“I’ll take you back to the office.”
She followed him inside the building and it was like entering another world. Twice the size of the Mayhem’s club, it seemed to swallow her whole as she entered. Leather couches sat against the wall along with booths. Two large pool tables sat side by side in the far corner on the room. The crack of cue balls coming together melded with the rock and roll coming from speakers. The room was full of bodies that ranged in age and size. Their eyes followed her as she walked behind Sly, but no one spoke. I wonder what Wanderer told them? They entered a long hallway and the noise receded.
At the end of the hall, a lone door stood open. Time grew sluggish. Blood rushed in her ears and each step felt harder than the last as an invisible weight descended. Sly stopped in front of her and her pulse raced. She curled her fingers into fists, digging her fingernails into the flesh of her palm to keep herself steady.
“Here she is, Boss.”
“Thanks, Sly.”
Sly stepped back and she slowly approached, gripping the door frame as she took Wanderer in. Silence engulfed them. Energy expanded as if trapped by an invisible bubble. Their gazes met. Green bored into brown. He appeared larger in real life. His shoulders filled out the black t-shirt that molded to his muscular arms and black leather vest. Streaks of gray stood out in his dark hair. I bet this life makes you go gray early.
Wanderer sighed, leaned forward, placing his forearms on the desk. “Come in and close the door.”
She remained frozen to the spot.
“Please.”
The request set her into motion and she stepped forward, pushing the heavy wooden door behind her.
“Take a seat, please. I didn’t expect this.”
“I didn’t like the idea of being a sitting duck.”
“That’s a bit harsh,” he said.
“No, being blindsided by all of this…” She waved her hand to indicate the pictures that covered the wall, a physical timeline of the club’s growth and development.
“Couldn’t see a way to soften the blow.” Wanderer shrugged.
“No, because suddenly you couldn’t keep your life, opinions and legacy to yourself, which is laughable, considering I’m damn near thirty and it worked fine for you all that time.”
He gritted his teeth. “Okay, I deserve that.”
“And more. I’m not done, so you might want to brace yourself,” Joey said allowing the rage that had built up to seep out.
“If anyone else talked to me like that…” Wanderer’s jaw jumped.
“Yes, but I’m not just anyone, am I?” She crossed her arms under her breasts.
“No, and you’re definitely your mother’s daughter.”
“You say that like it’s a bad thing…” She paused. “I don’t even know what to call you.”
A spark of hurt flared up in his eyes before he tamped it down. “Your choice.” His voice sounded gruff.
“Wanderer.”
“That works.” He nodded.
“Are we going to sit here and keep pretending everything is fine, or map out how this is going to go down?” Wanderer was an imposing man, but she couldn’t afford to be timid. This fight was too important. It would set the stage.
“What are you expectations here, Joey? I know you’re not ignorant of the way things work. Your mother made it a point to keep you informed. When you started seeing a member of Mayhem, you forced my hand.”
“I didn’t force shit.”
“You need to watch your mouth. You talk to me like that in public and there’s going to be a problem. You have the right to be mad. So I’ll give you leeway for now. That’s not going to last,” Wanderer said.
She bit back her automatic response. He wasn’t some guy from suburbia and she couldn’t approach him as if he were. “I understand,” she said.