Page 28 of Absinthe Dreams
“Should be thankingme,” Collier grumbled. “Hard to get it on when your woman’sbrotheris in the house.”
I snorted, and Cypress gave Collier the finger.
We worked shit out, but still, LaCroix and Hex, predictably, wanted to cover all the bases. LaCroix said to me, “Bring her in.”
I nodded and rose.
Here went nothin’…
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Genesis…
The ladies and I were talking about the art and murals on the walls inside the space back here. One of the brothers, Saint, was responsible for the murals. His was apparently the only old lady who was absent. She was working today – crime scene cleanup. I had some thoughts on that… mostly that she and I had something in common. We both dealt with the aftermath of crime and violence, just in two very different ways. She dealt with the scenes, and I dealt with the victims.
I was curious about that, though. How on earth did someone incrime scene cleanupend up with a man who more than likely caused some of the scenes she had to deal with? That was a huge riddle and a mind-bender to me. I looked forward to meeting her, but I wasn’t sure if I would. I guess it depended on a bunch of things.
I didn’t really know what my classification was when it came to the Voodoo Bastards, butfriend of the clubwas honestly the best fit. It was an honorific that came with privileges, but I wasn’t brand new here, either. It also came with a cost.
If it got Lucas Levi Belmar out of my life and off the streets for good, I could certainly handle that cost. I didn’t honestly know what the worst that could happen was, being connected to a club of the caliber of the Voodoo Bastards, but I imagined that I would be patching holes and providing stitches in my future. So, same shit, different venue for me.
I was more than alright with that.
I’d honestly thought ahead on things before I’d even made the call. I’d seen it all before, at home, but that was part of it… I didn’t want to live on eggshells anymore, wondering who was going to show up drunk or beaten to hell. Who was going to prison or would be there one moment, and gone the next…
I knew it was part of life, even outside of club life, but it was a lot less likely outside of club life, and the risk inside it was exponentiallymore.
“Dr. Bordelon, the boys would like a word if you don’t mind.”
I pulled out of my silent machinations and back to the present, looking over to Chainsaw in the doorway that all the men had gone through.
“Looks like formal introductions are in order.” Corliss winked at me, and I plastered on a smile.
“Looks like,” I agreed.
“Just be yourself. You’ve got this,” Sandy said, and I laughed a little nervously. Boy, wasn’t she optimistic? Alina said nothing, and her eyes were unreadable as I slipped past her and headed for Chainsaw and the door.
Just be respectful and everything will be fine,I told myself.
The anxiety bubbling in my chest said a whole lot different – but that’s a different story and one I firmly ignored.
“Hi,” I said faintly while Chainsaw closed the door behind me. He threaded his way behind chairs to take his empty seat at the table. There were some empty chairs way down at the end,and LaCroix motioned to the one far down at the end of the table across from him. I nodded and went and took it.
“Why don’t you go on and tell us in your own words your situation, an’ why you called Chainsaw,” LaCroix said.
I opened my mouth to speak when Hex waved me down and interrupted, saying, “Now, boss, how about we mind our manners and make proper introductions first? Let her know who all she’s talkin’ with.”
LaCroix nodded, and Hex smiled genially. “Dr. Bordelon, is that right?” Hex asked.
“Yes,” I said simply.
“Well, welcome on in. You know I’m Hex, that there is LaCroix, an’ this here is Saint.” A tall broad-shouldered man with long hair gave a nod.
“Your artwork is amazing,” I said quietly, knowing that the Baron Samedi looming at my back was likely his work even as I was keenly aware that I sat with my back to the altar to him. I didn’t know how I felt about that.
Saint only nodded a bit deeper at the compliment, his face unchanged and inscrutable.
“You’ve met Bennie,” Hex said, and Bennie raised his hand off the table in a slight wave. He sat across from Saint, so it seemed we were going back and forth and down the table.
