Chapter 42 Look what we got here! A real fighter!
Catalina
His eyes, the color of strong whiskey, pinned me in place. He was leaning against a post with his arms crossed, wearing his Lords of Chaos vest with nothing under it, black jeans, and heavy boots. With the sunset light on him, I noticed he had shaved. I sort of missed the reddish-brown stubble. His hair was a mess, like he had been pulling at it. It was not neat like usual, just falling across his face.
Tami rushed forward and hugged me hard. Then Bull was there with his loud laugh. I let out a yelp as he grabbed me and lifted me onto his shoulder, his big hand holding my legs.
“Look what we got here! A real fighter!” he boomed. “If I did not already have my woman, I would keep this one!”
People around us whooped and shouted.
I looked at Tami, but she just laughed and shook her head, giving me a wink.
“I will take her as mine,” a voice said. A tall, skinny guy walked up. He had blond hair and a face like a weasel, with small, mean blue eyes. He wore a prospect vest for the VAs, a stained white tank top, old jeans, and dirty sneakers.
Bull lifted his boot and kicked the man square in the chest, sending him flying back.
“Get lost, Prospect,” Bull roared. “You do not get near a woman for the rest of this rally. Who told you to leave the bikes? Go back to the booth and watch our things!”
The prospect scrambled up, coughing. He shot Bull a dirty look but seemed to think better of it and hurried away.
“That guy will never be a full member,” Bull said, almost to himself. Then he lowered me slowly, my body sliding down the front of his, and gave my backside a light pat.
I slapped his hand away like he was a kid, and he and Tami both laughed. He bent his head close to my ear.
“I see your man over there watching me. He looks like he wants to tear my head off. Maybe he needs to learn a lesson.”
I laughed a little and turned, wrapping my arms around Bull in a quick hug, then pulling Tami into one, too. She took my face in her hands and kissed my cheek. “If you ever want to have some fun, we could trade partners for a night.”
“I thought you did not share,” I said.
“Not with just anyone,” she said. “Only people I like. I would not mind seeing Bull with you while I took care of your man. He looks… very good.”
She nodded toward Viper. His whole body looked tense. I could see he was fighting the urge to come over and pull me away.
“Thanks for sticking with me,” I said to them both. “You two are great for a girl’s confidence.”
“Anytime, Chaotic,” Tami said.
“You keep him guessing, Sunshine,” Bull added, kissing the top of Tami’s head. “Men can be stupid. Sometimes a good woman has to shake us up.”
Tami smiled and waved me off.
I turned and walked toward Viper. “What do you want? Why are you even over here? Should not you be with some girl, letting her ride your dick?” The words just tumbled out.
“Catalina,” he said, and his eyes looked pained.
“What, Viper! You said you were not angry. You begged me to come back. I do, and the first thing I see is another woman in your lap. I was stupid to think you actually wanted me. What were all those messages? I am sorry I did not give you what you needed. I am sorry I killed a woman to make things right for you. I am so fucking sorry!” I was shouting now.
“She killed for you?”
I spun around. Bull was standing right behind me, with Tami in front of him, his arms around her. I gasped. I had not meant to yell that. I just told everyone I killed someone. Fuck.
I looked at the faces around us, expecting to see hate. But all I saw was something like respect.
“Now that is loyalty,” Bull said softly, just to me. “Do not worry, darling. You are not the only Old Lady who has killed for her man.”
I looked at Tami. She was smiling. “The Lucifers Hands MC crashed one of our parties. One of them put a gun to Bull’s head as a joke. He wanted to play a game without asking. I snuck up behind him with a big meat cleaver. I chopped his hand off at the wrist, then stuck the blade in his neck. I got the main artery. He died fast. No one threatens my man.”
I just stared at her. It was not the same as what I did, but it was close. She protected what was hers.
“You are incredible, Tami.”
“Now you tell your story, Chaotic,” she said. “That way we both have a secret.”
“It is not just my story to tell,” I said. “It is complicated.”
“Why do we not go somewhere quiet?” Viper’s voice cut in. “No need to talk about this where everyone can hear.”
My body went rigid. I did not want anyone to know. To see me differently. I liked Tami and Bull. My nerves were already shot.
Bull nodded, took Tami’s hand, and started walking. Viper reached for my hand, but I pulled it away. He grabbed it anyway, his grip hard. I tried to pull free, but he would not let go. I glared at him, and he made a low, warning sound in his throat. Bull and Tami had stopped to watch us.
“You will hold my hand, Celeste,” Viper said, his voice too low for anyone else.
“Or what, Blaze? You will walk away again? Ignore me? Find another bitch to be with?” I snapped.
“That is three things, baby. One for leaving me. One for letting strangers see your body and rubbing your tits in another man’s face. And one for trying to pull away from me. Actually…” He stopped talking, turned me around, and grabbed my arm. He pushed something onto me, my property vest. He fastened it and then wrapped his arms around me from behind, trapping my arms at my sides. He leaned close, his breath hot on my ear.
“If you take this vest off again while we are here, I will strip you naked. You will wear only the vest, with a collar and a leash. You will be my pet for the rest of the week. Do you want that, baby?”
The idea made my stomach flip. The thought of being on display like that sent a rush of heat through my whole body.
“Mmm,” Viper hummed against my ear, like he knew. He let me go and took my hand, lacing his fingers tightly with mine. “Let us go talk to your friends.”
We followed Bull and Tami to their RV. Inside, with cold beers in our hands, Viper told them everything. The drugging, the kidnapping, the rape. Then I told them what I did, how I thought I was making it right. Finally, Viper said the thing that broke something open inside me. He said he was not disgusted by me. He was disgusted with himself for being so turned on by it, before he understood that it was not the act itself, it was the ‘why’. It was knowing I would go that far for him. By the time he finished, tears were running down my face. When I looked at Tami, she was crying, too.
“You cut her open,” Tami whispered.
I nodded. “From between her legs all the way up to her throat,” I said, tracing a line down the front of my own body.
“Brother,” Bull said, clapping a hand on Viper’s shoulder. “You have a rare one there.”
“I know,” Viper said, his eyes never leaving mine.