Page 11 of Fixate

“I said the club can’t. Me, on the other hand, would do just fine without you.”

“Spoilsport.” She grins wide.

Cain chuckles, gesturing to the parlor. “Let me show you around,” he says, leading us past a few topless women.

Maxxy watches closely, clearly annoyed by the fact these women are being mistreated. The men are groping and slapping them as they walk past. This is one hundred percent a man’s club, and it’s pure unadulterated bullshit.

Sure, the MC has club girls, and I know the idea is outdated, but we treat our girls with respect. They’re there because they want to be, and we don’t use and abuse them. We help them get ahead and ensure they are cared for. The second a club girl doesn’t want to do something, they don’t have to. We never force the issue. From what it looks like here, the women don’t appear happy, and the so-called Bachelors are complete dicks. I don’t know how a guy like Cain, who seems to have his head screwed on, can be second-in-charge of a shithole establishment like this.

But the fact is, even though the Bachelors are alittle off, we need them.

We want their help.

No, weneedtheir help.

So we’re going to have to suck it up and shut up.

Cain guides us to the bar and orders drinks, which are delivered by topless bar staff. Then he turns, waiting for me to start talking.

“Not sure how much you know, but we’re light on staff at The Plantation due to some run-ins with some less-than-delightful people.”

“You need manpower?” Cain asks.

“Yeah! Your guys already distribute our product in Baton Rouge. They know what our shit is like. They know us, so what we’re asking is for a few men to come work with us at The Plantation. We gotta get the distribution happening faster.”

Cain shrugs. “I don’t see why not. I’ll have to run it past Boss. But I can see it would benefit us because the better you run, the better it is for the Bachelors. We can distribute more drugs in Baton Rouge if the supply is available… it can only be a win-win.”

“So, how many men do you think you can offer?” I ask.

“How many do you need?”

I look at Maxxy, and she exhales. “We could do with at least five or six.”

Cain nods. “We can manage that. Some of our soldiers are itching to get their hands into some grunt work. Let me talk to Boss. Will you be okay here if I go have a word with him? He is out back.

I dip my chin. “Go. We’ll have a drink.”

Cain stands and gestures to someone who’s obviously in this establishment’s higher ranks. “Trap will keep you entertained. Watch out for Hoodoo and Maxxy from NOLA Defiance while I take care of some business?”

Trap sits where Cain vacates and nods. “Sure thing.”

I suppose for a man, he’s good-looking, but I’m no judge. The only weird shit about him is his fucking strange haircut—short style on top, shaved around the sides, and a rat-tail at the back.

He looks Maxxy up and down and tilts his head. “I don’t see many women bosses here, but you look like you can handle your shit.”

“Thank you. I’ll take that compliment. See, Hoodoo…” Maxxy raises her drink to Trap, “… you had nothing to worry about. Icanhandle my shit.”

Trap lights a cigar and puffs out a waft of smoke. “Being in charge is difficult. You have got to be tough, and I see that in you. You have been through some shit like me. I’m third in charge, but one day I will prove to Boss that I’m up to taking on more responsibility.”

I glance at Maxxy, and she purses her lips. “Sometimes you just have to assert yourself.”

Trap nods. “Assert yourself… I like that. Take what I want. I see what you’re saying.”

Maxxy widens her eyes. “I didn’t say that. I meant work hard, and it will come to you.”

“No… I’m pretty sure you saidtake what I want. Maybe I need to knock off a few people in my way.”

Without reacting facially, my hand moves to Maxxy’s shoulder, gripping it tight, warning her to be careful around this guy. He’s a loose cannon. “Thanks for the chat,” I say, urging Maxxy to get up so we can leave, but as I do, a woman steps up beside him blocking us in. She leans down, kissing Trap passionately.

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