“No, they’re taking your truck if that’s okay?”
“Yeah, no skin off my nose. They know there’s a potluck tonight, don’t they, at the clubhouse?”
“Yup. Stitch asked if they should bring anything,” Drake said.
“Drake, did you tell them no?” I exclaimed, and he nodded.
“Phoe, I ain’t forgotten hospitality rules for a visiting club. If it were Chance or one of the allies, I’d be telling them to bring a keg,” Drake retorted.
“Did you warn Inglorious?”
Drake offered a sideways glance, and I took that as a no. I shook my head and pulled out my phone. Honest to God, Drake made me wonder sometimes. I hit Nanci’s number and settled into the passenger seat.
“What’s up?” Nanci answered.
“Hey, girl, just to let you know. Drake and I are headed your way with guests,” I said.
There was a pregnant pause. “Hellions?”
“No,” I laughed, amused. “We have four sisters from the Royal Harlots MC visiting. It’s a long story; I’ll tell you when we get there.”
“Drake’s coming?” Nanci asked, and I knew why. No doubt the rumours about Drake had reached Inglorious.
“Yeah. As I said, long story.”
“See you soon,” Nanci replied and cut the call. A smile crossed my lips. Nanci was probably already calling Inglorious. Would we have a welcoming committee when we arrived?
Drake pulled out and headed down the drive, and I saw Belladonna driving my truck. She was chatting and appeared easy, but why did I have a feeling of impending doom?
“That’s quite a tale,” Nanci said as we sat at a saloon table in the Unwanted Bastards clubhouse. The Harlots were on a tour with Inglorious and Drake, and Nanci and I were cosied up, gabbing. Amy and Daisy-Duke were also with us.
“How do you discover this fucker?” Amy asked. She wore a Property of Vortex cut and looked good in it. Really well, considering everything she’d been through.
“Good question. If Belladonna’s abilities kill him, we might never know,” I replied.
“But you need to,” Daisy-Duke pointed out shrewdly.
“Yes, I do. What if Judas has siblings? Do they have powers too? I’m no killer, shit, I save lives, but if it meant my family could live in peace…” I broke off.
Nanci said nothing, but Daisy-Duke was never one to keep her mouth shut. “And that makes you wrong for being willing todo what’s needed to protect your children? You don’t enjoy being the bad person, Phoe. You’re too accustomed to being everyone’s darling.” I bristled, but Daisy-Duke ploughed on. “Don’t deny it. Phoe, no offence, but you’ve become used to the accolades.”
“Wow, don’t hold your punches, lady!” I gasped, and Daisy-Duke grinned.
“No. Someone needs to keep you humble; that’s me. I do the same for this one. But honestly, you’ve this idea that you’re perfect. Newsflash, girl, you ain’t. Nobody is. Wanting the man who is harming your family dead is a natural feeling.”
“Some people rise above that,” I argued, and Daisy-Duke shook her head.
“Yeah, they do, and they ain’t biker bitches. If they’re able to forgive the person who hurt them, good for them. I can respect that. But those like us want blood and guts and for somebody to pay. Nothing wrong with that, Phoenix Michaelson. Go out and save your clients; that’s your penance if you wish for wanting Judas dead.” Daisy-Duke picked up her coffee cup and sipped.
“I should question longing for someone’s death,” I defended myself.
“And if you didn’t, I’d be calling men in white coats and locking you up. If you didn’t have a moment’s hesitation, Phoe, you’d be a psycho. But think about your ex-husband, do you regret killing him?” Daisy-Duke asked.
“Hell no!” I declared emphatically. Nanci grinned while Amy looked puzzled.
“Phoe’s ex kidnapped her and beat her nearly to death. She broke the chair she was tied to, and when he straddled her to strangle her, she staked him between the shoulder blades,” Nanci explained.
“Yeah, fucker deserved that,” Amy said blithely. I laughed with the others.
