Page 58 of Drax (Iron Thunder MC 3)
I headed straight for the back door of the Clubhouse instead and rushed out like I was gasping for air. It was a cloudy day. Drizzling. Not the right kind of weather to help me feel better. In fact, it almost made me feel worse.
I looked up at the sky, allowing some drops of drizzle to fall on my face.
“Hey, you okay?” It was Sophie. I turned to see her stepping out to join me. “I heard you went to see your brother and then you went gunning for the back door. What did he say?”
“He hates me. He hates everyone. I think he hates himself a little too,” I said. I didn’t know whether to tell Sophie what was really going on, that Crash was potentially on drugs. I didn’t know if the rest of the MC was supposed to know about it. But honestly, it was plain to see for anybody who went near him. It was that obvious.
How had I not noticed it before? Maybe I could have helped him.
Sophie looked sympathetic.
“Yeah, it’s hard. For everyone. Especially for you. You must be filled with a whole bag of mixed emotions.”
I gulped and then nodded.
“I want to be able to help him. Drax wants to help him too. As long as he stays under control. But I know he’s going to fight it the whole way. It’s going to be a long journey for us.”
“But at least Drax is on your side. You don’t have to do this alone,” she said. She had a point. I nodded.
“It’s going to be hard, but at least this way you don’t have to choose. Between your brother and your man.”
“Yes, you’re right.”
“I know I am. So for now, come in and I’ll fix you a drink.”
“It’s like two in the afternoon!” I said with a chuckle. Sophie shrugged.
“So? Who is complaining? You need a drink and if today isn’t a day for drinking in the afternoon, then when is it?”
She put an arm around me and together we went in. I was beginning to feel a little relieved. Crash was alive. He would get the help he needed. We would get there in the end. Eventually. To a place where his life would be under control.
And all this was going to be possible because Drax loved me. I knew I was lucky to have him.* * *The first person I saw when we got to the bar was Mercy. She was one of the strippers at the Silver Knights strip club. Even though Ghost had told me last night that the place was evacuated, and the girls had been given a place to spend the night safely, I was surprised to see her.
She was sitting at a table in the corner of the bar, nursing a glass of what looked like orange juice. She still had her outfit on from last night and her makeup was all smudged. When she looked up and met my eyes, I saw her expression change. She was glad to see a familiar face.
We weren’t exactly friends, but we knew each other. Sophie had handed me a glass of vodka and I carried it over to Mercy’s table.
“Hi!”
“Mary-Beth! I heard you might be around here, but I didn’t expect to actually see you.”
“Yeah, I was here the whole night.”
“You’re with the President of this MC, right?” she enquired, and I smiled and nodded. “The guys have been super nice to us. Like, we were so scared and lost. We didn’t know what was going to happen to us, but we got a safe place to stay at night and one of the guys told us they’re going to try and get us all jobs.”
I was glad to hear it. This was exactly why I loved Drax so much. Why I believed in the Iron Thunders. They never compromised on their belief system and their moral standards.
“You will be well taken care of, don’t worry. All they want from you is your loyalty,” I said. Mercy was nodding. She looked relieved.
“I might not even have to strip anymore!” she exclaimed, and I was smiling again.
“I’m glad to see you’re doing well. I hope the other girls are doing well too. I guess I’ll see you around,” I said, and I was about to walk away. I wanted to go sit at the bar and talk to Sophie some more. And then I wanted to go to Drax. Maybe he was awake by now. But Mercy rose up quickly and grabbed my hand.
“Mary-Beth, wait!”
I eyed her suspiciously. Her expression had changed again. She looked worried now.
“I want to do this right. I want to show the Iron Thunders how loyal I can be.”
“Is there something you want to tell me?” I asked, prying my hand out of her grip.
