Precarious

“You’re on your own now, Tana,” Ray says after another few blocks.

I turn to him. “I’ll call you if I need.”

He nods. “Stay safe.”

I force a smile, and turn, making my way towards the club. I round a corner and see a group of bikers right away. I guess they were right. Jackpot. I straighten my shoulders, poke my breasts out, and strut past them to the front entrance.

Wolf whistles sound out, and my anxiety dies down just slightly as I realize they haven’t figured out who I am. There’s hope—small, but it’s there. I reach the line at the front door, and slip in. A group of girls are snickering behind me, muttering words like “whore” and “skank”.

I roll my eyes and just keep shuffling through the line. I show my I.D at the door and enter the loud, packed club. Neon blue lights shine into my eyes the moment I step inside. People are everywhere, their bodies grinding. I spot the bar and shove through the crowd, heading towards it. The best place to get noticed is right here.

I order a drink and position myself on a stool, crossing my legs so my skirt rides up my thighs. I let my eyes scan the crowd until I notice another group of bikers at the far end of the bar. At least eight of them. I stare at them until one turns and notices me. A slow smirk appears on his lips.

Time to get your whore on, Santana.

I give him a sly smile, turning back to my drink and sliding the straw into my mouth, swallowing it down. I have no doubt he’ll make his way over. I keep drinking until I feel a presence behind me. A hand grazes up my arm. I want to gag, but I force a smile on my face and turn.

The biker standing in front of me is actually quite stunning. His eyes are a crystal green, and his skin a light olive. He’s got ruffled dirty-blond hair. His body is huge, and he’s clearly built—I can tell by the way his muscles bunch and pull around his forearms as he takes a seat beside me.

Such a waste of sexiness.

“How you doin’, gorgeous?” he purrs, his voice husky.

I bat my eyelashes at him. “I’m fine, and how are you, handsome?” I make my voice sound light and a little slurry.

“My night just got a whole lot better.”

I lean in close. “Oh, honey, so did mine.”

CHAPTER TWENTY

I drag my feet as I walk into the main living area, having had far too much to drink to take the edge off what’s going down right now. The bikers are piled on the couches at the bar and in the kitchen. They’re restless; why wouldn’t they be? A storm is brewing, and they know it’s going to blow up very soon. When it blows, it will cause a big mess all around, and that’s not something I think they’re entirely prepared for, no matter how good they are. I notice Krypt sitting back against the couch, Penny tucked in beside him.

My heart does a little flip-flop, seeing them like that, because I still don’t understand the relationship between them. He keeps coming back to me, and yet he protects her. It’s glaringly clear that she’s not interested in being an old lady; she just doesn’t have it in her.

Being an old lady scares me, too. I’ll admit that. Not just because it’s a lifetime commitment, bigger than any marriage would ever be, but also because it would mean my entire world would change. No only would I lose my job, I’d lose so much of my family. They’d never understand, especially considering the reason I ended up in this position. How could I honestly ask them to just accept it? They love me, of course, but no one is that willing.

Krypt lifts his eyes and they fall on me, his face quickly changing from bored to lustful in seconds. I know he wants me, he’s made it clear, but I don’t know if I can ever give him what he wants. Besides, Penny, regardless of her fears about being an old lady, is not backing away from him anytime soon. I can understand why, but it makes the situation just slightly more confusing.

Especially when he lets her.

Krypt uncurls his arm from Penny’s shoulders and stands, walking straight past me and out the opposite door. As he passes me, he gives me a look that I’m not entirely sure I can read. It’s either a look that says I don’t want you, or a look that says I do. I have no idea which one it is, but I find myself turning, the alcohol consumed earlier flooding my veins as I follow him down the hall.

I find him in one of the rooms, leaning back on the couch, staring at the door. His face is tight, his eyes slightly hazed from the alcohol, and his big body seems wound up awful tight. He looks up at me when I walk in, and I stare at him for so long, I have to shake my head to break the heated glance between us.

“What are you doin’?” he asks, lifting the beer from his lap and taking a sip.

“Shit is going down, you were out there with Penny and I...I don’t really have anyone to talk to.”

“You made it clear you don’t wanna talk to me,” he points out.

“I did not,” I say, my voice soft. “You hurt me, Krypt. Not the other way around.”

He stares at me, his eyes burning into mine. “Yeah, I did, but you told me I wasn’t what you wanted, didn’t you? In saying that, what I said about Penny meanin’ somethin’ and you not...”

“I know,” I say, my voice low. “You’ve done nothing but show me how much you want me, it’s me who has been a little bitch. I care, Krypt. I do or it wouldn’t have hurt.”

His lips quirk, but he quickly swipes it away and nods. “I still shouldn’t have said what I said. Penny matters, Ash. But I should have never made you think you didn’t matter, too. ‘Coz you do. More than you know.”