Copper Novel – Jig cleared his throat and jerked his chin at Copper. Next to him, Zach stared down at his plate as though it was covered in undressed pics of his woman. “The fkk’s wrong with you, Jig?” Copper looked over his shoulder and nearly choked on his tongue. About three feet away, Shell stood holding a full pot of coffee with a blank stare and flat mouth. — “YOU AND SHELL were looking mighty cozy last night,” Zach said with a sh1t-eating grin that disappeared behind his giant coffee mug. He sat across the table from Copper and next to Jig.
At least five days a week some group of the Handlers ate at the diner. Copper was always among them. It hadn’t always been that way, though. Up until about a year ago, the diner was owned by the parents of Zach’s ol’ lady. To say they were anti-biker was the understatement of the century. None of the men in his club was allowed to set foot in the diner, let alone sit for a cup of coffee. After they passed, and Toni took ownership, she changed that rule. Shell had been working there since before Toni came along. This was her morning job.
At night, she cleaned a large office building in town. Copper swallowed his oversized bite of waffle, brow furrowed. “The fkk you talking about?” The previous night was a blur of alcohol, loud music, and laughter, but no matter how he racked his brain, he couldn’t even remember speaking with Shell. He must have. She organized the party, and would have at least wished him a happy birthday. Then there was Zach’s statement which led him to believe he had some interaction with her. “sh1t,” Jig said. “That’s right, Prez. I almost forgot about that. ‘Bout time you made a move there.” Copper growled.
What the fkk were these ladies running their traps about? There’s no way he’d ever make any kind of move on Shell. By the smirks on Mav, Jig, and Zach’s faces, they knew it and were just yanking his chain. “Get the fkk outta here.” “They’re right, Cop,” Mav pipped in from next to Copper. “Known you both a long time and aside from the night her pops was killed I’ve never seen you do more than shake her hand. Last night you had her on your lap, nuzzling her neck and sh1t. Looked about ten seconds away from yanking her dress down and sucking her papillae.” “Hey!” Copper slapped Mav on the back of his head, causing his brother’s coffee to slosh on the table.
“Have some fkking respect. That’s Shell you’re talking about. She’s a mother for fkk’s sake.” Zach snorted out a laugh. “So what? That automatically makes her unfkkable? Don’t think so, Prez. Shell’s hot and every man in the club knows that. Only reason they stay away is they think you’ve got dibs. That won’t last forever, though. One day there’ll be some prospect brave enough to claim her. And how do you think she became a mother? Doubt it was an immaculate fkking conception.” How Beth came to be was something Copper didn’t allow himself to think about. Ever. Made him sick to his stomach to imagine some dumb kid with his hands and twiggy shaft all over an eighteen-year-old Shell. Copper shot his enforcer a look that would have made a lesser man piss himself.
Unfortunately, he’d known Zach about ten years, and his murder-glares weren’t as effective as they’d once been. He ran a hand down his face. sh1t. How drunk had he been last night? Sure, he’d been sh1tfaced, that much was obvious by the throbbing head and aching eyes, but to break his one hard and fast rule and be all over Shell? Dread filled him. God, he hoped he hadn’t crossed any lines. Last thing he wanted or needed was an awkward conversation explaining he didn’t mean anything that had happened. “Look, the club’s had the year from inferno and it was my fortieth birthday.
Think I’m entitled to one night of stupidity. I don’t even remember seeing Shell last night, let alone having her on my lap. But whatever happened, I know two things.” He held up a finger. “First, I was drunk off my hip, which is the only reason I had my hands on her. You know I’d never