“Raven is one of a kind. Believe me, I don’t want you to be like her. I want you to be like yourself. Now, I think dinner tonight is a lost cause. Get changed, I’m going to take you out to the bar. We’re going to enjoy some wings and some dancing.”
“We are?”
“Why not?”
“It’ll be our first official date.”
He saw it made her nervous to say.
“Then you better get ready. A few of the boys will join us for sure, but I don’t have a problem with that.” He pulled her to her feet. Staring down at her clothes, he pressed his lips together, thinking. “Do I need to call Raven here to pick you out a fresh outfit?”
She glanced down at herself. “She left some clothes behind.”
“We’re good then. Don’t worry about it. Come on, chop, chop. We’re going to have some fun.”
He left the bedroom to give her a chance to get ready. Pulling out his cell phone, he sent Smokey and the boys a text. Not all of them would be able to make it to Ryan’s place, but some of them would, and he wanted Abriana to have a night that was filled with fun. He also didn’t want to have guys breathing down her neck, looking for some pussy.
Chapter Ten
Abriana sat tense at the table while Ugly Beast went and got them some food.
“You really need to relax,” Raven said.
Her new friend had arrived at the house just as she and Ugly Beast were leaving. She was shocked when he invited Raven, especially as he seemed to blow hot and cold with the other woman.
“I’m fine.”
“I heard what happened. You need to learn to kick your dad in the nuts, or grab them really hard, and pull. It’ll keep every single man away from you.”
She hated that so many people knew her father hated her. He despised her enough to hurt her where he could leave marks. She touched her neck. Did he do it on purpose because of Ugly Beast? Thinking her new husband was more than likely to leave marks on her flesh.
She stared down at the table, feeling the greatest wave of shame.
Stop it. He doesn’t want you to feel that way.
Taking a deep breath, she forced herself to look up.
“That’s the spirit,” Raven said. “You got to stop worrying about what people think.”
“Is that what you do?” Abriana asked.
“I’m a biker chick, sweetheart. I’ve been judged on everything. Whether I fuck the club, the men out of it. Believe me I’ve been called so many names. All of them make me laugh. Bitch, whore, slut, fucker, ho, you name it, I’ve been called it.” Raven shrugged. “You got to learn to put on your armor. People only fuck with you if they think they can.”
“I wish it was that easy.”
“True, I wasn’t brainwashed to think of myself as lesser of a person. Your guys do a number on you, huh?”
“I don’t think I know. I guess. I mean, we’re not required to do a whole lot of things, you know. We’re too stupid to know family business, or not bright enough to pick our own husbands.” She hated it.
Raven placed a hand over hers. “In a way you can count yourself lucky. You got out. No one here is ever going to force you to do shit you don’t want to do. If they do, I’ll kick their ass.”
“And Raven terrifies most of the male populace. I have a feeling she’s switching teams. You trying to seduce my wife?”
“Please, it wouldn’t be that hard. I know how to arouse and pleasure a woman.” Raven stroked a finger down her arm.
Abriana looked to Ugly Beast, but he seemed more amused than anything else.
“You brought the wings with you?” Raven asked, taking one.
Abriana waited for Ugly Beast to take one before having her turn.
“Have one, Abriana. Be warned, they are spicy as fuck!”
Raven moaned. “So good. You got more food than this, right? I’m dancing, and I’m going to need my strength for whatever fight breaks out.”
“You have one,” Abriana said.
“I won’t have one until you do.” Ugly Beast waited for her, and seeing he was going to starve if she didn’t take one, she reached in, taking a wing. “See, that wasn’t so hard.”
“Why do I feel this is a big deal?” Raven asked.
“The men in her world are used to being served first. The women wait their turn,” Ugly Beast said.
“Wow, fucking wow.” Raven shook her head. “Is it wrong of me to want to be in their world and fuck with their heads?”
Abriana smiled.
“I see that look, honey. You know I’d cause trouble, right?”
“They wouldn’t have a clue what to do with you.” Abriana glanced over at Ugly Beast.
“Take a bite.”
She rolled her eyes. Sinking her teeth into the flesh, she took a bite. An explosion of flavor hit her tongue, and she closed her eyes, enjoying the taste.