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Janet Revers was gone entirely; no one would ever equate Bunny Jones, who wore tight-fitting clothes and pranced around a bar, with Janet. I looked, acted, and was completely different. Janet wouldn’t say boo to a goose while I’d no problems bending a man’s fingers back. Janet did everything by the letter of the law, and I was being paid under the counter and breaking the law with a phoney licence. Not to mention the fake background I’d purchased.
Working at the library, I’d overheard many things that I usually ignored. When the shitstorm hit, I’d chased one kid who got fake IDs for his classmates. Then discovered another forger from him, chasing them down the line before finally landing at the feet of a guy who could give me a whole new background. That had cost me fifty thousand, but he assured me his work was good. When I asked Magic how he’d known the licence was fake, he told me there was no way I was a Bunny. I snickered at that, but no one else challenged me. Magic didn’t ask questions, and I didn’t offer information. That worked for us.
Upstairs, I had a stash hidden away alongside the money I’d pulled from my bank before cutting up and dumping my credit cards. I’d have loved to have a bank account, but Magic seeing through the forgery had made me wary. Even though Magic assured me it was one of the best he’d seen. The bar was fun to work at, and everyone was mostly friendly. Alice had explained that there was one rule; Magic’s bar was neutral. Nobody started shit on his land or within three miles of it, or Magic would come down on them. Alice told me about the rumours of bodies being buried behind the pub.
I wasn’t sure about that rumour and allowed it to pass me by. Magic was a good guy and doing me a huge favour. That was all that mattered. Since then, I’d become familiar with the MCs that came to the bar. There seemed to be nine or ten regular clubs, and the rest drifted in and out periodically. Whoever they were, they respected Magic’s rules, and no one tried to cross him. Magic was a biker, too, but called himself a lone wolf. A man who rode without a club, but he had enough ties to other MCs that if he needed allies, they were only a phone call away.
I scarfed down the last slice of pizza and drank the coffee Magic left for me. I know Magic told me to take half an hour, but I’d heard pipes roar up and guessed several bikers had arrived. Knowing Magic was on his own, I dumped the rubbish, choked down the coffee, and exited the kitchen. I paused as I saw Hellfire grouped around a table, and a glance informed me Pyro wasn’t present. Hellfire had been here many times, and I’d not seen Pyro, which was a relief. Six months ago, I needed him. Now I didn’t. I shot behind the bar even as Magic scowled at me for cutting my break short, and a wink mollified him.
“Did you eat?” Magic demanded.
“Yes, papa bear and drank the coffee. I’m good to go. Hellfire order their usual?” I asked, and Magic nodded. I plonked a tray on the bar and filled it with craft beers. Shee, a brother, once told me the only time they drank the brand was when they were at Magics. I liked Shee; he was friendly and funny and often made jokes.
“Hey, Magic, can you do me a favour?” a voice rumbled, and I fumbled the beer I was opening. Magic sent me a curious look and turned to Pyro. Shit, somehow I’d missed him. I took a few moments to collect myself and placed the beers on the tray.
“What’s up, dude?” Magic rumbled. I sensed his curiosity, but Magic didn’t make a thing out of it.
“I’m looking for a woman,” Pyro said, and Magic cut him off.
“Not in my bar, you ain’t. Not having cock swinging dicks over who lays which bitch!” Magic growled.
“Jeez, you think I don’t know the rules by now?” Pyro retorted. “This is an old friend of mine, and she’s missing and in danger. Magic you ride, and people from everywhere visit the bar. Can I place this poster up so if anyone sees Janet, they could contact me?” My body was growing stiff listening, and I felt the flight response kick in.
“Bunny, you got your head in the clouds?” Magic snapped, and I stiffened. “Get Hellfire their drinks; Alice is collecting glasses.” I straightened and looked in Magic and Pyro’s direction before nodding. Pyro glanced over, and I forced myself to relax. Quietly, I picked up the tray and ignored them as I carried it over. Chance nodded as I placed the tray down and handed out their beers. On the way back, Pyro passed me without a second glance, and I heaved a sigh of relief.
The poster had been put near the till, and I opened a tab for Hellfire and glanced at it. Thankfully, it was my work picture, one of the worst I’d ever taken. My hair was scraped back tightly, and oversized glasses hid my high cheekbones, which I emphasised now. My hair looked a dull brown, none of the glossiness it now boasted, and I was dressed in a buttoned-up top and skirt with a cardigan.
A smile crossed my lips as I glanced down at the tattoos covering my arms and the large one on my left front shoulder. Janet Revers would never have had tattoos in her life! Although, to be honest, she hadn’t now. I’d found a guy who did the incredible airbrush tattoos using a new method. Sly had done all of them, and they looked just as good as real ones. If not better. He told me they’d last six to eight months, and I had an appointment with Sly next week to get them freshened up.
Magic had commented on the tattoos, saying the artwork was great. He’d never mentioned them being fake, so I imagined they passed muster. Curiously, I turned my attention to the poster; our face shapes were the same, but that was where our likeness ended. I was no longer Janet Revers and was now Bunny Jones. Pyro could search high and low for Janet, and he’d never find her. Nor would the people I saw murdering that poor man. I knew they’d been hounding me, but the police had shot me down. Fine.
I couldn’t get justice for the guy, and the murderer was targeting me. Or had been. Those incidents hadn’t been my imagination, despite what that rude officer claimed. I had been forced off the road, but again, they ignored it. With those types of responses, it wouldn’t have been long before I was dead, so I decided to run. But then, considering where I’d landed, it had been the best decision I’d ever made.
“Bunny, another round, honey!” Chance called out. I glanced up, nodded, and began stacking beers on a tray. The door opened as I did, and I saw four youths. They were in their early twenties and had attempted to dress to fit in, but it was apparent they weren’t bikers.
“Here we go,” Magic muttered, and I sighed. Every so often, we got college kids, or wannabes, in. They thought they were hard until they smack talked someone, which usually ended in a beat down. The one exception to Magic’s rules.
“Taking this to Hellfire, I’ll ring it up when I get back,” I said and picked up the tray. The four newcomers had taken barstools and ordered from Magic, who was carding them to their disgust. Amused, I snickered and wound my way to Hellfire’s table, where I dumped the fresh beers and gathered the empties.
Inglorious shot me a smug look, and I sent him a warning glance. He had mischief all over his face, and I wondered if he planned to mess with the newcomers. Instead, Inglorious rose to his feet and headed to the jukebox. Oh no, I knew precisely what Inglorious plotted.
“Bit busy tonight, Inglorious!” I yelled. He sent me a wink, and Magic scowled.
“You got the headset, Bunny!” Bat called, and I rolled my eyes.
“Yo Bunny!” Mouse catcalled, and I poked my tongue out at the smirking man.
“Said we’re busy!” Magic thundered, but Inglorious kept grinning as he shoved some coins into the jukebox and picked a song.
“No fucker order until Bunny’s done her thing,” Inglorious yelled across the bar. Salutes came back at him, and I sighed. I attempted to dart behind the counter because I wouldn’t say I liked the look of the four men sitting there. But Inglorious grabbed me and hoisted me onto the bar.
“Inglorious!” Magic growled. “Girl don’t wanna.” Inglorious pouted, and looked so cute, I relented.
“Just one!” The opening strains of Rodney Atkins, ‘Caught up in the Country’, came on, and I batted at Inglorious, who grinned and climbed up on the bar with me. We started dancing together as Unwanted Bastards catcalled alongside several other MCs. The cheeky grin on Inglorious’s face made me smile, and I began singing.
Magic shoved a mic in my hand so the customers could hear me. Inglorious and I chuckled as we sang and danced, and I missed Psych putting on the next song. I moved to get down when Luke Bryans, ‘Country Girl, shake it for me’, blasted the room. Inglorious whooped as Lance from the Fallen Warriors climbed up and took my other side. Alice clambered up behind him as Lance’s MC yelled their approval, and Lance and Inglorious made a Bunny sandwich. I laughed as I sang the lyrics, and Inglorious whipped off his bandana and waved it in the air. Lance had hold of Alice and was dancing with her as she giggled.
Mouse went to put the third song on and discovered Magic standing in front of the jukebox with a glare. Mouse grinned cheekily and blew Magic a kiss before sitting his ass down. Lance leapt down, landed on his feet, and grasped Alice around her waist, lifting her down. Inglorious followed Lance’s leap, but as I climbed down, Inglorious opened his arms and motioned for me to jump. I hesitated a bare second before obeying. Inglorious caught me securely and swung me around before placing me on my feet and kissing my forehead. I was laughing as I darted behind the bar.
