Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 76881 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 384(@200wpm)___ 308(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76881 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 384(@200wpm)___ 308(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
“So if at the end of all this, I pay you half a million dollars,” something that is feeling increasingly unlikely. “You don’t get to keep it? That doesn’t seem fair.”
“We know exactly what we’re getting into when we join,” Crank says. “The three of us would probably get bonuses, but who goes on what job can be a bit of a crapshoot. It would be serious bullshit if a guy who shows up and puts in his all like everyone else ends up with nothing because he had shitty luck.”
My entire understanding of their lifestyle shifts. My introduction to biker life was bloody and shocking, but for as rough and violent as the Outlaw Sons might be, these men have created their own small world that allows them to live their lives by their own rules. It’s like a sixties commune, but instead of peace and love, it’s sex, drugs and rock and roll. And guns.
“Why are you smiling?” Savage asks suspiciously.
I shrug, doubting that he’d appreciate the comparison. “No reason. It just seems like a nice setup if you can make it work.”
“Girls against guys!” A brunette shouts as she jogs across the lawn. Her hair is tied back in a bouncy ponytail and she’s wearing thick, black glasses. She stops right in front of us. “Hey! I’m Jessica. You’re Paige, right?”
Taken back, I nod. “Uh, hi.”
“Sorry, I’m not stalking you or anything. I’m Ghost’s old lady. He mentioned Savage was bringing someone back and I know how overwhelming this place can be at first so I was hoping to run into you. Wanna play cornhole? Two of us and two of them, right?”
I look at Crank and Savage.
“Up to you,” Savage says.
“Sure, but I have to warn you, I’ve only played a couple times.”
“You'll do fine.” She leads me into the field and picks up four red beanbags. “We’re going to play from the same side so we can gossip.”
Crank’s already grabbed the blue ones. “Those aren’t the rules.”
“Don’t care! So… How are you holding up? Ghost didn’t know much about your situation.”
“I’m still standing. Does that count? I don’t think anyone knows what’s going to happen to me, though.”
She nods and hands me two bags. “I know what you mean. When I first came here, it was seriously overwhelming. Savage, Crank and Poe will take care of you, though. I don’t know Crank and Poe that well, but Ghost and Savage work together a lot and I don’t think Savage would team up with anyone who you couldn’t depend on.”
Crank yells from the other end of the lawn. “You girls gonna throw or just yap all day?”
Jessica rolls her eyes and throws her first bean bag. It doesn't even hit the frame, just drops straight through the hole. Then she gives Crank the finger.
I step up to take a toss. “So you’re with Ghost? You’re not one of the…” Ugh. I don’t want to say it.
“Sluts? No.” She laughs softly. “I just call them club girls usually. They don’t seem to care but it still feels weird. And no, old ladies are official. I have my own patch and everything,” she says proudly. “Property of Ghost, Tex and Riot.”
“Three guys? I thought you just said Ghost!” My bag goes wild, not even hitting the board.
“Well, I mean… I am Ghost’s old lady. That’s why I heard about you, but I’m also Tex’s old lady, and Riot’s. I know it’s not exactly normal, but it works for us.” Jessica looks over, a little shy for the first time since she ran up. “And that’s what counts, right?”
All three guys? Is that why Savage and the others don’t seem to get jealous even though there’s been a lot of flirting with all of them? “How does it even work?”
“Well, sometimes I get on my hands and knees in the middle and then—Ha! If you could see your face.” Jessica bursts out laughing. “Sorry, too soon? I grew up kinda sheltered and now I spend most of my time around bikers. Pretty soon I’m not going to be fit for decent company.”
“Don’t worry, we’ll never finish this game so you won’t need to go anywhere,” Savage yells.
I look down to find all four of their bean bags on our side already. I hadn’t even noticed they’d gotten bored and taken their turns. “Fine!”
After the first round, we leave it for someone else to take a turn while we get more food. I take a beer, and sit down on the grass next to Savage and Crank as they talk about bikes. I tell Jessica the condensed version of how I ended up at the club, and she opens up a little bit about herself. It turns out she wasn’t caught like me, but actually kidnapped! I mean, it all worked out for the best, but it sounds like she came very close to not getting her happily ever after. A while later, Jessica's guys show up, and after a brief hello, they whisk her away in the direction of the building where Savage and Ghost live.