Hell Bound

It was no surprise for Lora that when word got around the office of scoring her first real story that Nikki planned a celebratory girls night at Stoney’s local pub. Nor was it surprising that she planned a blind date for Lora either.

Nikki always liked playing matchmaker for her friend but it was really irritating that she was so worried about her sex life more than anything else.

It’s not like Lora herself wasn’t an attractive woman. Tanned skin, long silt brown hair, daring green eyes and and curvy hour glass figure would make any man beg on his knees. No, Lora knew she was a beautiful woman but she also knew what she was worth and it was more than a lousy one night.

Still, Nikki meant well and she didn’t want to disappoint her friend.

“You really got to stop playing matchmaker for me.” Lora begged. “These guys that you find have a personality of a wet paper bag.”

Nikki just rolled her eyes as she took a sip of her cosmo. Dressed in her tiniest cocktail dress, Nikki stood out alongside Lora.

“And you definitely need to stop dressing me in your clothes. I can barely fit into them.” Lora said as she sheepishly tugged down her dress. As a curvy woman, Lora liked to dress sexy but modestly not like a Malibu Barbie.

“That’s the whole point.” Nikki smiled. “Just relax, this guy isn’t like those other dates. This one is from New York, he’s smart, funny...”

“Define smart.” Lora interrupted. Thinking back to the last guy she was set up with, Nikki described him the same way but just turned out he was only in it for one thing.

“He’s smart as in he has an MBA from NYU and owns his own publishing company. Now will you relax and stop fidgeting, he’s coming this way.” Nikki smiled as she waved over a couple of men from the entrance door.

Lora followed her gaze to see the two tall handsome men smiling their direction. One of them had sky blue eyes and a cute freckle on his left cheek, his sandy blonde hair was perfectly slicked back. The other man could of been his brother with nearly identical features except he wore glasses and was slightly shorter.

“Max! So glad you could make it!” Nikki greeted the taller man with a kiss on the cheek. He wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her in close and kissed her tightly on the lips.

“This is Max, we’ve been seeing each other for a while.” Said Nikki. Lora just shook his hand and politely smiled. “Ahh so your the wonderful Max I’ve been hearing about.”

“The one and only.” He smiled. His perfect teeth shined bright through the dim lights. “And this is my younger brother, Seth.” He slapped his hand on his brothers back making him somewhat flinch.

Sam laughed shyly but took Lora’s hand delicately. “Very nice to meet you...” He paused.

“Lora.” She smiled.

“Very pretty name. Is it short for something?” He asked.

“No, just Lora. My parents were very original in naming me.” She joked.

Max laughed, annoyingly. Nikki followed suit. Lora just gave them a half smile in her awkwardness.

“Well, I’m going to go get some drinks for you ladies, anything in particular?” Max asked.

“I’ll come with you, we’ll give these two better acquainted.” Nikki smiled. She took Max by the hand and gave Lora a wink.

Unsure, Lora just stood there helplessly while Seth cleared his throat.

“So I uh, heard that you got a promotion at your news station. Must be exciting.” Seth said warmly.

“Oh it’s not really a promotion just more of an bigger opportunity of news telling.”

Why am I like this? She thought.

“Oh? Really? Like what?” Seth asked.

Lora cleared her throat in embarrassment. She couldn’t understand why it was difficult for her to talk to men.

“I have been working on this story for quite some time and I finally now get the chance to get it published.” She explained.

“Ah, I see. Well, congratulations anyway.” He smiled.

They both stood there smiling at each other sharing the same awkward silence between them.

Damn Nikki for bringing her out tonight, Lora thought. All Lora wanted to do was have a few cocktails and be home to celebrate the night by herself. She had a perfectly good purple toy that would satisfy her by the end of the night yet she was here, missing her toy.

“So Nikki tells me that you own your own publishing company in New York?” Lora said, breaking the tension.

“Yeah, it’s just coming together. We’re in the process of adding new clients”

Lora just nodded her head. Seth wasn’t a bad looking guy nor was he a jerk like the others, but she felt like he was missing something that Lora didn’t quite know.

If anything she could guess that it was excitement or lack there of. Lora realized that this is what normal men are like since she’s been chasing a criminal for months and she’s been used to the danger. She really needed to finish this story or else it’ll ruin her for men.

She stood there listening to him talk on and on about his company and the struggle it was to even get it started while she tried to think of anything she could comment on worth noting.

Seth started talking about his interest into becoming a publisher when Nikki and Max finally came back with drinks.

Thank God. Lora thought.

“Sorry it took so long it’s busy at the bar.” Max said, handing everyone their drinks.

“So, How’s it going?” Nikki asked.

“Oh fine, Seth was just telling me about his passions as publisher and his company.” Lora smiled.

Seth just smiled as he corrected his glasses.

“Well let’s have tonight be a big celebration for both Seth and Lora!” Nikki exclamed, raising her glass for a toast.

“Cheers!” They all said in unison. With a clink of their glass, they all took a gulp of their drinks.

Out of the corner of her eye, Lora saw two husky men in leather vest walk in to the bar. Their faces hidden behind long beards and sunglasses.

She watched them walk towards the back of the bar as people cleared a easy path for them. She knew saw their club patch on the back; Hell’s 8.

They entered a through a narrow door in the back. We’re they here on business? What did they have to do with Stoney’s Pub? Lora needed to find out.

Luckily, no one at the table seemed to notice them walk in. Lora needed to get away.

“Excuse me for a minute.” She began. “Need to use the lady’s room.”

“I’ll come with you.” Nikki joined in.

“No, I’ll just be a minute. It’s fine.” Lora said, she didn’t want her friend getting in the way nor try to stop her in her efforts.

Nikki stood back but looked at her carefully. She took another sip of her drink pretending to listen what Max was talking about as she watched Lora walk towards the back.

Looking around, Lora made sure no one was watching her. She leaned in to the small to try to hear any talking. Faintly, she heard three men talking.

She took out a small recorder from her purse and pressed it up against the bottom of the door. She leaned back in, pressing her ear against the door. She could barely make out what they were saying.

“Look, guys I told you I’d have your money by tomorrow. Is there some way we can make an arrangement?” One man said.

“We’ve given you enough time as it is now you either produce or we’ll have to make an example.” A deep voice said.

Lora heard a pop followed by a painful yell. “Fuck!”

“Take that as a warning. Now, give us what you owe.” The voice threatened.

“Alright alright.” The man groaned.

It was quiet for a moment then suddenly muffled footsteps started to approach the door.

Lora scrambled and quickly picked up her recorder and placed it back in her purse. She hurried around the corner into the back where the kitchen entrance was, waiting.

She peered behind the corner and watched the two husky Hell’s 8 men leave the room. She silently followed them.

As she followed in pursuit, she didn’t realize that Nikki was calling out to her nor did she see Nikki follow after.

“Um hello? I was calling your name?” Nikki said grabbing Lora’s arm.

Startled, Lora turned to face her friend. “Sorry. I didn’t hear you. I gotta go do something real quick.”

She tried to leave but her friend had a good grip on her.

“I saw you over there eavesdropping on those biker guys. Are you nuts?” Nikki exclaimed.

“No, I just needed to gather more evidence for my story is all. Please let me go.” Lora tugged her arm away again but it was no use. Nikki had some like freakish strength.

“No, I’m not letting you go after those guys. It’s too dangerous.” She hissed.

“Look then come with me. Act like we’re taking a picture or something. I just need a picture of them documenting that they were here. Please.” Lora begged her friend.

Nikki knew that it would be pointless to argue with her friend.

“Fine. But if shit goes sour we are leaving.” Nikki loosened her grip on Lora and followed her out the front entrance.

There she saw the two husky men holding a small carrier bag handing it to a tall aburn haired man; Damon.

It was him. The club’s President outside of Stoney’s Pub. Lora knew if she could get a picture of them she could connect him to the money laundering from Stoney’s.

She positioned herself quickly to snap shot them. Without out them noticing, she quietly took a picture from her phone.

Suddenly out of nowhere a large man came from behind them. He grabbed Lora’s phone and smashed it on the asphalt.

“Hey what the hell?!” Lora yelled.

“No pictures.” The big man growled.

“You’re gonna pay for that!” Lora called out after the man. Nikki tried pulling her friend away but Lora duck from her grasp and went after the big gorilla.

“Hey, I’m talking to you.” She yelled as she poked his back.

The man turned around, towering over her like a tree. His chest puffed like he was about to pound her into the ground.

“You owe me a new phone.” Lora croaked out.

Before he could say anything, a tattooed hand pulled him away. It was Damon. He managed to get in between the two.

“Easy there, Cain.” He soothed the giant with his words. “What’s seems to be the problem here princess?”

“Your not-so gentle giant here smashed my phone. He thought I was taking a picture of you when in fact I was just taking a picture of me and my girlfriend over there. Lora said as she looked back to see Nikki awkwardly standing there.

“That’s because you were. We don’t allow pictures of us.” Cain boomed.

“Well, we don’t know that for sure now but I think next time we’ll just ask.” Damon said, taking a step closer to Lora. “And as for you princess,” He towered over her. “Just be mindful on where you take your pictures.”

Lora didn’t say anything but just glared back at him.

“We will sorry for the misunderstanding.” Nikki interjected. She grabbed Lora by the shoulders and lead her back into the Pub.

Over her shoulder, Lora watched the group climb onto their motorcycles and vanish into the city.

“Are you fucking crazy?” Nikki exclaimed. “Just what the hell were you thinking?”

“I needed evidence and I got it.” Lora said.

She pulled out another phone from her purse, her real phone.

“You’re literally insane. You know what would’ve happened to you?” Nikki asked.

“Nothing. They would dare do anything to me not in public view anyway.” Lora calmly explained.

“Jesus I need a drink.” Nikki sighed as she walked back to the table. “Are you coming?”

Lora just nodded and followed her friend back to the uneventful table of conversations.

Nikki didn’t mention the ordeal to the guys, in fact she pretended it never happened at all. But all Lora could think about was what was Hell’s 8 doing here and what kind of involvement did they have with the pub?

Not to mention why was Damon exposing himself like that? Lora knew she needed to get to the bottom of this. Even if that means going into the clubs home bar in Scottsdale, she needed answers.

She just needed to figure out how.