Lucky's Choice (40 page)

Willa narrowed her eyes in a mock threat.

“I would go,” he finished lamely.

“Shade is so sweet to drive us.”

“He’s only doing it because Lily wants to go, and I picked you up the last time you all went out drinking,” he reminded her. “I didn’t hear you calling me sweet then,” he said grumpily.

“The next time it’s your turn to pick us up, I’ll make a note to remind myself. Besides, I don’t drink, and neither does Lily. I only got drunk during my bachelorette party because Penni spiked the lemonade, and she’s not going to be there tonight.”

“Praise God,” Lucky muttered.

“I heard that, and it wasn’t nice, but I agree. I don’t ever want to feel the way I did that next morning. It was horrible.”

When her cell phone dinged with a text message, Willa picked it up, reading it.

“Shade said to shake my ass; they’re all waiting.”

“Since when did Shade start texting you?” Lucky tried to take the cell phone, but Willa slipped it inside her purse.

“Gotta go. I love you, husband.”

Lucky pulled his cell phone out of his pocket.

“What are you doing?”

“Telling Shade you’re on your way.”

Willa shook her head at her husband’s disgruntlement. “Are your fingers crossed?”

She was still laughing when she went upstairs to see Winter, Beth, Lily, and Rachel were all waiting for her in the kitchen. They were picking Diamond up at her house in town on their way.

Shade’s expression was impassive as he put his phone back in his pocket.

“Sorry about that,” Willa apologized, knowing Lucky had sent a nasty message.

“No problem.”

She followed the group out of the kitchen, wanting to apologize again, but she decided to let it go. Shade and Lucky shared a complicated relationship. They antagonized each other half the time and took each other’s back the other half.

She wished Lucky would figure out that most of Shade’s aggravation toward him had to do with helping Lucky release the stress of his PTSD. If it was directed at Shade, it wasn’t directed at himself—which, in some twisted way, worked for Lucky—and Shade had recognized the calming effect it had on him. On a psychological level, Lucky needed The Last Riders; his sanity depended on them.

Since he had moved back in with The Last Riders, he slept better, and the nights he didn’t, he kept her busy by making love until he was exhausted enough to sleep. It wasn’t perfect, though.

Sometimes, when they were watching television or each reading, she would catch a sad look on his face and knew he was missing the church, despite the fact that they both attended regularly. The new pastor was good, if a little standoffish, but she got the feeling that Lucky would rather be the one behind the pulpit.

Diamond was waiting for them when Shade pulled up in Lucky’s Yukon. The women chatted all the way to Jamestown. Lily sat in the front with Shade, their hands clasped on the console.

Her marriage to Lucky was good. She couldn’t ask for more from a husband or be happier, but Lily’s and Shade’s relationship, she had to admit, made her envious. From the looks of the other women in the vehicle, she wasn’t the only one.

By the time they arrived, the party at the Destructor’s clubhouse was in full swing. Willa was never good at parties, but with such few men there, she relaxed, especially being surrounded by so many of her friends.

Stud and another man who bore a resemblance to him were at the bar, drinking beer. Shade joined them while Willa, Lily, and Beth found room at the table Sex Piston, Crazy Bitch, and Killyama were sitting at.

“About time you all got your asses here.” Crazy Bitch slung back the beer in her hand.

“Sorry, I was late finishing a cake, and I took a long time getting dressed,” Willa admitted.

Crazy Bitch waved away her excuses. “That’s okay. You’re rockin’ that dress. Want a beer?”

“No, thanks. I’ll take a diet soda.”

Killyama’s chair scraped back as she took the drink orders.

Willa reached into her pocketbook for some cash.

“Forget it. It’s a club bar; we don’t pay unless it’s the expensive shit. Then it’s B.Y.O.B. Since we’re celebrating tonight, Stud volunteered to splurge and even buy that.” Sex Piston waved her empty beer bottle at Killyama.

“Does Stud know?” Crazy Bitch joked.

“Not yet.” Sex Piston stood up, taking Lily’s hand, and the two went onto the dance floor.

Willa watched, surprised at the natural way Lily moved on the dance floor, although Sex Piston danced exactly how she imagined she would. Her sensuality made her glad Lucky had stayed home. The other women gradually began going to the dance floor until Willa was sitting at the table alone.

“Why aren’t you dancing?” Killyama asked, setting the drinks down on the table.

The woman trailing behind her set the rest on the table. Willa thought she looked familiar in the dim light. When she straightened, Willa wanted to leave.

“Hello, Jenna.”

Jenna walked off without acknowledging her.

“What bee crawled up her ass?” Killyama’s angry frown made Willa even more uncomfortable.

“She doesn’t like me. She’s Lucky’s ex-girlfriend.”

“Don’t let that club whore ruin your night. Get your ass up,” she ordered.

Willa wasn’t left with a choice. She rose at the woman’s demand and found herself dragged to the middle of the dance floor.

Willa had one of the best times of her life. The biker women were such vivacious dancers that it was easy not to feel self-conscious. Eventually she relaxed, forgetting Jenna was in the clubhouse.

After an hour, she managed to escape Killyama and Crazy Bitch, who were both dancing with her, to return to the table to rest and take a drink of her soda.

“You want another one?” Crazy Bitch asked, sitting down at the table and fanning herself.

“No, thanks.”

“You should have what I’m having.” Crazy Bitch pushed her drink toward her.

“What is it? I don’t drink alcohol.”

“It’s a Long Island Iced Tea,” Crazy Bitch said, starting to take it back.

“I like tea.”

Willa was hot and thirsty, and her diet soda was hot and tasted terrible. Before Crazy Bitch could take it back, she took a drink of the icy beverage.

“This is delicious,” Willa said.

Crazy Bitch started to say something, but the man coming toward their table distracted both women.

“You going to dance with me tonight, Crazy Bitch?”

The woman leaned back in her seat, critically surveying the good-looking man who was confidently waiting for her reply.

“Calder, I’m never going to be drunk enough to dance with you. Why don’t you ask that whore behind the bar to dance with you?”

“Why do you always have to be a fucking bitch to me?” The man’s face grew angry at her rejection.

“Three reasons, Calder.” Crazy Bitch raised one finger. “Because you’re a dick.” Another finger went up. “Because you fuck anything that moves with that dick.” A third finger went up. “Because I already got rid of one dick and don’t need another to replace him.”

The man spun on his booted heel.

Crazy Bitch waved her fingers at his departing back. “Bye, dick.”

Willa took another long drink of the tea, not wanting to laugh at the man’s injured pride.

“I wish I could do come-backs that good. I get tongue-tied and cry.”

“Fuck crying. It’s never solved a fucking thing. My boot up someone’s ass, on the other hand, has solved several problems of mine.”
Crazy Bitch stood up. “Want another?”

“Yes, please. I need to get the recipe and make a pitcher for the clubhouse. I’m sure they’ll like it.”

“I am, too, since it has—”

“Bitch, what’s taking you so long?” Killyama asked, motioning for her to come back onto the dance floor.

Willa jumped up, going back to dance with her.

Three songs later, they all groaned when someone slipped a slow song into the playlist. The floor emptied out. Willa sank back on her chair, picking up her tea as Lily and Beth both sat down. It didn’t take Shade long to take a seat next to his wife, bringing her a glass of the tea she was drinking.

“It tastes good, doesn’t it?” she asked Lily after she took a drink.

“I love tea. Sex Piston makes sure she stocks it behind the bar when she knows I’m coming.”

“I hope it’s all right that Crazy Bitch gave me some, too.”

Lily looked at her strangely. “That’s not—”

Jenna set down beers in front of Sex Piston, Killyama, and Diamond who flopped down next to Willa. When she finished, she started to leave then paused, staring down at Willa with a fake smile of friendliness that didn’t fool her.

“Thought I’d save Crazy Bitch the hassle of going to the bar for refills. How’s business going, Willa?”

“Fine,” Willa answered warily, taking another drink of her tea nervously. She had been the victim of bullying too many times not to see it coming. Jenna wasn’t the type to do anyone a favor. Her sole intention of coming to the table had been to get in her face.

“If you want, I can write down my recipe for frosting.”

“Why would she want your fucking recipe? How hard is it to open a can?” Crazy Bitch snickered, which only made Jenna angrier.

“It must be pretty damn good for Lucky to say it tasted better than Willa’s when he licked it off my tits.”

All the smiles at the table disappeared.

Willa tried to keep her face impassive so Jenna wouldn’t know the hurt she had inflicted, but the woman wasn’t done.

“Lucky enjoying riding that bike he won off Rider?”

Although Willa had noticed that Lucky was riding a bike other than his red one, she had assumed it was a club bike.

“I think it’s hilarious as shit that he’s riding a bike he won betting Moon he would ride you first.”

“He made a bet with Moon that he would have sex with me first?”

“Yes. Of course, both agreed to let the other fuck you when they got you in the club.”

Willa looked across the table at Shade and knew Jenna was telling the truth. Her perfect world tilted off its axis.

Over the span of her life, Willa had been the recipient of many hurtful comments, too many to count. However, none had ever hurt to the degree that Jenna had just inflicted.

Shade started to say something, but Willa shook her head. She didn’t need him to defend her nor the women who had heard the insult. She didn’t need anyone to defend her, not anymore.

“Lucky may have gotten the motorcycle, but I got the ring.” Willa lifted up her hand, flashing the big, pink diamond that was on her wedding finger.

Jenna’s face flushed angrily.

“The only thing you ended up with was another club to wait on. This time, without getting paid, and the men certainly don’t have to make a bet to have you. They don’t even have to ask, do they?”

Jenna’s hand went to her hair, nearly jerking her out of her chair, but Willa had been prepared for her reaction. It wasn’t the first time her hair had been used as a weapon against her.

Willa braced herself, taking the pain before her hands went to Jenna’s, finding her thumb and bending it back mercilessly.

The woman screamed in pain, dropping to her knees.

“At least you didn’t call me fat this time. I appreciate that.” Willa bent her thumb back farther.

“You’re going to break my hand,” Jenna sobbed.

“All it takes to make me stop is one word,” Willa said heartlessly.

“Sorry! I’m sorry.”

Her cries made Willa sick. She didn’t want to hurt her, but she was done being treated like a dog from the pound who expected nothing except torture. The confidence in herself that her parents had never instilled in her had developed since her marriage to Lucky. He may not love her, but he had given her one gift—the ability to face fear and to stand up for herself. It was something he was going to regret as soon as she got home.

Willa released Jenna, watching as she lurched to her feet.

“I’m going to be sick,” she mumbled, putting her hand over her mouth then running toward the restrooms.

“I guess she couldn’t handle the pain. It does hurt like a mother.” Sex Piston laughed.

“Thank you for showing me that move,” Willa toasted Killyama.

“I told you it would work when Sex Piston showed me that bald spot on your head,” she toasted her back.

“Do you want to dance some more?” Willa drained her glass, motioning to a pale Jenna coming out of the bathroom to bring her another one.

“Hell yes, but do you think it’ll be safe to drink anything she brings you.”

“I don’t plan to drink it. I just wanted to piss her off some more.”

Willa went to follow Killyama to the dance floor, pausing only long enough to give Shade a firm glance when she saw he had pulled out his cell phone.

“Don’t even think of giving my husband a heads-up. He told me that you’re really a big softie under that exterior of yours. He told me you cried when you asked him for Lily’s hand in marriage.” Willa crossed her fingers behind her back.

Lily looked at her husband with tears in her eyes. “You did?” she gushed. “He never told me that. That’s so sweet.”

Willa had noticed, the madder Shade became, the more impassive he became, and she smiled in satisfaction when he slid the phone back in his pocket. Some of Lucky’s luck was beginning to rub off on her.

Chapter 36

Lucky looked up from his hand of cards for the fourth time. “Winter text you back yet?”

“Not yet,” Viper answered impatiently. “I just texted her. Give her time.”

“They should have been home an hour ago. Willa’s not answered my texts for the last two hours. Shade hasn’t answered … I’m getting worried.”

“I’m sure they’re fine,” Viper said, throwing a twenty into the pot.

Lucky absently threw in a twenty then another to raise the stakes.

“If I had a woman, she would answer my texts.” Rider threw in his money. “She’d know there would be hell to pay if she didn’t.”

Lucky threw the brother a disgusted look. “How in the fuck do you ever get laid?”

“The women love me.” Rider’s smug face was nothing but a challenge to Lucky.

“Tell me one woman who loves you,” Lucky said sarcastically.