Page 13 of Sunshine & Ink

I had been nervous about what the other girls would be like, but they seemed nice enough as they led me into a small dark room where all the other club girls were seated, while Apostle stood in the front with the Holy Words open in his hands.

“Women are here on Resurrected to serve men,” he said. His voice was meek and mild, but I still didn’t like the way his eyesfell down my front. There was something almost unnerving in the way Apostle held the Holy Words up like a weapon, the way he wet his thumb to flip to the next page.

“Women are either wives or whores. And a good whore must serve her betters with a tight cunt and a willing asshole and an obedient spirit.”

We listened in silence to the sermon.

Surely I was imagining it that Apostle’s eyes landed on me more than anyone else, that he was looking at me when he said it was our holy duty to pleasure with our tongues.

But if I really was Raker’s favorite, maybe I would never have to serve him.

Afterwards I left the room as quickly as I could and tentatively explored the rest of the Saints Clubhouse. It was in a prime downtown spot, with a massive stone exterior and high old-wood inside, in addition to attached garages for their motorcycle storage and maintenance, and the tattoo shops that provided official cover for the MC.

To have so much stone and wood in the middle of the desert was a sign of luxury and wealth.

All the rooms were massive, too. Private bedrooms for the highest-ranking Brothers, like Raker, Teacher, Builder, Apostle, and Tech. The lower-ranking brothers shared large rooms.

There was a big kitchen too, and large meeting rooms, even a bar in the back of one of the largest gathering spaces.

“She’sBuilder’s favorite,” Bridget said, nudging Amira. “I’mno one’s favorite, but everyone likes me pretty well. Enough to keep me in the clubhouse, at least."

I wanted to ask how to ensure that I pleased Raker enough to stay here, but I felt too awkward.

“Weall sleep in bunk beds in one room,” Bridget said, but without rancor, as she pulled oranges from a bowl in the kitchenfor us. “I’ve never even heard of anyone getting to share a room with one of the brothers before.”

“Oh,” I said, feeling a hot flush of pleasure despite myself.

“Oh god, here’s Angel,” Bridget added under her breath as another woman walked into the kitchen, her hips swaying sensuously.

Angel was a few inches taller than I was, with a cascade of golden blonde curls, big baby-doll blue eyes, and a perfect pink pout to her mouth.

“Hi,” she began without preamble, then jerked her head back. “Teacher is looking for you both.”

“Be careful,” Amira cautioned Angel as she left, looking back with a wrinkle between her eyes. “Don’t piss off Raker.”

“Don’t fuck with the new girl,” Bridget added. “You don’t want to get in trouble, do you?”

Angel ignored this advice like she hadn’t even heard it, and her eyes assessed me up and down as I tried to pretend like her scrutiny didn’t bother me.

Suddenly my clothes felt extra plain and shamefully poor.

And she took no time letting me know where my place should be in the clubhouse pecking order.

“So you’re Raker’s newest little pet, are you? What’s so great about you, bitch?”

I opened my mouth to protest, and she yanked my hair so hard my eyes started to water.

“Answer me. I heard where you came from, Little MissTwenty-Four.That’s embarrassing as shit. Girls coming from Twenty-Four never have daddies, do they?”

“Let me go,” I said, trying to wrench her hands off my hair.

Both my parents had died shortly after I was born, and I had been raised by a very elderly great-aunt. I certainly wasn’t ashamed of my aunt, but I knew telling any of my story would be seen as a sign of weakness.

Angel ignored my pleas, her eyes narrowed as she continued to examine me. My scalp burned as she pulled harder.

“Tiny tits, tiny ass, scrawny legs. What does he see in you?”

I tried to pry her fingers off again, but Angel was taller and stronger, and she only yanked harder, trapping me against the kitchen counter. Where had everybody gone? I had sworn all the other club girls were around here just a second ago.

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