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I needed to give her something or she’d call every day. “It’s a woman.”
Boxer and Raul’s eyebrows shot up. Yeah, talking about a woman was just as weird for me too.
“A woman? Is Carla causing trouble with the other kittens again? I swear to God, Storm, I’m going to pull out her hair!”
Some members entered, putting their cell phones in a basket to be placed outside the room. Only I was allowed to have my cell in here during church, unless I said otherwise.
“No, Sugar. Not her. I met someone.”
I listened to my aunt gasp, then murmur,he met someone. My brothers took their seats, and Raul put the basket on the table in the hallway and shut the door.
“You met someone? Who is she?” The shock in her voice was palpable. I still couldn’t believe how much my life had changed in the last few weeks.
“No time to talk. We’re about to have church.”
“Are you lying to me so you can get off the phone? What’s her name? How long has this been going on? Gimme something, Storm.” She was relentless.
“Madeline. That’s all you’re getting until you get back.” I held the phone out. “Tell Sugar, hi,” I told my brothers. They mostly grunted but she’d know church was about to begin. I put the phone back to my ear. “See?”
“I guess you weren’t lying. Madeline is a pretty name. Can’t wait to meet her. I’ll let you go now.”
My stomach knotted up at her words. “Be safe, Sugar. Tell the boys I said they better be good to you.”
“They are. Love you, Storm. Bye.”
I was relieved she didn’t push for more about Madeline. Eight pairs of curious eyes were on me. It was no time to get personal. I needed to get this meeting started.
I lifted the gavel, hit it on the table once, and left it there. “These fuckin’ Hunters…” I inhaled a deep breath, fisting my hands. “We need them gone before the holiday. I don’t want these scumbags roaming around on the Fourth of July and making the locals uncomfortable.”
Grunts echoed in the room. I made eye contact with my VP and Track. “Raul will send you out in groups of three. He and Track have put a plan together.” I stared at the three members in the back of the room. Several others were missing, probably at work, and couldn’t make the meeting on such short notice. “This is your opportunity to train the prospects in how we keep our territory clean.” I nodded to Raul for him to take the floor.
“Don’t go with guns blazing. We don’t want the locals running to the Sheriff. We need to maintain our good standing here. If you catch a Hunter, call me. Or Boxer.” Raul’s dark eyes cut to mine for approval.
“I will be out too, so your direct contact is Raul or Boxer. I don’t want this to get messy, but we’ll open up the dungeon if it comes to it.” I had a feeling we’d all get blood on our hands before this war was over. “Anything else?”
Glances shot from one person to another. Until finally, one spoke.
“And the woman you were with, does she get extra protection? Will we be meeting her soon?”
I narrowed my eyes at Art. Only the council and a couple of prospects knew about Madeline. But I should’ve known news of me staying with a woman over the weekend would spread through the club like wildfire. And I’d just told Sugar her name on the phone for all to hear. Art was a regular member and a tattoo artist. He managed Human Canvas, a tattoo parlor owned by the club, so he wasn’t around much during the week. He was often the voice for the other patched members.
“No.” My reply came swiftly. “She won’t be coming around here.”
“Jesus,” Track muttered, and all eyes shot to him. I could wring his neck, but I didn’t make a big deal about it because I had started this shit with Madeline.
“So you’re saying she’s nobody special?” Lynx asked. I knew he liked her since the day we saw her singing in The Bullet. But he was playing off Track and it fuckin’ pissed me off.
“Her life is as important as the rest of the locals. Now let’s get out there and rid the area of Hunters.” I hit the gavel on the table, ending this meeting before it spiraled out of control.
“Track.” I jerked my chin for him to stay.
Once the last member crossed the threshold, he shut the door and leaned his back against it, shoving his hands in his pockets.
I pointed my finger at him. “Don’t fuckin’ pull that shit during a meeting again. Your feelings are yours. Keep them to yourself. Don’t bring them into church, or I’ll beat your fuckin’ ass. You get me, brother?”
“Yeah.” He firmly held my gaze.
We might be best friends, but in church, in this club, I was his president—and he better know his fuckin’ place. When we were alone, it was different. Track’s concerns for Madeline were genuine. He was worried about her on my behalf. I appreciated it, but I called the shots, and he needed to roll with it.
