Page 22 of Ace's Ascension

“Yeah, we got a sitter for Elsa so Alyssa and I will be accompanying you to work,” Rooster responds.

“Great. I love hanging out with Alyssa, so this will be perfect.” The excitement in my voice makes Rooster grin.

“She used to bartend at our bar before we got Elsa back and I’m sure she misses it.” Rooster has a faraway look on his face and I imagine he is reminiscent of when Alyssa bartended.Butch grunts before turning his back on us and walks down the hallway.

I raise a brow at Rooster. “Is he moodier than normal tonight?”

“You can say that again, Red.” Rooster laughs and it echoes down the hallway.

“You two done primping up there? We’ve got to go or Liz will be late for work.” Alyssa shouts up the stairs.

“Coming, Spitfire.” Rooster shouts back. I grab my purse and keys off the dresser, exit Ace’s room, and lock it up behind me. We’re walking down the stairs when Alyssa’s voice rings out.

“Not yet, you’re not.” Alyssa giggles.

“Fuck, woman. Why do you have to tease me?” Rooster grumbles pulling a tiny blonde into his arms and plants a hot kiss on her lips. Alyssa moans and a gag comes from behind us.

“I don’t want to watch my sister play tonsil hockey with the biggest cock in the henhouse.” Poison fakes gag.

“Bite me,” Alyssa responds. “I didn’t want to see my sister bent over the counter in the kitchen the other day with Kayne’s jeans around his ankles and his white ass on display, but you two don’t give us a choice in the matter.”

Poison’s face burns red from embarrassment but she shrugs it off. “Hey, I have to get it when I can. It’s hard when you have a baby who doesn’t sleep but a few hours at a time.”

Poison and Kayne have a baby girl who is three months old and doesn’t sleep very much. Kayne’s mom Cougar has been helping them out a lot and tonight she is watching both Poison and Kayne’s daughter and Rooster and Alyssa’s daughter at Rooster’s house while they go with me to work.

Technically it’s a night out for them, but not for me. I’ll be slinging drinks all night, trying not to let the green-eyed monster out, wishing Ace was here with me while my friends have their men with them.

Kayne and Poison, Blayde and Siren, Rooster and Alyssa are all riding to the nightclub I work at while Butch, Duke and I are riding in the SUV. It would be a perfect night for a ride too. If Ace was here, I’d call into work and have him take me on backroads. Shit, I’d even let himtake meon backroads. I giggle to myself and remember what Ace said to me before he left. How I’d feel him for days and be ready for him when he got back. Well, I’m definitely ready for him if the achiness between my legs is any indication.

“Red, you about done fantasizing about our boy Ace back there or do we need to give you a few minutes alone?” Duke jokes from the front seat.

“Ha, very funny ass.” I slap the back of Duke’s head.

Normally I’d be terrified to even joke around like this, but Duke has been a constant since Ace has been gone and he’s made me extremely comfortable. Also, I consulted my cards on him that first night too and they gave me positive vibes for him. He just wants to be loved and not by a patch bunny. I grab the charm around my neck and rub it with my thumb. Memaw, God rest her soul, taught me a lot about our heritage before she passed and I miss her every day.

Pushing the thoughts of Memaw to the back of my mind, I open the door to the back seat and climb out. Since Duke is waiting for me Butch takes off and parks the SUV in the closest spot he can find. Kayne, Blayde and Rooster park their bikes to the side of the building into the nightclub so no one will mess with them while we’re all inside.

Once everyone is together, Duke opens the door and I enter first. The air conditioner blasts me in the face, sending goosebumps down my arms and it takes a moment for my eyes to adjust to the low-lit bar. The nightclub isn’t open yet so the music is down low and the lights are dim but not dark, like itwill be later in the night. The strobe lights pointing on the dance floor are off and there are very few employees here.

I leave everyone to find a booth and head into the back where the employee breakroom is. I stow my purse and keys in my assigned locker, lock it up, and pin my badge to the apron I have to wear. I swipe my badge through the time clock and get ready to start my shift stocking the coolers behind the bar and getting my till ready. Once I finish the final prep work, I lean against the counter with a Sprite in my hand and take a long drink while looking around. The dance floor is sticky and gross, the bar has seen better days and the awful smell from the backroom is covered by sweat and who knows what other bodily fluids.

God, I hate this place with a passion. I love being a bartender, slinging drinks, and talking to people but hate the slimeball manager, Joe. I haven’t seen him since he showed up at my apartment unannounced and Ace escorted him out. Which is a good thing. If he were to try anything with the Savage Saints watching, I’m sure he would meet a fate worse than Ace’s fist.

Sighing, I set my drink down and push thoughts of Ace to the back of my mind. I cannot afford to have him take up this much headspace, but damn, the man has me under a spell. I can’t wait for him to get home so I can climb him like a spider monkey.

“Girl, who are you climbing like a spider monkey?” Darrien, my very gay coworker, asks. “If it’s those hot as S-I-N bikers over there, then, honey, I’m down.”

My eyes bulge out and I almost choke on my spit. “Shit, Darrien. Did I say that out loud?” I cover my eyes with the palm of my hand and shake my head. “He’s not here,” I respond.

“Lord, lady. If he’s as hot as all those men, I don’t blame you for having an inner monologue. I have one each time I lay my eyes on those juicy men.” Darrien dramatically fans his face.

I release a laugh and nudge Darrien with my shoulder before turning around to make sure all the liquor is stocked. “Sorry, D. Most of them have Ol’ Ladies.”

“A man can dream.” He flutter his lashes before slapping my ass with his towel.

A low growl from the end of the bar has me stopping in my tracks and turning my head.

“Damn girl, you are lucky,” Darrien crosses his arms over his chest as he takes in the sight before us.

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