Hoops, Bear, and Sledge are glaring at Shade like he’s grown another head, and the others are already heading back toward the main entrance, where their motorcycles are parked.
“Did you just offer to sponsor a new prospect?” Hoops is the first to talk, his brows raised in surprise.
“And did you just fuckin’ accept?” Sledge is glaring at me, a mixture of concern and excitement on his face.
“Yeah.”
“Yup.” Shade and I answer at the same time, and I can feel a bubble of excitement building up inside me because yes! This is totally my new thing.
“We’ll put it to a vote next Church at the same time as Ethan.” Hoops’s declaration is final as he tries to hide his grin and shakes his head.
A couple of vans drive in through the gates, immediately grabbing our attention, but the guys are relaxed so I’m not concerned.
“Cleaners are here. Let’s go.” Hoops moves to leave but pauses and turns to look back at me. “You got a ride home?”
“Yup. My boys are waiting in the car over yonder.” I gesture in the general direction and regret all of my choices because ugh. I’m going to have to make my way through some sketchy wooded area to get to them.
Chuckling, Hoops nods in acceptance and walks away. Bear tilts his head respectfully, and Sledge looks like he might want to give me a hug so I practically leap into him and wrap my arms around his waist.
“Being a prospect won’t be easy, little sis. You know that, right? Especially with Shade as your sponsor.”
“What the fuck is that supposed to mean?” Shade furrows his brows but he isn’t really angry. He seems a little lighter than thelast few times I’ve seen him. I think getting revenge on these wankstains has really helped. He looks to me and half-smiles. “I could use a hand opening the new shop, too, and I know you have skills.”
“What kinda shop? Butchering? Because yeah, I can totally do that. I’ll have to call Teagan at the salon. Although, after getting put in the back of a van without the lure of candy, I haven’t been back so I’m probably fired anyway.” I feel like an obsessed super-fan, glad to spend any and all of my time with my man, my new sister wife bestie, my brother, and his friends, but really, it’s because I’m finally fucking home.
Everything is just right.
Despite the weird cult thing that I know we haven’t heard the end of.
“Tattoo shop in town.” Shade full-on grins, like he’s a proud papa.
“Hell fuckin’ yes.”
“Holy shit, brother, you’re finally ready?” Sledge peels himself from me and hits Shade on the shoulder—in a nice kinda way, not to knock him the fuck out.
The rumble of engines gets louder as the club gets ready to leave and I decide now is totally the best time to fuck off, also. Mia was in a bad state, and if Spencer can’t help her, then I hope they aren’t waiting for me.
I have legs. I can walk if I need to.
Will I get lost? Probably. Will I eventually find my way back home? Yes.
“Shade, you’re a fuckin’ leg-end. Sledge, you’re just a bell-end.” I snort a laugh at his faux frown and run off in the opposite direction, through the trees and toward the road where Spencer parked the car.
I can hear the motorcycles riding off into the distance and I grin to myself at the thought of being on one myself. Grinderwill feel less obligated to use the club’s truck all the time if I can ride beside him. He’s so much freer on his motorcycle and my fucking god of war, when he does those stunts I want to lick him all over.
I can see the brake lights of what I’m hoping is Spencer’s car, urging me to run a little faster. Well…hop at this point because my knee is being a bitch by reminding me of my previous injury.
When I get to the car, I’m pleasantly surprised to see Grinder rolling a body into the boot. He slams it closed and whips his bloody arm out to pull me close.
“Is that a dead body in the car or are you just pleased to see me?” I speak into his heaving chest and nestle into his warmth.
“Spence ran him over.” Enough said. That essentially means that Spenny is gonna need some nurturing because I’m pretty sure that’s his first kill and it’s gonna haunt his arse for life. Unless…
“Does he know the dude’s dead? Because I can open the boot up and snap the guy’s neck, then tell Spenny he didn’t actually kill him…” I don’t speak loudly because it’s quiet out here.
Grinder huffs a laugh and squeezes me tightly against him.
“He already knows. But our man’s seen worse, he can handle it.”