Bed of Roses by Harley McRide

around.
    “Hey, Mic! We need a bottle of Jack and shot glasses over here!” Raven yelled. Mic, as she had called him, was a stocky man well into his fifties with tats that covered every visible inch including his bald head. Their bodyguards stood close by, watching anyone who got within a three-foot radius. Being protected by two leather-clad Prospects that could use half the men in the bar as toothpicks was something she wasn’t used to. She had always had to look out for herself. Being able to relax and just have a good time without worrying about some perv dropping mickeys in her drink or manhandling her was refreshing…and something she could get used to.
    “Coming up.” He reached under the counter and pulled out the glasses and bottle of whisky, lining them up on the bar. Raven handed Rose one and took one for herself, holding it up in the air.
    “To Rose—a new friend and sister. May she kick ass, and tame the two assholes who own her heart.” Rose stopped and looked around, hoping no one heard the overly informative toast and sighed in relief. The music pumped so loud and everyone was busy doing their own thing to care. So, she did like any rational person would do—slammed the shot and set it back on the bar for a refill.
    “Wooo! And she can drink too!” Chevy reached over and hugged her, holding one arm up in the air. The bartender refilled each shot glass and they all emptied them once more.
    “Now, we need to get you official so we can give you the rundown. I know you don’t want to be like some of the other girls…and I get that. But being a bitch doesn’t mean you have to spread your legs for everyone. You choose who and what you do, not them.” Raven took the chance to prod her a little farther, getting a feel on where she stood and her intentions. It was natural for them to be guarded, and until she proved herself and that she wasn’t a threat, it was her job as head ol’ lady to find out. The club came first and foremost.
    “I thought that was the whole purpose of becoming a bitch…no offense, Heaven.” Heaven smiled.
    “None taken. I like to fuck. I’m not gonna apologize for that…and I mean, come on. Look around. There isn’t a guy here who stands up to our boys.” She let her eyes gaze around the bar, almost falling off her bar stool the moment Tonto and Sandman came strolling in, towering above most of the crowd. “Except maybe them…” The other girls followed her line of sight.
    “Well, well. It looks like the big bad Prez has come to check you out for himself. I say we have a little fun with them, don’t you?” Raven glanced back at them with a wicked grin.
    Rose watched them, not sure what to think. Of course they were checking up on her. It was to be expected, but it still irked her, considering they didn’t do it before they slept with her. She was touched the girls had taken to her and wanted her to hook up with the dangerous leaders, instead of shoving her away in jealousy. They were friendlier than most the people she had been friends with all her life. “Oh yeah. What exactly do you have in mind?”
    Sandman sat with his back against the wall in the farthest dark corner of the room he could get. Mandy, their usual waitress, brought over their normal order and served it up with a grin. Normally on the nights they visited the bar, he visited her bed before heading home. Tonight he didn’t give her a second glance. “Anything else I can get you boys?” she said seductively, leaning down against the table far enough the top of her blouse gaped open and gave them a clear shot of her bare tits.
    “No, just keep ‘em comin’,” he barked. She stood and scowled, nodding curtly before disappearing into the sea of bodies.
    “What, no candy from Mandy tonight?” Tonto teased.
    “Not in the mood. She’s too needy. I need a warm body and wet hole tonight without all the fuckin’ playing.” He took a pull off his beer and kept his eyes locked on the group of