AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Auditions for Prez’s Bachelor Party,” he said out the side of his mouth, like he was telling a secret.
Shaking my head, I appreciated his friendly gesture, but it was no secret that there’d be strippers at Royal Road. “Where’s my ol’ man?”
“Prez is at Haven’s.”
Knowing there were naked women inside, I pushed past Mateo and walked through Royal Road, giving Opry the stink eye as I did. But I was surprised at the sheer number of ladies on the stage.
The biker still tipped his hat and winked a greeting.
“Aren’t you worried about the fire code?” I asked.
“Just doing my job, Eve. Got a lot of brothers to entertain Friday night, not just Kingpin who will take half of them.”
Gasping, I walked off.
Minnie, a sweetbutt bartender that had been around longer than me, caught me and pulled me aside. “They all think they’ll be putting out too,” she said, implying Kingpin would be cheating on me at his bachelor party.
“Well, duh. They probably will be,” I said, with a shrug, like it didn’t bother me.
Hell, she might’ve been just talking about the other guys. Knowing how to handle the drama around here, I walked off like I was completely unbothered. However, I took a shortcut through the club and came out the back, fuming. I marched myself over to Haven’s like I was going to war. She lived all the way in the back of the property. As I got closer, I saw Kingpin on the porch with little Prince, Haven and her boyfriend, Adan, who was a prospect called Buzz after his late grandfather, Buzzard, sitting on the porch swing. It was all as sweet as pie.
My biker saw me and helped Prince wave to me, holding up his little arm and pointing me out. I had to smile as I treaded the road although I wasn’t happy at all. However, I couldn’t avoid noticing, Kingpin, in his cut and leather pants, was gorgeous as ever, and all smiles. I tempered my anger. How could I be mad?
There was my ol’ man doing exactly what he told me he’d do, pick up our son from the babysitter. He could be at Royal Road enjoying the show, but he was smiling my way. It’s not like he wasn’t there in the club all the time amongst the sweetbutts and nude dancers, anyway.
Kingpin still sat on his ridiculous throne and had women throw themselves at him on the regular. Biker was a legend and had an image to uphold. He was the product Royal Road was selling as much as the danger, the debauchery, and the gambling. The only difference was he went home with me every night.
When I reached them, my smile was genuine. I greeted Prince with nose kisses, as per our ritual. But he wanted to stay in his daddy’s arms. After thanking Haven for watching Prince, knowing Kingpin was paying her well, we walked with him arm and arm back to our abode.
“You’re back early. Everything okay?” Kingpin asked as we meandered at a snail’s pace.
“Why didn’t you tell me Hob was at Gran’s?” I whispered because Prince’s head was on Kingpin’s leather clad shoulder, his little eyes drooping.
“Supposed to be a surprise,” he whispered back, smirking. “Were you surprised?”
“I was surprised he had a woman with him, so he didn’t know I was coming.”
“It was a surprise for him too,” Kingpin explained, still being quiet. “A woman?” He hadn’t known about that.
Prince fell asleep on the way to the big house, so Kingpin took him to his room, and our conversation continued in a normal tone. And I tried not to raise my voice. It’d be no time until Connie dropped off Angel, and I craved a moment to rest.
Following Kingpin to our music room, I shut the door behind us and took a seat beside him at the piano. This room doubled as our living room and was littered around the edges with toys and baby supplies.
Without a word, he started playing some Joni Mitchell, and I sang. I knew he liked to decompress when he came home, so I was holding off a conversation I wanted to have. Closing his eyes, Kingpin started one of his favorites, “Desperado.” He played beautifully, but I was in no mood to practice.
“I don’t feel like singin’,” I said. Leaving him, I went to the couch.
After he finished the song, he joined me.
“Beau,” I started. I often called him his real name in private. “I appreciate you wanting to surprise me with Hob, but you know what I really want.”
Brushing my hair with his ring covered hand, Kingpin wouldn’t meet my eyes. “Eve, Love, your dad can’t come to our wedding. We’ve been over this.”
“The Gods who had a kill order against me and Hob, that chapter, Arkansas, has a new president… What’s his name? You said yourself that I was probably safe now. You could at least try,” I whined.
We’d had this discussion before. I still wasn’t over the fact my dad would not be giving me away.
“That’s why I called Hob,” Kingpin said, his eyes gentle.
