“Nothing worth having ever is,” he returned, kissing the top of my head. “And ladybug, you are.”
Chapter 9
RUSTON
As we rode to the Knights headquarters a short time later, there was nothing more gratifying than the feeling of my girl’s arms wrapped around my middle, her thighs pressed snugly to my sides as she took her rightful throne on the back of my bike.
I knew I was pushing her hard and fast. I also knew she needed it after a lifetime being the club princess. Her father wasn’t likely to take the news easily; I knew I sure as hell wouldn’t. I also knew he was a good man and ultimately wanted what was best for his daughter.
I just had to convince him that was me.
When we rode in, I could almost feel Grace’s relief that the front lot was empty.
She was visibly nervous as she handed me the helmet that was now hers, and I placed it on the bike.
“We got this, babe,” I assured her.
She nodded, looking uneasy but resolved as I followed her toward the entrance. I wanted to hold her hand in the worst way but knew I’d already pushed her enough. But one thing was for sure, it’d be the last time we walked through these doors, hell, any door, without her hand in mine.
The moment we walked in, Grace was called over to where a group of women I knew she was close to sat on the couches.
“King, glad you could make it,” Max, a member of the Knights, greeted as his eyes tracked Grace’s progress toward the couch. No doubt he’d caught that we’d walked in together. “How you feelin’?”
“Fine,” I replied, clapping him on the shoulder. Max and I, along with Cason, Tank, and Gunner, had been through an experience akin to battle together the night I’d been shot.
“Glad to hear it.” He nodded. “Get you a beer?”
“That’d be good,” I replied, taking in the common area, full of largely familiar faces.
I’d met Gunner Pierce because of a mutual enemy we shared in Silas Castillo. Over the years, a friendship had been forged, but I hadn’t met most of the Knights until recently, when a few close brothers and I had come to Hawthorne to take Castillo out once and for all. Though the Knights had been around longer and there were multiple generations at its roots, I found that we had a lot in common.
Our two clubs had come together fueled by a mutual vendetta and had come out the other side closer for it.
I felt comfortable here—though I couldn’t say that I wasn’t eager to get home to Bishop. I just needed a certain redhead to agree to come with me.
The thought of leaving her had planted an ache in my chest that only grew as I watched her laughing with her friends and family across the room. She had more than just a life here—she was happy.
I just needed to make sure she was happier with me.
“Your prez around?” I asked, forcing my gaze from Grace as he put a beer in my hand. At least I knew she was safe here—it made it easier to be more than five feet away.
Christ, I was fucked.
Max’s brows rose, and I had a feeling Grace and I were the worst-kept secret in Hawthorne. “There a reason you need him?”
“There a reason you’re askin’?” I countered.
He chuckled. “Nah, man. Good luck, brother. I think you might need it.”
He strode off just as my phone began to ring, Tank’s name on the screen.
“Tank.” I didn’t hesitate to answer, knowing something was up if he was calling. Tank didn’t talk much; even when he texted it was usually brief and directly to the point.
“King, we got a problem,” he growled, his incensed tone putting me immediately on guard. “Those Rev and Rider assholes have stepped things up,” he gritted out, referring to the street bike gang we’d been having increasing problems with. “Security cameras had them casing the club the last few days. Ever since we blew up that last shipment of theirs, they’ve been itching for payback. So, we amped security up at the club. Obviously, they came to the very accurate fucking conclusion that there wasn’t a good inroad here, so they trashedmyfucking house,” he thundered. “Dallas wasn’t home—thank Christ—but she was the one who discovered it. Scared the shit out of her.”
I winced, knowing full well how protective Tank was of his wife. A glance over to Grace, finding her still laughing and carefree with her friends, had me realizing how much I could now understand the feeling.
The Riders were trying to move in, which only meant one thing. “I’m coming home,” I replied. “Tonight.”
