Page 44 of Falcon

“Calam!” the woman cried.

“Rosie,” Calamity mocked, and stepped back. “Proceed to your doom,” he teased.

With a shared sigh, the women turned towards me, beaming. Oh shit.

Chapter Ten.

Myka

The women headed towards me, and I reared backwards in alarm.

“Back off, at least let Myka get inside,” Falcon called, and several stopped and pouted.

“They are terrifying,” I murmured.

“Yeah. But they have kind hearts, and nobody wishes you harm,” Calamity stated.

How did I tell him I doubted his words because he was a stranger? That would be very rude. Instead, I stayed quiet but offered a nod, which could mean anything.

Falcon pushed me into the clubhouse, and I took a good look. The first thing that caught my attention was the atrium, allowing loads of light inside. A wooden walkway ran around the edge, and I could see doors that probably led to what I suspected were bedrooms. That was the upper floor. Anyone walking around could peer straight down into this large room. I guessed it was some sort of common room they shared. There was a bar on one side and two pool tables, a foosball and an air hockey table.

Several dartboards were fitted to the wall, and on the opposite wall, I spotted a huge TV screen. I was surprised they made them that big. I was also astonished to see a long food-serving counter, and behind that was a spotless industrial kitchen with two women bustling about. Before that was clearly a dining area. In the corner, tucked away neatly, was a drinks station that made me smile. I hadn’t expected that.

“If we don’t get coffee in the morning, over half of us become slightly murderous. Especially the old ladies,” Falcon murmured.

I nodded and carried on checking my surroundings. The floor was wood, and the walls were painted cream. One wall had the start of what looked like photos stuck to it. Next to the bar was a door, which I guessed led to more rooms. By the kitchen stood another door. Maybe there were offices behind it.

“Hey,” Rosie said, popping up as Falcon pushed me towards an overstuffed armchair. I noticed plenty of those about and large, comfortable couches. Bar stools stood at the bar. Beyond its cosy feel, the cleanliness truly stood out. It wasn’t like what I’d expected.

“It’s a shock, isn’t it? No half-naked women, no beer bottles dumped on the floor, no underwear thrown about, or a stripper pole.”

“Yeah, you’re letting the side down,” I quipped and hesitated. Would Rosie think I’m saying they’re not a real club?

Rosie grinned. “Rage MC likes to buck the trend. We live here; nobody wants to live in a shithole. Well, a couple are untidy fuckers, but after Calam burned their shit a few times, people learned to pick up after themselves.”

I gaped at that before laughing. “That’s effective.”

“We also have cleaners come in three times a week for the communal areas. Each brother is responsible for their own bunk, but again, they need to respect it.”

“Sounds fair.” I held onto Falcon’s arm as I shifted from the wheelchair into the armchair. Falcon let me get settled and ignored my wince.

“Want a drink?” he asked.

Bemused, I gaped. Nobody ever offered me a drink. Unsure if this was a test, I bit my lip. Would Falcon slap me if I said yes?

“Do you like Coke? Falcon, can we have two, please?” Rosie replied at my nod. I stared as Falcon turned and walked away.

“Falcon’s getting drinks?” I whispered, shocked.

“Yeah.” Rosie looked puzzled.

“The guy’s a unicorn.” I shook my head.

“What? For fetching a drink? If Falcon didn’t, his mama would beat the shit out of him.”

I laughed, believing Rosie was joking, but she had a serious look on her face. “Really? But he’s a martial arts gold medallist!”

“Who do you reckon taught him? Artemis would annihilate his ass if he mistreated or was rude to a decent woman. She isn’t worth pissing off. Hey Penny,” Rosie looked up at the older lady who joined us. She was one of those women you knew was in her forties or fifties, but her age was hard to discern.