Page 85 of Exile & Lula
Bouncing around Exile, I joined in with the foxes’ sing-song rendition of our club name. By the time Rock freed himself of the drunken women, most of our members were chanting “Crimson Guard” as we entered the bar.
Zodiac and his guys followed us inside. Even without the Black Rainbow president saying a word, I could tell his temper raged hot. I also noticed how Exile and the other men fed off his anger.
“People thought I was crazy to deny membership to the sons of former members as if I was losing out on talent,” Zodiac growled while wiping blood from his lips. “Those fuckers got rejected from our club for a reason, and it’s that they punch like—”
The Crimson Guard foxes stopped chanting and stared hard at Zodiac, thinking he was about to insult his enemy by comparing them to girls.
Zodiac noticed their potential rage and finished his thought with, “They throw punches like the elderly.”
The foxes smiled and started chanting “Black Rainbow” while Rowdy ordered a round of booze for everyone.
“We really will need to Uber everyone home,” I told Exile.
Feeding off his president’s tension, Exile refused to soften his expression. I wasn’t sure why Zodiac was so pissed since he’d proven himself a top-notch fighter and his opponents had literally run away like scared children.
Yet, Zodiac seethed as he dropped into a chair at a table near the stage. The waitress was so intimidated by his enraged face that she wouldn’t approach him to drop off his drink. I took the beer bottle from her and rested it in front of Zodiac.
“Why are you fighting a tantrum, big guy?” I asked and sat in the chair next to his.
Exile inhaled sharply, either worried about my safety or feeling too possessive to allow me such proximity to his president.
Zodiac narrowed his gaze at me and snarled, “You don’t want me to say what I’m thinking. You also don’t want to know that Exile is thinking the same thing. If you knew, you’d give that man blue balls, and he’d whine to me. So, I’m going to drink this beer and keep my mouth shut.”
I sipped my drink and smiled at Zodiac. “I already know what you’re thinking. I know what Exile thinks. It’s what I’ve been hearing for years. Nothing about your concerns is particularly unique, so maybe settle your britches.”
“They’re plenty settled,” Zodiac said, watching me like a predator.
Exile had me stand up so he could take my seat. Then, he gestured for me to use him as my chair. I did as he requested since relationships were all about give and take.
“We’re in a war,” Zodiac told me before glancing at the foxes dancing to the overhead music. “Do you think you can keep up?”
“Sure.”
“Your people barely injured the other club.”
“Because they aren’t the enemy.”
“Wrong,” Sabrina said and sat in the empty chair next to me. “Lula, come sit on my lap.
“No,” I insisted, even as she seized me by the arm and yanked me over to her lap. “Good Lord.”
“Let me rephrase my sister’s earlier comment,” Sabrina said while I rolled my eyes. “She meant Tricky and Jagger aren’t our enemies. A handful of other Jokers are fine, too. But those Louisiana fucksarethe enemy. That’s why Jas stabbed one of them in the balls.”
“In the balls!” Goldie yelled and high-fived Jas.
“That’s a nice story,” Zodiac told Sabrina.
“Here’s another one. If you and your boys had been in the garage that day with Lula, I think you’d all be fucking dead.”
“Oh, really?”
“The hired guns underestimated the sisters for the same reason you do. Those fuckers went in soft and got themselves killed. Now, if they had seen you and Exile walking with Lula, there wouldn’t be any of that cloak-and-dagger shit. No one would have grabbed your ass to act as a hostage. Nope, they’d have shot you in the fucking face.”
“Well, that’s a nice theory.”
Sabrina nudged me to get off her lap, so I moved back to Exile’s. My sister stood up and looked over Zodiac and his clubmates.
“If we’re at war, you boys are the ones who ought to watch out,” Sabrina said and then patted Exile’s shoulder while looking over his club brothers. “And if you, Black Rainbow meat shields, would be willing to take a bullet to save my future brother-in-law, I’d be very thankful.”
