Shadow coughs to cover a laugh when all of us just continue to stare at her like she’s an anomaly.
Kincaid slaps Rivet on the back. “Now that we’ve got that taken care of, we’ve been asked to help Blackbridge with an assignment. After the help they’ve provided us in Venezuela, I figure it’s only fair to return the favor.”
Deacon Black nods at Kincaid as he rises from his seat and stands in front of the group.
“It’s not easy standing up here and admitting that I’ve failed, but here I am. This mission is more than a little personal for me, and I thought it was in my best interest to come to you guys for help rather than fucking everything up by letting my emotions control the outcome,” Deacon explains.
I keep my focus on him as he speaks even though I feel like a jackass for not having the balls to take a step back when I needed to the most. It doesn’t feel like a personal affront. Black isn’t here to jab at my own shortcomings, but that knowledge doesn’t make it sting any less.
“Who are we looking for?” Grinch asks.
A picture flashes on the screen, a blonde with bright blue eyes stares back at us.
“My ex-wife.”
Chapter 38
Mia
He gets to stay, which means I get to stay. Right here in the clubhouse where I’m comfortable.
I’m tucked into Ryan’s side as he talks with his guys. They partied until the early morning hours when they got home yesterday, and tonight they seem to be doing the same thing. Ryan told me earlier that this is what the clubhouse is like when they get home, and that they were respectful of my being here before.
I smile as I look around the room. There are more than just the Cerberus guys here tonight, and that keeps me close to his side. I’ve learned to trust these men, but the newcomers cause me concern.
The music is loud, and the drinks are flowing, and for the most part, everyone is just talking, dancing and having a good time. Women in clothes too small for the winter weather outside walk around and chat with all the guys, and I haven’t missed the one blond in the corner staring daggers in our direction, but I don’t pay her any mind. I’m not certain, but if I had to guess, I imagine that’s Kirsty. She doesn’t seem happy that I have Ryan’s undivided attention, but at least she hasn’t come over and tried to start trouble.
Ryan hasn’t even bothered to look twice at her, and for that, I’m grateful. I know I just shoved myself into his life, but if I trust what he’s told me more than once, he’s glad I’m here and doesn’t want me to go anywhere anytime soon.
“That’s not true,” Jinx argues. “I don’t have a problem with her being here. I just think that it complicates things.”
The guys have been discussing Rivet, the newest member of the Cerberus MC.
I don’t add my two cents. I’m not a member of this club, but the pretty woman on the other side of the room chatting with Grinch is fierce. She’s almost as tall as the other guys in the MC, but there’s no mistaking her for anything other than a strong woman. Her all-business short haircut is striking, perfect for her oval face, and more than me, she’s getting dirty looks from the visiting women.
If I didn’t know how dedicated Ryan was to me, I’d probably worry. He hasn’t given me any reason to doubt him, so I won’t bother with it. I have enough things to worry about.
“Think we should haze her the same way we would if it was a guy joining us?” Ryan asks with a grin as he brings his beer bottle to his lips.
“I’m not holding back,” Jinx says with a playful devious look in his eye. “She said she didn’t want us to act differently.”
“Can’t really give her a gallon of lube and a pocket pussy like we did when Tug came on board.”
With a huge smile on my face, I look up at Ryan. “Is that where Kingston got his name?”
Jinx snorts a laugh. “Tug got that name in bootcamp because he disappeared to jack off every chance he got.”
Ryan looks down at me, and I’m sure he’s checking to see if I’m okay with the direction the conversation has turned. I smile up at him, hoping that he understands that I’m fine.
“She’s been in the Marine Corps,” I interject. “I’m sure she’s seen and heard it all. Oh, who’s that?”
We all turn to watch a younger guy walk toward Rivet.
“This ought to be good,” Jinx says. “That’s Cannon, Shadow’s youngest son. He thinks he’s God’s gift. The boy doesn’t know when to quit.”
“Come on,” Ryan says as he presses his hand to my back, urging me to step closer so we can hear the conversation.
“Hey, baby,” Cannon purrs, disrespectfully interrupting the conversation Grinch and Rivet were having.
Rivet frowns at him, but rather than taking him down a notch, she repositions her body to not include Cannon and continues to speak with Grinch.
“Yeah,” she says. “Four years was enough for me. The bureaucracy was just too much to re-up.”
“Oh,” Cannon says as he invades her space. “You were in the military?”
A smile spreads across Grinch’s face, but he doesn’t say a word. Cannon proceeds to invade her personal space, and I’m finding it a little bit creepy, especially since no one is stepping up to put a stop to the young guy’s disrespect.
“Are you a general?” Cannon asks with innuendo lacing his tone.
“Oh, boy,” Ryan mutters, but a smile is teasing his lips.
“Cause you just made my private stand at attention.”
Rivet glares at him, unimpressed with his ridiculous pickup line.
Grinch coughs into his hand to cover a laugh.
“Wanna help me dishonorably discharge?” Cannon’s eyebrows waggle at a comically fast rate, and I find a smile of my own forming on my lips.
This kid is so far out his element with Rivet, but he seems too ignorant to realize she isn’t even the slightest bit impressed. It’s like a slow-motion train wreck, and as much as I was offended for her just a few moments ago, I still can’t take my eyes off of the two of them. Somehow, I just know that this woman can handle herself.
“He can’t be serious,” I mutter.
“You’d be surprised how many women fall for his shit,” Ryan whispers in my ear.
“Well, she’s not going to,” I assure him.
Cannon inches in closer. “I can stand at attention for hours. Wanna play formation?”
My eyes widen in shock when Rivet’s lip twitches. “Surely, she isn’t—”
Then Cannon lifts his hand, saying, “What do ya say? Are you delta tango foxtrot?” as he trails his finger down her arm.
All humor disappears from her eyes before she grabs his finger and twists it like it’s her primary instinct. Cannon squeals like a pig caught in a trap before turning ass over end and crashing to the floor.
Rivet looks down at him like he’s nothing more than a nuisance. She spares him the quickest glance before looking back up at Grinch. “So, yeah. Four years was enough, but I think Cerberus is going to be a good fit.”
“And you’re going to fit in here just fine,” Grinch says as he grins down at Cannon.