Page 38 of Nicolette

Chapter 16

Nicolette

Marco held the door open for me as I entered the dimly lit bar. The exterior wasn’t anything spectacular, just a two-story brick building with a smoking patio and some windows. Inside was a whole-ass other story. The space was massive as it went deep, with a long bar in the middle of the space. The area to sit and eat was up front and to the right, with a typical restaurant set up. To the left were about five pool tables with lots of people milling around them, drinking, chatting, and making out. Some were even playing pool with rather serious expressions on their faces. My guess—there was money riding on those games.

Circus put his hand on the small of my back and guided me to the bar. The wall it was situated on had various pictures, patches, and other biker memorabilia scattered across it like one giant scrapbook of the Savage Pride. The bar was polished wood and wider than most I’d seen, as if it was meant to support the habit of drunken women dancing on it. I had to chuckle at the mismatched bar stools as if they didn’t care because they’d just get broken eventually.

My attention was drawn to the large photograph of a man that hung in the center of the whole thing. The man was older, and if he was a shifter, it meant he was fucking ancient if he was showing his age. He had a long beard but braided it into two strands that hung down to his chest. His white hair was shaved into a mohawk, and from what I could see in the picture, he had some jailhouse-style tattoos running down both arms. Then I spotted the plaque under the image that said Viking Fifth President of the Savage Pride.

“That’s who Nine took over for when Viking passed,” Polo explained as he stepped up next to me. “He led the Savage Pride for sixty-some-odd years. The bastard was pushing a hundred and fifteen when he died.”

Impressed, I whistled, not really knowing what else to say.

“You hungry?” Polo asked as if snapping out of a daze. “I’m guessing Nine didn’t have much food in his place. I think that’s why he sent Circus up to check on you.”

Not wanting a repeat of Dice’s reaction, I blew past the comment and sat down. “I would love some food, plus you guys keep telling me I need to eat more. So tell me, what’s good here?”

“That depends on who you ask, little lady,” a deep voice said from the other side of the bar.

Glancing over, I found the bartender standing in front of me, a curious expression on his face. This dude looked like he lived in the forest with his long thick dark hair, full beard that came down to his chest, and bushy eyebrows that just added to the wild image. He wore a leather vest with the Savage Pride logo on it with a member patch under it, followed by his name—Zealot.

“Valid point,” I agreed, then gestured to him. “What’s your opinion on the subject?”

“Always ask who the cook is, and if they say it’s Barf-Bag, then don’t order a goddamn thing,” he answered.

Having no idea what to do with that information, I just blinked and asked the most logical question. “Who is the cook today?”

“Hydra,” Zealot stated.

I felt a little lost and looked at Polo for help, but he simply smiled, leaning casually against the bar like nothing at all was going on. Okay, so clearly, this is a test. They want to know if I can control my emotions when I get emotional. Fine, then I’ll gladly show them I’m more than capable of handling myself.

“How about this, Zealot? Why don’t I let you surprise me? I like all kinds of food, not allergic to anything, enjoy spicy things or not spicy things. The choice is yours,” I offered.

He narrowed his eyes at me for a moment as if he thought I was playing a trick on him or something. Then his gaze flicked to my left where Circus was standing, and instantly straightened. “You’ll eat whatever I give you?”

“As long as it has protein, she’s a new shifter,” Polo interjected.

That had Zealot’s brows shooting up until they got lost in his shaggy hair. “That so…”

“Yes,” Polo confirmed. “If you could also bring us four Tiger Stripes as well.”

“Sure thing. She gonna be able to handle her liquor?”

Circus leaned forward on the counter and smiled. “Why don’t you let us worry about that.”

That ended the conversation, and the large man was off to get whatever I was going to eat and the drinks Polo had asked for. Spinning my stool around so I was facing the rest of the bar, I took in the back half of the place. It had beat-up couches in an area that men and women alike were using as they drank and talked. However, I did notice these women seemed to be what the guys referred to as sweetbutts. All of them had skimpy clothes, hair done up, makeup on, and the way they always seemed to lead with their chest was a dead giveaway.

Past them, it looked like a stage was set up for live music and a dance floor. It made me curious if this place was open to the public or if this was a members and pride-only space. Right now, it seemed to be purely Savage Pride members, and those my lioness told me were felines as well. There were, however, a few of the sweetbutts that weren’t, but I couldn’t place what they might be. Supernatural to be sure, but I couldn’t quite put my finger on it.

“What seems to have caught your attention?” Marco whispered in my ear, almost making me jump, but I didn’t.

“Those two women over there,” I said, gesturing with my chin, trying to be subtle. “They’re not felines.”

“Ah… yes, I could see why your feline pinpointed them so fast,” Marco commented with a nod. “Before I tell you what they are, I want to make it clear that none of those you’ve claimed have ever been with them.”

That got my full attention.

“They are succubi,” Marco informed me.