Chapter Four

By the time Adira woke up late the next morning, Livia had already gone to her job as manager of a liquor store. She took time to wash and dry her hair, before connecting her laptop to the Wi-Fi before sitting at the table to do some research on The Pussy Willow.

Cardinal was an average Midwest town with about eight thousand people. The local motorcycle club, the Death Riders, seemed to own several businesses, including the only strip club within fifty miles, making it a very successful joint. Right next to it lay Belladonna. She didn't like the word "whore," so she thought of it as a red-light house.

Then, because she couldn't help herself, she logged into her email where a dozen emails from her father, mother, and even Abel waited. Maybe she would've returned some of the emails had they been words of remorse. Maybe, if they would've apologized or shown any type of regret. Yet, not one word of acknowledging they were in the wrong. That they had broken God's covenant.

So, she deleted each email without replying to any of them.

When Livia got home, they ate dinner and got dressed for the bar. Adira expected a biker bar, but they pulled up to a place where country music spilled outside. Surprised, she glanced at Livia.

"You're not ready for anything hard core," Livia explained. "At least here, we can line dance."

Sounded like a plan.

Inside, the music poured through speakers, causing the floor to vibrate. Or perhaps that was due to the dancers and lines of people moving in a choreographed production. Everyone looked like they were having a great time, laughing as they repeated sequences of steps, dips, and twirls. It created a desire to get out there and learn it all.

"Cool, huh?" Livia asked, smiling wide.

"This is amazing!" Adira turned in a circle to take it all in. "This is my first time in a bar."

Livia blinked. "Really?"

Her incredulous tone brought heat to Adira's cheeks. "Never really had a desire. Or a chance."

"And now?"

"I want to come back again and again!"

Livia smiled. "Come on. Drink first followed by dancing. Learning the steps is easy."

"Just soda for me. I'll be the designated driver."

"You sure?"

Adira nodded.

The next few hours flew by as she danced to song after song. Livia had been right. The choreography was easy to learn. She enjoyed herself so much she forgot she was supposed to be checking out potential lovers. When she finally needed a break, they made their way to the bar.

"Thank you," she told Livia.

"For?"

"For bringing me here. I love this. I never thought I'd like line dancing so much."

They ordered their drinks and after they were delivered, they turned to people-watch.

"Okay, I need to know what type of man you like. I can help you better if I know where your taste lies."

Adira looked at all the men, trying to find someone who interested her. Most men were dressed in jeans, boots, and wore cowboy hats. Some were preppy guys who reminded her of Abel. She immediately dismissed those types of men. The cowboys didn't appeal.

"No?" Livia asked. "What about that man?"

She pointed to a guy wearing a Polo shirt and Adira shook her head. "Definitely not."

"How about him?"

Livia nodded to a big muscled bouncer and Adira wrinkled her nose. There wasn't anyone she found attractive, despite that many men watched them. They finally left the bar, and although she didn't find a man to take her V-card, she had fun. This was a world she had never visited before and she found she had loved it. She wanted more of it.

For the first time since leaving her childhood home, she thought she'd have fun discovering who Adira Dobias really was.

****

The next morning, she walked into the kitchen and came to an abrupt halt. A large, muscular man wearing a leather cut and sporting tattoos sat at the table eating pancakes.

"Morning," Livia said. "This is my boyfriend, Courtney. Court, this is Adira."

"Nice to meet you," Adira said, holding out her hand. Courtney shook it.

"Pancakes?"

"Sure," she replied. "Can I help you with anything?"

"Nope. I've got it all handled."

"Okay. I can do dishes."

"Perfect." Livia smiled, piled three pancakes on a plate, and handed it over.

Adira sat down across from Courtney and reached for the maple syrup. For the next few minutes, it was silent as they ate breakfast.

"There's an all-day party at the club," Livia said after wiping her mouth. "A get-together for wives and girlfriends in the day, and wildness at night. Would you like to come with us? Might give you a heads-up."

"Heads-up?" Courtney asked.

"Adira overheard two women talking about working at The Pussy Willow. Did Ares ever find a hostess?"

"Nope, the bastard is too picky. He has this vision of someone beautiful and angelic looking…" His voice trailed off as he glanced at Adira. "You should put in your application. You might be exactly what he's looking for."

The more she thought about it, the more she wanted that job at The Pussy Willow. She might have an edge, if what he said was true.

"You're more than welcome, Adira. The more the merrier." He looked her up and down. Not in a lascivious manner, more like he was assessing her. "It's a biker party. That means there's going to be booze. Drugs. Naked people, and a lot of fucking. Can you handle that?"

Adira looked over his leather vest. She'd never really been into bikers, thinking they were criminals, but she'd lived with people who had deceived her at every angle. Her family was reprehensible, so who was she to judge?

"Yes. As long as I'm not intruding."

"How about I drive us, and if you want to leave, you can drive home?"

"You sure?"

"Of course."

"Okay," Adira said. "Thank you."

"If you're going to drive, I'll head back," Courtney said. "Give me a kiss, baby."

Livia stood up on tiptoe to give him a quick kiss goodbye, only that didn't seem to satisfy him because he tangled his fingers in her hair and deepened the kiss. Adira wanted to look away, but the hard truth was she envied her friend. The kiss evoked an unexpected response through her body. It was sexual, sensua l— Courtney's obvious love and lust on full displa y— and it seemed neither one of them cared that she watched. She had never pictured herself as someone who might be a voyeur, and it made her wonder what sort of kinks she might be into. When the lovers broke apart, Adira had to drag a calming breath into her lungs.

Livia walked him outside, and a few minutes later, a motorcycle roared to life. She couldn't lie to herself and say that kiss between Livia and Courtney hadn't woken something deep inside. It made her long for something like it. A man to kiss her like his life depended on it. It was sad that Abel had never been that man.

Livia walked back into the house, a dreamy expression on her face. "Isn't he amazing?"

"I think he's very nice, that he treats you with respect, and you two make an awesome pair."

Livia beamed. "You really think so?"

"I do," Adira said quietly.

"I have a feeling you're going to get that job and find a man who knocks your socks off."

Adira cocked her head. "I'd prefer my clothes."

Her friend nodded enthusiastically. "Those too. Nothing empowers a woman more than accepting who she is and not giving a damn what others think."

Sound advice, and Adira took it to heart. Even if the thought terrified her. What if she didn't like sex? What if she was, indeed, a cold fish like Abel said she was?

"What are you thinking?" Livia asked.

"I'm wondering if Abel was right about me," she whispered.

"Oh, hun," Livia murmured and hugged her. "He's not, and you know why I know that?"

Adira shook her head.

"Because you chose to leave. If you were really what he thought you were, you would've stayed and accepted that stale life like your mother."

The thought of a future like that, going years with the knowledge her partner cheated, repelled her to her bones. It also made her realize that she didn't love Abel quite as much as she thought she had.

"Let me clean up the kitchen and then I'll go shower and get dressed."

Livia hugged her. "I'm so glad you're here."

"Me too," she whispered, hugging her back.

****

Her first glimpse of the Death Riders clubhouse impressed her. It was large, with two stories, sitting back from the road on a huge piece of land. A wall surrounded it dotted with warnings to keep out. Next to the house were several large garages and barns. Many, many motorcycles were parked all around. Several kids and adults were playing touch football, running back and forth. Several women were setting up food on the picnic tables. It was very much a family setting, despite all the fierce-looking tattooed bikers.

Livia took her hand and led her over to the women.

"Leia, this is my friend Adira."

The beautiful, long-haired woman holding a baby in her arms smiled. "Welcome, Adira. This is Chase, Sidonie, and Vivi. And this little guy is Leo."

As she pointed to each woman, they gave a little wave. Adira's heart melted when she glimpsed the soft downy hair of the baby.

"He's beautiful," she said.

Leia beamed. "My husband, Brim, is out running some errands. He'll be back later. Do you want something to eat?"

"We just had some late-morning pancakes, but thank you. Is there anything I can do to help?" Adira asked.

"I think everything is set up," Chase answered. "Just kick back and relax."

For the rest of the afternoon Adira mingled with the other women, listening and laughing. By late afternoon, she decided to get back to Livia's home to prepare for the interview tomorrow. Her friend told her to drive herself, since she was spending the night with Courtney. She hugged Leia, Chase, Sidonie, and Vivi before waving at the other women.

Driving back, a sense of peace came over her. Everything felt right, as if she'd finally found solid ground.