Killing my engine, I smile at the sight of her. Flop guides his bike beside me, turning his engine off as well. As much as I want to have a conversation with Lainey right now and maybe explain to her what’s going on, what went on, and what’s going to go on, I don’t. At least not yet.
“Here you go,” Flop calls out before he extends a piece of paper toward me. I reach out, taking it from him.
Flicking my gaze down at it, I frown at the sight. “It’s the marriage license,” he grunts. “It hasn’t been filed, of course.”
“So you beat up a priest?” I ask.
Lainey snorts from her place standing near me. Flop shakes his head, his eyes searching mine before he speaks. “I didn’t actually beat up anyone. But if he pissed his pants, I wouldn’t be surprised.”
I let out a snort, then shift my gaze to the paper in my hand. I hate seeing Paul’s name anywhere near hers, but I can’t deny that it’s going to be really fun to watch this shit burn into ash.
Climbing off my bike, I walk over to Lainey and place my palm against her lower back. Gently, I push her forward, and together we walk into the clubhouse. I’m not surprised at all to see three extra women hanging around with the clubwhores and Scar sitting on the sofa watching them, Screamer sitting close by.
“Are you going to tell me what is going on?” Lainey asks as soon as the clubhouse door closes behind us.
I think about telling her that it’s none of her business, because really, it’s club business. But I don’t. Mainly because I respect her more than I probably should, since she’s not an actual patched-in member of the club. But I really fucking respect Lainey.
Facing her, I dip my chin slightly, my gaze searching hers for a moment before I speak. I’m not loud with my words. There’s no need to be. I can get my point across with a simple discussion.
So I tell her what transpired, not only about Paul demanding the run happen this morning but also about the bikes and the guys being locked in the back of the truck—with three women.
“He had Shocker put in the back of a box truck and took his bike?” she asks on a whisper.
When her gaze flicks to meet mine, I watch as her eyes narrow, and I see the exact moment anger fills every inch of her body. She even begins to tremble a bit, no doubt from the radiating anger that flows through her. I’ve been there. I was there just a few hours ago, but now that I have her right here in front of me, I’m good.
“I’m okay, darlin’ girl,” Shocker announces from somewhere in the distance.
I don’t look up to find him. I can’t look away from her. From my Lainey, who is standing right here in front of me, lookingabsolutely perfect, and mine. She looks like mine because she is, and I’m never letting her go again.
Lainey spins around, and I watch her run through the bar directly toward Shocker, who is… not shockingly sitting at his usual spot at the end of the bar. I watch as she throws her arms around him in a hug. He wraps his arms around her as well, and the embrace is touching, to say the least. He’s like an uncle to Lainey, and I know it scared her to hear what happened earlier.
She straightens, then she spins around and opens her mouth to say something, but nothing comes out. That’s because the door to the bar opens and I watch all the old ladies file through, dressed in their absolute fucking best, having come straight from the reception.
They move as one unit, straight past me and to Lainey. All except Dakota, who stops directly in front of me. She tilts her head back, her eyes finding mine, and I know I must be looking at her like she’s crazy, but that’s because I have no fucking idea what she’s doing here.
“Bullet needs you to go back to the reception,” she states. “You’re taking care of shit now. He told me what happened, and now that we’re here and Lainey is safe, it’s time to take care of business.”
This fucking woman. She is a ride-or-die old lady for fucking certain. I open my mouth to ask her who is going to protect them while they are here. There’s no way Lorenzo and Paul don’t have men outside that reception at the fucking ready to handle some shit. Because I know only our officers were at that wedding, and we have a lot more than just six brothers in this club.
“Bullet has already sent some guys for protection. They’re hiding until they’re needed. Protecting perimeters.”
My lips twitch at that. Jerking my chin upward, I shift my gaze from her to Lainey, who is standing by, watching but not approaching.
“Seems like I have some shit to handle,” I mutter, my eyes still very much focused on Lainey’s.
“Seems you do. Let us be here with Lainey and get that asshole for what he thought he could get away with.”
Ride or fucking die, that’s Dakota. Moving past her, I walk directly to Lainey. I slide my arm around her waist, dip my chin, and touch my mouth to hers in a hard, firm, albeit chaste kiss.
“I gotta handle some shit. Stay here with the girls,” I murmur against her lips.
I feel her fingers grip my biceps before she shifts back slightly, taking a single step backward. Her gaze connects with mine, and her lips curve up into a smile, but it doesn’t take away the worry I see clearly behind her eyes.
“Be safe and come back to me, Gunnar.”
I slide my palm along her jaw, cupping her there before I slide my thumb along her bottom lip. “I’ll be back later tonight.”
“I love you, Gunnar. I’ve said it before, but I just want you to know that I do. I truly love you. Not the idea of you, not the fantasy of you, but you. I loveyou.”