Page 21 of Daughters of Chaos

She makes an irritating screeching sound with her big mouth as she gathers her bag. I watch victoriously as she stomps toward the door. "This is bullshit. See if I ever fuck you again, Stitch."

To her horror, he replies, "Wasn't impressed the first time."

Misty lets out another shrill scream as I slam the door in her face. "Bye, bitch." I move to head back to the couch, stopping halfway there. "You really had sex with that?" I ask Stitch.

He shrugs. "Momentary lack of judgment."

I shudder, suppressing the urge to vomit as I close the distance between me and my sister. She looks up, giving me a grateful smile. "Thank you."

"Any time. I take it she was trying to stir up shit with you and Raptor again?"

Phoenix nods. "Didn't work though. He told her he'd never do anything with her again and was about to kick her out when the guys started flooding in." She's silent for a beat before adding, "What do you think is going on?"

I have my suspicions about what kind ofbusinessthe club is really into, but I'm not ready to scare Phoenix by sharing them with her yet. She needs to have a clear head. She's finally registered for school and is about to start a path toward her dreams. Telling her my concerns about what illegal activities the club may be getting into would only distract her from that.

I pull her close as she leans her head on my shoulder. "I don't know, Nix. It's probably nothing." My stomach churns as the lie slips from my mouth. It won't do either of us any good to tell her now. It's better this way. I know it.

A while later, Lace shows up with boxes full of fresh-baked donuts. I'm thankful for the distraction she created for Phoenix. Maybe she could help keep Nix busy while the club takes care of whatever problem landed on our doorstep.

When I get the chance, I ask her if she knows what's going on with the MC. She tells me she doesn't have a clue and that Bear told her to come to the house and stay put until the guys sort things out. She doesn't seem to mind being ordered around by these guys, but I sure do. The more they tell me to stay put, themore I want to break free. The only reason I haven't already is Phoenix.

She and Lace are gossiping in the kitchen while Stitch and Bones watch TV in the living room.If I wanted to sneak out, this would be my chance.It takes all of three seconds for me to make my decision. Quietly I tell Lace and Nix where I'm going—it wouldn't sit well with me to disappear without letting them know I would be safe. They try to convince me to stay but ultimately relent when they realize it's no use. They promise not to tattle on me as long as I swear I'll be careful and only go where I told them I was going.

Once that's settled, I head upstairs to grab my keys and my bag. I make sure my guards are still occupied before opening a window to make my escape. I crawl across the roof to a drainpipe, making as little noise as possible until my feet are safely on the ground. After checking around the corner for any extra watchdogs, I duck around the house to my car parked along the street.

Oh, the sweet taste of freedom.

The glowing neon signs beckon me inside as I park my car in front of the SoS Saloon. The MC-owned bar, dingy as it may be, is one of the few places I feel at home in this town. It reminds me of the last bar I worked at in New Mexico. The familiar smell of stale cigarettes, spilled beer, and testosterone takes me back to my little dive in Albuquerque.

A small smile unintentionally forms on my lips as I cruise closer to the bar. Jesse and a few other guys from the MC are inside.Thank God for a friendly face.He looks up from pouring a drink, spotting me. Surprise flashes over his face. "What areyou doing here? Thought you and Red were supposed to stay at the clubhouse."

I shoot him a sly grin. "We were. Our bodyguards are still there with Nix and Lace, but I needed some air."

The sound of his laughter is all I hear as I slide under the bar top to join him. "I'd better let Stitch and Bones know you're okay before they freak," he says, pulling his phone from his pocket.

I shrug. "As long as they know I'm not coming back for a while."

Jesse dials my wardens as I pull my hair back and get acquainted with my new workspace. I hear him tell someone on the other end that I'm here. There's a brief moment of silence on the other line that's followed by panic as Jesse clues them in on how long I've been gone. He assures the person on the other end of the call that he'll keep an eye on me before hanging up.

I send him a smirk. "They even know I was gone?"

"Nope. Freaked out pretty good when I said you were here," he informs me with a grin.

"They never should have tried to hold me hostage."

Jesse leans against the bar, giving me an appraising once over. "I guess not."

I take another look around the bar, noting the drafts and bottles available. "Viper said there was an opening here. Said he and Miguel talked it over, and I could get with him to come up with a schedule. I figured I'd start today if your dad would be cool with it."

"I'm sure he won't mind," he says, eyeing me with interest. "Besides, it's about time I had some good-looking coworkers." The other man behind the bar—another of Elias's brood—flips him the bird, earning a laugh from Jesse and the bar patrons. After a quick tour and demonstration of the POS system, they set me loose.

As time passes, more thirsty customers enter the bar—more than I ever would have imagined. The bulk of the clientele are men of varying ages who look like they know the rougher side of life, but a sprinkle of women come and go with the rush around lunchtime.

By the time the rush is over, I feel like I have my groove back, and I have a pocket full of very healthy tips. Jesse nudges my shoulder. "You did good today. Usually, it's just two of us slinging drinks while Archie mans the kitchen. Made the rush much more enjoyable."

I don't miss the flirty look he gives me as Archie shouts from the small kitchen window, "I bet you enjoyed it, J. You were staring at her ass the whole time."

A laugh tumbles from my lips as Jesse shrugs, not bothering to deny it or look the least bit sorry. "What can I say? It's a great ass, and I have an appreciation for fine works of art," he tells me with a wink. I swat him playfully with a rag, not hating the compliment he paid me and my ass.

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