“That makes sense, I guess.” Where is he going with this long explanation?
“Z was in a tough spot because he got bounced downstate when he was ready to patch Lilly. So our charter didn’t know her well enough to vote her in, or at least Z didn’t think he could ask us to. And upstate…well, there were reasons he didn’t want to ask there, I guess. Priest neutralized that issue by giving her his patch, which is—”
“As good as gold, I’m guessing.”
His mouth twitches. “Yeah, you could say that.”
“Had he spent time with Lilly?”
“No, but I think he did it as more of a favor to Z. To make up for moving him to another charter.”
He may look like a ruthless silver fox, but I suspected those keen eyes of Priest’s belonged to a manipulative mastermind. “Dang, these patches are important.”
“Right.” He strokes his hand over his beard. “Rock had spent a lot of time with Lilly when Z was in jail—”
“Wait, what? Why was Z in jail?” More importantly, could Rooster end up in jail one day too?
“Another time.” He waves it away as if jail isn’t important. “So, I think Rock probably vouched to Priest for her.”
“Aw, that’s sweet.”
“I spent a lot of time with her too and she’s loyal as fuck. A strong woman. So I gave her my patch.” He grins. “Although, I also enjoyed telling Z I wanted to give his wife my cock, just to fuck with him.”
I slap his chest. “You’re terrible.”
He chortles like a little kid. “I know.”
My gaze strays to his cut and the rooster-wearing-a-crown patch on the front. The joke clicks. “Ah, I get it now.” I’m kinda wishing I’d paid more attention to the patches that were on the girls’ cuts when I had the chance.
“Some ol’ ladies will get offended if they don’t get the officer’s patches. Some don’t care, they just want to be claimed by their man. Plus, being patched helps keep unwanted attention away when we’re at other clubhouses—like what happened with Bonehead.”
What I think he’s explaining finally snaps into place. “Are you asking me if I’ll be offended if your brothers don’t vote me in?”
His eyes widen like he didn’t expect me to arrive at that conclusion so fast. “Would you?”
“No. I mean, I’ve barely spoken to Z, so he has no reason to vote in my favor.”
“Jiggy would probably give it to you, no question.”
“Aww, I’d happily wear it too.”
He swallows hard. “Thank you.”
“It’s really important to you, isn’t it?”
He nods. “I understand that it might seem weird. Archaic or inappropriate by today’s—well by lots—of standards. But it means something to us. And even if it doesn’t seem respectful to outsiders, it is a huge sign of respect in my world.” He squeezes me to his side. “I love you. And I trust you’ll never betray me or my club. I want every Lost King who lays eyes on you to know that I’m proud to be your man.”
“I am so proud to be your woman, Logan,” I whisper.
His mouth slides into a malicious grin. “And I want everyone you meet in biker circles to know I’ll fuckin’ kill them if they touch you.”
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Shelby
“Last show, chickadee.” Logan shifts the truck into park and shuts off the engine. “Did you think you’d make it here?”
I stare at the stadium. It looks so much bigger in person than I expected. “There were some moments I wasn’t sure.”
“Sorry.”
Shoot, he’s probably thinking he brought up the whole Suggs-kidnapping nightmare. But my mind went back farther than that. Back to singing for tips in dive bars. Singing in talent shows. Singing with my little sister.
“My first national tour. I did it.” My words spill out with a heavy note of sadness.
“Not quite done.” He reaches over and pats my leg. “You still have tonight. And Dawson’s already asked you to tour with him next summer. I doubt many first-timers have a gig lined up before their first one ends.”
Dang right. Shelby Morgan kicked ass and took names on this tour. “Nothing’s been finalized yet that I know of, though.”
“I don’t think Dawson’s the kind of guy to go back on his word.” He flashes a wicked smile and I just know what he’s about to add. “Plus, I’ll break a few of his bones if he does.”
“How did I know you were gonna say that?” I tease.
“Because no one fucks with my girl.”
“Logan.” I reach over and curl my fingers around his. “I couldn’t have done this without you. Thank you so much. For everything. All of this. I—”
“Stop. You were doing fine before I decided to tag along and be your guard dog.”
“You’re more than my guard dog.”
“I’m really proud of you, Shelby.” He squeezes my hand.
I nod quickly, chasing any tears away. “Let’s get this done!” I hold up my hand and he slaps his against it.
“You’ve got this, cowgirl.”
“Careful, or I’m gonna play cowgirl with you before the show.” I wink at him and open my door.
As I jump down from the truck, Jigsaw, Dex, Steer, Pants, and Ice with Anya on the back of his bike thunder into the parking lot.
They line up the bikes on Rooster’s side of the truck. I walk around the front, excited to see everyone.
“Anya doesn’t have a property patch, right?” I ask Rooster.
“Not that I know of.”
“Only if she and Ice were…”
He sighs and watches his brothers for a second. “Some clubs will patch a club whore but her patch will say Property of Lost Kings MC. A girl who doesn’t belong to a specific brother wearing that patch…it’s asking for trouble, so we don’t usually do that.”
Still a little stunned he kind of referred to Anya as a whore, I’m not sure what to say. “But Anya’s not—”
“I meant in general.” He smirks at the guys. “Ice has made it clear she’s not free ass.”
I smack his arm. “That’s gross.”
He shrugs as if he’s not sure what I want from him and I roll my eyes.
Anya rushes over and barrels into me, hugging tight. “Thank you so much. I’m so excited. Oh my God, this place is huge. Are you scared?” she says in a breathless rush.
“Whoa. Easy, girl,” I tease, reaching up to tug on the brim of her pink ballcap. “This is cute.”
“It matches this.” She clutches the edges of her pink and green flannel shirt and spreads them wide to show off the flocking fabulous flamingo tank top I’d given her.
Lordy, the girl fills it out better than I do. And I’m not exactly lacking in the boob department. “Damn, girl. It looks great on you. You didn’t have to wear it, though.”
“Are you kidding. Of course, I did.”
She’s bubbling over with delight about everything and it’s kinda fun to show her around backstage and see everything through a newcomer’s eyes.