Page 41 of Puma's Pride

“What are we talking about?” Chill asks.

“How you joined the club.” Desdemona says. “Trouble says it’s a good story and we want to hear it.”

Chill rolls her eyes. “It’s not that interesting, and it’s a little embarrassing.” She admits.

“Well, now we have to hear it.” I laugh.

“Why would that story embarrass you?” Trouble asks. “The way Puma tells it, you were fucking brave and a total badass.”

Chill shrugs. “I should have done my homework. After I retired from service, I had a hard time figuring out what to do with myself. I enlisted, intending to earn money for college. By the time I was out, my need for adrenaline was so high that the thought of sitting in classes all day had me breaking out in hives.”

We laugh as she grins.

“I considered being a cop for about ten minutes.” We laugh at her shudder. “I then talked to a couple of guys I served with who joined an MC back east. They talked up the thrill of riding and belonging to the club. Said it was the closest thing they found to being in the military, minus the red tape. That sold me, so I started looking for a club closer to home.”

“Were you already a rider?” I ask. She nods.

“Riding a motorcycle is a must for those of us who like our spikes of adrenaline.” Chill says. “I had a nice ride. It wasn’t a Harley, but what they call a crotch rocket.” Chills says and chuckles at Trouble’s eye roll. “Yeah, yeah, I had a lot to learn. Which is why I made the biggest mistake of all.”

“What?” the three of us ask. Chill has our rapt attention. In the few weeks since meeting her, this is the most I’ve ever heard her talk. And the first time she’s spoken about herself.

“I looked into clubs on the West Coast and found a few. I found one that was all female and considered visiting them. But then I saw the Demon Dawgs and thought it was a sign since I’d been in the Marines. I figured I’d try them first. I rode to the chapter in LA…”

“LA?” I ask and Chill laughs.

“Exactly.”

“Why? What’s wrong with LA?” Corinne asks.

“The LA Chapter has some problems.” Chill says and Trouble barks out a laugh.

“Yeah, their names are Acid and Roadkill.” Trouble adds. “Acid is the President, Roadkill is his VP. Acid is the fucker who gave me my road name and why I joined the Shadow Borns instead.”

Desdemona frowns. “I kind of remember meeting Acid when I was younger.” She admits. I knew Desdemona was Dante’s high school girlfriend. Until his father kidnapped her, along with her friend, when he needed two more girls for a shipment of women. Bastard. “He wasn’t someone I wanted to be alone with. Ever.”

Chill shakes her head. “No, you do not. I shouldn’t say anything because he is a club President. It’s disrespectful.”

“You may not say it, but I can. The guy’s an asshole.” Trouble says, causing us to laugh.

“What happened?” I ask her.

“Well, I arrive at the club and ask if I can prospect. He and Roadkill tell me I can start by giving them each a blow job. When I explained I wanted to be a member, not a club girl, they told me that the only women that get through the doors do so on their backs or on their knees. Their attitude turned me off, so I got back on my bike to leave. That’s when Roadkill grabs me and tells me I’m not leaving until I give them what they want.”

“Bastard.” Desdemona snarls, and I nod in agreement.

“What did you do?” I ask.

“Took him down. Nailed him in the jewels and held him in a chokehold until he passed out. By that time, I had several guns aimed at my head. I figure I’m dead when Puma strides out of the clubhouse. He looks around as he steps up to me. He glances down at Roadkill and smirks before asking me what I wanted. When I tell him I wanted to prospect with the Demons, he asked me how I felt about moving to Las Vegas. He explained he was on his way back to Vegas and I could tag along if I was interested. I hoped on my bike and followed him.” Chill concludes. “Of course, one of his pre-requisites was that I had to buy a real bike.”

“I can’t imagine Acid was happy about Puma taking you into his club.” Desdemona says and Chill chuckles.

“He was furious. He tried to get Dante to intervene, but that was just another mistake on his part.”

“Why?” I ask.

“Because Dante has too much respect for Puma, especially after the crap Acid pulled when Puma took over the Vegas Chapter.” Trouble says.

“What crap did he pull?” I ask.

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