Page 39 of Ironside
“Well, you won’t see me throwing away my freedom,” Psycho declared, tossing back his shot of whiskey.
Bruiser wadded up a napkin and lobbed it at his head.
“Yeah, because you’re still pining after that girl you met when you were locked up in crazy town.”
Psycho slid a withering glance at Bruiser and flipped him off.
“It was apsych ward. Notcrazy town, you insensitive fucking meathead.”
Bruiser chuckled, carving into his steak.
“What’s the difference?”
Psycho bared his teeth in a smile that didn’t meet his eyes.
“As soon as you open your mouth, you prove without a shadow of a doubt that you’re one big mountain of stupid. We don’t keep you around here for your brains, that’s for sure. But the hired muscle doesn’t have a complicated job description I guess. Just hit hard and scare people with that butt-ugly mug of yours.”
Bruiser chewed his bite of steak with a dark, menacing look.
“Knock it off, you two,” Pretty Boy warned with exasperation. “If you don’t behave, I’ll kick your asses to the curb. No steak. No drinks. And you’ll be scrubbing toilets for a week.”
Bruiser huffed and broke eye contact first. Psycho popped a bite of roasted potato in his mouth with a grin of triumph, almost as if he had pissed off Bruiser on purpose, just to get a rise out of him.
“Relax, petal,” Ironside said, seated next to me.
I didn’t realize how on edge I was until I released the tension in my shoulders.
“They’re just blowing smoke up each other’s asses,” he continued. “Psycho is all prickly and sharp edges, like a cactus. Bruiser does everything he can toavoidpicking a fight, despite the fact that he looks like he could lift a fucking car. And Psycho knows that. So the little shit pesters the hell out of him.”
I shook my head. For the most part, everyone in the club got along well. But there were moments like this, when they would trade barbs and it seemed to be some kind of bonding experience. A strange love language that I would probably never understand.
But this was Ironside’s family. His home. His people. Our worlds were blending in this room, and I would find a way to get used to these dynamics, to figure them out, and navigate them to the best of my abilities.
Lila weaved through the crowded room, holding her iPad up.
“Let’s do something about this tension, shall we? Lena, we need to talk about your wedding registry for gifts. Why don’t you take a look through the online catalog in my shop and bookmark what you like?”
Lila was the owner and operator of the lingerie boutique in town, Noir Delights. I’d always wanted to stop in and take a look around, but never got the chance. Now that I knew Lila was running the place, I had the perfect excuse to pay her a visit.
Lila and I browsed her catalog with a rainbow of satins, silks, and laces.
“God, everything is so beautiful,” I said. “How can I possibly choose?”
She leaned closer and selected a few sets along with two pairs of high heels.
“If you want my professional opinion, that’s what I would recommend. The wine red would look absolutely stunning with your hair and skin. And you have legs for days, so you’d be a knockout in those heels.”
“Do you really think so?” I replied, shocked and flattered by her compliment. “I haven’t worn heels in years. I’m too tall for them.”
Lila made a face of disbelief.
“Where the hell did you get that idea?”
I shrugged, poking at my food. It seemed silly to bring it up now since I was engaged to Ironside.
“Just a few guys I dated before.”
Lila rolled her eyes.
