I was either going to save the day or be the villain in everyone's story.
*
Chapter Three
Throttle
“Camera crew leave?”
I nodded and cracked open my beer. “Yup. They said they’ll be back in the morning, but that doesn’t mean we aren’t being recorded.” I nodded to the corner. “Say cheese.”
Smoke flipped off the camera in the corner and climbed onto a stool next to me. “Eight weeks up yet?” he grunted.
“I thought I was the only one who wasn’t down with this show?” I asked.
Smoke shrugged. “I don’t really care either way, but if Yarder is going to keep riding my ass about not cussing and spitting, then I might disappear for the next few weeks.”
If only that were possible. I had mentioned doing just that to Yarder last week, but he nixed it. When he had signed the contracts with the production company, it had said there would be ten club members. If I vamoosed, the whole club would be fucked. “Just stick to the background, brother. I’m hoping once the newness of having a camera crew floating around the clubhouse and shop wears off, we won’t even notice them.” At least, that is what I kept telling myself.
“You up for a game of poker tonight?” he asked.
I shrugged. “You know I’m always up to take your money.”
The front door to the clubhouse opened, and Sloane walked in with Dove behind her.
“Aero actually let Sloane drive here?” Smoke chuckled.
“What is she doing here?” I grumbled.
“She’s Aero’s ol’ lady, Throttle. It would take an act of god to keep her away from the clubhouse.”
I rolled my eyes and shook my head. “Not her.” I tipped my chin toward Dove. “Her.”
“Her hot best friend?” Smoke brushed off his shoulder and winked. “Not sure, but I can go find out. Maybe she’ll want to play poker with us.”
“No,” I called, but Smoke was already halfway across the clubhouse, headed straight for Dove and Sloane.
I turned on my stool and watched Dove.
Sloane, I liked. Never for a second did I get an off vibe from her.
Dove though? Something had been off about her since the day she just reappeared after disappearing for two weeks.
Her story about visiting family was a bald-faced lie that everyone seemed to fall for except for me.
When I had mentioned to Aero about something being off with Dove, he had told me to chill and let it go. Apparently, everyone thought it was cool for us to search and search for the chick, only for her to show back up with a weak excuse of where she was, and we were supposed to be good with it.
Not me.
“She’s in!” Smoke called. He put his arms around her shoulders and pulled her in for a hug. “Get the cards.”
“I hope you’re ready to get your ass beat,” Dove laughed. She tossed her head back, and I couldn’t help but notice the delicateness of her neck and the sparkle in her eyes. I couldn’t deny that she was easy on the eyes. Something I shouldn’t be noticing when I thought something was off about her.
Great.
And now she was here to play cards on a Friday night. Well, I guess this was one way to try to figure out just what she was up to.
Before she disappeared, she had only been to the clubhouse a time or two. Now she was here, and from the looks of the duffle bag over her shoulder, she would be here for the weekend.