Page 3 of Link (Dragon Riders MC 1)
Even ladies of the evening needed to make money.
“Go enjoy yourself. Or pay some bills. But if you are looking to work tonight, I know my buddy Ash at the door’s been pretty lonely lately,” I said.
“Awww, good to know. Thank you for the lead,” she said.
Then, I watched her turn toward the brute at the door as I tossed him a wink.
I gathered my earnings and cashed them in with Ash, who held onto our cash until our games had ended. I counted out his share of the door percentage fee, then clapped his shoulder. Leaving him to do whatever it is he wished with the buxom beauty that had been assigned to me for the night. Ice groaned and cursed in the background as the sounds of slobbering and sucking mounted. So, I closed the door behind me after watching Ash walk off with that woman underneath his arm.
“Always a good night when everyone walks home happy,” I murmured.
I made my way down the darkened hallway to the sounds of people clinking beer bottles together. Music struck up before people whooped and hollered. Then, all I heard was the thumping of the bass. That music signaled how late it was. Because every night, right at eleven, three of the seven bars we operated became dance clubs for the younger crowds. That was our biggest money maker around here, especially with the New York city slickers. City kids came from all corners of the state to entertain themselves in our Iron Bars. And the full house made me smile as I made my way through the crowd.
“Care for a drink, Link!?” the bartender asked.
I shook my head. “Nah, man. I’m heading out. Remind Gail she’s locking up tonight, okay!?”
The bartender nodded. “Can do, boss man!”
I didn’t feel like staying at the club tonight. Even though girls on the dancefloor stared at me with their arms wrapped around another man’s neck, I didn’t pay them any mind. I wasn’t in that kind of a mood tonight. Right now, all I wanted to do was take a nice, long night drive all the way back to my place.
I wanted to carve out a little bit of peace for myself before I called a church meeting in the morning.
I shoved myself through the front double doors and made my way for my bike. I drew in a breath of fresh air as I unlocked the compartment that held my helmet. I slipped it over my head and flipped up the visor. I tossed my leg over my bike and struck up the engine, feeling it vibrate and rumble between my legs. And as I revved the engine, signaling my leave to the staff, I sped off into the night.
Ready for a chance to wind down in peace.
The wind whipped around me as I soared through town. Upstate New York would always hold my heart. Especially since I grew up in the area. I’d become fond of it as a little boy, even though my childhood had been less than spectacular. This place taught me how to be a man. How to draw lines in the sand and stick with my moral codes. This place taught me that intelligence wasn’t everything, but neither was brute strength. It taught me about life, love, loss, and business. I rumbled through my neighborhood, passing all of the massive houses that had popped up on the block. With three acres of land a piece, the mansions loomed over my childhood home. Effectively raising its value, even though I lived in an area that was once considered taboo.
As I pulled into the driveway of the childhood home I now owned, I parked my bike in the garage.
With the smell of fresh paint greeting me as I cut the engine.2JoannaI cruised down the road in my old red Subaru as the tires hummed beneath me, reminding me that I needed to get the wheel bearings on the damn thing replaced. I looked down at the check engine light and cursed this entire vehicle. No matter what I did, that damn thing wouldn't go off. And I sure as hell didn’t have the money to take this thing to a shop. The 1997 car was on its last legs, and while it had served me well during college and law school, I needed something more dependable. Especially in this snow-laden state.
“Come on. Just get me home,” I murmured.
I was up to my knees in debt from school. And now, with the building I just bought with my practice, that put me into debt up to my hips. I ran the numbers in my head as I made my way back home. Which made me snort.
Home.
I hadn’t had a home in well over a decade.
In fact, I didn’t own any sort of property. I couldn't. Especially not in this rich of an area. Upstate New York was filled with clients that needed my expertise. But this place wasn’t filled with houses that were in my price range. Thankfully, my landlord had started off as a client of mine. After winning her court case and getting her free from her abusive ex, she cut me a very nice deal on rent. $800 a month, including water, sewer, newspaper delivery, and an allotment for electricity.
