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That snaps my head up and I stare at Z. “What?”
He pinches the bridge of his nose and laughs. “His patch is a rooster.”
“Oh, duh.” I laugh and rest my head against his chest. “Can I see it again?”
“Yeah, I need you to wear it tonight.”
“Z,” I reach up and kiss his cheek. “I might never take it off.”
As the afternoon fades, the party kicks into full gear. If anything, the atmosphere pulses and vibrates with even more energy than last night.
“How were your meetings?” I ask Z as we leave our room.
He doesn’t look happy. “We had a lot to discuss.”
I’m not touching that vague answer with a ten-foot pole. “Isn’t Sway supposed to be coming tonight?”
He takes my hand. Affection for him squeezes my chest. I love this man so much. What happens when the “real” president returns? Will he thank Z or at least be grateful for all Z’s done?
“He should be here soon.”
“There you are.” Priest holds out his hand to Z and they shake. He runs his gaze over me and back to Z. “I see you gave it to her right away.”
“Hell yeah, I did. Thank you again, Prez.”
“No problem.” He nods at me. “Welcome to the family, Lilly.”
“Thank you.”
After Priest leaves, I do a quick check to make sure my boobs haven’t fallen out.
“What are you doing, Siren?” Z asks.
“You have no idea what I had to do to coax the girls to stay put in this thing,” I mutter.
He laughs and tugs at the zipper of my vest, pulling it into place. “Problem solved. For you and me.”
Rumbles of more than a few bikes entering the parking lot momentarily drown out the music.
“Sounds like Demons are here!” Rooster shouts.
Priest returns with a meaningful look at Z. He leans over and asks me, “Have you met them before?”
I glance at Z. “Yes, I think so. At Rock and Hope’s wedding.”
“Good, good. You can show Mallory around.”
I take it that’s a hint to get lost so the men can talk business.
We wind our way through the clubhouse to meet the new guests as they come in the front door.
“Chaser!” Z holds his hand. The man with “president” stitched on his vest reaches out to shake it.
“Good to see you, brother.”
Z lifts his chin. “Got some new flash?”
Chaser pats the president patch. “Pop finally gave up the gavel. I was sure I’d be burying him with it.”
“He okay?”
“Fuck yeah, he’s raising hell down in Florida. You know, when we were down there for the rally, he didn’t want to leave. Couple months ago, he calls everyone in for church, announces he’s done, hands over the patch and gavel, and rides out.”
“May we all be so lucky.”
“No kidding.” He nods at Z. “Still running things here, I see?”
“Yeah, man. Sway’s getting out of the hospital today. Should be here soon.”
My gaze strays to Priest and Valentina. One of the many “sit-downs” Z’s had with the national president should have included instructions for when Z will be allowed to go home, right?
“That was a good time, riding out with you guys,” Chaser says. “We need to do it again.”
“Hell, we didn’t to go too far together.” Z glances around. “We’re talking about a big club run down to San Antonio in a few weeks. Meeting up with Iron Bulls and Savage Dragons. Demons should join us.”
“Texas, huh?” Chaser runs his hand over his chest.
“You’re good if you’re riding with us, right?”
I assume this is some sort of biker code about territory. Or maybe it’s not even code and I’m just out of my depth.
“Couple of the Bulls might show up this weekend,” Z says. “I’ll let them know you’re considering it.”
Chaser nods. “I’ll bring it to the club but sounds like a good ride. We should get out on the road together more often.” He glances over at Rock. “Upstate coming too?”
“Fuck yeah.”
“It’d be nice to chill with everyone without always talking business, you know?”
Z places his hand at the small of my back and pushes me forward. “Chaser, this is my wife, Lilly. We’re celebrating our wedding this weekend too.”
“Congratulations, Z. That’s great.”
He gives me a quick handshake and calls his wife over to meet me. Something about her is so damn familiar…but I can’t place it.
“We met at Rock and Hope’s wedding, right?” Mallory asks.
“Yes. It’s good to see you again.” While it’s true we’ve met. I still can’t shake the feeling I know her from somewhere else.
It’s not until much later that I figure it out. Or rather, she lets it slip.
“I’m dying that all these stories are coming out of Hollywood now. I could’ve told people this twenty or thirty years ago. I had more dirty shit happen to me in the short time I was out there—”
“You were in that show Ocean Ave. I knew you looked familiar!”
She buries her face in her hand, her long honey hair falling forward, further obscuring her features. “My god, no one’s recognized me from that in years.”
“You were the best thing about that show. I was devastated you weren’t on longer.”
She gives me a soft smile and continues sharing more stories. “That’s how Chaser and I met.”
“And you’re still together.”
“Thirty years this spring.”
“That’s…encouraging. It doesn’t seem like a lot of biker couples last so long.”
“There aren’t. If you won’t be offended, let me give you some advice since you’re newlyweds and all.”
Newlywed. Wow. I guess I am. Somehow, I feel fifty years older than a newlywed should be.
“Love him without fear.” She places her hand over mine. “Fear has no place in this world. Trust him. Need him. Accept who and what he is. Have his back, because this world can be really ugly at times and he’ll need to know you’re there for him and for the club without question.”
Powerful stuff, considering what’s already happened. Of course, I can’t share any of that, but her words penetrate into my soul.
“Thank you, Mallory. That’s beautiful.” I know we’re from different clubs, but I can’t help feeling a connection to her.
There’s more noise at the door. Brothers start chanting “welcome home.”
“That must be Sway.” She cranes her neck, trying to see over the crowd. “I wonder if Tawny actually showed up with him,” she mutters.
“I’m a little nervous about how she’ll feel with me…”
She turns and faces me like a fierce lioness about to school a cub. “Do not let her intimidate you. Your man’s been holding this club together. She should appreciate that.” Mallory taps my shoulder. “You’re patched, so you’re her equal. She needs to respect you.” Mama bear lecture over with, her expression softens. “Go on, Lilly. I’m sure Z needs you. We’ll talk more, later.”
Her words give me the slap in the ass I need to march right up to Z and take his hand and place by his side. Front and center.
Sway—I barely recognize him as the same brash biker from Hope’s wedding. The one complaining about how faithful she was to Rock while he spent the summer in jail and how protective Murphy and the others were over her. He’s thinner and much quieter. Hardly says anything at all. But he gives Z a big, brotherly embrace and thanks him quietly.
The woman with him only bares a faint resemblance to the one I remember. Except she seems to have aged backwards.
“Thank you for everything you’ve done, Z,” Sway says low enough for only Z and me to hear. “The place looks great.” His words come out slow and deliberate, as if he’s concentrating to get each syllable right. His foggy expression has me questioning whether he should be out of th
e hospital already.
“No problem, brother.” Z squeezes my hand. “Sway, this is my wife, Lilly.”
A bit of the degenerate biker I recognize lights up his face. “No wonder you never brought her to see me. Fine looking lady you’ve got.”
Gross.
I mean, I’m sure he means it as a compliment. But still.
Z’s jaw tightens. “Happy to have you back, brother.”
“I’m so glad you’re home,” I say.
Sway sweeps his gaze over me again and the fogginess in his expression retreats. “See you already patched her.” His eyes linger and at first I think he’s staring at my crotch. Then I realize he’s studying the patches on the bottom. “Got Priest and Rock to give her our seal of approval.” He levels a challenging stare at Z. “Don’t see that often.”
“It’s been an unusual couple of months, Sway,” Z answers smoothly.
“Sure has.” The weirdness seems to evaporate and Sway slaps Z’s shoulder. “Glad to be out of the hospital. Be even happier when I can get back on my bike.”
I’m not sure if that’s his way of saying he doesn’t want to run the club any time soon or what.
Either way. Tawny and Sway move on to Priest and Valentina next.
“Was that a breach of some biker code that he stopped to see you first?” I whisper to Z.
He chuckles. “No. It’s fine.”
