“You boys ought to know, Addi is now my Old Lady. You know what that means; you treat her with the upmost fuckin’ respect, and if you don’t, I’ll fuck you up.”
I give Cade a glare; he knows that I hate the Old Lady thing. It sounds so…well…old. Cade grins at me, utterly proud of his efforts. Rolling my eyes, I turn back to the group and listen as Jackson starts talking, but only after giving Cade a glare.
“As you know, women do not attend these meetings. Addi, as Cade’s Old Lady, you will have to learn the rules around here. Number one rule, you don’t come on rides unless those rides are for Charity’s or similar. You don’t join in on our weekly church meetings and you don’t get a say so in what we involve ourselves in. As my daughter, you’re automatically under our protection, but considering you’re also Cade’s old lady, that protection increases. You don’t enter the back sheds, those are women free – no argument. The only reason you’re here tonight, is ‘coz we need your information to track this mongrel down. Got me?”
Well damn, maybe I should ask permission to piss too! I want to give them a smart retort, but I know this is important to them, and if I want their respect, I have to earn it.
“I understand,” I say.
Cade squeezes my hand. “Atta girl, sugar.”
“Don’t think I’m slaving over a hot stove for you, biker.”
He chuckles and the rest of the guys laugh. “Got ya,” he grins.
“All right, now that’s outta the way, let’s get to the issue of that pimp,” Jackson announces.
“We got any idea where to find him?” Cade asks.
“No,” Jackson says, then he turns to me. “But I imagine you know, Addi?”
The idea of going back…there…it bothers me. I jerk and Cade squeezes my hand harder.
“We ain’t gonna let him touch you, sugar. You tell us what you know.”
I sigh deeply, and then I answer Jackson. “I know where he runs his show, yeah.”
“You give us an address, and we’ll pay him a visit.”
I rattle off Jasper’s address and Jackson writes it down.
“He may not be there,” I say. “After what happened, it’s likely he moved.”
“It’s a start, baby,” Cade says, before he turns to Jackson. “When do we ride?”
“First light.”
“You’re going tomorrow?” I say, shocked.
“Sooner he’s gone, the better.”
“Have you thought about asking Spike?” I suggest.
“Asked him. Spike don’t know where Jasper is. He was contacted through Jasper’s sources.”
I let out a puff of air and run my fingers through my messy hair. “Well, I can only hope Jasper is where I left him.”
“Yeah, can only hope so,” Jackson says, then he faces the group. “Next issue, Spike.”
“Spike’s an issue? I thought he was backing down?” I blurt.
Jackson raises his brows at me, and I quickly shut my mouth and sink back into the chair.
“Spike’s back in town, and I am pretty sure Ciara doesn’t know.”
Who the hell is Ciara? Cade notices my confused expression and mouths ‘I’ll tell you later.’
“She don’t know. I spoke to her earlier,” Bingo, a younger biker, says.
“We both know Spike and Ciara don’t see eye to eye. If he’s in town to bother her, we need to make sure his plans change,” Jackson says, his voice deadpan.
“We’ll get onto it, make sure she’s kept outta his way,” Bingo says.
“Good man, well, that’s about all we have that Addi can hear,” Jackson says, giving me a look.
I stand, putting my hands up. “Got it. I’ll go and check on the bar.”
“I’ll be behind you soon, sugar,” Cade says.
I nod and then I turn and leave the room, still curious as to who this Ciara chick is. There’s a link somewhere, between Spike, Cade and clearly this girl. Was she someone they both…ummm…tag teamed? Did Cade steal Spike’s girl? Or the other way around? They seem quite determined to keep her and Spike apart, so there’s clearly some history there. I just don’t know what. I get to the bar without noticing how much ground I’ve covered. I’m far too curious about this mystery girl. When I get in, Mindy is serving, and flirting. Girl can’t keep those legs closed. I go to step towards her, when Britney steps in front of me. Rolling my eyes, I take a step back.
“Britney, I thought we covered that you and I don’t get along and I don’t play nice with the other kids,” I say sarcastically.
“You don’t scare me,” she growls, jutting her perky breasts out.
“I wasn’t trying to scare you. God, will you put those away, they’re frightening the bikers.”
I hear a group of bikers behind me roar with laughter. Britney’s cheeks flush red and she leans in close.
“You’re pushing it with me. I will make you pay, Addison. I don’t care if you’re Cade’s Old Lady or if you’re Jackson’s daughter. You and I will have our day. I know what went down tonight, everyone knows. Well, you’re the only one that doesn’t know about Spike and Cade. I wonder why he hasn’t told you yet? Perhaps he doesn’t trust you. He told me right away.”
This hurts my heart, but I don’t let it show.