“It isn’t right,” Lee said , standing. “Alan has been doing it for years and he has been doing a good job. Why replace him just to make your new Cherry feel needed? She isn’t club, she will never be club!”
“It is done, Lee,” Luka said quietly. “I would like to address the other issue that was brought to light. The club needs to know what you have been allowing behind our backs. Not telling the rest of us. The deals you have making to sell here and transport and store here in our territory.”
“You were reading too much into what I said!”
“Was I? So you have not been having the prospects running any extra for you and your side dealings?”
“Who told you that? Who said I was?”
“It is a question, Lee. Have you?”
“Is this some sort of witch hunt?” Lee demanded. “You’re just trying to deflect! Make people forget that you brought some little Cherry into the club and after one fucking day she is running our books and your new old lady!”
“Does anyone here take issue with who I am fucking?” Luka asked.
No one spoke as Lee looked around the table, enraged. He shoved back and stormed out, cussing.
Luka turned to Apex. “I want everything on what he has been doing. Question all the prospects, look into who has been coming in and out. Call Ordecker and find out if he’s heard anything. I want to know everything he has been letting in and out of here, you understand?”
“Got it boss, it will be done.”
Amelia felt wary sitting there in his lap with his arm holding her. She could feel the tension in it. She sat listening for another forty five minutes until they ran out of things they needed to discuss. At the end of the night, Luka turned to Stavo. “Lock the office down. Alan doesn’t go in tomorrow. She is taking over the books as of now. Cherry, tomorrow is the day our boy usually comes in to do the books, but I am going to have you in there. How long will it take you to figure it out and get yourself up to speed?”
“Not long. I really am good with numbers, accounting, patterns, that sort of thing.”
“Good. The sooner the better. I don’t want him to have an ammo to fire with at the next meeting. Come on. It’s Friday night boys! Let’s go celebrate!”
Luka pulled her out to the main room with the bar and pool tables. The corner lit up when someone flipped a switch and a stripper pole lit up. Luka sat back on one of the couches and pulled her up into his lap, making her straddle him as he gripped her ass with a smirk. She felt and heard others sitting around them and laughing, but she only stared up at him with wide eyes.
Did he have to be so stunningly gorgeous? He pulled her in and kissed her gently, then hugged her to his chest. She pulled back, looking up at him. “If I am about to do your books… you are going to have to tell me everything you do. You know that, right?” she asked softly. “Not just the mild things, but everything.”
“Yeah, Cherry, I get it. I’ll come in with you in the morning and make sure it’s all clear. Ok? No more business.” He pulled her in again to lay on his chest as he slid his hands up her shirt and ran his fingers over her bare back.
“So you really takin’ on an old lady?” a man asked.
“Why is everyone so surprised?” Luka laughed.
“Because it’s you!” another man joked. “You who won’t look at a girl past getting your cock sucked. You’ve never focused on anything but the next job! And girls have fucking tried… a LOT!”
“Somebody may have mentioned something to me about living in the moment as well as focusing on making the club better. Also… have you seen her?” he asked lightly.
“Oh, she is hot, no doubt, but that has never phased you before!”
“Cute enough, but not curvy enough for me.”
“Cute face, she’s too small. I like legs.”
“She a natural redhead?”
“She has no real fire in her, she’s a mouse. I want a girl who gives as good as she gets!”
“Oh no, I get the appeal,” Stavo volunteered as the men all talked. “She’s helpless and small and so innocent. A real fucking little Cherry. There’s something about that that makes a man want to bring her in and shelter her, make her feel safe, protect her. Show her how good shit can be. Am I right, boss?”
Luka only laughed as he bent low and kissed the top of her head.
Amelia hugged him, then shifted and moved so she could see the people talking, put faces and maybe names to voices. She curled up on his lap, laying against him and playing with his hair as she watched all of the men talking and laughing. The girls too.
She began hearing more and more about what went on, what sorts of things the club had its fingers in. Why they needed a cop on their payroll.
Near the end of the night, another group of men came in and she recognized the one called Jay. He had a woman on his arm.
“Jay!” Luka yelled happily. “Come over here asshole! Who the hell is this?”
Amelia looked up at the woman a little surprised. The woman was very obviously in transition and looked half terrified. So did Jay. “This is Monica,” he said softly, warily.
“This your old lady?” Stavo asked, looking Monica over. “Or sweetie?”
“Uhh… sweetie for now.”
“Pull up a chair, Jay,” Luka called. “Monica, step up to the bar there and get your boy a beer.”
Monica gave Jay an alarmed look, but he nodded as he sat down near Luka.
“So that’s the one had you blushin’ like a little girl,” Luka laughed. “Dunno, Jay. She might take you in a wrestling match. Any of the old timers give you shit, have them come see me. Make sure if you ain’t here she stays back in your room if some of the old timers like Lee are here. Val will take care of her. Look at me. Stop lookin’ scared. No one here give’s a fuck who you are fucking and if they do, that’s their problem and not yours,” he said softy as Monica came back and handed Jay a beer. “Monica, have a seat,” Luka said almost warmly, gesturing to a chair back at a table like Jay had pulled up.
She brought it over and sat down, still looking a little terrified.
Amelia held out her hand to her. “Amy,” she offered.
“Monica!” she smiled back, taking her hand in both of hers and squeezing.
“What do you do, Monica?” Amelia asked her.
“Oh! Well, I am between jobs at the moment. I used to work at the law firm here in town, but the past several months I have been sort of… you know. Waiting to find the right fit.”
“Of course. How did you and Jay meet?”
Jay sat up, his face going bright red, but Monica’s back was to him.
“Oh, we met at Chaps and Straps! Such a wide eyed boy when he came in, he was so adorable! We talked and he came back again and again. He’s been there for me through almost everything! He’s such a sweet and caring boy! I just don’t even know what I would do if he hadn’t been there through the hardest parts!”