Saving Dallas Forever (22 page)

“Maddie, baby,” Brooklyn said, her voice calm and motherly, as she went to stand beside Maddie and wrap an arm around her trembling shoulder. “We’re not saying it’s right, we’re saying that Luke was justified in what he did. He chose to take a different route and for that we are proud, but can you blame him for worrying? He knows first-hand what happens in this life. He has been like your brother for years. How many times have you cried on his shoulder? How many times was he there for Logan because he knew he needed a good man in his life? Remember honey, it’s not just you anymore. Luke is looking out for both you and Logan, and when someone comes in and wants to take over and be the sole protector of the two of you, he wants to ensure that the man is capable and willing. Of course he trusts Marty, but at the end of the day, he knows Marty better than all of us. He remembers how Marty ran away from his past love when he thought he wasn’t good enough. Luke doesn’t want him to make the same mistake with you. Plus, it would be very difficult if something were to happen between the two of you. I couldn’t imagine this club without you or him, but the truth is, if you two split, we are going to lose someone we love very much. And who do you think the weight of that burden is gonna fall on? Be glad you have a man like Luke to look after you and protect you, even if it is from his own brother.” We all stood quietly, hanging on to Brooklyn’s every word. I knew it was difficult for Maddie. I knew that even though Luke and Marty would be okay there would still be times when Luke had a tough time dealing with it. But if anyone could handle the pressure and patience it took to deal with what was to come, it was Maddie. 

We were crammed into Katelyn’s SUV, which comfortably seated seven. Considering there were nine of us, we were packed in, lying on top of one another. Katelyn was going out with us tonight, but she would not be drinking. Chris would be tagging along, to keep an eye on us, and the guys were not too far away. I was happy to see Chris well rested, and wanted to tell him I had requested his nap to earn me some points to help smooth out my actions of last night. It was not necessary. When I approached him to apologize, he simply held his hand up and told me he understood, and actually thanked me for not shooting him. Bless his little heart. Luke had approved of my dress, and I wondered how I had gotten away with it when Maddie informed me that the club we were attending was only open to women on Tuesday nights. It gave women the opportunity to see if a career in stripping or pole-dancing was something they were interested in, without the prying eyes of men there to judge. Everyone looked absolutely beautiful in their sequined dresses, but it was Punkin who nearly took my breath away. She looked amazing in a silver, floor-length gown that had one long sleeve that covered her right arm, leaving her left arm bare. She had shocked us all when she had walked in with jet-black hair, courtesy of Red and a mix-up at the local beauty supply shop. Apparently, they didn’t wait on Punkin in a timely manner, and when she had asked if she had to steal something to get some fucking service, they rewarded her with the wrong color dye. Well, the joke was on them. If their intentions had been to make her look bad, they had failed miserably. She looked marvelous from her head to the bottom of her dress, until she lifted it to show us that she wore combat boots on her feet. Her answer to her wardrobe malfunction was simple; if someone needed the shit kicked out of ‘em, she could do a lot more damage with boots than we could with heels. I liked her way of thinking.

Instead of dinner out, Katelyn would be driving us to the home of the last original member of the Devil’s Renegades. I had never heard of the man, and was anxious to meet him. As we all piled out of the car and into his home, I had no idea what to expect, but what I got in return was so much more than what I ever could have hoped for.

“Come in, come in.” A raspy voice greeted as a man held the door open for us. I was the last of the ladies to enter with Chris on my heels, as I came face-to-face with Devil’s Renegades Rick. “Well, I’ll be damned,” he said, his eyes appraising me with approval. “You’re so much more beautiful than LLC gave you credit for.” I blushed as I observed him. He was shorter in stature, but his figure was stocky and hard. He wore glasses on his face, and a black goatee, with traces of gray, lined his mouth. He looked handsome in jeans, boots, and a button down and smelled of tobacco and aftershave; his scent reminding me of my father’s.

“It is a pleasure to meet you, Rick. I’m Dallas.” I said, giving him that smile that earned me one in return.

“Yes you are,” he said, kissing my hand then tucking it into his arm to lead me inside. “The ladies are helping to prepare dinner. I hope you all don’t mind, but I have been a little under the weather.” When he said ladies, somehow I assumed he was talking about women other than the ones I saw. Rick was the Hugh Hefner of the Devil’s Renegades, and beautiful bunnies littered his playboy mansion. The house we were in seemed small with all of the people inside it, but I knew it had to be pretty big to accommodate all of us. Old pictures of the club’s past and newest members hung on the wall. Leather furniture covered the living room, and the biggest fucking T.V. I had ever seen in my life sat mounted above a massive fireplace. I watched in awe at the half dozen women who made their way around the house wearing rabbit ears, high heels and tails on top of their tiny, pink thongs. Their large, perfect breasts stood to attention as they scurried around, making sure everyone was comfortable and seated at the huge dining room table that sat twelve. The entire first floor of the house was open for viewing, and I looked up to find the upstairs open as well, with a balcony that overlooked the bottom floor. The place was a dream home for house parties. Rick led me to the table, seating me to his left then turning to greet Chris. Brooklyn sat across from me to his right, and I leaned up to look down the table to find everyone at ease as if they had been here a million times. Even Katelyn didn’t seem to feel out of place. “Ladies, tonight I am treating you to a Devil’s Renegades special. Pops and I created the perfect gumbo back when we were room-mates before this all started.” I smiled at the man beside me. His voice was low and strained, his raspy tone something I was falling in love with. I was sure it was a result of years of living the good life of booze, women, and smoke. Now that I had met him, I couldn’t imagine ever having a different image of him in my mind. When a beautiful, blonde bunny appeared and refilled his glass, he thanked her with a kiss and a promising smile, leaving her gushing as she scurried off, but not before he smacked her ass. His eyes followed her, until he seemed to remember he had company. “We were living in a small apartment, both of us working as mechanics in an old shop. Back in those days, everyone rode a Harley. You didn’t have these rice burners and mopeds and shit. You had an American bike or nothing at all. So, work was always plentiful. But we spent our nights at strip-clubs and parties, spending all our hard-earned money on booze and ass when we should have been investing in our own business.” He paused as we were served bowls of steaming gumbo, with a side of French bread. I waited patiently until everyone had their meal before I placed my napkin in my lap, ready to dig in. I looked up to see everyone grabbing hands and I followed suit, placing mine in Rick’s, who sat to my right, and Mary’s, who sat to my left. I wasn’t shocked that we were saying grace, but I wasn’t expecting it either. I bowed my head as Rick blessed our food, his choice of words making me smile as they warmed my heart. “Father bless this food and the lovely, delicate hands that helped to prepare it. Thank you for blessing me with such beautiful company and may their time spent here be well served. I pray that you bless this beautiful creature whose hand I hold in mine with twenty-seven more wonderful years, and may the majority of them be spent in the fabulous life of our MC. Help us to keep the rubber down as we ride for our brothers who live, and honor the ones who have gone. Amen.” A chorus of “amen” was heard around the table as I gave Rick’s hand a squeeze, and I smiled in thanks at his mention of me in his prayer. I took my first bite of what would be many of the most delicious gumbo I had ever tasted.

“Shit this is good,” Chi Chi said, before taking another bite and closing her eyes with a moan. We all agreed and Rick smiled at our enjoyment.

“I’m glad y’all like it. So,” he said, continuing with his story. “Pops and I had been around MCs all our life. We decided to form one of our own, and we found the biggest, baddest motherfuckers around to form our posse. See, big, strong tough guys is what we envision when we think motorcycle club, but some of the best brothers come in a pint-size package. We finally got a crew together that had everything we desired in brothers; loyalty, honesty, and trust. He didn’t have to be big and bad, he just needed to be willing to give his all for his brothers. We found that in the first five; Pops, Gill, Tony, Carl, and myself. We were unstoppable. We turned this town upside down, and soon we had chapters in three different states. We ran the biggest illegal operation this state has ever seen. There were women everywhere, money grew on trees, and the highest respect was paid to anyone who wore our patch.” Rick paused, taking a sip of his drink. He took his time continuing, as if he was searching for just the right words to say. I continued to eat and drink, looking at him from time to time during his story, until he spoke again. This time, my gumbo was forgotten, and my attention was focused on nothing but him. “Then there was Luke.” My eyes found his as he smiled, a memory from far back held his attention as he laughed to himself. “Luke was the one I knew would either be the downfall or the success of this club. He was so passionate about it. He never once gave up, even though his Pops put him through hell trying to persuade him to take a different route in life. When a man does time for a crime he commits then in turn creates a life where crime is the sole benefit of his life, it’s one thing. But when he sees his grandson, a boy he loves and wants to succeed in life, following that same path of destruction it’s another. Pops never wanted that life for Luke. He didn’t want to live knowing his actions were ones that Luke would follow, creating a cesspool that would be passed down from generation to generation. But I,” he said, pointing his finger at himself as his eyes locked on mine, “I had faith in Luke. When shit got really bad, he realized he had to make some changes, and he did. He had business sense and smarts that the other guys and I only dreamed of. He found a way to make peace with our connections, and pulled the club out of its illegal ways and into the path of what was right. When the club realized the hit it was going to take, they voted against Luke’s efforts. They had got accustomed to the life of a constant heavy cash flow, and an easy ride. That’s when Luke used his own money to float the club. He drained every dollar he had from his savings and his father’s investments for his future. He took the risk of losing everything he had to save the one thing he loved from self-destruction. That’s when I learned that it’s not the cut who makes the man, but the man who makes the cut.” You could have heard a pin drop in the room, as Rick grabbed my hand across the table. “You got a good man, darlin’.” He looked around the table at the ladies who sat there, making eye contact with each one. “You all do. Gone is a time when MCs were outlaw bikers who broke the law, raised hell, and stepped on anyone they could to get up the ladder of success. All that remains from that time is this old man with a lot of good memories of the way things used to be. Those days were the good ones, and damn how I miss them, but the future of the Devil’s Renegades will now live on for generation after generation, and we have your good men to thank for that. Of course, they wouldn’t know shit if it wasn’t for an old-timer like myself.” We all laughed, tears rolling down our faces, and not one of us caring if it ruined our makeup. We finished our meal with light conversation, laughter, and good company. When it was time to go, we were all kissed on the lips as Rick bid us goodbye with a host of sexy women surrounding him. Once in the car, I waved my final goodbye to the man who had left me with a new outlook on Luke. If ever I had been blessed, it was with the gift of Devil’s Renegades President, LLC.

Chapter 21

Dallas

The strip-club was packed with women of every age and size, but it was us who were the belles of the ball. Our entrance couldn’t have been grander if we had been surrounded by white doves in our sequined dresses, which covered every color of the rainbow and then some. The place was huge, with a stage that covered most of the floor, and had at least ten poles scattered across it. In the center, one pole reached all the way to the second story, where private dances were held. Neon lights illuminated us, as they blinked in time with the strobe lights that hung from the ceilings. A long bar lined with stools sat against the side wall, with mirrors that ran the length of the wall behind endless bottles of premium liquor. Men who resembled Chippendale dancers wore black slacks, suspenders, and a black bow tie; each of them muscular, tanned and extremely good-looking. Their chests were broad, and their abs rippled down their stomachs. Red got a tray of shots delivered to our table; the girls had gone all out for me and had reserved us a section in the area that was reserved for VIP members only, which consisted of a half-circle booth that wrapped around a table at the front, stage-center. Music blared from the speakers, as we gathered around the booth with me in the middle. Everyone grabbed a shot and it was thrown back in honor of my birthday. Within seconds of our empty glasses hitting the table, they were filled once again by a good-looking Italian man named Greg. Greg informed us that he would be taking care of us all night, and that whatever we wanted would be provided to us upon request. This prompted Brooklyn to run her fingers down his chest and grab his crotch, leaving him smiling and promising her that his cock was available too. He then informed us that if we would like to dance, all we had to do was sign up and they would usher us backstage, where we had full access to the dressing room and the outfits that it contained. I quickly busied myself to avoid his stare. I knew he was addressing me and assuming I would be the one dancing. Red saved me by assuring him we would not be participating, but that we appreciated the offer. We ordered drinks and sat back to relax before the show, which was due to start in about thirty minutes. By the time the first dancer took the stage, we were all feeling the buzz as a result of several shots, and strong, mixed drinks.

“She should have stayed her fuckin’ ass at home,” Punkin said, referring to the woman on stage, whose feeble attempt at dancing had us all laughing.

“Punkin!” I admonished, feeling sorry for the poor woman, although my laughter continued as she busted her ass trying to look sexy in platform heels that stood six inches high. “That’s why they call it amateur night. There aren’t any professionals here.”

“There is one,” Punkin said, pointing at Red with her long fingernail. I rolled my eyes at her comment. Red might be good dancer, but I doubted she was a professional stripper. “Well, I ain’t doing it, anyway. I told Red I’d hold the camera.”

“I’m with you,” I agreed, lifting my glass in the air for Greg to refill it.

“What you want to hold the camera too?” she asked, her mouth twisted in annoyance. I guess Punkin didn’t want to share her chance at being a photographer. I laughed, as she chewed the side of her mouth, trying to calm her frustration. She had been incarcerated for too long.

“No, Punkin. I meant I ain’t dancing either.” I patted her leg, giving her a huge smile of reassurance. This seemed to pacify her, and she gave me a small, apologetic smile. We all clapped as the lady left the stage, shouting words of encouragement at her as the next dancer came out, stopping to give her a hug. The chorus of “Shots” by LMFAO rang through the speakers, and Greg presented himself at our table holding another round of shots and performing a dance on Brooklyn’s lap, as we all danced in our seats with our hands in the air. Katina took the tray of shots from Greg as he lay on the table and spread his legs, placing one shot glass at a time between them on the table. Brooklyn all but pushed us out of her way to straddle him and reach between his thighs to retrieve her shot with her hands behind her back. She stood there a minute, dancing over him with her dress hiked up her thighs, as she wiggled her ass in his face. We all took turns, except for Katelyn, who stood beside us cheering us on with a glass of water in her hands. Chi Chi, Mary, and I formed a train over him, as we danced and pushed our faces between his legs one at a time, downing the shot that seemed to burn a lot less due to the numbing sensation I was experiencing from all of my previous drinks. Red and Maddie faced one another, as they sat on top of him and placed their shots in each other’s cleavage. Punkin stood and grabbed a shot from the tray Katina still held and threw it back, before returning to her seat, not at all worried about the half-naked man that lay before us. When he got up from the table, he grabbed the tray from Katina, taking the last shot and holding it in his hand, before discarding the tray by throwing it to the floor. We watched and cheered in amazement as he bent Katina over the table and jerked his hips against her ass in rhythm with the music. He kept his hand on her back as he made his way around the table to stand in front of her, putting his crotch in her face. He proceeded to stick the shot in the waistband of his pants, and we all screamed our approval as Katina took the shot, making sure to run her tongue from his navel to the glass before taking it in her mouth, and throwing her head back in a seductive manner. When the song stopped and Greg left, we collapsed back in our seats, laughing, as we all fought to give the best re-enactment of Katina’s sexy pose.

“Oooh ooh!” Red said, jumping up and down in her seat to get all of our attention. “Dallas you’re up in fifteen. Let’s go get you ready.” I paled at her comment, looking around to see everyone grinning at me. “Come on!” Red urged. I laughed in her face as I shook my head and sat back.

“Red I ain’t gonna do that shit,” I said, watching Mary laugh hard at my response, her small body falling over in Chi Chi’s lap. She was piss drunk, but, hell, which one of us wasn’t.

“Dallas!” Red whined, her attempt to pout only making me laugh harder.

“Hell no. I can’t do that,” I said, gesturing with my hand to the poles on the stage.

“You don’t have to use the pole, just dance.” There was no way I was getting up there. I shook my head, draining my glass and lifting it in the air, as I swayed without intending to, and hiccupped.

“You pussy. I should have known you would be too scared,” Red said, daring me to prove her wrong.

“I’m not a pussy, Re-ed,” I said, rolling my head and sucking my teeth, while I snapped my fingers in her face with my free hand. I slammed down my glass and stood, wobbling slightly, but was assisted when a strong hand grabbed my arm to steady me. I turned to see Chris standing there, his eyes laughing, although he didn’t utter a word. Had he been there the whole time? “What do you think Chris?” I asked, turning on my heels and facing him. “Do you think I’m a pussy?” he fought to contain his laugh, but there was no chance of him hiding his smile.

“I’m just here,” he offered, taking the easy way out. But I wouldn’t let him.

“Come on, Chris,” I said, playfully punching his arm and nearly falling on my face as I did. “What ya think?”

“I think you’re drunk,” he said, his arms clasped in front of him. He leaned in as if to tell me a secret, but everyone at the table heard what he said. “And a pussy.”

“Red, I don’t think I can do this,” I said, my stage-fright so bad that I thought I might vomit. We were backstage, and I was dressed in a ridiculous plastic outfit with a teeny, nude bikini underneath. The idea was for me to strip down to the bikini and give the appearance that I was naked, but my privates would be covered. Or at least that was the plan. “I don’t know why I let you talk me into this,” I said, taking deep breaths trying to remain calm.

“I didn’t. I believe it was you who dragged me back here. And for what? To prove to a PROSPECT that you weren’t a pussy? You’re pathetic. And very hot in that nurses’ outfit. Here, drink this.” She shoved a glass in my hand, and clinked it with hers. I downed the shot, which was so strong it nearly took my breath away.

“What the fuck is that?” I asked, wiping the remnants from my lips.

“
That
is liquid encouragement. Here, take one more.” I looked at her as if she was crazy. “Oh stop, you’ve had fifteen fruity shots that can hardly be considered hard liquor, and five mixed drinks. If you were really drunk, you wouldn’t be freaking out right now. Take the shot.” She pushed it into my hand and I downed it, knowing that I would probably need ten more just to get through the next ninety seconds.

“Arrgghh!” I said through my teeth, as the liquor scorched my throat and burned the inside of my stomach.

“Okay, you’re up. Just work the pole in front of our table. Remember, it’s your birthday, have fun!” Red blew me a kiss and I caught it, slapping it against my ass cheek, as I peeked through the curtains at the audience. The alcohol was already taking effect as I felt my body loosen and my mind relax. When the announcer called my name, I stepped through the curtain and hit the stage, full of confidence. My girls stood front and center with fistfuls of one-dollar bills, screaming my name while Chris stood behind them, looking very pleased with himself. Asshole. When Def Leppard’s “Pour Some Sugar on Me” filled the room, I transformed from the nervous girl who had stood backstage to the baddest bitch in the room, or so I thought. I got lost in the moment, as I used the pole to grind against, forgetting to strip through the first half of the song, until I looked to my sisters to see them making motions that signaled I should rip my shirt off. I grabbed the center of my shirt, which was held together by Velcro instead of buttons, and positioned my fingers to pull it apart in an attempt to look very sexy, during the climax of the song. But the damned thing was stronger than I thought. My dance went to shit after that, and when the song ended, there was not a one-dollar bill on the stage. Even my sisters refused to tip me. I walked backstage fully clothed, and had to have Red help me with my pathetic outfit.

“I was terrible!” I laughed, as Red quickly removed my outfit with no problems.

“No you weren’t,” she said, helping me back into my dress.

“Yeah you was,” a voice said with a snicker. She had tried to conceal it, but I knew by the way she reacted to our gaze that she had intended for us to hear.

“Hey, bitch. Why don’t you keep your comments to yourself,” Red snapped, her temper flaring as a result of too much alcohol, and her possessiveness over me.

“Bitch, I can say what I want to. I run this motherfucker.” The girl was tall, her legs going on for days. Her skirt was so short I could see the cheeks of her ass, and her miniscule tube-top was just a thin piece of material that was just wide enough to cover her areolas.

“Ohhh, okay,” Red said, turning to me, feigning interest. Like she actually gave a shit who this girl was. “So you’re Lonnie. Now I see it. You do look a little butch. I’m pretty sure that’s a penis between your thighs.” This time, I did snicker.

“Bitch, what you laughing at?” she snapped. I guess she thought she could pick on the little one. Wrong.

“I will beat your ass with her,” I said, my voice slightly slurred, as I jutted my thumb at Red.

“Really, Dallas? That’s all you got?” Red asked, forgetting our confrontation for the moment to scold me on my pathetic comeback.

“Yeah,” I said, with a defeated sigh. “I’m pretty drunk.”

“You can’t dance and you can’t talk shit,” the skank who supposedly “ran shit” said, counting off each of my shortcomings on her fingers.

“Look chick,” Red started, as I stood next to her with my arms crossed, nodding my head to stress the importance of her words. “We’re here to have a good time. It’s her birthday and she danced for fun, not for tips. So, I would really, really appreciate it if you would just, shut. The. Fuck. Up.”
Go Red, go Red, go Red.
I chanted in my head, as Red pulled us away from the woman before she could respond. We made it to the table just in time to see top cunt take the stage. Red fought hard to control her anger, but I could tell the girl had gotten under her skin. I made a point of ignoring the girl and engaging in conversation with everyone, including Red. It seemed to be working until the bitch on stage walked in front of our table and threw a wad of ones at me.

“Here, ho. Bye ya’self some lessons.”

“Oh hell, naw!” Brooklyn said, standing and walking to the stage. “Bitch, we’ll fucking kill you!”

“Yep. That’s possible,” I added, standing and nodding in agreement with Brooklyn’s threat. “We do not fuck around. Nope. Not us.” I wobbled on my heels, trying to look intimidating, but in my inebriated state, I was more comical than threatening.

“Well why don’t we take it to the stage?” the girl asked, now through a microphone. Who the fuck had given her a microphone? I looked around, to find Chris on the phone. I was sure he was calling for back-up.

“Pussyyyy!” I whispered, loud enough for him to hear. He responded by giving me the finger, and I clutched my chest to feign a broken heart, which earned me a smirk. The crowd had grown louder, and I turned to see everyone cheering in favor of a dance off. I cheered too, throwing my fist in the air and screaming with the rest of the fools in the building.

“Would you sit down,” Mary said, with a laugh, as she pulled my arm to bring me back to my seat.

“You fuckin’ up, girl. That’s all I’m sayin’,” Punkin yelled to the woman on stage.