CRASH: An Evil Dead MC Story (The Outlaw Series) (3 page)

Cole
shook his head. “I don’t have to get used to it.”

“You
gonna stand there and pretend Angel didn’t keep shit from you?” They both knew
the truth on that one.

Cole
took a hit off his cigarette, squinting down the street. “Well, I can’t bring
this shit to the club. We’re not in the goddamn protection business. And I sure
as hell am not bringing her home.”

Crash
let out a laugh. “Christ. Angel would adopt her in ten seconds flat.”

“Exactly.
So what the fuck am I gonna do with her?” He shook his head. “I dump her in a
hotel, she’s gonna be as unprotected as she is now.”

Crash
studied Cole, looked back toward the bar and then down the street and said
casually, “I guess I could take her.”

“You?”
Cole snorted, disbelievingly.

Crash’s
eyes returned to him. “Yeah, me. You got another solution?”

“You
sure? She’s a spoiled princess, and we’ve both seen her bitchy side before. She
gave you a taste of it not five minutes ago.”

“Maybe
I can do something about that. Give her a taste of life on the other side of the
wrought-iron fence she’s been living behind.”

Cole’s
eyebrows rose. “She’d be a handful. Sure you want to sign up for that?”

“Have
you looked at her?”

Cole
grinned. “Point taken.”

“Besides,
I could use somebody to do my laundry and clean up around the place.”

“You’re
delusional if you think you’re gonna turn that spoiled princess into your
personal maid.”

“Want
to put your money where your mouth is?”

“Hundred
bucks says not only doesn’t she clean up after you, but she has you waiting on
her
by the end of this.”

“You’re
on.”

Cole
chuckled. “Let me lay out the terms to her. I’m gonna enjoy the look on her
face.”

“Sure.”

“Well,
I’ll give her a ride to your place. You take her bag, and-”

“I
got her.”

“
You
got her?”

“Yeah.”

“Crash,
you’re running a solo seat,” Cole said, pointing out the obvious.

“She’ll
ride the fender.”

“You’re
shittin’ me, right?”

“Nope.”

“Crash,
you live in fucking Oakland.”

“Know
where I live, Cole.”

“It’s
forty miles.”

“Yep.”

Cole
grinned. “You even got foot pegs?”

“I
got those long bolts I put on.” Crash grinned.

“You
did
see the fucking ridiculous shoes
she’s wearin’, right?”

“You
worry too much.”

Cole
shrugged. “Okay. It’s
your
face she’s
gonna scratch off.”

“By
the time I get her home, she’s not gonna sit for a week.”

“Plan
to hit a few potholes on the way?”

“You
know it.”

Cole
shook his head. “Payback for her smart mouth?”

“Payback’s
a bitch.” Crash grinned.

“Yeah,
and she can be one, too. You may be spending a couple of weeks together. You
really want to start it off this way?”

“She
needs a lesson. I’m only too happy to give her one.”

“All
right, brother. I hope you got this.”

“I
got this.”

Cole
looked over at him with a doubtful expression.

“Just
leave me your extra helmet, and get that bag of hers.”

“I’ll
drop it by tomorrow.” Cole tossed his cigarette, and they headed back inside.
He slid back into the booth, folded his arms and leaned his elbows on the
table. “Here’s the deal, Shannon. I think you’re holding something back from
me. I don’t believe I’m getting the whole story.”

Crash
watched her expression. Yeah, there was definitely more to her story.

Cole
continued, “And I don’t like the fact you used my wife to get to me. Way you
went about that, babe? Not good. I don’t want my family dragged into the middle
of your shit.”

Crash
watched the hope almost deflate right out of her. He was sure Cole saw it, too.

“That
said, I don’t tolerate men terrorizing women. So, we’ll give you a place to lie
low for a while.”

“Really?”

“But
you stay on my terms.”

“Of
course. Anything.”

“Don’t
be so eager, darlin’. You haven’t heard them yet,” Crash advised.

She
looked at him and swallowed.

Cole
drew her attention back to him. “You’ll be staying with Crash.”

“Crash?”
She looked back at him.

He
grinned at her like the cat that ate the canary.

“He’ll
be responsible for keeping you safe. You’ll do whatever he says, you
understand?”

“You’re
joking.”

“Nope.
And it’s not gonna be a free ride. You’ll cook, clean, and do his laundry to
pay him back for his time.”

“I
have money. I pulled out cash, like you said. I was able to get five thousand.
That should cover any expenses I have until this blows over
and
pay for his time.”

Cole
nodded towards Crash. “You’ll give that money over to him.”

“All
of it?”

“All
of it. Now.”

“But,
I’ll need it if I have to buy something.”

“You
need something, you ask Crash. If you really need it, he’ll get it for you.”

“You
have got to be kidding me? Every time I want some of my
own
money, I have to ask
him
for it?”

“Yep.”

“Forget
it! I’m not doing that.”

“Then
there’s the door, darlin’. Walk.”

“But…Cole,
I can’t.”

“Make
up your mind, Shannon. We help you, it’s on my terms.”

She
rolled her eyes.

“Yes
or no, Shannon, what’s it gonna be?”

Her
eyebrows shot up, and she bit out, “Okay. Fine.”

The
corners of Crash’s mouth pulled up. Oh, it was anything
but
fine, judging by her tone and body language. Obviously, his VP
saw it, too.

Cole
leaned forward. “Piece of advice, babe. Lose the attitude.”

Shannon
folded her arms and leaned back against the seat. Crash could tell it was
costing her dearly to sit there and say nothing in response.

Cole
looked at her and nodded toward Crash. “Give him the money.”

She
reached into her handbag and pulled out a thick envelope. She held it out to
Crash.

He
took it, opened the flap and thumbed through the stack. Fifty one-hundred
dollar bills. Then he whistled low. “That’s a pretty sight.”

Apparently
satisfied, Cole grabbed his glass up off the table and slid out of the booth
without another word to her. As he passed by Crash propped on the barstool, he
paused next to him, leaned in and mouthed silently, “She’s all yours, brother.”

Crash
made a barely perceptible nod of his head, his eyes moving to Shannon as he
stood and slid the envelope in the back pocket of his jeans.

Cole
continued to the bar, where he downed the rest of his drink, set his glass on
the bar and gave a chin lift to Marty. He turned and headed towards the door.

Crash
watched Shannon as her eyes tracked him.

“Where’s
he going?” she asked, her attention swinging back to Crash.

“He’s
got actual important shit to do that doesn’t involve babysitting.”

She
squinted her eyes at him, as if to say ‘very funny’.

A
moment later, Red Dog walked over, grabbed her bag off the floor and headed out
the door.

She
looked from him, then back to Crash, questioningly.

“It’s
just you and me, babe,” Crash informed her. He watched the emotions cross her
face, and he’d bet the farm she was second guessing her decision to come here.
But, as much as her attitude grated on him, he couldn’t help but empathize with
the vulnerability that, for just a moment, flashed in her eyes. It was there
and gone so quickly, he would have missed it, if he hadn’t been watching her
beautiful eyes so closely. “I think you need a drink.”

“I
think I need
two
.”

“Come
on, darlin’. Let’s move this party to the bar,” he said, nodding toward where
Marty was standing wiping the bar top down. Then he stood and extended his hand
to her. He watched as her eyes moved from his extended hand to his face, and
then she slipped her hand in his. He closed his hand gently around her much
smaller one, and she slid from the booth.

Crash
led her to the bar, pulled out a barstool for her and couldn’t help but let his
eyes stray over the length of her legs as she hiked a hip onto the stool. He
smiled. “What’ll you have, darlin’?”

Marty
looked at her, waiting for her order. She considered a moment before replying,
“Mudslide. But instead of vodka, could you substitute coconut rum, please?”

Marty
smiled. “That’s a new one, but sure.”

Crash
set his glass on the bar. “And a refill for me, Marty.”

Marty
moved off to make their drinks, and Crash dug in his hip pocket to pull out
some folded money held with a money clip. He slid a twenty off the top and laid
it on the bar.

“I
just gave you an envelope full of money. Why aren’t you using that?” Shannon
asked him.

His
head swiveled to look at her as he slid the clip back on. “This is my treat, Princess.”

“Oh.”

“You’re
welcome.” Although he didn’t get the response he’d hoped for, at least she had
it in her to look slightly embarrassed at his subtle dig that she hadn’t had
the manners to say thank you.

She
nodded toward his hand. “My father uses a money clip. I didn’t expect to see a
man like you using one.”

The
corner of his mouth pulled up as he slid it back into his pocket. “A ‘man like
me’?”

She
looked truly embarrassed then. “You know what I mean.”

He
leaned his folded arms on the bar and looked at her. “No, Shannon, I don’t
think I do.”

“A
biker,” she elaborated with a shrug. “I thought you had those big leather
wallets with the chain on them attached to your belt.”

He
grinned, enjoying teasing her, so he frowned, “Chains? Not a clue what you’re
talkin’ about, babe.”

She
caught on quickly that he was teasing her. “Right.”

He
laughed. “It was my grandfather’s, so I use it. Fond memories, I guess.”

She
nodded, studying him.

Marty
brought their drinks.

Crash
eyed her drink and watched her take a sip. “I bet you’re one of those girls
that drinks those pretty drinks out of a martini glass like those chicks on
‘Sex in the City’.”

Shannon
let out a small laugh. “It’s ‘Sex
and
the City’, Crash.”

He
frowned, “You sure? That phrase doesn’t even make sense.”

“Pretty
sure, Crash.” She grinned, taking a sip of her drink.

“Huh.”
Then he turned to Marty. “What’s that drink?”

“I
think you mean a Cosmo.”

“Cosmo?
I thought that was a magazine chicks read. My ex was always trying to get me to
answer questions off some stupid quiz in that thing.”

Marty
shook his head, knowing Crash was playing dumb just to tease the girl. “It’s
both Crash, a magazine and a drink. I’ll make you one, if you want.”

“Like
hell you will. I don’t drink those damn frou-frou drinks.” He took a sip of his
bourbon, as if to prove his point. He connected eyes with Marty over the rim of
his glass and could see he was in on the joke.

“How
about a Blue Lagoon? Bet you’d like one of those,” Marty teased him.

“Is
it blue?” Crash asked.

“Yup.”

“Then
hell no.”

They
both laughed.

“So,
I drink girly drinks. Clue in, Crash, I’m a girl,” Shannon pointed out.

Crash’s
eyes swept over her. “Yes, ma’am. You are definitely a girl. With all the very
right parts.”

She
huffed out a breath, slid off the stool and asked Marty where the ladies room
was. When he pointed toward the back, she hiked her handbag over her shoulder
and walked off.

Crash
leaned back on his stool, his eyes watching her ass as she moved off. When she
disappeared into the restroom, his gaze swung back to Marty. “Damn, that’s one
fine ass.”

Marty
chuckled. “Yeah, and it belongs to a woman that’s way out of your league.”

Crash
tossed his drink back and shrugged. “Maybe.”

Marty
shook his head. “Guess the way you boys attract women, wouldn’t be surprised at
that, if she fell at your feet.”