Club Princess - Nicole James Page 0,4
me. I suppose I deserve it, the way I act sometimes.
My phone vibrates, and I dig it out of my pocket, praying hopelessly that its Trez. I glance at the screen, and my shoulders deflate.
It’s my girlfriend, Amy.
I put it to my ear. “Hey, Ames. How’s New Orleans?”
“Hot and sweaty and amazing!”
I can hear a jazz band playing in the background. It sounds fun and I wish I were there, partying it up with her, not a care in the world. In any other circumstances, if life had been fair, I’d have a brand new ride. Wouldn’t that have been a hoot? But, once again my life has gone to hell, nothing like I planned.
“Where are you?” I ask, feigning interest.
“Some place on Bourbon Street. Katie is coming down tomorrow. You have to come with her.”
“I do, huh?”
“Yes! You can’t miss Spring Break, just because you dropped out of college. It’s not fair.”
“I don’t think that’s how it works, Amy.”
“Screw that. It’s not the same without the whole gang together.”
We called ourselves the brat pack. The four of us girls met in high school and have been inseparable ever since.
“I can’t afford it.”
“Aw, come on, Lola. Katie needs someone to drive down with her. The room’s already paid for, and we’ve got two beds and a pullout couch. I’m sure we can all squeeze in. Please, Lola. This place is fantastic.”
“I don’t know.”
“You should have just ridden down with Trez. Why didn’t you tell me he was coming down?”
I straighten. “Trez is there?”
“Yeah, you didn’t know?”
“No.”
“We ran into him last night. He was so fucked up. I went back to his place with him, but he passed out, so I left.”
“Where’s he staying?”
“Um, I think it was called the Capri, why?”
“When did you say Katie was heading down there?”
CHAPTER FOUR
Lola—
I pace in the kitchen of my father’s house. I live with him still. When I bailed on freshman year, knowing college wasn’t for me, I came back to my old room, and I’ve been here ever since.
At first I told myself I stayed to help with Trez during his recovery from several of his operations, but the truth is that I’m comfortable here.
I do graphic work and social media ads for a couple of the women in the club who sell things online. I sort of fell into it and found I’ve got a knack for it. I’ve helped them set up their website and garner a good mailing list and online following. As the business grew, they cut me in for a percentage.
Since then, I’ve networked some connections at craft shows and now have fifteen other clients. I’m not sure it’s what I want to do permanently, but for now it’s making me a good living, and I love the freedom of working for myself. Plus, as long as I have a laptop and Internet access, I can pretty much work from anywhere.
I hear a hoard of motorcycles and peer out the window to see my father rolling up.
Shit, he’s bringing half a dozen Royal Bastards with him. On the other hand, this might work out for me. With them here to distract him, it’ll be easier to put my plan in motion.
They roar up the drive that leads to the big log home on the hill overlooking the river below. We’ve got a giant back deck that’s big enough to hold a couple dozen people. It’s been the scene of many a Royal Bastards party.
I drop the curtain and move to the kitchen. If there’s one thing I know about bikers, they’re always hungry. Luckily I made a big batch of my father’s favorite chili.
The bikes shut down, and a few minutes later, they’re trooping through the back door into the kitchen.
My father is first. He grabs my neck and pulls me sideways to brush a kiss to my temple. Then he breathes in the aroma of what’s cooking on the stove. He grins. “You made chili for me?”
I nod, my eyes on the pot, stirring it.
“Got enough for the boys?”
I glance over. Utah, Wildman, T-Bone, Baja, Tin Man, and Night Train. All his officers, except Darko, thank God. He’s probably still at his garage working. I only hope I can get out of town without him tracking me down for the money for the car.
It was near the bank’s closing time, so he’s probably assuming I’ll go tomorrow. That buys me a little time. I’ve got to make this work. The need to track down Trez and