Page 16 of The Beast

“I don’t care. She deserves more than being treated like a piece of club ass.” He frowns at Sparrow. “There are plenty of girls for that.”

Taking his beer, he walks toward the other end of the room where Mad Dog and Bishop are playing a game of pool.

“What’s up his ass?” Sparrow asks me.

Justice answers before I get the chance. “Irene is one of us.” He shrugs. “She came for a visit and never left. She fits in like she was always meant to be here. He’s protective.”

My little brother doesn’t give away anything about Irene she wouldn’t want to be known. They have also become close these past weeks. He treats her the same way he does Trinity except she isn’t his little sister. But he’s right, a lot of the guys are protective of her.

I’m not protective, I’m obsessed.

Thoughts of Irene invade my waking and sleeping thoughts. I actively avoid the clubhouse when I know she’s working because I hate the way some of my brothers watch her. I want her.

But I also know I can’t have her. She is not the type of woman to settle for a biker, much less one like me.

Chapter Twelve

Ladies Night

Irene

This isn’t exactly what I was thinking when we talked about having a ladies’ night, but here I am. We are at From Dusk ‘til Dawn, a strip club that’s partly owned by the club. All three of my friends worked here in some capacity at one point or another and people are happy to see them. We spend hours laughing and chatting about everything and nothing. Every so often someone will show up to greet one of my friends and I’ll be introduced.

A man with dark hair, piercing green eyes, and a muscular body clad in an impeccably tailored black suit walks over to the table. I try not to stare but it’s hard. Half of his face is classically handsome, with high cheekbones and a strong jaw. The other half is disfigured. I’ve seen scars like this before and know that they’re caused by fire. He looks like some kind of comic strip villain.

“Hello, Preacher,” all three of my friends singsong loudly when he comes to a stop.

“I heard trouble was here,” he groans dramatically. “Please behave. I don’t want to have to call husbands and boyfriends this time.”

Storm sticks out her tongue at him, causing Preacher to laugh. “We aren’t that bad.”

“Right,” he replies sarcastically before walking away. “Let me know when you’re ready to leave and I’ll drop you at the compound.”

“Damn.” I sigh, tipping my head into the aisle while watching his taut ass as he moves between the tables.

“I know we said you should get laid,” Storm cuts into my view. “But Preacher is…” she trails off.

“The devil,” Hadley finishes for her in a whisper-shout. “That man will chew you up and spit you out. All while whistling a happy tune. He is darker than dark.”

“With an ass like that, it might be worth it, though,” I muse and all the girls around me burst out laughing.

****

I’m not usually a sloppy drunk. I drink until tipsy, water down, and repeat. It just means I can drink longer, and I might save myself the embarrassment of not knowing what I got up to, and if I’m lucky keep my hangover to a dull throb instead of full-on torture. The same cannot be said for my friends.

It’s well after four in the morning and Dusk is closed. The only people that remain are our group, the bouncers, bartenders, and a new girl named Chastity.

Storm is up on the stage trying to teach a beet-red Kaiya how to dance with the pole. Hadley watches with rapt interest as she sips a fruity pink drink through a straw.

“I wish I had her confidence.” Hadley sighs loudly.

“You’re awesome just the way you are,” I reply with a smile taking another draw of my beer. “Besides, you have plenty of confidence.”

“Do you really think so?” Her eyes are glassy from all the alcohol, and I doubt she will even remember our conversation when she wakes up later.

Before I can reply she jumps out of her chair, wobbles on her heels for a second, and then marches up the stairs to the stage. She gestures wildly to Storm, her words drowned out by the music. A devious smile lights up Storm’s features before she nods enthusiastically.

“Is this seat taken?” a deep voice asks from behind me. I can’t help the shiver that works its way down my spine at the sound.

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