Page 26 of Savage Devotion
The four women form a semi-circle around me and each takes a turn hugging me.
“What’s all this about? Did someone die?” Oh, God! My brain clutches that idea and immediately jumps to the thought of Reaper having it out with Grudge and getting hurt. “Did something happen?”
My gaze bounces between all four of them. Biker chicks, rough around the edges but here. In my store and caring about me.
“No,nooo.Breathe. Nothing like that. Damn girl. You’ve got it bad for the Prez.”
A girl with wavy brown hair and perfect makeup takes both my shoulders in hand. I’ve seen her around town, mainly in passing but she’s never been inside the Broken Chapter Asylum before.
“Breathe, girl. Nothing is wrong. We just heard about yesterday and Charli rounded up the troops. That’s all.”
The new chick considers my long skirt and an off-the-shoulder, cozy light sweater. I might not be showing as much skin as she is, but I get an appreciative nod from her as if I passed someunspoken test or something. I opted for the overly large sweater because it hides any bump that might be showing.
She fingers the fringes of my sweater. “Cute, but you’re gonna have a hard time riding bitch in that. But you’ll learn.”
I let out a punchy breath and lean against the register counter not caring what goes or doesn’t go for bike riding. “None of that is in my future. I promise you that.”
I press a hand to my stomach to settle the wishy-washy swirl of unease that started up the second they came through my door and send a small prayer up for my unborn baby. We are both going to need all the help we can get for me to keep a level head around the man who steals all my good sense.
Charli steps up. “I thought you could use some reinforcements to know you are not alone here. We heard what happened. The Vultures were pissed, which means the whole parish is pissed.”
“No one messes with one of our own.”
They consider me one of them?
The words hit me, leaving me a bit stunned, to be honest. The fear I felt at first morphs from surprise to an odd sensation of belonging. I almost feel like it’s a Grinch moment where I’ve been so cold all my life and now, I’m not.
It’s weird and comforting at the same time. I look between the ladies, not really knowing if I should offer them free books, free coffee, or just hug them all a thousand times. I don’t know if I am working off the desire to have a place I belong or having real friends. For now, just letting it all sink in will have to do.
“I don’t know what to say.” I never had anyone stick up for me. Not even my mother after she met the dick-for-brains stepdadof mine. “I…uh…” Stumbling over words isn’t my thing but I’m tongue-tied right now.
“You don’t have to say anything. This is Jinx. You know Lily and Angel.”
I look between all the women. “Thank you all. Really. I’m just a little shocked you guys would come over here just to see me.”
“We got you, girl,” Lily reassures me.
“There’s nothing more exciting than protecting our smut-provider.” Jinx throws me a wink and a smile. I know for a fact that face and those long, tanned legs of hers are used to strip money from men down at the Savage Sinners strip club. Plus the branded T-shirt she’s wearing kind of gives away her night job.
I smile back. “So, it’s the smut you’re protecting, huh?”
“Damn straight, babe. Charli’s been hookin’ us up big time.” Jinx pops a bubble with her gum and chomps on it Harley-Quinn-style. The booty shorts and fish netting sell the whole fantasy package. Since it’s foggy and has been raining off and on all morning, you know she’s gotta be feeling the chill.
“Then you’re gonna like what just arrived. Hold up. Let me just show you.”
I move a few pumpkins I picked up this morning for carving from atop a few boxes. I crack the tape and pop the lid. I take out a stack of books and set it aside for Charli. “These came this morning.”
I pass them each a book with a dude half naked and his name for the title splashed across the front.
“Oh, fuck yeah,” Jinx whoops and makes her way to a black oversized bean bag I have shoved into the corner.
She tosses her bubble gum and takes a handful of candy corn from a small dish on a low table. She is already flipping pages by the time I give Lily, Angel, and Charli theirs.
“Does this mean the book club is a go?” Angel looks at me expectantly. “Charli told us. Hope you don’t mind me asking.”
She reminds me of a sweet Brittany Murphy type with those big hazel doe eyes and blonde hair cut into a cute bob. The tips are dyed a bright pink that she makes look sassy and cute.
Maybe these women need the book club far more than I realized.
