“How do you hear this?” Abriana asked.
“Club bitches talk, babe. That’s how I get to know as much about the guys as I do. They need to learn to keep their mouths shut. So, do you like Smokey?”
“I like him,” Ava said.
“That’s all? You like him?”
“We’re not exactly, I mean, it’s, I, it’s complicated.”
Raven stared at her for several seconds as Abriana began to put the groceries away. Ava hated being under Raven’s scrutiny and got to her feet, immediately helping to put everything away. She hated sitting down while other people worked, and she really had to do something with her hands.
“At least you like him.”
“Yep, I do.” She offered a smile, but Raven didn’t return it.
“Don’t mind her. She’s being club again.”
“Club?”
“Raven takes her role was being the only female club member seriously.”
“I went through hell to earn my patch.” She tilted her head toward Ava. “You ever been around an MC before?”
“No.” She had helped to put away the groceries. “I’ve heard of MCs, but never been close to one.”
“And you still bought a house near a town with one?” Raven asked. “Are you fucking stupid?”
“Damn it, Raven, enough,” Abriana said.
This had both women looking toward Abriana.
“When did you grow a set of balls?” Raven asked.
“Since she is clearly a nice woman and bakes the most delicious cookies and muffins. If you want to keep her around because you’ve been drooling after her baked goods as much as everyone else in town, stop being a first-class bitch. She doesn’t deserve it.” Abriana shook her head. “She’s really nice when you get to know her.”
“I think I miss your timid approach. Since you gave birth to Bella, you’ve grown a spine.”
Abriana stuck her tongue out. “Have you ever thought that it’s your influence?”
“Please, I’m a saint.”
Ava sat back down in her seat. She didn’t know if she’d rather face off with Ugly Beast more. Raven had a spiteful edge to her tone. She understood it. Smokey was her leader. She was looking out for him.
Abriana and Raven continued to banter with each other. Rather than leave, Ava sat, enjoyed a cup of coffee, and when the time was right, she made her escape.
The club was intense. No doubt about it.
If they were all like Raven, she had no doubt it was going to be difficult to be in Smokey’s world.
She drove home, unloaded her car, and the empty house that greeted her wasn’t a blessing. Seeing Abriana with her baby tonight had stirred up all kinds of feelings. She had tried to forget what it was like to want a child and a big family. Being an only child, her parents had been unable to have more children, even though it was exactly what they wanted. Her mother had been amazing with kids. She wanted a huge family. During the few times she’d seen Smokey around his club, she’d seen a closeness that could only be described as family.
Her lonely house only served to make her realize how little she had.
****
Hanson was stable for now, but Smokey hadn’t been able to talk to him for very long because the drugs they had him on made him very woozy.
He headed back to the clubhouse with Hunter calling ahead to arrange a church meeting. They didn’t have a lot to go on, but the brothers needed to be informed of what he had discovered so far.
Arriving at the clubhouse, he took note of all the bikes and cars in residence. Women in skimpy clothing were hanging outside, smoking cigarettes and joints. He ignored them, heading straight inside and taking his place at the head of the table. As with all the brothers, they handed in their cell phones and weapons at the door. The church was their sacred place, their patch their main link. They were all united as one.
“How’s Hanson?” Ugly Beast asked.
“He’s doing good. The doctor believes he’ll be home in a couple of weeks. Nothing was severely damaged. Were you able to get any kind of surveillance?” He turned toward Hunter.
“Nope. Everything from that night has been taken or wiped. Not a single security tape. They were all useless. All we’ve got to go on is Hanson when he wakes up,” Hunter said.
“I want round-the-clock security on him, starting now.”
Kinky got up. “I’m on it. Whoever takes over from me can give me the rundown.” He turned on his heel and left.
“I think you need to postpone your meeting with the asshole,” Vice said.
He looked toward the brother in the corner. Vice rarely said anything at these meetings. “Why?”
“We can’t rule him or his club out.”
“It’s settled then,” Ugly Beast said. “You don’t go.”
“We haven’t taken a vote.” Smokey wasn’t going to be a coward. “You think not turning up to meet him will help our situation?”
“I think if you turn up, it could be a bloodbath,” Elijah said, leaning forward. Brick, Hunter, and several other brothers agreed.
“This meeting is arranged,” Demon said. “It’s a certified trap. We all know it.”
Smokey sat back, not in the best of moods. “I don’t like this.”
“We’re not going to get you killed,” Hunter said. “I don’t give a fuck what they think of us. Let them claim us to be pussies. They’ll be the ones in the fucking wrong. Not us. I’m not having you go out there and get yourself killed.”
“I always knew you loved my ass.” Smokey blew Hunter a kiss. “I already called off the meeting. Any time I meet up with the asshole of the Twisted Bastards MC, it’s going to be a surprise one so he doesn’t see me coming. I haven’t been running this show for them to take the fucking piss. You all should know that by now.” He shook his head.
“Have you considered your piece could be a plant?” Ugly Beast.
“Ava is no plant.”
“Is that because you’re sticking your dick in her?” Ugly glared right back at him.
Smokey’s hands clenched into fists. Anger rushed through his body, but rather than let it spill forth, he stayed perfectly still and stared right at him. “My judgment isn’t impaired. You worry about your wife. Why not knock her up again? It will only help to cement more ties to the mafia.”
“We’re out of the mafia, and you know it.”
“With a little declaration, you’ll be right back in.”
“Enough,” Hunter said. “Ava’s been checked out.”
“Yeah, well, until we’re sure where her loyalties lie, I don’t want her hanging out with my wife.”
“Ava’s a good person,” Raven said, finally speaking up.
All this time, it had surprised him she hadn’t said something sooner. Raven wasn’t exactly known for keeping her mouth shut. She liked to be involved. Even though she was a patched-in member, he sometimes believed she tried to make up for the fact she had tits and a pussy rather than a dick.
“And you think you can make a judgment call?” Ugly Beast asked.
“What gives you the right to question my judgment?” Raven asked, stepping away from the wall.