Page 29 of Johny B

Ginger is behind the bar, elbows planted on the top, her chin resting on the knuckles of her clenched fists. She looks miserable, and I’m pretty sure I know why. With the VP, and now potentially the Prez of the club, off the market, her chances of bagging one of the council members, and ‘Old Lady’ status is dwindling.

“Hey,” I call out to her as I get closer. Immediately she straightens up and plasters a fake smile to her face.

“Hey, Scarlett. How are you? Is everything okay at Velvet’s?”

“As far as I’m aware, it is.” I could fill her in more, let her know that I no longer run Velvets, but I’m not sure I can trust her to keep it on the low. Smoke is determined to keep my connections to the club to a minimum. For now, I’m happy to play along.

“That’s good. Can I get you something?” she indicates to the row of liquor bottles on the shelf behind her.

“No thanks, it’s a little early in the day for me. I’m actually here to see Smoke. Do you know where he is?”

“He’s in his office. Give me a second and I’ll let him know you’re here.”

“No need.” I wave her away. “I know where it is.” I turn away, ready to move.

“But he’s in a meeting,” she shrieks out, panicked.

“Don’t worry. I’ll knock.” I glance back at her and start to move quickly towards the door that leads to the office, ignoring the way she’s chewing on her lip. The concern is clearly written across her face. I’m not sure if it’s for me or for herself. If it is for me, then it’s unwarranted. He’s my dad. What’s he going to do? Shoot me?

When I step through into the hallway that leads to the office, I see that the door is slightly ajar. As I edge myself closer, I hear voices. When I look through the gap, I can see two people stood at this side of the desk. One is Stone, and even though his cut gives it away, I’d still recognize his stance and broad shoulders. I also have a side view of one of the Florida club members, who turned up in town at the time of the explosion. I can’t see the back of his cut, but I’m almost sure it’s Mammoth, due to the fact that he’s one huge motherfucker. His shoulders are way broader than Stone’s. Long dark wavy hair falls loose down his back, and his deep baritone voice bellows loudly in the room, despite him trying to talk quietly. He’s the epitome of tall, dark and broody.

“Jesus Christ. Of course he had no idea.” Mammoth grits. “You seem to forget that he’s putting his life on the line, Smoke. For fuck’s sake, give him a fucking chance.”

“He’s right, Prez,” Stone adds to the mix. “Going behind enemy lines like this is risky. If they…”

“Scarlett!” My dad’s voice booms over whatever it was that Stone was saying, when he catches me watching through the gap in the door. “What the hell are you doing here?”

“Oh, yeah, hi,” I push the door open fully and step inside. When I take a better peek at Mammoth, I can see that there’s blood on his face and matted in his facial hair. A glance further down his huge body, shows the jeans he’s wearing are ripped with cuts to his knees. I’d love to ask what the hell has happened, but as you’d need a chainsaw to the cut the tension in the air,I think better of it. “I thought it was about time I got to meet Oriana and Tenley properly.”

“It’s not a good time,” he growls back at me. He gets to his feet and comes around the desk and stands in front of me. “Maybe another time.” Taking my arm, he starts to walk me back towards the open door I’ve just stepped through.

“But it’s a good time for me,” I hit back. I step in closer to him, put my hands on his chest and look up at him with puppy eyes. “Dad, please. I really need a break from sickos, rapists and psychotic killers before my mental health takes a nosedive. What better than a couple of margaritas and female trashy talk. Please, I promise I won’t make a habit of it, but other than the girls at Velvet’s, I don’t really have any girlfriends to hang out with.”

I plead my case, holding my breath while I wait for his decision.

“Stone, are the girls up at the cabin?”

“Sure are. I think it’s an art day today.”

“Wow, that’s great. Sounds like a lot of messy fun.” I add quickly, hoping it’s enough to tip the balance.

“Okay,” Smoke huffs out. “Stone, take her up there while I talk to Mammoth.” His VP nods his agreement. “You make sure you let me know when you’re heading back out, and when you’re back home safe. You hear me?”

“Sure Dad,” I whisper to him, pushing up onto my tiptoes to place a kiss to his cheek. “Thank you.”

With Stone beside me, I leave the club house with a mix of nervous trepidation, and a bubble of excitement, at getting to meet the two women that could possibly be my friends and biggest allies, when it comes to being an integral part of the club and not a hidden secret.

“Doyou realize what you’re getting yourself into?” Stone asks me as we walk the short distance up the hill, to the cabin where he lives with Oriana and Sasha. I still find it quite amazing how Stone has adapted to being a father to his adorable little niece. The beautiful child has the ability to render the grumpy monster of a man into a squishy marshmallow, with a simple batting of her super long eyelashes.

“What do you mean?”

“Oriana and Tenley have a kinda love hate relationship, being stepsisters and all. Believe me, you have no idea what it can be like, if you get caught up in the middle, when they get into it.”

“I’m sure they’re not that bad,” I laugh off his dramatics. Then a thought comes to me. “Has Smoke said something to you?”

“Now you got me puzzled. What you getting at?”

“You. Trying to put me off spending time with Tenley, and your old lady, in case I get to know both your softer sides.” I accuse him. “Did Da… Smoke put you up to it?”

---