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“Not yet,” Wrath answers with only a hint of annoyance coloring his tone.
Another biker approaches and Sparky runs over to embrace him.
“They could be twins,” I say to Z, who laughs.
Unfortunately my comment draws Romeo’s attention my way. Rock wraps his arm around my waist in a proprietary way strong enough to negate the need for the property patch on my back.
“Romeo, this is my wife, Hope.”
He gives me a respectful nod, but doesn’t offer to shake my hand, which is fine with me. Dante gives me a polite once-over and chin lift.
Wrath introduces Trinity with the same result.
“Where’s your girl, Murphy?” Dante asks.
He tips his head toward the restaurant. “Inside with our daughter.”
“Fuck me.” Dante’s eyes light up giving him a maniacal air. “There’s a little gingersnap running around?”
Murphy grits his teeth while Teller shakes with laughter. This gingersnap thing might end up sticking after all.
Romeo curls his arm around the blonde at his side. “My ol’ lady, Athena.”
Dante introduces the brunette I thought was his daughter as Karina. Both girls are around Heidi’s age. Maybe younger.
Rock gives me a subtle squeeze that I assume is my cue to take the girls inside.
“Trinity and I were going to grab something to eat,” I offer. “You’re more than welcome to join us.”
Both girls nod and the four of us head inside.
“Aw, you really are momma bear,” Trinity whispers in my ear.
“Shut up,” I mutter back.
Heidi and Charlotte have a large corner booth all to themselves. Alexa’s on Heidi’s lap, happily shoveling Cheerios into her mouth.
“She seems much calmer,” I say as I slide in next to Charlotte.
“I think she was hungry.”
“Where’d Carter go?” Trinity asks.
Charlotte points toward the wall. “There’s an arcade next door.”
I introduce the girls and Karina smiles at Heidi. “Gingersnap’s girl, right?”
Heidi narrows her eyes, maybe getting the wrong impression about Karina.
“Ah, Murphy’s her fiancé,” I explain. “I think your old man’s the only one who calls him that.”
Karina laughs and nods. “That sounds like Dante.” She swings her gaze back to Heidi. “Sorry.”
Heidi shrugs but seems relieved she’s not about to have lunch with one of Murphy’s ex-bunnies.
Our waitress stops by and we place our orders. After she leaves it’s uncomfortable for a minute. Everyone seems to be waiting for me to initiate conversation.
Charlotte stands and says she’s going to check on her brother. “Be right back.”
“So, what do you girls do?” I finally ask. Please don’t say you’re still in high school.
“I’m pre-med at Arizona State,” Karina says.
Heidi perks up. Finally, at least they’ll have stuff to talk about.
“I’m a sometimes-employed actress,” Athena answers in a funny self-deprecating way I can relate to.
“I thought you looked familiar!” Trinity says.
Athena blushes. “I’ve had a few small parts here and there.”
“Midnight Blue.” Trinity snaps her fingers. “Right?”
“Yup. Girl Who Drowns. That’s me.”
“You were good, though. Looked so real, you had me holding my breath through that whole scene.”
“Thank you.”
“Do you have headshots?” Trinity asks.
Athena wrinkles her nose and whips out her cell phone. “Yeah, but I don’t love them.” She tilts the screen to show Trinity and scrolls through several photos.
“I’m a photographer. We could try to get some beach shots while we’re in Florida.”
“Oh my God, I’d love that!”
Trinity glances at Heidi. “I don’t have all my lighting equipment, but we can make something work.”
Heidi widens her eyes as if she hadn’t expected this to be a working vacation, but she nods. “Sure. We’ll figure something out.”
Karina moves closer to Heidi so they can talk about school stuff. Alexa reminds everyone she prefers to be the center of attention by throwing her arms in the air and squeeing.
“Oh my God, you’re the cutest!” Athena says, reaching over to tickle Alexa’s feet.
“Watch out! She’s going to have baby fever now.” Karina laughs and her friend wads up a napkin and throws it at her.
I sit back, listening to the conversation around me. Feeling like I’ve done my job for the afternoon and wondering when Charlotte will return.
Our orders arrive and we continue talking while we eat.
The guys are still in the parking lot. I peer out the window. How long are we expected to stay here?
“They got a police trap up ahead, so this was a good time to stop,” Romeo says.
“Your guy gonna let you know when it’s clear to get back on the highway?” I ask.
He turns and glances at the biker he introduced as Luck earlier. “I’ll talk to Thorn. It’s his contact.” Luck strides across the parking lot.
“How’s that working out?” Z asks, nodding at the other club.
“We don’t bite,” Wrath adds. “If you want ’em to join us.”
Subtle for Wrath.
“We’re tight now.” Romeo smirks. “But I need to keep some of my business separate from their club.”
Both logical and practical. Something I’ve always respected about Romeo.
“Makes sense,” Z says.
“Word is, the Warthogs MC is supposed to lay low for this event,” Dante says. “How many of us believe that?”
Wrath groans. “We got strict orders from our national prez to avoid ’em at all costs.”
“We plan to do the same,” Romeo says. “Don’t need the headache.”
I’m not sure if the Iron Bulls even have a national board like the Lost Kings do. Not every MC operates the same way. And since it’s pretty fucking rude to probe into the inner workings of another MC, I don’t ask. They’re a small club like we are. Only a few charters in the southwest. Even though they might not have the numbers that other clubs have, they’re known for being ruthless in defending their territory. Not many clubs have tried to go up against them and lived to share the experience.
“LEO will be all over this shit. I just got us off their radar. Want to keep it that way,” Romeo adds.
“Amen to that,” I mutter. “How’s the grow op coming along?” That I’m okay with asking about, since Sparky?
??s the whole reason they were able to expand their fledgling operation in the first place.
Dante cuts a sideways glance in Rebel and Sparky’s direction. “Had a few losses, but I think Rebel’s got the hang of it now.”
Luck returns, shaking his head. “Word is we should stay put for a little longer. They got some poor schmucks pulled over now.”
“Aw, fuck. They got any idea who?” Murphy asks.
Luck frowns at the question. “The rest of your club go on ahead?”
“Yeah, just left our national meeting. All our charters are riding together.”
“Fuck me,” Romeo groans. “Sorry, brother. If I’d realized that, I woulda mentioned it this morning.”
“Not your fault,” I answer. It’s not. Whoever was watching the road for Priest probably should’ve known and brought it up at the meeting this morning. I’m just glad we avoided it and hope the rest of my guys who stayed with the pack are all right.
“I’ll text Ravage,” Murphy says as if he’d read my mind. “Have him check in next time they stop.”
“Thanks.”
“Might as well see what the girls are up to,” Wrath says, tilting his head toward the diner.
Z lifts his chin at the rest of Romeo’s crew. “You only bring ol’ ladies along?”
I barely hold back an irritated sigh and shoot a glare Z’s way.
Romeo laughs. “There’s a second group coming a few hours behind us. Couple unclaimed girls with ’em. You looking?”
“Always.”
I pull Z back as we head into the restaurant. “What did I tell you this morning?”
“What? Just making conversation.”
Wrath runs up and choke-hugs Z, probably realizing if I do it, I’ll leave out the “hug” part.
Dante stops for us to catch up to him once we’re inside. “Looks like everyone’s getting along,” he says, nodding to the girls.
“Figured they would.” My wife’s a damn saint and can put up with just about anyone even a couple of teenage ol’ ladies.
She flicks her eyes our way and a smile I very much need to see right now brightens her face. She sits up and waves—as if she doesn’t stand out anywhere she is as the most beautiful woman in the room.
“Where’s Charlotte?” Teller asks.
