“It’s not as easy as that,” Logan says. “We don’t use the Rebels women as bait. We don’t do that.”
“In a secured environment, I think Nova’s plan will work,” Harlem cuts in. “And she’s at low risk. You will all be there, us too, we’re not gonna let Nova, or Luna, or anyone waltz in there without surrounded protection. It’s risky, but what other option do we have? We need to be the ones a step ahead of these guys before they shut the whole thing down and go underground.”
“Not at Nova’s expense,” Brew maintains.
Nova is about to say something to Brew until there’s a commotion at the door.
“Ugh, I’m late!” Luna says, storming into the meeting room. “Sorry, Cash, don’t mind me.”
“Jesus Christ,” Haze puts a hand over his heart. “You almost gave me a fuckin’ heart attack.”
I turn to Tag. “So you were saying?” I smirk. “About women being in the meeting room?”
Nova snickers.
Luna stops in her tracks. “You did not just say that,” she voices her comment to the big man at the end of the table. He has the good grace to look at least a little sheepish.
“This isn’t a women’s space,” he grunts. “It’s club business. That isn’t sexist, before you give me an earful, it’s just how it is. To protect you. The less you know the better.”
“Uh, huh, well it sounds a lot like you’re being a big grumpy ass,” she says, plopping down on his lap “Play nice, baby.”
He mutters something but kisses her instead.
I clear my throat. “Now that’s taken care of, let’s get back to the vote. I didn’t like the idea at first either, but it’s growing on me because of what we can achieve. We can get ahead of these pricks once and for all.”
Brew narrows his gaze, zoning in on me. “You’re talkin’ like you’re her old man. We love you like a brother Sawyer, but she’s not your ol’ lady, you don’t get to tell her what she can do.”
“And you can?” I throw back. “Because you’re her cousin.”
“Yeah, that’s right, wise ass.”
“Well I’m someone too, Iamher old man.” I take a breath, running a hand through my hair as I take Nova’s hand with the other. “That’s the other thing we’ve come to talk about.”
Brew’s eyes widen, Haze pinches the bridge of his nose and Logan gives me a pitying look.
“Her old man?” Brew repeats. “What the fuck?”
“Yes,” Nova says, stepping closer to me. “We’retogether, together. And before you get your panties in a twist, it’s recent.Veryrecent.” She takes another breath, looking up at me. “We haven’t been sneaking around, it just kind of happened. I love him. He’s claiming me at the table because it’s what we both want.”
“Holy shit,” Logan mutters.
Brew just looks annoyed.
“I’ll be damned, finally grew a pair,” Harlem chides.
Tag is still busy with Luna.
Ryder isn’t shocked, he just shakes his head.
Haze on the other hand looks between me and Nova a couple of times like he didn’t see this coming. “Huh?”
“Everyone shut the fuck up,” Logan sighs, then turns to his brothers. “Don’t act shocked you two, we all knew this was gonna happen. They’ve been each other’s second for over a year now. They’re good together. Look how far they’ve both come. Instead of tryin’ to knock them down we should be supportin’ them. Isn’t that what bein’ a family is all about? We stick together. We support one another. I hate to break it to you, but they’re both grown adults.”
Well, I’ll be damned.
“That’s debatable,” Brew mutters.
“I’ve no issue with you claimin’ Nova,” Cash says. “But there is a moral code and rules Nova will have to follow if she’s gonna be part of this club as your ol’ lady.”