Page 24 of City of Salvation

NIKKI

ALRIGHT, WE’LL GO THE CHICKS BEFORE DICKS ROUTE HERE

I don’t knowwhy I was surprised to find a full-blown rager happening at the one-percenter motorcycle club, but I was. The thumping sounds of bass could be heard from outside.

“It’s like two in the morning.”

“Yup,” Dex responded, popping thep.“Torque, take him to the Shed.”

“You got it,” he answered, jumping out of the SUV and dragging the unconscious man out by his feet, not caring that his head was bouncing off the ground like a ball.

My fingers wrapped around the door handle, but it was ripped from my grip when Dex flung it open. He slid his arm underneath the crook of my legs, pulling me out of the car bridal style.

“Dex, I can fucking walk.” I wrapped my arms around his neck to avoid falling to the ground.

“Yeah, which means you can run, too. You’ve gotten into enough trouble tonight,” he grunted.

“So what, you’re going to carry me wherever we’re going?”

“That’s the plan.”

He held me closing, crossing the club grounds as if I weighed nothing, his hard chest warm against my side. I was so focused on not nuzzling my nose into his shirt that I forgot to keep my mouth in check. “You’d be a great partner.”

Embarrassment didn’t come easily to someone who danced nearly naked for a living. Half of Tucson had seen my ass cheeks and I’d never batted an eye over it, but this…

I didn’t need a mirror to know my face was bright red as I stumbled over my words to clarify. “Like you’re strong.”

Now, he looked at me like I’d grown a third head, sincere concern swirling in his hazel eyes.

“Did you get a concussion and not tell me? Because you’re spouting out some weird shit.” He leaned down and pressed his cheek to my forehead, lips brushing against my skin.

“What are you doing?” I squeaked, unsettled by his lips so close to mine.

“Checking to see if you have a fever,” he said matter-of-factly. “That’s a sign of a concussion, right?”

“How the hell would I know?” I gnawed on my nail, willing myself to think through my wordsbeforethey left my lips this time. “I don’t have a concussion, Dex. What I mean is that you’re strong, and you’d make a good dance partner. Like for performing lifts.” Without a doubt, my neck and cheeks were bright red.

“You do lifts and shit in pole dancing?” His tone seemed genuinely curious.

“Um.” I looked away. I never spoke of this particular subject, but pretty soon, he was likely to learn a whole fucking lot more about me now that I’d gotten him into this shit. “Well, you can do partner work with a pole, like duo-pole routines. I’ve only ever done it a few times and alwayswith another female dancer. But I meant it more, like, with classical dance styles.”

When he didn’t say anything in response, I glanced up, startled to see that his full attention was on me, and not where he was walking. The shadows playing across his face from the bonfires and floodlights made his stare even more intimidating. I averted my eyes the moment they met his, afraid they would give away all my carefully kept secrets, because Iknewthat was what he was searching for in that moment.

Dex’s talent was getting people to underestimate him and his intelligence. He was goofy, loud, and impulsive. Not to mention he said stupid shit all the time. Sure, that was a part of him, but it was also a tactic to get people to pay attention somewhere else while he was busy dissecting you, finding the flaws he could exploit.

How did I know this?

Because like recognizes like. The only difference was I used my body to manipulate people and get what I wanted. Like I’d tried to do tonight.

“So,” I said, changing the subject as we entered the metal building. He set me down, the place too packed with people to continue to carry me. He didn’t let me move from his side, though, draping a heavy arm over my shoulders and tucking me in close.

“Is this what you were doing when I texted you? Partying?” I asked, looking around the metal warehouse-type building.

Smoke engulfed the space, creating a hazy red effect under the LED lights. Voices and laughter melted into the rock pouring from the speakers—“Porn Star Dancing”, a stripper staple. I’d recognize the opening notes on my deathbed. My hips involuntarily started moving to the rhythm with each step I took. I knew my walk now looked more likea strut. It happened anytime music was on, and there wasn’t a damn thing I could do about it.

Music and dance were in my blood, the only remnants of a past I hadn't completely severed. I couldn’t. I’d rather have died that day all those years ago. Movement in my peripheral drew my attention to the woman up on the stage. She wasn’t bad, but definitely new. Men were scattered throughout the compound, the majority in the same black leather vest Dex and Gunner wore, but some in regular clothes.

The whole scene was grungy and sexy in the way only an MC clubhouse could pull off—people everywhere all in various stages of intoxication. I feltpainfullysober for this introduction to the biker lifestyle.

---