Dirty Side Down Read online

  Michelle said she saw some biker drop you off. Was it Lucifer?

  That’s our private nickname for Logan.

  I give my head a subtle shake and get poked again.

  “Athena, is there a problem?”

  “No, Mr. Fitzsimmons.”

  English is the only class Athena and I share. We’ll meet back up at lunchtime, where I know she’s going to grill me.

  Sure enough, she’s waiting for me and yanks out a chair as I approach our regular table.

  “Who’s the guy?” she asks before my ass even hits the chair.

  Oh, my God. How do I even describe Dante?

  “He’s in Logan’s MC. He’s their Sergeant-at-Arms. I don’t know what that is, but I got the impression it’s a big deal in the club.”

  Her nose wrinkles. “How old is he?”

  I hadn’t thought to ask. “I don’t know. He’s definitely older. He’s so hot, Athena. And the best thing is Logan totally walked in on us.”

  “You screwed him?” she practically shouts. A bunch of people turn and look at us.

  “Would you keep it down?”

  “Sorry, sorry. I just worried that after Logan, you’d never…you know.”

  “Jeez, don’t be so dramatic.”

  An announcement comes over the loudspeaker and the entire lunchroom goes silent. Turns out due to a water main break, we’re being released two hours early. The cafeteria erupts in shouts and cheers.

  I turn to Athena. “Think you can give me a ride?”

  “Sure. Home?”

  “Well, yeah, I want to pack a few things, but then drop me off at the clubhouse?”

  “Are you serious?”

  “Yeah, Dante wanted me to spend the weekend with him.”

  She nails me with one of her are-you-shitting-me stares. “Karina, your Dad will kill you.”

  “He’s not going to know. He’s away until next week.”

  “Any other hunky bikers I might like?”

  Athena won’t be eighteen until after graduation. Somehow, I don’t think Dante would appreciate me bringing her into his clubhouse.

  “Probably not, they’re all older.” I don’t know this for a fact because the only other member I saw was Logan, but the surest way to get Athena to do something is to tell her she can’t do it.

  We go our separate ways, but meet up in the parking lot so she can drive me home.

  At my house, I run in and toss some clothes into my backpack. I’ve got a few pieces of sexy underwear that I’d saved up for, and I add those in. Dashing into the bathroom, I take a quick shower, spending time shaving my legs ’til they’re silky smooth. I don’t bother with makeup, but I brush my hair and run the straightening iron over it until it’s glossy and flowing down my back.

  Then I throw on my shortest denim mini-skirt and a tight, red and blue plaid flannel shirt. I add short red cowgirl boots, snatch my backpack off the bed, and run out to Athena’s car.

  She bursts out laughing when she sees me.

  “Wow, you’ve got it bad for this guy.”

  “Fuck off.”

  “No, you’re hot.”

  The gate to the clubhouse is wide open, so Athena drives me right up to the door. A few younger guys are in the yard and they eye the car, but don’t approach. The backs of their cuts read PROSPECT.

  Athena takes my hand. “You’re sure about this?”

  “Yeah, he was really nice to me.”

  “What if he wants to watch the other guys fuck you one after the other?”

  That sounds kind of hot, actually, but I don’t want my best friend to think I’m a slut. “That’s not going to happen.”

  “I don’t want you to get hurt.”

  “Athena, I already spent the night with him. If he really wanted to hurt me, he had his chance. He drove me to school this morning.”

  Her mouth quirks up. “Hmm…a badass biker with a heart of gold. Nice story.”

  “You’re nuts.”

  “Yeah. I want details Monday.”

  We kiss each other on the cheek and I get out. I run my hands down the sides of my skirt, and pull the backpack over one shoulder.

  Entering the club alone feels odd, but I do it with my chin up and shoulders back.

  I almost run outside after Athena’s car when I spot Dante at the bar. He’s talking to a busty blonde and from their posture it’s clear they’re familiar with each other.

  So this was the business he had to take care of at the club today.

  Dammit.

  Dropping my bitch off. Not being able to smell her, touch her, fuck her, isn’t sittin’ well with me. And fuck if that’s not pissing me off. Once she’s out of my sight, I start rethinkin’ shit. Don’t need a bitch. Ain’t ever wanted one. Just met this one yesterday. She’s a hell of a fuck, but that’s it. Why am I makin’ more out of it?

  The last fuckin’ person I want to see is waitin’ for me when I get back to the clubhouse. Fuckin’ Hemi. It didn’t escape my notice the way Karina went all weird talkin’ about him. I’m guessing they were more than next-door neighbors and the thought of it is making me a little fuckin’ nuts.

  Hemi’s a bit on the prissy side for a biker. How he got voted in is beyond me, even though I was sittin’ at the table givin’ my yay vote same as everyone else. He’s a hard worker. Loyal to the club. Took a lotta bitch work as a prospect and never complained once. Handles shit good now too. He makes a point outta stayin’ away from most of the club whores, which is why it shocked me a little that he was so willing to join in yesterday. Fuck, that’s burning my balls now.

  “I need a word, Dante.”

  “So spit it out. Ain’t got time for bullshit today, Hemi.”

  “You done with Karina?”

  Hell fuckin’ no, he did not just go there.

  I stop and level him with a look that usually means someone is about to get dead or beaten.

  “And you’re stickin’ your nose in my sex life, why?”

  I’ll give the fucker credit, he doesn’t back down. So he’s either brave or real fuckin’ stupid. Haven’t determined which one yet.

  “Look, I’ve known her since she was a kid. She’s not like the girls you’re used to. She’s not some club whore.”

  “Let’s ignore the obvious—which is I picked her up outside a coffee shop and had my tongue in her pussy not half an hour later—but, who I fuck is none of your goddamn business.”

  “If it was anyone else, trust me, I wouldn’t care. But she’s a smart girl. She’s got plans to get out of this shit town and she doesn’t belong hanging out here.”

  “You mean, with me.”

  “Fine. Yeah.”

  “You fuckin’ her?”

  “No.”

  “Before yesterday, when’s the last time you saw her?”

  “Almost two years.”

  “So, you might not know fuck about her anymore. Maybe her plans have changed. And maybe I don’t give a shit what her plans are. She wants to leave town she can leave. I ain’t stoppin’ her.” This might not actually be true, but it’s none of Hemi’s fuckin’ business.

  Hemi isn’t going to be swayed off this conversation that easily. “She falls hard man. She’s real smart. Last I knew, she was planning on medical school.”

  “What the fuck are you even talkin’ about? You think she’s gonna give something like that up for some one-night stand?”

  “No. I’m thinking she’s not able to handle a one-night stand; and since I ain’t ever seen you with a woman for longer than a week, don’t fuckin’ break her heart. She should be concentrating on finals and college and shit like that.”

  I’m fightin’ real hard not to punch the living fuck outta my “brother” right now.

  “Are you her fuckin’ guidance counselor now, too?”

  “No. I was her friend for a long time.”

  “That all?”

  He levels a fierce look at me. Kid’s got balls of steel; I’ll give him that. “No. I popped her cherry.”


  He says it like it’s some sort of bombshell news, but I kind of already suspected this. “Thanks for breaking her in for me. She’s a hell of a fuck.”

  Hemi gets a little red in the face and his fists ball up at his sides. This is rich.

  “You seriously thinking about fighting your Sergeant-at-Arms over a piece of ass you ain’t tapped in two years?”

  “No,” he spits out.

  “’Cause I didn’t get the impression you were the last guy up in her snug little cunt.” This is actually a lie, but my goal ain’t to defend her honor right now, it’s to put this fucker in his place.

  “Fuck you.”

  “No, thanks. We done here?”

  “Yeah.”

  Little asshole storms off and I make a note to speak to our prez about Hemi’s attitude. Normally, it’d be my job to discipline his insubordinate ass, but since we seem to have an issue, it should fall on someone else. I’ll toss that problem in Prez’s lap after church.

  Speaking of—Prez steps out of chapel and whistles. His way of callin’ all our asses in to sit down.

  He slaps me on the back as I pass him. “’Sup, Dante?”

  “Wanna speak to you after about somethin’.”

  “You got it.”

  Romeo’s a fair president. Solid guy. Been leading our club for five years now. His name is a fuckin’ joke. Never met a scarier motherfucker.

  Besides myself, of course.

  Brothers hustle to the table. We’re outlaw bikers who live outside society’s conventions, but we don’t fuck around when it comes to our own rules. Everyone gets his ass to church on time.

  Or else I beat the fuck outta them.

  Just ’bout all our penalties for breakin’ a rule involve a beatdown or payin’ money into our common fund.

  It’s a good system.

  Pain and money. Two things outlaws understand well.

  We go through club business quickly. Someone’s gotta take a run down to Mexico. This year I’ve done more than my fair share of runs. I got a lil’ bitch I wanna spend some time with, so now I ain’t goin’ anywhere.

  “Hemi ain’t done a trip to Mexico yet. Send him and Viper down,” I suggest.

  Romeo glances at Hemi. “You up for it? Over the border can be tricky, but Viper knows the ropes.”

  Hemi glares at me. “Yeah, no problem.”

  Good. Fucker will be outta my face Wednesday. Lil’ Karina and I might not still be a thing five days from now, but fuck if this kid is gonna get away with tryin’ to tell me where to stick my dick. I’m the least of that girl’s problems. At least I wanna help her out.

  I realize I’m so fuckin’ annoyed because if he’s so damn concerned about her welfare, why the fuck ain’t he takin’ care of her? Why the fuck she walkin’ through that bombed out ghetto to get to school every day? Why she livin’ in a house with hardly any food in it?

  Why is she so eager to pick up guys like me?

  CHAPTER FIVE

  The rest of church went by quickly. Two hangarounds want to move up to prospects and it’s up to me to do a background check. It can wait until next week. Nothing is going to stop me from spending this weekend balls deep in Karina.

  I’ve earned it.

  After the guys file out, Romeo lifts his chin at me.

  Some of my anger has lessened. Especially now that Hemi will be out of my hair and with any luck rotting in a Mexican prison next week.

  Don’t worry; we’ve got connections to get him out. Although I like the idea of letting him sweat it out for a few days.

  “I’m cool. Thought I might have an issue with Hemi, but I think we got it worked out.”

  “Okay. Think he’ll survive this run?”

  “Yeah.” While he’s an annoying little prick, he’s smart. “He’ll be fine,” I add.

  “Got plans this weekend?”

  “Hell, yeah.”

  Romeo smirks at me.

  The rest of the guys are prowling the clubhouse. It’s still early in the afternoon so most of the regular club ass ain’t here yet. But there’s a few girls that are pretty much here round the clock to service the members. One of my favorites is also here. Sadie sits at the bar staring down at her cell phone. Probably waiting for me. I need to talk to her, but not for what she thinks.

  I like Sadie. She sucks dick like a champ. All her holes are available anytime, anyway you want it, and with however many guys want to join in. She’s pretty enough. Takes good care of herself. But there’s something about her. Even if she showed up in a business suit, you’d never mistake her for anything other than a whore.

  Which makes it all the more ironic that she’s the receptionist at the local free clinic.

  She brightens when she spots me and I throw myself onto the stool next to her. “How you doin’, Sadie?”

  “Better now, baby,” she says while placing a hand on my thigh.

  “Not today, girl.”

  She pouts, but she’s a good girl who knows the rules. Her hand goes back to the bar.

  “Can you do me a favor, sweet-Sadie?”

  Her smile comes back at the endearment. “Anything, Dante.”

  “I need to get a girl into the clinic for the standard stuff.”

  Her mouth turns down at that. Sadie does not like competition.

  “Yeah. When?”

  “This afternoon?”

  “Jeez, Dante. Even the pill takes like seven days before it’s effective.”

  Huh. Good to know.

  “Can you get her in or not?”

  “Yeah. I’ll text you with a time. That okay?”

  “Yup.” To keep her happy, I lean over and give her a peck on the cheek.

  A soft voice whimpers next to me. “Dante?”

  Karina. Fuck! Where the hell did she come from?

  “Babe, what are you doing here?” I check my watch and it’s nowhere near two-thirty, so at least I didn’t fuck up. Her eyes dart between me and Sadie. What she’s thinkin’ is comin’ through loud and clear.

  Here’s the fucked up thing. I’ve never given a shit what a chick thought. This same situation happened with any other of the hundreds of pieces of ass I’ve tapped over the years, I wouldn’t give two fucks.

  Now? I’m fuckin’ worried I’ve upset Karina. I don’t want to hurt her feelings.

  What the fuck is wrong with me?

  A nice, tight, young pussy is turning me into one pansy-assed motherfucker.

  My hand shoots out, shackling her wrist and pulling her into my side. “Karina, this is Sadie, a friend of the club.”

  “Hi, Sadie,” Karina says, while lifting her chin. Fierce yet polite, this bitch continues to amaze me. “I didn’t realize you were busy, so I guess I’ll go,” Karina sasses me.

  Squeezing her chin between my fingers, I turn her head to face me. “Watch. Your. Mouth.”

  I may be turning into a pansy over this chick, but I absolutely can not have her run her mouth at me in front of anyone associated with the club. If we were alone in my room, I wouldn’t a solitary fuck. In front of Sadie, no.

  Her eyes meet mine, shiny with unshed tears and she blinks once. I let her go. “Sadie here works at the clinic and is going to get you an appointment for later today.”

  Every visible inch of Karina’s skin flames pink. “Oh, ah, thank you. Are you a nurse?” she asks Sadie.

  Sadie smiles softly, she seems to be taking a shine to Karina. Lucky me. “No, I’m a receptionist there. I just stopped by on my lunch break to see if any of the guys needed anything.” She lifts her chin at me. “I’ll text you later.”

  “Thanks.”

  Karina leans into me. “Are you going to go with me?” she asks in a quivery voice that gets my dick rock hard.

  Sadie’s got ears like a friggin’ bat. She catches my eye and shakes her head slightly. “They might not like that.”

  Fuck that shit. The club sends that goddamn clinic so much fuckin’ business they should fly one of our flags. “She’s the patie
nt; it’s up to her.”

  Sadie shrugs. “Whatever. Try not to fuck her before bringing her in.”

  If it’s possible, Karina’s skin turns even redder.

  “Come here, lil’ girl.” Dante slides off the stool, takes my hand, and leads me to his bedroom.

  “I, uh. I thought she said…”

  “I want to talk to you in private.”

  That frightens me.

  The forceful way Dante grabbed me and warned me not to mouth off to him before, both scares and excites me.

  There’s a small desk in his room, which I find funny. It’s not like I picture Dante sitting down to write out checks to pay his bills or something. He pulls out the chair and nudges me over to the bed. “Sit,” he orders.

  I perch on the edge of the bed and he pulls the chair right in front of me and sits down.

  “First. Why are you here now?”

  “Water main break. They sent us home early.”

  He nods. “How’d you get here?”

  “My best friend dropped me off.”

  “You wanted to see me that bad?”

  Admitting it is hard. I have to look away. “Yeah.”

  His hand brushes my knee and I glance at him in time to watch him sweep his gaze over me as if noticing my outfit for the first time. His mouth quirks up in one corner. “You put that cute little outfit on for me?”

  “Yes.”

  “Brought a bag all packed too, huh?” He nods to my backpack he’d dropped on the floor when we came in the room. Suddenly, I’m scared he’s going to tell me I made a mistake and to get lost. That’s the kind of luck I have with men.

  “You said you wanted—”

  “Oh, I want. Don’t you worry, sweet thing. I want.”

  I breathe out a sigh of relief. I don’t know why I care so much. Dante was supposed to be a one-off, so I could get even with Logan. But I actually like the guy.

  “Couple things we need to get straight, though, Karina.”

  “O…Okay.”

  “One, don’t ever sass me out there.” He jabs a finger at the bedroom door. “In here, use that smart mouth all you want; out there, keep your attitude locked down.”