Page 3 of Barker

“Ha! I’m just getting started. I didn’t know you were wanting to join a club. I would have opened my arms to ya so you wouldn’t have to slum it with these guys,” Jerick says, pointing between Brayzen and me.

Talon shakes his head before stepping between Brayzen and Jerick. Once Talon is in his face, he pushes Jerick back. “Cut your shit, Jerick. Instead of running around being a jackass, why don’t you go help your sister out and take care of your dad? Why don’t you go do something useful instead of hanging around, being the lowlife you are being right now?” Jerick’s jaw clenches. “Your dad would be so damn ashamed if he knew the truth.” That was the last straw for Jerick, I guess. He pulls his arm back and sends his fist flying forward, but Talon is quick. He dodges him and manages to grab Jerick’s arm, twisting it behind him. “You wanna hit me, baby boy, you just keep swinging.” He shoves him forward causing Jerick to stumble. “This is Sons of Sin territory; you best stay out of it.”

Jerick staggers to his feet and starts to head for the door with his friends following. “Screw you,” Jerick mumbles.

Talon scoffs. “You wanna turn around like a real man and say that to my face?” Jerick turns around and flips us off. “Real cute, Jerick.”

One of Jerick’s friends spits on the carpet and that’s when my anger flares. I start to stalk forward when Brayzen pulls me back. “You do that again, and I’ll rub your damn nose in it like the dog you are,” I bite out.

They all turn to leave when Talon steps forward and says, “Oh and, Jerick—” Jerick looks over his shoulder, his blonde hair falling into his eyes. “The next time your sister has a bruise on her, I don’t care if it’s from her running into something or what, I’m coming after you, no questions asked.” Jerick turns and leaves with a scowl on his face.

Talon’s hands are still balled into fists and the veins in his neck strain against his skin. He’s pissed, but somehow, he managed to keep it in check. If he had swung at me, I would have laid him out on the ground and then been carted off to jail. I got to give the new kid props. I turn to him. “You friends with Jerick?” From the way they talked to one another, I’d say they were friends and that could be an issue for the club.

Talon shakes his head. “Not anymore. Once upon a time, yes, but he’s changed. I’m still friends with his sister, but she’s nothing like him. She’s a good person. I don’t know what happened to Jerick, but I can’t stomach to be around him,” he explains, with a look of disgust on his face.

The door opens again and Wilder followed by Stryker comes rushing in. “Did I miss it?” Wilder asks, slightly out of breath.

I nod, deciding to give credit where it’s due, and not calling out the fact that Talon has a history that could be a conflict for the club, because I think he just proved his loyalty. “Yep, Talon here put an end to it real quick and without any bloodshed.” I pat Talon’s shoulder as we make our way over to Sinner’s Den.

Three

Annistyn

I get to class just in time to slide into a seat next to Vienna. She’s my other best friend, well, my only other friend really. Vienna and I met when she and Talon dated a few years ago. They didn’t work out, but luckily, they ended on mutual terms because we’ve maintained a friendship since then. I may be a bit of a tomboy. I mean, I’m totally into cars, motorcycles, and sports, but I’m also a girl and there are some things you just can’t discuss or do with a guy best friend. I give Talon major props though, because he has been amazing my entire life. I can’t even begin to tell you how many times he's gone shoe shopping with me and held my purse without complaining or picked up things only girls need one time a month. He’s a trooper and I’m lucky to have him, but sometimes a girl just needs some girl talk.

Vienna is a petite little thing. She’s only four feet eleven inches and she’s all hair. She’s got a head full of long black curls. Her hair reminds me of the girl that used to play on that show,Felicity. I remember my babysitter watching it and I was always in awe of her hair. Well, Vienna has that same hair. She pulls it off with all of her Italian features. She looks over at me. “Hey, girl! I was beginning to worry you weren’t going to make it.”

I nod my head. “That makes two of us. I hit traffic coming in from my side of town, plus I was late getting out of the house. Talon apparently left out in a hurry, and you know me, I’m used to him knocking on the bathroom door to get me out of the shower on time.”

Vienna laughs. “Girl, you’re a mess.”

I shrug and our teacher walks in. For the next two hours, I listen to him go on and on about diseases and the effects they have on our body and how to treat them. My eyelids are heavy but I fight it. After class, I gather my things along with Vienna and we head out the door. “So, you’ll never guess what Talon got me.”

“What?” she asks.

“An invite to Barker Tobin’s drag races tonight.”

“What?” she exclaims loudly. People around us actually stop walking and look at us like we're about to catfight or something. I shush her and pick up my pace in walking. “Well, I’m sorry, but that’s huge news and you should have told me the minute you sat your ass down beside me in class.”

I shake my head at her because she’s definitely overreacting about this news. I mean, yes, I guess it’s kind of big in the way of money, or at least that’s how I see it, but I know Vienna. She thinks the Sons of Sin are hot and that’s what she’s thinking about right now. I can’t even begin to consider the idea of a hot boy or possibly a boyfriend. There’s no way I could balance anything like that on top of everything else that I have going on in my life. I’m barely juggling as is.

“Maybe because I barely managed to get to class before it started and it’s not exactly a class that you can ignore. So, I’m telling you now,” I tell her.

Vienna is beaming at me. “Girl! We have to go and find you something to wear; this is so epic.”

“Vienna, I’m wearing my work uniform because I have to try and squeeze the race in before my shift. I’m going to throw on some leggings underneath it and call it a night. Besides, no one is going to care what I’m wearing. They’re there to watch the race.”

Vienna gives me a look like I’m crazy. “Okay, Annistyn, I know you don’t really care, but you’re hot! Everyone will notice what you wear, especially Barker.”

I roll my eyes. “Doubtful, very doubtful.”

I watch as she shakes her head at me and laughs. “You want to grab lunch?” I just nod my head in agreement.

****

I rush into the apartment with a bag ofFunyunsand a large Mountain Dew that I picked up at the local convenience store on the way home from college and visiting my dad. It’s my dinner. Yes, I know I’msohealthy, but let’s face it, I don’t have time to cook. At this rate, I’ll barely have time to scarf these down and get ready for work before heading to the race.

I rush around getting ready. I slip on a pair of black leggings to go under the ridiculously short black leather dress I have to wear as part of my uniform for work. I can just take the leggings off when I get to the club. I grab my red, Mary Jane heels and red leather jacket before I head out to my car. Just as I’m about to head out the door, I check my reflection in the mirror, trying to make sure I’m work ready. My long, blonde hair is curled and resting just past my shoulders, my fake eyelashes and red lipstick are in place. I shake my head because the makeup requirements at the club are dumb, but we have to do them or Jeff, the owner, will kick me to the curb and I can’t afford that right now.

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