Page 88 of Savior
I force myself to laugh along with her, but I can’t stop myself from asking once she’s gotten the chuckles out of her system, “Were you around before Cherry joined the Saviors?”
She nods once more. “Oh yeah, I was still a Lady Lay back then, before Torque decided I was off limits and gave me his patch.” She smiles as she speaks, as if she’s thinking back on old times. “Been with him almost six years now.”
I continue to sip on my ginger-ale, hoping she’ll volunteer more information without having to be asked. Thankfully, she does.
“Cherry just showed up one day on the back of Dean’s bike, and she’s been with the club ever since. Axel took a real shine to her immediately.” Tessa says, her smile widening. “Talk about puppy love at first sight. It took Cherry a little while to come out of her shell, but as you can see for yourself with them, it all worked out. And for the best. They really suit each other well.”
We both glance over at the young couple. Axel’s arm is draped over Cherry’s dainty shoulders. They’re standing near the pool table across the room, talking with a few members and their club girls. Cherry looks like she’s itching to dance to the music pumping through the sound system. Whitesnake’s, Here I go Again, as she lightly pats her thigh to the beat with her free hand. The other is holding some kind of iced drink. Axel’s nursing a beer, engrossed in whatever conversation he’s having with the other bikers.
Not wanting either of them to catch me studying them, I shift my attention to glance around the club, inadvertently catching Rusty’s gaze.
Normally, or at least what I’ve noticed thus far, having only been to two other club houses, the prospects are not invited to these more exclusive club parities. With Dean’s nod of approval, Axel made Rusty an unofficial tail gunner. Which I’ve been told, is a counterpart of the road captain, though lower on the MC hierarchy. I suppose this means he’ll earn his real patch soon, since now he’s a step above a regular prospect. He is the most helpful of all the prospects. Always around. Always willing and eager to do whatever is asked of him without complaint. A real go-getter type. He’s also very respectful to me and all the girls.
As our eyes meet, Rusty gives me a quick chin lift as he walks away from the Juke Box in the back corner of the room. After an awkward half-wave back, I turn to face Tessa again.
“Did Axel know?” the question tumbles from my lips, and I instantly regret asking.
“About Cherry and Dean?”
I wish she’d stop saying it like that, but I shrug. There’s no going back now, the least I can do is keep up the façade of indifference to her answer.
“I don’t really know.” She looks contemplative for a moment, then bursts into another bout of chuckles. “He’s always been so upbeat and positive. I’ve rarely seen a frown on Axel’s face. And God knows, the depth of his love for Dean is probably just about equal to his love for Cherry.” She looks me over for a moment. “You landed a really great guy. Dean is loved by many.”
I’m afraid to ask, if during her Lady Lay days, she was ever one of the many he was loved by. I know he’s been around, but I don’t want to know specifics. Especially not face to face. And so, I simply smile. “He sure is.”
It isn’t long before everyone’s favorite biker returns to the main party room with the rest of the MC brothers. Dean calls Axel over to him, introducing him to another biker that looks to be around Axel’s age. As the two of them start a conversation, I watch Dean scan the room, until his eyes settle on me.
His smile broadens and he begins to make his way in my direction, when Cherry grabs his hand, halting his progression towards me. He turns to her now, and I watch them exchange a few words of their own, until Dean seems to let out a sigh, his head lulling back as he looks up at the ceiling. Cherry playfully shoves him, before she crosses her arms as if she’s disappointed for some reason. Dean lowers his eyes to hers once more, extending his hand to her, which she takes, and he pulls her to him. I watch curiously as they begin to dance to the music together, conversing over things I can’t hear at this distance.
This song must hold some significance to them, and I immediately make note of it. I’ve never seen either of them dance together before, in all the nights I’ve worked in his bar or any of the parties we’ve been to together. It’s another song by Scorpions. Lorelei. I pay attention to the lyrics, wondering what the song means to them. It’s a sad song, about a man who feels led astray by a woman, and played for a fool… An odd song, to see them laughing and slow dancing to.
I can practically feel Tessa’s staring eyes as she watches me, watch them. Before I turn around, as if I’m not bothered, or curious, I take a peek at Axel, gauging his reaction. As per usual, Axel’s all smiles. Completely at ease with the whole ordeal, as I know I should be.
Turning back to the prospect tending bar, I place my glass of ice down and ask for a re-fill of my ginger-ale.
“How are you holding up, baby?” Dean’s voice startles me as he speaks softly against my ear from behind, wrapping his arms around me.
“I’m okay.” I say, turning around in his embrace to face him. “A little tired, though, if I’m being honest.”
“They’ve got a few beds in the back if you want to crash for a bit.” He says.
“Bang around rooms?” I quirk a brow at him and he grins. “No, thank you. Just let me know when you’re ready to head to the hotel.”
He looks at me apologetically. “I can’t duck out of here, just yet. The opening of this club house, the start of this Charter, it’s a really big deal to the club. As the President of the original Charter, it would be a bad look.” He brings his hand to my lower stomach, placing it against me. “You, on the other hand, have a card to play… An Ace, to be exact.”
“Cute.” I roll my eyes at him.
“I can bring you to the hotel, but I’d have to come back.”
“I completely understand. And I’m okay.” I try to give him a reassuring smile as he looks at me skeptically. “I’m fine, really.”
Dean lets out a reluctant sigh as he releases me and lifts his wrist, shoving the cuff of his shirt back to look at his watch.
“Dean, really. I’m okay.” I insist, stepping closer to him so that the front of our bodies touch. I place my hands on his shoulders. “Dance with me a little. Maybe that will wake me up.”
He wraps his arms around my waist, and we sway slowly together to the next two love ballads.
“This must make you happy. To see the club your Uncle founded, expanding.” I say. “The mission gathering more steam and reach. I’m sure he’d be so proud of you. Your mother, too.”
