Chapter 7: The Clam Shell

*Ha! I just got why the lesbian bar is named the Clam Shell. – Sledge

It was Knuckles first night working as a bouncer at the lesbian bar. He stood where the new head bouncer, Sledge, had told him to, and had to admit, it was a good spot to see the majority of the place. The main bar was a large semicircular white granite with multi colored lights flashing against it in rhythm with the music. There were two male and three female bartenders behind the large bar. They all wore leather pants and matching leather vests. The women’s were zipped about halfway while the men’s hung open.

There were two smaller bars, also rounded with lights. One was on the upper level and the other over in the VIP area. They each had a male and female bartender with the same uniform. The waitresses all wore coordinating leggings or tight jeans and t-shirts with the bar name on the front and a questionable quote on the back. So far, his favorite declared to be from Eleanor Roosevelt, “Horrible in a bed, but great against a wall.”

There was a large dance floor in the center of the room that was dark hardwood, although he doubted that it was actual wood. The floor surrounding it was a black carpet and along the walls were oversized c-shaped booths with undersized tables. The tables and wooden portion of the booths matched the dance floor while the pleather alternated between pink, purple and blue.

The VIP area had couches instead of booths. They were black, contrasting the white marble floor and silver accents. He knew that the upper level had black and pink chairs with dark gray floors and glass top wrought iron tables

The walls in the main area were a dark gray with silver trim pieces that reflected the swirling and flashing lights that were everywhere. Shortly before the bar opened, the large overhead lights were turned off and the multi colored swirling spot lights came on.

When the black lights landed on the waitresses, their mouths would glow blue, as would some of their nails. Some also had various designs painted on their skin and one bartender had his vest hanging open in such a way that his nipple rings would glow brightly.

The VIP area was painted slick black with crystal like trim. Upstairs was a soft pink with black trim. It clicked suddenly that the waitresses in the main area had black shirts with silver writing. The upstairs was black with pink writing and VIP waitresses had black shirts with iridescent writing. He wasn’t sure why he hadn’t noticed that before.

Scanning the room again, he saw a very familiar face. Smiling to himself, he left his post for a moment to approach the woman with the rainbow hair.

“Swinging for the other team?”

“Just got to pay the bills.” Taz said getting the beer bottles situated on her tray. “Hope you’re not looking for a date.”

“Working as a bouncer.”

“I didn’t realize that you were in this chapter.”

“Haven’t been for long.”

She smiled as she started to walk away. “Buy me a soda after work.”

He agreed and returned to his post, a moment later, Sledge walked up.

“I know that she’s pretty, single and straight, but you’re here to work.” He reminded the younger man.

“She’s also my cousin. We grew up together. She’s damn near my sister.”

Sledge nodded. “Don’t let that interfere either.”

“No offense, Sledge,” Knuckles laughed, “but if a fight breaks out, I’m hiding behind her.”

“She’s Sinner’s daughter, right?” He asked and when Knuckles confirmed it, Sledge nodded and walked away.

It was a Tuesday night and it was relatively slow. Closing down at two did not take long since the process had started long before. Knuckles walked Taz out to her pickup. He asked if she remembered where the clubhouse, also known as Sinners Shack, or simply the Shack, was and she nodded. She agreed to go and wait for him there, he couldn’t leave until Sledge released him. That would not happen until all the employees had been escorted to their cars or safely sent home.

Taz stepped into the building that held so much of her past. She had very few memories of the clubhouse that bore her father’s name, but knew that if she spent some time looking, she would find touches of her parents.

The large front room held several couches and recliners. Three pool tables sat to her left, currently only one was in use by a single player. He was older, but still handsome and built. This was emphasized by the fact that he was wearing just his cut, jeans and flip flops. She may have sworn off men, but she could still appreciate the view.

As her friend Celeste would say, window shopping is not just for clothes.

The columns that were supporting the ceiling and upper floors, originally painted white, were covered by signatures from brothers, bunnies, family and visitors. Inadvertently, she had been the one to start that tradition. When she was four, she was proud that she could write her name. If she looked at the base of the fourth column to her right, she would probably find her childish scribble. Jazmine. With the J looking more like a T, the E written backwards and a Z instead of an S.

One of the older brothers, Pops she believed, wrote his name also. That way, if she got in trouble, he would too. Her mother had simply laughed and added her own name. It didn’t take long for the others to add their names.

Forcing back her tears, she looked down at the dark wood floors. They were almost black, which kept oil, grease and mud from being so obvious. The walls were a gray and the ceilings were now a nicotine yellow. What was once the check-in desk was now used as a catch-all. Her mother would have a fit over that.

“Hey, pretty.” A drunk slurred as Taz stood just inside the building. The black hair and blue eyes told her that he was one of the many Lowery men.

Before leaving the club, she had pulled on baggy jeans and a loose long-sleeved t-shirt. Her blonde hair was still down with the rainbow under layers peeking through. Her aquamarine blue eyes sparkled with amusement. She had a tan that darkened slightly every day during her run.

Taz smiled at the man and read his name as Molly, “Hey handsome. Show me where the bar is.”

Molly put his arm around her shoulders and guided her toward the bar that he just left. He was big and burly with bright blue eyes and pitch-black hair pulled back in a French braid well past his shoulders and his full beard was just as long. Molly wore the standard uniform – jeans, motorcycle boots, dark t-shirt and the Devil’s Saints leather cut.

He led her through the wide doorway with BAR in the stained-glass transom. The dark floors continued in here. The walls were flame red with black trim and crown molding. Plastered all over the walls were pictures of the brothers at various events. Some were old. Some recent. There were a few that were obviously special and were not overlapped. Her eyes flickered to the family photo of hers that was taken just days before the shooting.

“Molly, I thought that you were headed to bed.” The girl with a pink Mohawk said as Molly sat back on the stool.

“I found a new pretty.” Molly said beaming at Taz.

“You need to leave the pretty alone. Becks will have your ass.” The girl looked at Taz. “Please tell me that you’re not with him.”

Taz laughed and shook her head. “Waiting on my cousin, Knuckles.”

“Good. He doesn’t need any more women in his life.”

“Always need more women.”

“You need to leave some for the rest of us.” The man from the pool table patted him on the shoulder. “Come on. Let’s get you to bed before you have another baby.” The man, Riffraff, helped Molly stand up and walked him out and towards the stairs.

“First baby?” Taz asked.

“Not hardly. Do you want a drink?”

“Water is fine.”

“This will be number 13, but his first son and first baby with Michaela.” She handed over a bottle of water. “I’m Noel.”

“Taz.” She smiled at the bartender. She had purple eyes with pink stars and a couple of facial piercings on her right eyebrow and another on her opposite nostril, Taz could barely see the tongue ring. Noel also had an industrial bar on her left ear and both had five hoops going through the lobes she wore a low-cut halter and low-rise shorts that showed off her tattoos. A silver chain accented her small waist.

“I didn’t know that Knuckles had any family around here.”

“Until tonight, I didn’t realize that he was here. I thought that he was still in Sunnyvale.”

There was a loud commotion as the bouncers from the various bars and clubs began to arrive. Bypassing her cousin, her attention fell to the largest prospect there. Taz stood at five feet eleven, her thick soled boots added another three inches, but Trevor was still at least a foot taller than her as she slid off the stool and approached him.

“I was hoping to see you tonight.”

“Sorry, sweetheart. He’s not into your kind. But I am.” One of the men said and she simply ignored him.

“What the fuck Trev? Because I swear, if you’re breaking up with Clay, I will rip your fucking balls off!”

Trevor reached into his inside pocket of his cut and pulled out a small box before taking her hand and putting the box in it.

“I’m not breaking up with him. I had to do a few odd jobs to pay for it.”

Taz stared at the box on her hand not sure what to do or say. “Well, fuck me.”

“Like Chains said, not into you. But I’m sure that you could find a volunteer.” Trevor grinned as he took the unopened box back.

“I don’t have time for that.” She replied offhand, ignoring the men who were raising their hands offering to be a tribute.

“Molly would like for you to make time.” Noel chimed in getting beers out for the new arrivals.

“I certainly don’t have time for a man with thirteen kids.”

“But do you have time for a drink?” Knuckles asked directing her back to the bar.

“Maybe for you, if….”

Knuckles grinned at his cousin before handing over the keys to his bike. “Don’t stay out to long-"

“Don’t lay her over, wear a brain bucket, don’t talk to guys wearing other colors, don’t put a girl on the back and for Gods sake, don’t let Scrapper know that I took your bike.”

He placed a kiss on her temple. “Good girl.” She hugged him tightly and gave him a kiss on his cheek. “Go, before I change my mind.” He released her from the embrace and simply smiled as she dashed out of the building and towards his bike.

“You often hand over your bike?” Werewolf asked.

“Only to my favorite cousin.” Knuckles admitted picking up his beer and taking a drink.

“Family. Off limits.” Toad said as he joined the group.

“Nope. I don’t tell her what she can and can’t do. She does what she wants. If you’re smart, you do the same.”