“She’s stewing in her ignorance,” Ransom chuckles. “I told her just enough to peak her curiosity and nothing more.”
“He’s so mean, huh?” Lore asks, leaning down to talk against the shell of my ear.
“You’re no saint, Lore,” he snorts. “Are you going to tell her where you’re taking her?”
“I’m taking you to see Ryder,” Lore says as if that explains everything.
“I don’t know who that is!” I exclaim.
“Oops, let’s get you some coffee,” Lore suggests. “Sit down, Princess. Take a load off and I’ll explain.”
“I put a caffeine supplement in her smoothie,” Wilder says, amused as he places the glass in front of me as I sit down.
“I’m only a little grumpy,” I admit, taking a sip of the breakfast drink before moaning softly. It’s mango, and tastes incredible. It’s not too sweet, and perfectly blended.
“Ryder made our pack’s custom motorcycles. There’s no one else I’d rather have to make your bike. We’re going out there to design it, and he’s got a junker for you to learn on. He’s out in South Dakota, near the Black Hills. It’s about an eight hour drive on the bike,” Lore explains.
“We’re….seriously?!” I squeal, gaping at them.
“We discussed this,” he says, confused. “You need a motorcycle so you’re not dependent on anyone to get around while we’re together. The cage is great, but there’s no better feeling than the freedom of riding a motorcycle. I also want to know that you can fight your way out of something if it’s necessary, so I’m enrolling you in some training.”
“You don’t want to teach me how to fight?” I ask, enjoying how cute he’s being.
I’m well aware that equality isn’t normal in this world. The mafia world can be a lot like this as well, though I know a few women who broke the mold. Aisling and Cerenity are examples of this, while Wren is a quieter version of what it’s like to create the life she wants.
“I smash the fuck out of people with my fists,” he says, his much larger hand encasing my smaller one. “The way I fight isn’t necessarily how you’ll need to.”
“Knives are a great way to put an enemy down, with a bullet to the brain after,” Ransom muses, leaning forward on the counter. Sometimes, it’s hard to remember he’s just as much of a killer as they are.
That is, until he says something like this.
“Maybe we can ask Cian about who he’d suggest to help Marie,” Storm suggests. “Cian Sullivan is one of the mafia bosses here in Minneapolis. I feel like he always has his nose in something.”
“I know that name,” I admit. “I may have met him once too, but I’ve never liked being anywhere near the mafia world.”
“It’s because this is your world, you just didn’t know it yet,” Lore says smugly, kissing my temple. “I need to check our bag to make sure I have everything. I’ll be in the next room, Princess.”
While he doesn’t know how tight the tether of our bond is, he still makes a point of telling me where he’s going. Lore loudly announced he was going to take a shit, and that’s where I drew the line to his announcements.
“What are you all doing while I’m gone?” I ask, continuing to drink my breakfast.
Ransom smirks at me, while I attempt to look innocent and ignore him.
“You’re being weird, Kitty,” Storm chuckles. “I’m going to be helping whoever needs it, making money in stock trading, and replying to emails. I also need to reach out to some of our clients in the other chapters to see if they need anything.”
“Do you have to go if they need parts?” I ask, worrying at my lip.
“No. The club is picking up what’s needed from our manufacturers and dropping them off,” he says. “They actually suggested that we begin delegating more now that we have you.”
“Really?” I ask, surprised.
“Some of them would walk through fire for you if you asked,” Wilder snorts. “It doesn’t matter that you haven’t known them for all that long, they got to know you and decided they adore you.”
“Once you’re in with the club, that’s it,” Ransom shrugs. “Sure, some people are suspicious of everyone, but you haven’t given anyone reason to assume you’re out to hurt the club.”
“I’m not,” I say, aghast at the thought. “I really don’t like to hurt people unless they give me a reason to.”
“My fried knot is very appreciative of that,” Storm grumbles.
