would’ve gotten you out much sooner, but it took me a little while to figure out what was going on in there. I’m sorry it took so long.”

“No, don’t be. It was perfect timing.”

I ease out of our hug and follow Maurice inside. I’m curious how long Princess is going to be here. They obviously don’t live here, I’m not sure anyone does. I think the rooms are only spares, maybe a place to crash if someone drinks too much? I’ll have to ask about that. Sebastian’s things aren’t in his room, his clothes aren’t in the closet, nothing personal there aside from the fact he’s slept there recently. I only know that because the bed smelled like him. Other than that, they appear to be guest rooms.

Joey, Slim, and Sebastian are sitting at the table in the kitchen when we walk in. I’m just glad Princess Bitch isn’t in here. I’ve had beyond enough of her antics for one day. I’ve got my whole fucking life to figure out. What am I going to do with my life? Should I go back to my hometown? The only people that I had were Mom, Dad, and Lane. They’re gone. No one else. No aunts and uncles. All four of my grandparents died before I was ten. I have no one.

Princess Bitch enters the room, sucking all the life I had left in me. Her annoyed eye roll makes me want to beat her face in. I consider it for a second longer than I should, but I don’t. I’m a guest here. An outsider. The last thing I need is to be thrown out when I’ve only been here for a day. I’d like to stay here until I can figure out what my life entails from this point forward.

“Can we go home already? I’m done with charity work.”

The hairs on the back of my neck stand up but I bite back the hateful words I want to spit at her. On second thought…

Chapter Four

SEBASTIAN

The way Princess says charity shifted the energy in the room and before I could process it, Bristol lunged at her. Her hands fisted in Princess’s hair and she drug her forcefully to the ground, pounding her free fist into Princess’s face until she had her subdued. Bristol looms over her, pounding both her fists into Princess’s face a few more times before Slim rushes over to pull her off.

“The fuck is wrong with you?” he asks. I’m about to say something when I realize he’s talking to Princess. Well, I wasn’t expecting that.

Bristol is panting, her hands beet red and bloody. No doubt who the blood belongs to when I see Princess’s nose and lip bleeding and one of her eyes already half-swollen. I chuckle softly to myself. I knew someone would eventually put her in her place, but I never dreamed it would be an outsider. Maybe she’ll stop running her bitchy mouth.

“Aren’t you going to do something?” Princess whines, looking around the room at everyone.

“I just did,” Bristol says, her breathing finally calmed down some. There’s a gleam in her eyes that is almost sadistic. Princess huffs and rolls her eyes as Slim helps her to her feet. Without another word, she storms out of the clubhouse. Slim groans and follows behind her.

“Sorry, y’all,” he says on his way out.

I know Joey’s going to tell him to control his ol’lady, but he won’t chastise him.

When the door shuts behind Slim, Mo bursts out laughing, causing me and Joey both to chuckle with him. Bristol is just looking around at us like we’ve lost it.

“I’m sorry. I’m gonna go get cleaned up.” Bristol scurries off down the hall and I hear the bathroom door click shut and the water turn on. With everything she’s going through, she still apologizes for someone else provoking her.

“Bout time somebody put that bitch in her place,” Mo says, sitting down next to Joey. He’s never liked her. Slim started bringing her around a little less than a year ago and she’s done nothing but cause problems since. They’ve only been together around a year and since she’s shown up, he’s fallen off the deep end. We’re all suspicious that she’s gotten him into some shit that he shouldn’t be in. Meth is bad in our area, and I think he’s dabbling in the shit.

Joey takes a sip of his scotch and shakes his head back and forth with a half-smile spreading on his face. “She’s going to get him fucked up one of these days.”

“It’s coming. Mark my words, Princess ain’t nothing but trouble, Prez.”

“Pisses me off. That poor fucking girl. I can’t believe the shit that came out of Princess’ mouth.” Mo’s stare is angry and his nostrils flare while he fidgets with a loose string on his cut-off.

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