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“Not sure yet. We all knew Reaper was getting up there.” He looked to Prez and sighed. “But it’s gonna be a shit show until the new president and vice president are elected.”
Hawk lit a smoke and offered one to him. “So, you’re not adding your name?”
“Hell no. You?” He took the cigarette but didn’t light it, simply rolling it between his fingers and already tasting the addictive nicotine. He tried to stop years ago. It was nearly impossible when cigarette smoke was as available as air in the club.
“Please, God, no.” Hawk blew out a billow of smoke and stood. “Hate making decisions that affect the whole club, ya know? Not sure I could do it longer than a week.”
“Agreed. It’ll be a sad day when Reaper steps down.” Brewer followed suit and stood, pushing the rolling chair back under the table. He briefly made eye contact with Reaper. The man was a second father to him, especially after his own dad died. The same could be said about most the club members. Reaper was always there when somebody needed him. Without a doubt, that would remain true during Reaper’s retirement, but Brewer wasn’t looking forward to Macha’s future without the old Irishman heading it.
“Brewsky, are you coming? Karaoke starts in five minutes. Don’t wanna miss the first group.”
Turning back to Hawk, he nodded, and they made their way out of the room. “You offering some deals at the parlor tonight?” Brewer asked the other man.
Hawk pinched a nymph’s ass as they walked past her. “Hell yeah. Twenty percent off any music-themed tatt. Should be fun.”
“I’ll get the bartenders to spread the word.” They walked by the kitchen, where they each grabbed some fresh pastries before exiting through the side door and walking across the lot to the bar and tattoo parlor combination.
“Thanks.” Hawk took one long drag, then snuffed out the cigarette in a melting pile of slush outside the tattoo shop entrance. “Any drink specials tonight?”
“Nah, just the usual.” They stepped into the parlor, and he snapped his fingers. “Which reminds me—I need to grab some more pretzels from the basement. I have a feeling we’ll go through a lot tonight.”
Hawk nodded but was quickly distracted by a woman in a low-cut shirt waiting at his station.
Brewer paused at the saloon-style doors that separated the bar from the tattoo shop. Three artists were already hard at work, and two others were ready to go. It was what he liked to see on a Friday night.
Pushing open the doors, he grinned at the onslaught coming from the bar. It was already filled nearly to capacity. Karaoke had been a good idea.He hurried to the basement, filling both arms with pretzel boxes before heading back upstairs to slide into his spot behind the bar. It was looking like another successful night.The first singer chose a Carrie Underwood ballad, and he rolled his eyes at the two ready to sing the duet.Women. Who the hell has time for them for longer than an hour or two?His only priorities were his club, the bar, and finding out who murdered his parents. Everything else was static in the background.
CHAPTER2
DELPHI
“I can’t believeyou convinced me to do this.”
Delphi Windsor grinned like a cat with a bowl of cream. “Aw, come on. Live a little, Jupiter. It’s just a little Carrie and Miranda.”
Jupiter Hardy bit her bottom lip. “I haven’t sung in public since… well, college, probably, and I was drunk off my ass.” She pointed to her torso. “I can’t exactly get wasted in my condition.”
Leaning down, Delphi patted the bump that had finally started to show on the lean woman. It was petite and adorable just like Jupiter. “Kick if you want your mama to sing some karaoke.”
“That’s not how it—” Jupiter’s eyes bugged when the little one sent a flutter toward Delphi’s hand.
“Ha! See, now you have to do it! Your baby commanded.” Delphi stood upright and placed her hands on her hips. “Once this little MC cutie is born, you’ll be up to your nose in diapers and bottles. The least you can do is give me some blackmail material.”
The other woman sighed. “Fine. One song, but that’s it.” She glanced around the bar and waved at the incoming Macha bikers. “Oh, goody. Rubble’s here to see us too.”
Delphi downed a shot of whiskey and let out a breath. “All righty, girlfriend. We’re up first.”
“Wait, what?”
“I planned ahead.” Delphi took another shot as a spotlight focused on the stage. “No pansying like you did with paintballing.”
Jupiter gave her an incredulous glance. “I found out I was pregnant, and you wanted to go paintballing the next day. I’d hardly call that being a pansy.”
“Okay, okay, you win.” She slung her arm around Jupiter’s neck. Since meeting her four months earlier, Delphi couldn’t imagine a better friend than Jupiter. Between joining a bowling league together and their common love for food, it hadn’t been hard to find a kindred spirit in each other.
Pushing her shoulder-length brown hair behind her ears, Delphi steered Jupiter toward a booth near the makeshift stage. Despite living in Snowshoe for most of her life, it was her first time at Booze & Tattoos.Mostly because it’s a biker joint.
She glanced around and noticed that at least half of the patrons were current or retired MC patches.Yep, bikers, bikers, and more bikers.
