Page 67 of Property of Kevlar

Kelsey

Kelsey wasn’t sure what she expected, but what she saw wasn’t it. A single-story beige building with several windows and a dark roof. Floodlights were mounted on poles, illuminating the lot. The front reminded Kelsey of a hotel that offered valet parking with a large portico covering the entrance. Beneath it, several motorcycles stood. None were familiar to her.

Of the myriad cars surrounding her, she recognized none, which only made the knot of nerves in her stomach tighten. With her arm looped into Carrie’s, she did her best to wear a brave face as they followed a small group toward the door.

A burly man with a shaved head, torn jeans, and a Henley with a leather vest over it guarded the entrance. His patch was bright white, probably new, and read Prospect where Kev’s had his nickname.

He seemed to scan IDs and pat people down before they went inside. From the outside, this place was the furthest thing from a nightclub. Yet the process of gaining access was identical.

Standing aside while the group before them was inspected, Kelsey glanced around. As much of a long shot as the hope was, considering the men were fighting, she couldn’t help but wish for Kev to either be outside watching or inside waiting.

Carrie said they were at war. There was no way he’d be invited.

“Chris!” Carrie squealed, returning Kelsey’s attention to the bouncer at the door.

Stooping slightly, he wrapped his arms around her friend and lifted her in a hug.

“Rumor has it, your big night has arrived,” he said once he released her.

Kelsey furrowed her brows. What did that mean? Peering at her friend, Kelsey had to wonder what Carrie hadn’t told her.

Carrie beamed and twirled a lock of hair around her finger. “Maybe. Mike hasn’t really said much.”

“Well, I, for one, am looking forward to making it official,” he said with a pat to her ass and a wink.

What the fuck was going on?

Carrie’s cheeks tinged pink as she swatted his hand away. “Stop it.” She giggled nervously.

Despite her friend’s cheery exterior, dread settled in Kelsey’s chest, expanding like a balloon. Everyone around her was having a good time, but it didn’t feel right. From everything she’d seen about these men, they weren’t good people. Would tonight be the night they finally showed themselves to be who they really were?

Or was Kelsey wrong? Was Kev the bad guy in all of this?

“This is Kelsey.” Carrie stepped out of the bouncer’s reach and gestured in Kelsey’s direction. “I’m not sure if you two have met yet.”

Chris’s eyes ran her up and down. His leer made her skin crawl. “You seem like a handful,” he commented.

She summoned every ounce of her willpower to bite her tongue for Carrie’s sake. Apparently, this was her special night. Kelsey didn’t want to ruin it.

“We can go in, right?” Carrie asked.

Licking his lips, Chris nodded.

“See you later,” Carrie called over her shoulder as she yanked Kelsey through the door.

Once inside, Kelsey got a better view of their work-in-progress clubhouse. Vastly different from the fort in the woods she imagined children would make, she was impressed. Though it was far from finished.

The floors were cement, and the walls were bare. Two-by-four structures, clearly the beginning of something more, had plywood on top of them to serve as a makeshift bar. The place smelled of drywall, fresh paint, and pungent, dank weed. A few other lingering scents assaulted Kelsey’s nose, but she couldn’t identify them, other than to say they were unpleasant.

While not quite packed to the gills, far more people were at this thing than she’d expected. Men in leather vests, some without, and scantily clad women mingled about. Several ladies had more clothes than others. The women with everything covered clung to men. The ones who were practically naked were dancing, drinking, and smoking God only knew what.

“What is this?” Kelsey asked as she latched on to Carrie.

“A party,” her friend responded gleefully. “We need to find Mike.”

Did they, though? Kelsey’s hackles were thoroughly raised. She couldn’t explain why. There wasn’t an obvious threat about this place. For some reason, she wasn’t picking up on the happy vibe of everyone else.

“Cheeks!” someone hollered.