Page 10 of Phoenix

“I’ll say,” Riggs said under his breath. Apparently, Juno, Vixen, and Rebel were partying it up without her while hanging out with three hot bikers. Her three friends were wasted, and she wasn’t sure if letting them go home with the bikers was such a good idea.

“Maybe I should go with them,” she said to Riggs.

“The guys said that they can drop you off back at Aggie’s house,” Rebel offered.

“Um, I guess—” Before she could even finish her sentence, Riggs was growling out “No”.

“I’ll drive her home. I live next door to Aggie and it’s not out of the way for me,” he said.

“Oh, okay,” Phoenix said. “I guess I’ve already got a ride home, but are you guys sure that you don’t want us to give you a ride home?” she asked her friends, looking over each of the bikers, recognizing Daredevil from earlier.

“No, we’re old friends of the guys,” Rebel insisted. “Besides, we’re just going back to Juno’s place to have a little fun.” Rebel dramatically winked at her and Phoenix couldn’t help her laugh.

“Yeah, I got your meaning without the wink, Rebel,” she said. “Have fun and call me in the morning,” she insisted. “But not too early.” She planned on sleeping in if Lydia allowed it.

“Okay,” Vixen said. They each kissed her on the cheek and wished her happy birthday before they headed out of the bar.

“Do you think that they will be okay?” she asked.

Riggs nodded, “They will be fine. The guys they are leaving with are all friends of mine and they all hang out together frequently. You about ready to head out?” he asked.

A dark-haired woman walked up behind Riggs and told him to move out of her way. He did as she asked, and she slid onto his barstool. “I’m Lil, but everyone around here calls me Banshee.”

“I’m Phoenix,” she said, taking Banshee’s hand. “You’re the Royal Harlots Prez, aren’t you?” she asked. “My grandmother, Aggie, has told me a lot about you and your club.”

“Yeah, Aggie is one of our newest members, and she’s been a great addition to our little club. We meet here every Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday because Savage has been generous enough to let us borrow his club, but we’re looking to get our own place soon. I’d love for you to come in with Aggie one night and hang out with us,” Banshee said.

“I’d like that, but I have a two-year-old and I’d have to find a sitter that I trust for her,” Phoenix admitted.

“Um, I’ll babysit Lydia for you,” Riggs offered. She looked around Banshee to find him smiling like a loon at her.

“You?” she asked. “Do you know anything about taking care of a two-year-old?” Phoenix questioned.

“Well, no, but I’ve been told by some of the guys down at my shop that I act like a two-year-old sometimes,” he admitted, still smiling.

“I don’t think that was a compliment,” Banshee said, cutting in. Phoenix giggled and Riggs stopped smiling at her.

“Well, it was an offer,” he grumbled.

Phoenix sobered, “And a very kind one, but I think that you should get to know Lydia a bit before you agree to take her on.”

“That’s just a nice way of saying that Phoenix doesn’t trust you, Riggs. She’ll need to vet you before she’ll leave her babe with you,” Banshee explained. Phoenix nodded her head and Banshee stood from the stool. “I hope to see you around,” Banshee said to her and walked back to the kitchen.

“I love her accent,” Phoenix whispered to Riggs.

“Yeah, she and her two brothers, who are in the Bastards, are all from Ireland. At first, I couldn’t understand a thing that they were saying, but they’ve started sounding a bit more American since they’ve moved here.”

She stood from the bar stool and swayed as the room seemed to spin around her. “Woah,” she breathed.

Riggs wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her into his body. “You okay?” he asked.

“I’m just a little dizzy,” she admitted.

“I think it’s time you let me take you home, honey,” Riggs said.

“Agreed,” she breathed. He kept her close, putting his arm around her, on their way out of the club, and when she finally got outside, the cold night air hit her, and she felt a bit better.

“The world is spinning a little bit less now, thank you.” Phoenix tried to pull away from him and he pulled her back against his side. She looked up at him and he smiled down at her.

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