“If I see your ass near The Last Riders, I’ll fucking rip those tits of yours off! You want a man, you find him in Texas, because that’s where I’m taking you when I get done. I see you back in Treepoint or Jamestown again, and I’ll make fucking sure the only man who wants to fuck you is a blind one!” Killyama threw the broom down on the floor then reached down and jerked Sissy to her feet by her hair.
Sissy screamed in pain, tears pouring down her face while Killyama threw her in Willa’s direction at the same time the shop door opened as T.A. came inside.
“Tell Willa you’re sorry,” Killyama ordered.
“I’m … I’m sorry.” Sissy was crying so hard she could barely talk.
“It’s all right—”
“Shut up,” snarled Killyama. “That bitch should be kissing your ass. Talking about babies’ snotty noses when she’s an ungrateful little snot. Quit crying! I took a worse beating when I was in fifth grade.” Killyama threw one of the shop towels at Sissy. “Get your ass in my car. I’ll be there in a minute.”
Sissy ran past T.A. and out the door.
“What did I miss?”
“Killyama beat the shit out of Sissy,” Crazy Bitch told her, reaching for a cupcake when her client practically ran outside after throwing some cash down on the reception desk.
“Oh.” T.A. went to the counter, taking a cupcake while Killyama went to the door.
“Is it just me or is this box—” T.A. began.
“Make up your fucking mind about what color pink to use,” Killyama said as she shot a glare at Willa.
Willa opened and closed her mouth. Killyama in a temper was scarier than Georgia ever had been.
“I guess that one then. Everyone noticed it.”
“What shade is it?” T.A. asked dubiously.
“That one is Pink Flamingo.”
“I’d pick another one,” Sex Piston offered her own business advice. “And she’s not the only one who needs to make up her mind.”
Killyama threw her friend a glare of rage before going out the door and slamming it shut behind her.
Willa turned back to face Sex Piston.
“Don’t worry about Sissy. Killyama’s calmed down. She just has STS.”
“STS?”
“Sudden Train Syndrome. She freaks the fuck out when she thinks about Train and a clubhouse of women.”
“She likes Train?” Willa asked, grateful for the change in topic.
After all, Lucky had told her he had given up his cut, which Willa took to mean that he was no longer a Last Rider. He had told her all her friends’ husbands remained faithful to their wives, and she was happy for them, but she was much more comfortable with the quiet life she envisioned for herself and Lucky.
“She hates Train, but that doesn’t stop her from wanting him.”
Killyama was the complete opposite of herself. She was filled with confidence. The clothes she wore clung to her body yet weren’t as suggestive as her friends. They fit along the lines of her body so that, when she walked, it was like a cat about to spring on you if you made the wrong movement.
Willa had talked briefly with Train at Winter’s wedding and Lily’s shower. His low voice had sent her scurrying to her friends. He had been polite, but in his dark eyes she had seen swirling emotions.
“She should go for Rider. He’s much friendlier.”
“Rider would piss himself. He’s afraid of Killyama.” Crazy Bitch threw herself down in the shop chair next to hers, eating a cupcake.
Sex Piston began pasting Willa’s hair with the hair color, lifting the sections as she worked.
“I noticed last time that you don’t have your ears pierced. How come?”
“I just haven’t ever done it.” Willa brought her hand to her ear, but it was slapped away by Sex Piston.
“Why not?” T.A. pressed.
Willa sighed. “I’m afraid of needles.”
All three women burst into laughter, and Crazy Bitch even had to wipe tears away.
“How do you feel about knives?”
*
Willa knocked on Lucky’s office door.
“Come in.”
She opened the door, seeing her fiancé sitting behind his desk, working, and he was wearing one of her favorite suits. The charcoal-grey color did things to his skin that made Willa get a warm feeling in her stomach.
His face broke into a welcoming smile when he saw her.
“I see your appointment went well. You look fantastic.”
Willa blushed at his compliment, coming to a stop on the other side of his desk. “Thanks. Are you busy?”
“For you? No.”
“I wanted to ask a quick question.”
“In a minute.” Lucky leaned back in his chair. “Come here.”
Willa tilted her head to the side. “Why?”
“Because my future wife needs to give me a hello kiss.”
“Oh.” Willa turned red as she moved around the desk to bend down and kiss Lucky briefly on the lips. When she would have risen up, his hand went to the nape of her neck, holding her in place.
“Like this.” His seductive voice had her stomach clenching tighter. Then his tongue thrust demandingly into her mouth until her hands plastered against the front of his shirt, and she kissed him back. “That’s the way I want you to tell me hello.”
“I can do that,” Willa whispered.
“Good. Now what was the question you wanted to ask?”
Willa stared helplessly in his eyes, unable to return to reason as quickly as him.