“Hi. I thought I’d cook dinner.” Ismiled up at him.
“Sounds good I’m starved,” he saidwhile grabbing a beer. I watched his eyes sweep the room, eyeing my unpackedboxes without comment as he did every evening. I knew it bothered him that Ihadn’t unpacked but he hadn’t brought it up. “Who took you to the store?” heasked, his eyes returning to me.
“Wes,” I answered as I put a pot ofwater on to boil.
He nodded without comment, his gazereturning to my boxes.
“He’s having some people over later– want to head over there after dinner?” I asked hopefully. I was in themood to let loose after feeling a bit like a caged animal all week.
“Alright,” he agreed.
He sat with me while I whipped up somepasta, garlic bread, and salad. Nothing fancy, but he seemed to appreciateevery meal I made.
“Pop took another meet with theSinners,” he shared after we dug in.
“Oh?” I asked curiously. There hadn’tbeen any news on Jake or Victor but that wasn’t for lack of effort. I knew Coleand the boys were spending a majority of their time hunting. It worried me,especially when Cole was gone late into the night. But Cole was not the type ofman you could voice concern over. He had his pride and I respected that.
“The only good to come out of thisshit is that it brought the clubs back together. We have the same agenda andpriority, to bring those mother fuckers down. You have our protection andtheirs as well. Not that I’d let any of those boys take direct responsibilityfor you,” he shared. “Years back it was far more beneficial for both clubs towork together so once this storm has passed, I see good things,” he addedtaking a swig of beer.
“Did they vote in the newprez?” I asked. Cole had gotten word that the Sinners wouldbe voting any day now.
“Yep, it’s Henry,” he said as he grinned.
I grinned back, they couldn’t havepicked better. “Finally someone deserving of the title,” I sighed, feeling arelief that surprised me. “My dad would love that,” I added quietly.
Cole reached over and took my hand ina brief squeeze.
“I wish you could have met him. Hewould have loved you,” I said, meeting his gaze.
“Me too, babe,” he agreed while givingme another squeeze before returning to his meal. That was his way of giving mea second with my thoughts and I loved him for it.
Later that night Connie,Ettie, Kat, and I were hanging out in Wes’s backyarddrinking beers. I felt utterly content to be with my girlfriends and to watchmy man from across the fire pit. He stood talking with Sal, his gaze sweepingover to me every few minutes. My stomach pitched every time our gaze met. Iwondered if he’d always have such a powerful effect on me, though I felt prettyconfident that he would. When he looked at me with that blue-eyed, intensestare, I felt like we were the only two people in the world.
“You have it bad,” Connie said as she giggledand I tore my eyes from Cole and blushed.
“Yeah, I do,” I admitted shamelessly.
“You’re no better,” I teased, throwingmy bottle cap at her. She and Wes were constantly affectionate—it was almostnauseating.
“I know, I know,” she said as she laughed.
“I wish Sal was more affectionate inpublic,” Kat grumbled. It had been one of the points of contention betweenthem.
“Have you seen the way he looks atyou?” I asked her with a reassuring smile. “He may not be overly affectionatearound us, but no one would doubt the way he feels,” I assured her.
“True,” Connie backed me up with asmile.
We grinned at each other just asgunshots rang through the night air. It was as though time stopped when I sawCole, Wes, Mack, and Sal rush to us as screams and chaos broke out around us.Cole’s hard body hit me like a truck as he threw me to the ground and coveredme with his body. I was collected enough to see that the other guys were doingthe same. Even in my panicked state I registered how lucky we were to have suchloyal, protective men. It was seconds after the blasts stopped that Cole heavedme up and pulled me to the house almost roughly, shielding me with his body theentire time. He looked me over, his eyes sweeping my body to make sure I was okaybefore his eyes turned with fury toward the street.
“Mack’s hit,” Sal informed us harshlylooking nearly as pissed off as Cole did. All the men were seething at theblatant attack on the club and its women.
“Mother fucker. How bad?” Coledemanded.
“Shoulder, not life threatening. Gothit shieldingEttie. Better him than her. Hank’scoming to take him to the ER once we give the all clear,” he said, his eyesglimmering with anger.
“Good,” Cole said, pulling his phoneout and in a few short words delivering the news to his father.
He hung up and turned to me. “You okay?”he asked, his tone harsh. This was not a time for soft assurances.
