What the fuck am I thinking? I don’t need one woman – never have, never will. I must be more tired than I realize. Let’s try this sleep thing again. I close my eyes and instantly there’s a knock on my door.

“Go away!”

“Sorry, Prez. Nita’s here to see you. She says it’s important.”

Fuck! I can’t say no to Aunt Nita. I drag myself out of bed and pull on my jeans before opening the door. Instead of Booker, I meet the steely stare of my aunt. This can’t be good. I take a deep breath and wait for the assault.

“How am I supposed to run a bar without alcohol?”

“What are you talking about, Nita?”

“I’m talking about that fucking cunt you contracted to supply the liquor.”

“Nita –”

“No. Don’t ‘Nita’ me. You fucked her, didn’t you? I told you not to mix –”

I grab her shoulders and give her a little shake to stop her rant.

“Calm down and tell me what happened.”

“Three days. Three days I’ve been waiting for a shipment, but she won’t deal with anyone but you. This bitch better not play with me.”

“I’ll handle it.”

She sneers and narrows her eyes at me, and I swear I feel ten years old again. My mom died when I was six and, being my dad’s sister, she stepped up and raised my sister and me like we were hers. She always knew how to put me in my place.

“Make it quick, or you’ll have to find a new manager.”

She storms off and I just stare at my bed, knowing I won’t be getting back to it soon. So much for sleep. I grab my shirt and head to my office, adjacent to my bedroom. Nita was right. I did fuck the supplier, but she instigated it. It’s no excuse, but I thought we were on the same page in terms of expectations. It was one time, months ago, and I haven’t spoken to her since. I can bet that’s her problem. Women and their fucking feelings.

I find the contract in the filing cabinet and drop my ass in the chair. I make sure to call her business number and not her cell. Not that I could find it even if I tried. I think I tossed the piece of paper the moment I left her office.

“Cassidy Martin,” she answers, in a sing-song voice.

“Miss Martin. Gage Hunter.”

“Gage. You’re a hard man to track down.”

I can hear the smile in her voice, but I’m determined to keep this professional.

“What’s happening with my shipment?”

“Oh, I’m doing great. How are you?”

“Lose the sarcasm. My aunt says you’re three days late.”

“I haven’t heard from you. The only contact number I have is for the Pretty Kitty. This is the only way I knew I could get your attention.”

“So, you’re purposely delaying the shipment?”

“Why are you avoiding the conversation?”

“It’s not one we need to have. You knew what the deal was.”

“But Gage –” She tries to plead, but I cut her off.

“No buts. You’ve violated the agreed-upon terms and conditions of our contract, the consequence of which is that it’s now null and void. I’m taking my business elsewhere.”

“Gage –”

“Goodbye, Miss Martin.”

I hang up and search my contacts. I need a new supplier or Aunt Nita will cut off my balls. I choose the guy I was going with originally, before Cassidy fucked her way into the contract, and give him a call. After working out cost, payment, and delivery frequency, I hang up and lean back in my chair. That club is the biggest legitimate earner the MC has. I need to be more careful.

Opening the Pretty Kitty was the best decision I’ve ever made. It’s the largest strip club in the area and the next closest one is twenty miles away. It’s not some raggedy operation, either. I only offer the best – location, food, liquor, and of course, girls. I pick them personally, making sure I have a mix – tall, short, thick, skinny, big tits, small tits, ass, no ass, real hair, fake hair, and every possible ethnicity. I keep a tight rein on them, too. There’s strictly no prostitution or drugs, and I administer random drug and STD tests. I wanted the club to be as classy as an establishment like that could be. For that reason, we get a lot of businessmen. Nita was right to be angry about the shipment; drunk men do spend more than sober ones.

My phone vibrates in my pocket. It’s a message from E, with a picture of her. He captioned it “Millie’s new waitress”. So that’s where she was off to all dressed up. She’s a trip. What seventeen-year-old spends her summer working?

She’s so beautiful; I can’t stop staring at her picture. And she’s smiling. She doesn’t do that enough. I definitely need to make sure I put a smile on her face every chance I get. The phone vibrates again with another message from E.

E: You’re not in the bathroom with the lotion, are you? Cause that would be sick, bro.

Motherfucker. He would make fun of me.

G: No, pervert. But thanks for the info.

E: She’s a pretty little thing. Maybe I should get her number and call her in a few months.

I know he’s teasing, but for some reason, my possessive streak kicks in. If anyone’s calling her, it will be me. I can’t say that to E, though.

G: Yeah. You can have her after I’m done with her.

E: Fuck you! I don’t want your leftovers!

G: Wouldn’t be the first time!

E: What do you mean?! You’re lucky I gotta work, but we’re finishing this convo later.

G: Ha! You’ll be surprised to know how many sloppy seconds you’ve had, bro. It’ll kill your self-esteem. Just let it go.

E: You better sleep with one eye open. LATER

I chuckle as I make my way back to my room. I’m just fucking with him, but it will be good to watch him squirm. We’re close, but we don’t share women other than the Hellhounds. They’re free game; anyone can get on those rides.

After calling Nita and letting her know I’ve taken care of the problem, I climb back into bed. I navigate back to Raven’s picture and stare at her. What am I even doing with her? She seems like a nice girl – bratty, with a smart mouth, but nice nonetheless. Definitely not the type to be messing with a guy like me. I’m not the relationship type, and she seems like the kind of girl who’d want that. I should stay away from her. I’m just going to fuck shit up. She deserves someone who’s like her – sweet and innocent. Not a man who killed someone last night.

***Raven***

I thought Lonnie would still be passed out when I got home, but I find her sitting on the couch watching a novela. I kick off my heels and drop down next to her, a huge smile on my face.

“I got the job!”

“Good. You can start helping out with the bills around here.”

Bitch.

“You really know how to kill a mood.”

She finally tears her eyes away from the TV and turns her head toward me.

“You don’t like it, move out.”

Like I asked to come to Stony View, a.k.a. Small Town, Georgia. If it was up to me, I would have stayed in Miami. A few measly months and, by law, I have to have a guardian. I wish I had other family. I definitely would not have chosen Lonnie, but she’s the only family I have left. She came down after Daddy died and stayed just long enough for my last class and to tie up some legal issues, then we shipped out. I didn’t even get to go to prom or graduation. I had to leave my life behind; all my plans, my friends. I miss Toni the most. We’ve been best friends since forever and I can’t stand being so far away from her. I hate that I have to be here, but until I turn eighteen, there’s nothing I can do.

“You think I don’t know what’s in those papers you signed? Dad’s lawyer may be handling everything, but I know you’re getting a stipend for me.”

“So?”

“So I shouldn’t have to pay you anything.”

“Like I said, you don’t like it, move out.”

“Don’t worry. As soon as I legally can, I will. Then everything Dad left me comes directly to me. Enjoy it while it lasts.”