Chapter Two

THE DUCHESS

The weather had turned out of the blue, so the party we’d planned to throw outside suddenly moved inside. Fortunately, the bar was big enough to pull it off.

Between the Valkyrie, their special guests, locals and rival club members that liked to think they’re sneaky, Valhalla was absolutely heaving.

Karma and I were leaning at the bar, sinking shot after shot. I grinned as I looked around my bar, taking in the sights of our ladies drinking, smoking, flirting, whatever they wanted to do. Everyone dressed up for our Friday night parties.

Even I did. I didn’t dress up often, something about blood and grease means it’s quite tricky to wash out of clothes. I usually lived in jeans and a t-shirt, with my patched leather jacket over the top. 

Tonight, though… well. I’d found a little black dress in my wardrobe that I hadn’t worn for a while, and it looked awesome when paired with my heeled Timberlands. It was even a pair of boots that didn’t have blood and grease staining.

The dress didn’t do a very good job of hiding a gun though… but who cares? Everyone here knew I was carrying anyway.

I’d tugged my hair into a long braid that I’d let fall over my shoulder. The cut of the dress and my hair being out of the way meant that the club tattoo across my shoulders was clear for all to see.

All of our patched members had the same tattoo. Our wings were very well recognised around these parts.

A hand suddenly appeared on the small of my back, lips close to my ear. “What's a pretty little thing like you doing in a place like this?”

I spun to face him, my hand immediately going for my gun.

Blaze. Why was Blaze here?

“Blaze, what the fuck are you doing here?”

“We need to chat, Duchess.”

I scowled, turning back to face the bar. “Come back tomorrow.”

“It's urgent,” he grabbed my arm, trying to turn me back to face him. The room went silent as he did, until I heard the unmistakable sound of the safety being taken off a lot of guns.

“Are you sure touching me is a good idea, Blaze?” I raised one eyebrow. “A lot of people in here wouldn't think twice about shooting you, and that's if I don't get to you first.”

“Duchess, please,” his voice was low.

I sighed, motioning for everyone bar Karma to go back to the party.

“Karma, search him for weapons.”

Once he was clear, I turned to head for Ragnarök, motioning for Blaze to follow me. Karma knew the drill, she followed the rear, and I also knew she'd have a gun pressed into his back.

I took my seat at the head of the table, Karma to my right, Blaze opposite. Both Karma and I had guns on the table in front of us ready to go.

“I'm not here to kill or hurt anyone, Duchess.”

“I'll believe that when I see it, Blaze. Why are you here?”

“I believe we can help each other, Duchess.”

“If that is true, why would you not have told me this already? I was in your club all day yesterday and this morning.”

Something didn’t sit right about him being here.

I kicked Karma under the table to make sure I had her attention, before drawing a circle on the table and tapping in the middle of it once. That was me telling her that I wanted our borders checked and secured.

“Someone intercepted a shipment of mine, Duchess.”

“What kind of shipment?”

“Cocaine.”

I raised one eyebrow. “And this has exactly what to do with us…?”

“You have someone gunning for you, I have someone gunning for me. Perhaps the person is one and the same.”

I scowled at him. “Perhaps. Perhaps not. Why could this not wait until tomorrow?”

“Two of my guys are dead.”

“What do you expect me to do about that, Blaze? Necromancy isn’t in my skill set.”

His face dropped. 

“Blaze, enough dancing around the issue. Why are you here? What do you want?”

“Guns.”

“Guns. Can you actually afford to pay for them? You’ve just told me you lost a shipment of cocaine. That isn’t good for your bottom line.”

His mouth fell open, then closed again.

“Do you really want to be in the business of owing me money, Blaze?”

“Not really,” he shrugged. “But you're my ticket to getting my armoury sorted quickly.”

“My interest rates and terms haven't changed since the last time we had this conversation, Blaze. How much equipment do you need?”

He thought for a moment. “I have twelve guys to arm. What can you do?”

My lips were pursed, face tense. “Karma, grab Fishnet for me, please.”

Fishnet stumbled through the door a few minutes later, obviously inebriated. 

I laughed and rubbed my eyes. “Fishnet, tomorrow morning once you've sobered up, I need an order put together for Blaze here on a contract. Outfitting twelve guys.”

“Of course, boss,” she slurred.

“That's that then, Blaze. It's a problem for tomorrow. You're welcome to stay for the party. There are guest rooms upstairs. My club rules for outsiders are the same as yours. You do not carry weapons whilst on my premises, and if there is even a suggestion of bad behaviour, I will kill you.”

He nodded. 

“Did you come alone?”

“My second and third are in the car.”

“They might as well stay too then,” I replied, voice emotionless. “Same rules. No weapons. If I catch either of them carrying, I’ll hold you responsible. Got it?”

He nodded obediently.

“Well then. I’m going back to enjoying my party. We will pick this up tomorrow. Please make sure you introduce your second and third, I don’t believe I have had the pleasure of meeting them yet. Leave your weapons with Karma.”

With that final word, I turned and walked away, letting the door slam behind me.

I’d had more than enough of Blaze for one day. I wanted to go get very high and get laid.