“I will,” I promised.
I tried to block out all the nagging doubts that were bombarding my brain as I followed Rachel’s directions to the Satan’s Fury clubhouse. The not knowing was driving me crazy. I had no idea what it was like inside a motorcycle clubhouse, or what these biker people were like. If I took the time to dwell on my uncertainties, I would definitely chicken out. I just had to believe that the people at that club were just like anybody else, that they wouldn’t try to kill me on the spot. I was doing pretty well until I pulled up to the gate and a young heavy set man walked over to the car door. He was wearing one of those leather vests with a white patch along the side pocket that said prospect, and his arms were covered in brightly colored tattoos. He tapped the glass with the barrel of his handgun, letting me know he wanted me to roll down the window. Damn. I was so screwed.
“You lost, darling?” he chuckled. He towered over my car, resting his free hand on the roof while he stuck his head in my car and looked around.
“Umm… no sir? I am looking for Griffin. I’d like to talk to him for just a minute, please?” I explained with apprehension.
“Griffin? Sorry, darling. There’s no Griffin here.”
“Are you sure? He has one of those leather vests like yours, and he’s kind of tall with a beard.”
“Yeah, you just described about half of the members of the club. I’m letting you in, but you need to leave everything in your car – no purse, no phone, no nothing. Someone will meet you at the door.”
“Okay?” I answered. I eased up to the main lot, and just like he’d said, there was a man there waiting for me by the back door. He was older than the man at the gate and much more attractive – tall, muscular with beautiful green eyes. I stepped out of the car and said, “Um… hello. The man at the gate said you might be able to help me. I’m looking for a man named Griffin.”
He cocked his head to the side and looked at me like he was sizing me up. After an uncomfortable moment of silence, he answered, “You mean Stitch?”
“Honestly, I have no idea. The only name I have is Griffin,” I explained.
“Come on into the bar. You can wait there while I get him.”
I wasn’t sure what to expect when he opened the door… maybe something kinda like a strip club filled with big, scary men with guns, but it wasn’t anything like that. It was just a bar. Several men were sitting at the counter, and there was an attractive woman standing behind it serving them beers. A couple of them turned and gave me a questioning look, but quickly excused my presence and went back to their conversations.
“Just grab a seat at the bar. I’ll see if I can round him up.”
I did as he instructed and sat down at the opposite end of the bar, hoping to avoid any confrontations. As soon as I sat down, the man called out to the lady behind the bar, “Hey, Cass. Grab the lady a drink while I go find Stitch.”
“You got it, Mav,” Cass answered smiling. She walked over to me and asked, “What can I get ya?”
“A water would be great,” I told her.
“You look like you could use something stronger,” she teased me with a smile. “You sure you don’t want a beer or something?”
“Tempting, but I better stick to water.”
She reached into one of the coolers and pulled out two bottles of water, placing one of them on the counter in front of me and opening the other for herself. “So, you’re a friend of Stitch’s?” she asked.
“Not exactly,” I told her. “Honestly, I don’t really know him at all. He helped me out a few weeks ago, and I haven’t had a chance to thank him.” When I turned my head towards the other end of the bar, I noticed several of the men looking at me. I tried to avoid their stares by taking a drink of my water, but they weren’t easy to ignore.
Cass must have noticed my uneasiness, because she said, “Don’t let them get to you. They’re harmless.”
“Easier said than done. I’ve never been in a club like this before,” I admitted.
“Don’t take this the wrong way, but I knew that the minute you walked in. The expression on your face said it all,” she laughed.
“That bad, huh?” I smiled.
“Deer in headlights,” she teased. “But it takes balls to come into a place like this without knowing what you’re getting into.”
“Either that or I’m totally insane. My name is Wren, by the way.”
Just as Cass was about to respond, her attention was diverted to the side door where Maverick was walking in with Griffin. His eyebrows furrowed into an almost angry glare when he saw me sitting at the bar. I instantly began to feel nervous. The last thing I wanted to do was piss him off, but I needed some answers… and help if he was willing to give it.