Chapter 9

“Queenie!” Penny squealsexcitedly as I step into Elevation. She rushes over to me, arms out in greeting, but stops just shy of giving me a hug. She lowers them but gives me a big smile. “It’s so good to see you.”

“You can hug me, Penny.” I laugh. “I’m not going to bite.”

Her eyes widen in surprise. “Really?”

“Yes.” I shake my head with amusement before pulling her into a hug.

“Wow,” she says in wonder. “I’m not used to that.”

“Don’t get used to it.” I wink. “Looks like pregnancy has me all peoplely and shit. It’s weird, but not too bad. So, tell me, how are you doing?”

“I’m good.” She gives me a shy smile. “Thank you so much for hiring me back.”

“You’re family, Penny. You will always be able to leave and return at any point in time. As long as you”re not bringing any bullshit back here with you.”

“Oh, no of course not.” Her eyes widen in alarm. “I was just going to college.”

“I know.” I laugh. “I’m just messing with you. You did good kid. I’m proud.”

She gives me a beaming smile ugh, the damn hormones making me emotional at the pure happiness at my words.

“Thank you,” she whispers.

“Have you given any thoughts about what position you would like?” I ask as I make my way over to the bar.

A blush takes over her cheeks. “I’ve been thinking about dancing maybe? I don’t know, it just seems like so much fun watching you and the girls up there.”

“It is a lot of fun. Also one of the safest places you can be. If that”s what you want to do, go for it. If you want to help Roxy bartend, I’m sure she wouldn’t mind showing you the ropes.”

Roxy looks up from where she’s drying off glasses and gives Penny a wink. “I sure wouldn’t, doll face.”

“And if you want to just keep serving like you were before, that”s fine too.”

“Okay.” She nods as she looks around. “I’ll give it some thought. I’m going to go look for Lola, if that”s alright.”

“Go for it.” I grin.

“Thanks again, Queenie. And congratulations on the baby.”

Penny leaves and I turn to face Roxy. She’s watching me with this amused look in her eyes.

“What?” I narrow my gaze on her.

“Nothing,” she laughs. “Just haven’t seen you around in a few weeks.”

“I know.” I groan as I lower my forehead to the bar top. “I love my guys, I do. Even if I don’t hand out those words like candy. But God, they are so damn overprotective. More so Neo. That man is up my ass like I’m going to break if I sneeze too hard,” I whine, lifting my head to look at her.

Her smile grows. “That man is obsessed with you. And I am not at all surprised he’s acting this way. What I am surprised about is that he’s not here with you right now. How did you manage that?”

I chew on my lower lip, a small guilty look taking over my face. “I kind of snuck out of the house.”

Her brow raises. “What are you, fifteen?”

“What!” I throw my arms up in the air. “It’s what I’ve had to resort to, okay. They seem to forget about the fact that I’ve killed enough people to fill a graveyard, yet it’s too dangerous for me to go out alone. So, yes, I’ve sunk low enough to dip out of the house while Neo was cleaning out the animal pens, okay?”

“You have no idea how happy I am for you.” She gives me a genuine smile.

“What? Why?”

“Because I’ve seen you at your worst. And I know all the bullshit you’ve been through. Seeing you being able to experience a bit of normalcy, to be with the people you love and be happy, it’s everything, Queenie.”

“Oh.” I blink a few times. “Thanks.” She just smiles and stares at me. I don’t like it. “So, when are you going to get your happily ever after?”

She snorts out a laugh. “Never.” She looks down as she grabs another glass to dry. “I don’t mind the life I live. I get what I need sexually when I need it. I don’t have to worry about anyone but myself. My life is here. I don’t need anyone else, I have all of you.”

“Yeah, but you can’t fuck us.” I laugh. “Okay, maybe some of us, but I know you don’t swing both ways. And getting meaningless sex will become boring at some point. You”re in your early thirties, Roxy. I think after everything you’ve been through, you deserve someone to take care of you.”

“Says the woman who fought your men tooth and nail?”

“Shush, you.” I wave my hand at her. “We’re talking about you. Not me. Also, don’t think I haven’t seen those two men who’ve been hanging around here. They’ve got eyes on you. What”s the deal with that?”

She licks her lips and takes a moment to answer. “No deal. I’ve met one of them outside the club before. Just a casual run in.”

“Before or after they started coming here?”

“After.” She shrugs. “Doesn’t matter, because they’re together.”

“So.” I raise a brow. “Doesn’t mean they don’t have a thing for you too. And, they have to be decent men to even be able to make it through the front door. I’m not going to tell you what to do, Rox, but just remember life isn’t all about work. Take it from me, letting someone in, as scary as it might be to risk getting hurt again, it’s worth it. Not all men are like him.”

And by him, I mean the human garbage who was the reason Roxy ended up in Triver’s club in the first place.

“I know.” She swallows hard. “Even if it’s been fifteen years, it still feels like yesterday sometimes.”

I sigh heavily. “I get that.” My phone buzzes and I pull it out of my pocket and groan. “Hello, my Pet. What can I do for you?” I answer the phone in a sugary sweet tone, making Roxy chuckle. I glare at her and flip her off.

“Where did you go? I came in the house to wash up, and you’re not here.”

“Because I left.”

“Why?”he asks with a growl. “Who’s with you? Did you leave with one of the others? Because I see Evie and Sam in the back yard with Rosie. Cass and Axel are helping out with Tyson down at the clubhouse and Dean is working.”

“No. I did not take anyone with me. Neo, I’m thirty, a grown woman. I can leave on my own.”

“Not with my baby in that belly,”he warns.

“I’m sorry. You want to back the fuck up and try again?” I ask, growing irritated. “I could chop your balls off and feed them to the dog if I wanted to.”

“We don”t even have a dog,”he mutters. “Look, I’m sorry. I just want to make sure you”re okay. I worry.”

“I know you do. But I’m not glass, okay? I don”t need to be babysat. I’m going to go grab something to eat then I’ll be back.”

“Where are you? I’m done with the back yard, I can come grab you and take you.”

“Neo,” I growl.

“Just tell the poor guy you”re on your way home,” Roxy says and I shoot her a glare.

“Is that Roxy? Are you at the club?”

“Neo. No!”

“Already on my way.”And then the fucker hangs up.

“Fuck,” I hiss.

“What?” Roxy asks concerned.

“I had plans and he’s going to mess them up.” I sigh, standing up from the stool.

“What plans?”

I give her a grin. “I’m horny as fuck and I’ve been picturing Dean railing me on his office desk lately. He’s been working so hard, picking up the other guys’ slack while they fuss over me. So I wanted to help him with a bit of stress relief.” I wiggle my brows. “But, not if Neo finds me. So, if he asks, I went out to eat. Bye!”

I love that man, I really fucking do. But he’s been inside me so damn much this week that the others are starting to get pissed. I made sure once we started this relationship, that no one felt left out, but Neo is obsessed with my belly and is always so damn turned on. And don’t get me wrong, I love it. The man knows how to work his cock and my body, but I also want the other guys too. He needs to learn to share.

I hope Dean wasn’t set on what to eat for lunch, because I plan on that being me.