No one so much as breathes.
Z stands at the other end of the table. “We have business to discuss.” He nods at Rock. “But we’re gonna let Chaser take the lead on when and if he wants to bring it up. Demons are still navigating a shift in business ventures with his father-in-law out of the game.” Z shifts his gaze toward me. “You get a feel for what’s going down when you were hanging with him in Nashville?”
I blink and sit up. Wasn’t expecting to be called on. “Uh, no. Not really.” My gaze ping-pongs between Z and Rock. “He mentioned DeLova in passing but that’s it.”
“Shelby’s gotten close to his daughter, right?” Rock asks.
Fuck, fuck, fuck. I don’t like where this is going.
“Yeah,” I answer slowly, trying to remove the irritation from my tone. “She helped Shelby write her new album.”
“I assume if any MC business was mentioned, Shelby would tell you,” Z says. It’s not a question. More of an order, honestly, and it kinda grinds my gears.
“That’s not what them working together was about. At all.”
“Easy, Rooster. We gotta ask,” Z says.
I roll my eyes toward the ceiling and count to five. “The closest they got to talking about MC business was Angelina telling Shelby she doesn’t date bikers because her father scares them all away.”
Bricks bursts out laughing. “Fuck, yeah.”
“That’s exactly what I’d expect from Chaser,” Dex says.
Murphy raises his fist in the air. “Respect.”
Rock’s shaking his head, but a smile tugs at the corners of his mouth. He lifts his gaze to Z. “Satisfied?”
“What?” Z shrugs.
Rocks serious gaze travels around the table. “No one take that as a challenge to hit on Angelina tomorrow.”
“Prez—” Ravage whines.
Rock tilts his head in that particular do-I-need-to-blow-a-hole-in-your-skull way he has. “Did I stutter?”
“Nope.” Stash pushes Ravage back in his seat. “We hear you loud and clear, Prez.”
“Good.” Rock and Z share another look. “Everyone except our officers are free to go.”
Bricks taps my shoulder on his way out. Ravage and Stash are still bickering about who the hell knows what. Sparky’s just high as fuck.
Z rubs his hands together, laughing like a maniacal demon. He turns and messes with something I can’t see at the back of the room.
Paper crinkles and a few seconds later, he walks the length of the table holding a package wrapped in brown paper.
My heart kicks. I know what has to be in there.
“A present for my favorite motherclucker,” Z says, setting it on the table in front of me.
“Thank you, Z.”
He rests his hand on my shoulder. “Congratulations, brother.”
I glance around at the rest of the brothers. “I’m not asking for votes yet.”
“Open it,” Wrath says.
I unwrap the paper, setting it aside. Black leather vest looks like it’ll fit Shelby perfectly.
My rooster wearing his crown.
I crack up at the bird and the musical notes patches with ‘chickadee’ embroidered underneath.
“It’s an actual chickadee.” Jigsaw frowns at Z. “Prez picked out a hummingbird.”
I snort-laugh. “Thanks, brother.”
“Turn it over and get to the good stuff.”
I flip the vest over.
Property of Rooster
Lost Kings MC
Perfect.
On the sides, I catch some color and I turn the vest. “Fuuuck,” I breathe out.
Jiggy’s skull with a knife between its teeth. I expected that one. Murphy’s four-leaf clover isn’t a surprise either. I reach over and pat his shoulder. “Thanks, brother.”
I wasn’t expecting Dex’s compass, or Steer’s bullhorns.
And I definitely didn’t expect Wrath’s star. I glance up at him with a raised eyebrow.
“What? I spent time with her on the road.” He leans forward and presses his index finger against the table. “You know what sealed the deal? In all the interviews she’s given, including that embarrassing as fuck puff piece with your face on the cover, she’s never mentioned the club’s name. Never heard her say it on the road either.”
“That’s true.” Shelby never tries using our name to impress or scare people like some girls might.
“She’s loyal,” Jigsaw says. “She was a fuckin’ badass in Washington, too.”
“Fuck yeah,” Dex adds. “She was the first one to notice Red Storm’s Texas rockers. And she knew why it was a problem.” He touches his temple. “She’s smart. I trust her to have my patch.”
“Thank you, brother.” I reach over the table and shake his hand, then pivot to shake Wrath’s hand.
Rock catches my eye. “I’m looking forward to getting to know her better.” He nods to the vest, indicating when he trusts Shelby, she’ll have his crown too.
“Same,” Teller adds.
Z shrugs. “Why else do you think I was trying to get you to move next door to us?”
I rumble with laughter. “Is that what you were doing, Prez?”
“Yeah.”
Hustler catches my eye. “Same, Rooster. I didn’t get to be around her enough, yet.”
“Understood, brother. I got no issue with that.”
Ice clears his throat and lifts an eyebrow.
I glance down at the vest again.
Aw, fuck. I didn’t expect to find patches from Ice and Pants too. Well, maybe I expected one from Pants.
“She’s a good ol’ lady, Rooster,” Ice says. “Shows respect. Reads the room. Observes before speaking. All good qualities. Rare too.”
“Thank you, brother.”
“That’s cool and all,” Pants says, waving a dismissive hand through the air. “I just want a shot at her mom.”
I don’t doubt that’s partially true.
And it’s exactly what we all needed to break up what was becoming an emotional moment.
“Get in line,” Steer says.
“Like fuck you are.” Jiggy throws a scowl at Pants, then Steer.
Dex moans and presses his palms together, shooting a look at the ceiling like he’s praying to the gods who watch over our most degenerate brothers. “Not this again.”
Chapter Fifty-Six
Shelby
Some of the guys emerge from the war room. They briefly stop to say hello to us before going on their way.
No sign of Rooster though.
I bite my lip and can’t stop peeking at the doors every couple of seconds.
“Sometimes the officers have to stick around,” Trinity explains.
“Especially when they’re in trouble,” Heidi adds, slapping her hand over her mouth to hide her laughter. “My brother’s a frequent offender.”
Hope shakes her head but doesn’t verbally disagree.
Charlotte side-eyes Heidi. “I’d argue your husband is detained just as frequently as Marcel.”
“They’re partners in crime,” Hope adds.