Page 5 of Ryder's War

“Bismarck North Dakota isn’t exactly a big city, but I knew the moment I set eyes on him that he was something special. You did real good with him, Lily. I mean that,” Tiffany said sincerely.

Blushing slightly, Lily glanced away. “I’m so proud of both him and my little Rose. I know being prideful is a sin, but I can’t help it.”

Laughing, Tiffany whispered conspiratorially, “I think God will forgive you for that one. I’m a little prideful of Ryder myself.”

“I really like you, Tiffany. You’re just perfect for my son.”

“Thanks, Lily. You’ve made me feel welcome. I didn’t think that I’d fit in here, but your family and the club have been good to me.”

Glancing toward a group of women wearing leather pants and halter tops, Lily kept her voice low. “I always worried about what kind of woman my son would end up with. I’m glad it was you.”

They both looked on as the whores strutted their stuff all over the parking lot. They were loud, brash, and way past flirty. Their skintight costumes showed more than one camel toe, and huge, saggy breasts seemed to be the order of the day. They represented all age groups, but thatdidn’t stop most of them from being forward with the club brothers.

Lily’s hand tightened around her spoon. Tiffany followed her gaze to her husband. One of the women had sidled up to him and was pressing her body seductively against his. He promptly elbowed her out of his way. Within moments, she was back. This time, she wiggled her hand into the waistband of his pants, near his belt buckle.

The plastic spoon snapped in Lily’s hand as she frowned. This time, Ven turned around, grabbed the woman by the throat, and literally threw her back. To add insult to injury, he wiped his hand on his jeans, as if to rid himself of her germs. Amazingly, the woman stood up and began walking toward him again. Annoyance clear on his face, Ven made some kind of hand movement to a group of prospects. They stepped into her path and began maneuvering her toward the clubhouse.

Reaching over, Tiffany slid the spoon handle from Lily’s hand and without comment and replaced it with a fresh spoon.

Lily took a stuttering breath and murmured, “Thank you.”

There was a sharp contrast between Lily and the club whores. Lily was wearing her cute little Halloween biker shirt, nice black jeans, and anexpensive pair of Harley boots. Her long, light hair and neatly groomed French manicure offset her lovely features and elegant jewelry perfectly.

The older woman leaned over, looking into Tiffany’s eyes. “Women throwing themselves at our men isn’t all that unusual around here.”

Tiffany nodded, remembering her first reactions to club life. The whores had shocked her then. Now, they were just another layer of MC politics she had to navigate. Different world, different rules, but power plays were universal. She'd learned that lesson in both designer heels and biker boots.

The woman looked pointedly down at Tiffany’s plate. “You should eat before your food gets cold.”

Scrambling to keep up with the sudden shift in conversation, Tiffany murmured politely, “Thanks for grabbing me some food before the goblins and monsters scarfed it all down.” Then she added, “You’re right, the women around are bold as brass. I’ve never seen anything like it.”

Lily chuckled. “You have a good sense of humor. I like that in a person. I don’t know what got into that one. Everyone here knows my Ven doesn’t do whores.”

A dirty blonde landed on the table across from them. She reeked of alcohol, her hair and lipstick were a mess, and she smelled like sex. Her tight, latex top appeared to be smudged with dirty handprints—only on the breasts.

Tiffany’s appetite took an immediate vacation, and she dropped her fork, unable to enjoy her food with this particular dining partner at the table.

“That one has a name, you self-righteous prude. Ven will eventually cave in for the right whore. All of them do.”

Tiffany cleared her throat. “Let’s not get rude.”

“Who the hell are you? I’ve never seen you before.”

“Can you read?” she asked, allowing her distaste for the woman to color her words.

“Of fucking course, I can read.”

Standing, Tiffany turned long enough for her to read the words on the back of her vest.Property of Ryder.

The woman snorted a laugh. “You don’t look like much. I doubt you’ll last around here.”

“I remember there being some discussion about inviting the whores to the final cookout of the year. I’m guessing the brothers are regretting that decision about now,” Tiffany responded with an air of superiority that she knew would get under the woman’s skin like a tick.

“You pompous little bitch,” she snarled. “I don’t have to sit here and listen to that kind of shit.”

“You’re right about that. You should move on along if you can’t be nice.”

Snorting another laugh, the woman produced a flask and drank down whatever was inside. “Like these boys want nice.”

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