I nodded, barely understanding. But I was beginning to realize that I didn’t know anything about him, as much as I thought I did. Sure, he’d been something of a manwhore back in high school, but that had been so many years ago. He’d gone through so much, had turned into a man, but I kept thinking of him as the boy across the street.
That was probably a mistake. I needed to remember that Ford was something else now, badass and scary. But also apparently willing to go out of his way to keep me safe.
What had I done to deserve that? And why would he sacrifice so much for it?
“Anyway,” Janine said, “you’ll be fine. Just keep an eye out for the other girls. Some of them can be pretty jealous.”
“Are there a lot?”
She shrugged. “A few of us hang around here, trying to bag one of these assholes.”
“Who are you interested in?”
She smiled shyly and nodded at the big man from the night before, the one she had been sitting with. “Clutch. I don’t know, there’s something about big men, you know?”
“Sure, I know.”
I looked at her and really tried to see her. Janine had brown eyes and blond hair, going darker at the roots. She wore a low-cut black top and black denim jeans with cowboy boots. She was pretty and young, probably my age, but she looked more serious somehow, like she’d seen a thing or two. I’d totally overlooked her the night before, but she was being really nice to me. I didn’t know why I deserved it, since apparently I was throwing the club into chaos, but I appreciated it beyond belief.
I found myself feeling incredibly grateful toward her. If she hadn’t walked over, I would have been sitting there alone, stewing in my anger.
Instead, Janine had gone out of her way to try to make me feel comfortable. I realized I was probably being rude, but she was still trying anyway.
“Thanks,” I said to her, trying to smile. “I really appreciate your help.”
“Hey, no problem,” she said. “Just trying to help a girl out, you know? Wish someone had said this shit to me when I first came here.”
“What else should I know?”
She leaned back in her chair. “Well, Larkin is boss, so do what he says. And if the boys say something is club business, that means you better stop asking questions.” She shrugged. “For the most part, if you keep your mouth shut and smile, the guys will treat you like you don’t exist.”
“Sounds pretty bad.”
“It’s good, actually. Better than them trying to fuck you all the time.”
I laughed. “Yeah, okay. I can see that.”
Before she could speak, a young man suddenly pushed in through the clubhouse door. Everyone’s eyes were suddenly on him as he walked across the floor toward the back room.
Clutch, Spoil, and Ford all stepped up to him before he could get there.
“You lost, son?”
It took me a second to realize that the young man was wearing the same patch on his jacket as Rod had.
“That’s a Rebel,” Janine whispered.
“I recognized the patch,” I said.
“Got a message for your boss,” he said.
“You can give it to me,” Ford answered.
“Got to give it right to him.”
Clutch stepped up, cracking his knuckles. “I think you’re confused,” he said. “You’re in our clubhouse. You do what we say in here.”
He took half a step back. Clutch was easily five inches taller than he was.
“Orders,” he said.
“You can order my fucking fist in your mouth,” he said. The boys cackled.
“Enough,” Larkin said from behind them. “Let him through.”
Looking relieved, Clutch stepped aside as the Rebel walked through. They disappeared into the back room.
“What’s happening?” I asked Janine.
She shrugged. “Club business.”
“My friend was in that club, the Rebels.”
“Well then. My guess is this has something to do with you.”
I stared over at Ford, and he simply nodded back before returning to talking to the guys.
My guts were a mess of worry and confusion. Janine continued talking about the club, pointing out guys and naming them, but I could barely follow. I kept thinking about Rod, his body getting filled with bullets, and the blood spreading into the dirt.
The kid was in there for what felt like an hour. Finally, the door to the back room opened and he quickly walked out. He crossed the room and pushed through the door, leaving as fast as he could.
Larkin was right behind him. “Got a meeting,” he said. “Ford, Spoil, Clutch, you’re with me.”
The four men walked across the clubhouse. Ford caught my eye. “Stay here,” he said. “I’ll be back.
“I’ll take good care of her,” Janine said, smiling.
I stood up. “Wait,” I said. “Hold on. I should come.”
The men stopped and stared at me. “This is club business,” Larkin said. “You stay.”
“I can help. I saw what happened.”