Page 24 of Eagle

Jeannie squeezed my hand. “Not bad at all. We went shopping. Came to talk to Mama Hen.” She pushed her sunglasses on top of her head. “She been here long?”

Mama Hen’s SUV was in the parking lot which only had a few cars. The club was open, but in my experience, daytime traffic was typically lighter, unless there was a special on wings and beer.

Butch took another obvious once over of me, making the knots in my belly tighten even more, before he covered those piercing blue eyes with his sunglasses. “A while. What’s she doing here?”

“I’m right here and I can hear you. I came to audition.” I may have been indebted to the club, but Butch hadn’t done jack shit for me and fuck him for acting like I wasn’t even human enough to address directly when he could speak to Jeannie.

However, I fought to keep my head up as he straightened and turned his head in my direction, holding my gaze. Most of these men were intense and even though I had no solid proof, I knewthey weren’t opposed to violence. So far, none against women, but most of the women didn’t talk back either.

“I’ll let that one slide but watch your fucking tone with me.”

Jeannie squeezed my hand with one but put her other up to Butch’s shoulder. “Now, Butch, this isn’t the clubhouse and she’s not a bunny. Let’s play nice.”

A growl reverberated from his chest, and he crossed his arms, still not turning from me. “Not a bunny, huh? Last I heard, you weren’t claimed.”

Heat rose in my chest, creeping to my face. But I’d already popped off once. If I wanted to eventually return to the clubhouse, and have a decent working environment, I couldn’t push his buttons. “You’re right. But I’m not staying there anymore, either. Just trying to make some money. I apologize for the snarky comment.”

He didn’t uncross his arms, but he tilted his head so I could see his eyes again. “Since when?”

“Butch, it’s athousanddegrees out here. You guys can chat later but we’re gonna melt.” Jeannie pulled me behind her. I almost lost my bags in the process. “Nosy fuck,” she said once inside.

I looked back. He took a seat and pulled his phone out. “Oh God, do you think he’s telling Eagle I’m here?”

Jeannie shrugged. “Maybe. So, we better find Mama Hen fast.” She grinned and dragged me behind her. She acted like it was funny, but I felt sick. Would he come up here? “Hey, I thought he was, like…important at the club. He goes to their little closed-door meetings. Why is he at the door?”

Jeannie slowed as we walked down a hall past some dressing rooms. “He’s sort of the main guy here. He swaps with memberssometimes, but he’s probably the best one to have posted outside.”

Vinny was Tony’s main guy at his club, but he was usually inside with us, wandering around. The other clubs just had regular bouncers. Who knows, maybe they were all MC or mafia or something and I just didn’t realize? It just seemed odd to me that someone of his rank at the club would be the doorman. I’d picked up a few things hanging around the clubhouse so much, and Jeannie and Mama Hen told us a lot if we asked. Butch was now the Sergeant at Arms. He pretty much enforced the rules of the club. I guess he took that seriously here as well, but how he could stand to be outside in that heat was beyond me. Eagle was VP, but that was new.Dammit. Why did he always pop into my head?

Jeannie stopped and gently knocked on a door at the end of the hallway. “Come in,” Mama Hen called from inside. We walked in and Mama Hen turned away from the computer and smiled. “Hey ladies. Whatchu doing down here?” Even though she smiled, her eyes gave away that she was uncertain about me being there.

Jeannie walked around the desk and crouched down, putting her arm around her shoulders. “It’s time for her to audition.”

I swallowed hard, my mouth suddenly dry as bone. I wasn’t nervous about dancing. I was nervous that Mama Hen was concerned, and I still couldn’t shake the thought of Butch telling Eagle I was here. He’d find out soon enough, but it wouldn’t be a great audition if he came storming in. Or would he? Maybe I hoped he would react that way, but in all honesty he was probably glad to have his room back to himself. He could even have it occupied with someone else by now. My wishful thinking already had me heartbroken. When would I learn?

Mama Hen sighed then looked up at Jeannie. “Show her where to change and come get me when she’s ready. Stage four should be empty right now.”

Jeannie squealed and hugged Mama Hen before she manhandled me out the door, pushing me down the hall toward one of the rooms we had passed. “Here. I like this one, the mirrors are better. Can’t explain why, they just are.”

I nervously laughed, but with it went some of my apprehension. Eagle didn’t care I was here, so Butch could blab all he wanted. I needed to worry about myself and getting some money so I could start over. Jeannie’s excitement was palpable and was breathing life into me. “You sure are excited. If you wanted to see me naked you should have just asked,” I joked.

“Ha ha. I am excited. You’re like Julia Roberts in Sleeping with The Enemy. This is your new start.”

“Except Eagle wasn’t abusive and controlling and I didn’t change my whole identity,” I said as I changed into my new outfit. It was a bit corny and cliché, but a little schoolgirl outfit always got good tips. Of course, the skirt barely covered my ass and the white button down shirt was almost too small. I pulled some makeup from my bag and shaped up my eyes with some heavy liner, dark shadow, then applied the falsies I’d bought after giving them a slight trim to fit my eyes. Once I’d finished with the foundation touchup, I added some highlighter and tinted gloss. “Oh shit, I didn’t get body powder.”

Jeannie cocked a brow. “Girl, like we don’t have that laying all over the place.” She walked to another mirror and grabbed a small jar and a blush brush. “Here, this is mine. And there is plenty where that came from.”

Smiling at her kindness, I opened the jar and puffed the brush a few times then swiped it over me. It gave your skin alittle shimmery glow, but it also helped wick moisture off you. Strippers liked sparkly shit, but we also didn’t want to slip and slide on the pole.

My final touch was a couple of easy-up messy buns for the school-girl look. Once I had my hair pinned enough to hold for part of the set, I strapped on my new platform sandals, a garter, and stood up. “How do I look?”

“Fucking spectacular.” Jeannie beamed at me. “I’ll tell her you’re ready.”

Looking in the mirror, I turned and grinned. It had been a while since I danced, and even longer since I was in control. Being forced to work for Tony wasn’t the same as choosing your club. Plus, we didn’t just dance there. But I knew here, none of that shit would happen; it wasn’t allowed.

All the ladies that worked for Mama Hen told me she ran a tight ship, and if she caught anyone doing extras for money, they were out. She had told me before that she didn’t care if women wanted to prostitute, but it wasn’t legal here and she wouldn’t have anyone putting her business or the MC in jeopardy. If they wanted to do that on their own time away from her club, it was none of her business. Technically, the club belonged to the MC, but she managed it, and until Raven was killed, it was really theirs.

Things were still up in the air with all the changes, but one thing was certain–Mama Hen was the HBIC. Everything still went through the officers at the club, but as far as women went, she was the top dog and with Hawk, the new president, being her son, I didn’t imagine that would change anytime soon.

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