Page 79 of Paladin's Hell

“Someone’s gunning for the club,” I correct. “And what are you?”

“Whores,” says Bella, putting it plainly, obviously having no concerns with the term.

“Club girls,” says Tulia, making it sound more gentile.

I point at her. “You’re right. You’re part of the club. Same as us old ladies. Someone wants to hurt the club? They could try and take any of us. Lockdown’s for everyone’s benefit.”

Tulia’s mouth opens and shuts. Bella huffs. As I turn around, Jeannie raises a glass toward me. I grin back. Actually, I’d forgotten I used to enjoy keeping the girls in line. Before I stopped coming to the club.

Hellfire’s demonstration, the promise of what might happen later tonight, makes me view things in a different light. When Jeannie drags Titsy and Breezy away to help her in the kitchen, I go along too. The leftovers are brought in from the interrupted barbeque, saran wrapped and covered up, sandwiches cut for brothers who’ll be hungry later, then the place is cleaned up.

As we go about our tasks, Jeannie and I reminisce about old times, our laughter attracting an audience.

“He didn’t?” Bella puts her hand to her mouth and gives a very unfeminine snort.

“He did.” I nod toward Jeannie for confirmation.

She giggles. “We hadn’t meant it to go so far. But Mo had prepared a bowl of food. Rusty assumed it was for the kids.”

“Kid. I only had Demon then.”

“Yeah, well, he picked it up and started eating it.”

“He said it was great. Finished the plate and wanted more…”

“Walk it back, Mo. He actually asked for a slice of bread to mop up the gravy.”

I’m laughing so hard I’m holding my stomach. “And you said…” I point at her, hardly able to get the words out.

“I asked him,” she takes over, “whether he wanted it heated up.”

“He said no, it was fine.”

“Oh God, what was it?” Tulia asks.

“Cat food.” Both Jeannie and I shout out together.

“You’re never going to let me fuckin’ forget that, are you?” A booming voice interrupts us. But Rusty’s got a huge grin on his face as he walks over and gives me a big hug. “You know, Mo? I was thinking we don’t see enough of you nowadays, but,” he rubs his stomach, “maybe that’s a good thing.”

“Hmm. You like the food I give you, old man?”

Rusty swings around to Jeannie quickly, his face falling. “You haven’t… you wouldn’t…”

“Oh, stop complaining.” Thunder steps in. “Whatever it is she serves up is fuckin’ tasty.”

“The rattlesnake cooked well, didn’t it?” Jeannie asks, innocently.

Both men cover their faces and gag.

Jeannie winks at me and we crack up. Why did I think I didn’t miss this?

Later that evening, Pal, who’d been out most of the day after the barbeque ended so abruptly, returns to the club. Hell calls him over for a word, and then, after grabbing a bite to eat and a quick word with Jayden, Pal goes back out.

Taking me into a corner, Hell speaks quietly. “I’ve asked him to provide extra security at the strip club. His shift will last until five am. By the time he gets back, he’ll be dead beat and Jayden just waking up.”

“You’re a genius. Thank you. But isn’t the strip club closed today?”

A tap to my nose. “Closed, yeah. But we still need to take precautions. As to why, Mo, that’s club business.” He pauses. A smirk slowly covers his face. “Now do you want to stay down here and party?” Hell turns me around so my back’s to his front. Ink’s getting down to business with Titsy, Bella’s on her knees in front of Pyro. And I can feel a hard cock pressing into my back.

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