Page 6 of Shadow's Surrender
Chapter Two
Pinewood Springs
Present day
The clump ofhis boots bounced off the walls as Shadow reached the bottom of the stairs. He stopped just short of entering the main room, his forehead wrinkled, his lips flattened, as he struggled with the cuffs on his sky-blue collared dress shirt.
“Fuck this shit,” he muttered as the buttons eluded him.
“Need some help, handsome?” Tania’s voice washed over him and he glanced up.
“I can’t get this damn thing to work.”
The club girl laughed and walked over to him. She swatted his hand away, then quickly buttoned the starched cuffs and straightened his dark-blue patterned tie. She stepped back and her large brown eyes raked over him boldly.
“Damn, you dress up real good,” she said as she reached out and ran a finger down the front of his tailored shirt. Tania then squeezed his sculpted biceps and licked her lips. “Real good, baby.”
Shadow moved around her. “Thanks.”
She cozied up beside him. “And you smell so good too.”
He chuckled and stepped away from her. “That’s good to know.”
“You want a little something before you go?” Tania squeezed his tight ass.
“No time—maybe later.” He winked at her then walked into the main room.
“Fuck, we got aGQmodel who’s been posing as a damn biker, dudes!” Helm’s voice rose above the din of the room.
“Turn the damn TV down,” Bones said. A huge grin spread across his face. “What the fuck, bro?” he asked Shadow, who took the shot of whiskey one of the prospects offered him.
“Don’t you lookfancy,” Smokey said before breaking out into laughter.
The members in the room had now diverted their attention to Shadow, and he gritted his teeth.
“Fuck off,” he said as he set down his empty glass.
“Are you having tea with the Queen?” Rags sniggered.
“Or the fuckin’ president? We got a turncoat in our club—hobnobbing with the rich.” Hubcap stretched his legs in front of him as the other brothers guffawed.
“Get a fuckin’ life. I’m going to Eli’s damn engagement party.” Shadow fished his keys out of the side pocket of his dark-blue pants.
“Eli’s getting married? His woman must be a rich bitch for you to be dressed like a pansy,” Smokey said as he brought the bottle of beer to his mouth.
“For me, a party is barbecue, jeans, weed, and women who spread their legs easily. That would be my engagement shindig if I were ever fuckin’ stupid enough to get saddled down with a chick,” Blade said, and the other guys mumbled their agreement.
“It’s Eli’s fuckin’ deal, not mine, and I’m wasting time talking about it with you losers. I gotta go.” Shadow shrugged on his suit jacket and started walking toward the door.
“Maybe you’ll get lucky—isn’t that what happens at that kind of shit?” Bones asked.
“It’s weddings that people fuck strangers, dude, not engagement parties,” Rags replied.
“How the hell do you know that? Is there some damn rule book on that?” Bones scrunched his face.
“Maybe Shadow knows. What is it, dude?” Helm said.
Ignoring them, Shadow walked out into the blaring sunlight and crossed the parking lot to his Ford Ranger. Normally, he’d hop on his motorcycle, but he didn’t want to arrive at the function dripping in sweat. Even though it was early evening, it was still hot as all hell, and there wasn’t a cloud in the sky.
