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“Hannah, lil’ one, goddamn, you gave Momma Diane and me both heart attacks. Fuck, child, not calling made it twice as bad. And I know it was your form of a temper tantrum, but next time—and there will be a next time—when you fuck up, think of everyone involved. For putting Momma through that, when you get back home your punishment from me is you will clean our house, no complaining, for two months and will keep the yard picked up for six months. Yeah, I know that one hurts since we have our two big dogs and your two pit bulls but, darlin’, consider yourself lucky. If you were one of my prospects, I’d beat your ass then throw you in with the brothers for a club beatdown. Then we’d vote to see if you would continue with the club. And your prospect time would be doubled, if not tripled. So do you understand and accept your punishment from Momma Diane and me? Oh, and also, you will not tell her about this punishment. You will make it appear like you just want to help her out.”
I drop my shoulders and look him in the eyes, seeing all the worry he’s been carrying. Not able to help myself, I move to him and put my arms around his waist and hug him tight. Just for a second, his arms hesitate before he pulls me close and squeezes the life out of me. This brings tears to my eyes as I look up and softly say, “I’m sorry, Pops.” He nods and kisses the top of my head.
After a few minutes, he lets me go and I move back to my club sisters as we wait for the club punishment. Maggie and Auntie Zoey are both watching the four of us. Pops and some of the guys left, pulling Presley with them. All that’s left are Noodles and Panther. They made themselves comfortable on the sofa after moving the bedding out of the way. Figured it would be Auntie Zoey first and I wasn’t wrong.
“Squirt, you disappoint me. Hey, I do get being young and wanting to have fun. But no is no, and if you don’t feel bad for disobeying your president, this club might not be for you. Hang on, I’m not done. Kitty, Dottie, and Dani, y’all also disappointed me. The three of you were about to get patched in and now not sure that’s going to happen. You know she’s a brat, dipshit, and impulsive, should have come to a club sister and talked this out. Instead, the four of you steal a club vehicle and a credit card. Well, seems you didn’t know that fact. No one gave Squirt permission to take either of those. So here we are. Now if it was up to me, like Pops said, you’d be in my wet room and experience what pain truly is and, believe me, no one would be the wiser. I could torture your asses and not even leave a bruise. But this is the softer side of me.”
Hearing a chuckle, I see Panther is watching Auntie Zoey, his eyes filled with nothing but love. She turns and he blows her a kiss, which has her putting her head down for a second before turning back to us.
“So your club punishment is as follows: clubhouse duty will go directly to you, Squirt. That means all the cleaning, laundry, and outside shit like grass, weeding, and whatever else any member tells you. That’s for a month, then I’ll think about it and see if you’re done or not. I hear one complaint and, believe me, you will feel some pain when I whip your ass. Kitty, you will be responsible for all the closing cleaning of the diner. Dottie, you get the bar and, Dani, you get the trucking company. And when I say cleaning, I mean like a major spring clean. Also for those who work, you’ll pay a penalty to the club for being disrespectful. I’ll leave that one up to Goldilocks here. And if I think of anything else you’ll hear from me. Do you all agree?”
All I can hear is yes, yeah, and sure. Auntie Zoey’s ice-blue eyes land on me. I smirk her way and nod. She smirks back and then winks. Yeah, she’s wrapped around my little finger.
“Yeah, Squirt, you might think that but don’t try me.”
My head shoots up and my eyes stare at her. Did I say something out loud, how did she know what I was thinking?
“Hannah, don’t take up poker. You’ll lose if you can’t control your facial expressions.”
I glance at Maggie, whose green eyes are so like mine, but they are blank as she continues to stare back. This one is going to be bad. I can feel it.
“All right, the three of you, your patch is off the table for now. No, calm the hell down, just have to prove your loyalty to the Devil’s Handmaidens MC, and more importantly, your sisters.”
I hear sniffles and look to see both Kitty and Dani with tears in their eyes. Dottie is staring straight ahead, no emotion on her face at all. Oh fuck, this is all on me.
“Maggie, please don’t punish them and, shit, that’s harsh. It was me, all me, so throw it at me not them.”
“You’re right, Hannah, it is on you, but they are adults and need to know every action has a reaction. Now for you. I’m going to take your kutte back, now hold up and listen. For the next month you are on probation, and with all you’ve done, you don’t deserve that prospect kutte. You don’t get the meaning of sisterhood so you’re going to get a crash course. We’ll talk more when we get back home. For today, yeah, go to your biker book signing, just try to stay the hell out of trouble. Do you hear me?”
I nod as a huge smile covers my face. Oh, thank fuck, that would have sucked trying to sneak away from them to go to the signing. This is awesome, so I say so. All Maggie does is lower her head for a second then looks up and nods. Then she walks out of the cabin. Noodles comes to me, pulling me in for a hug.
“Give her some time, Squirt. You are so many different things to her, and she was hurt when you didn’t listen. She’ll get over it, just be patient. And show her you take the club and its mission seriously. And that you not only respect but love her.”
Then he leans down, kissing my head. He’s right, the time has come to grow up. Well, after today that is. I’m too excited to worry about anything else but the signing today. Got to make my list of authors I have to meet and talk to.
With that thought I turn, smiling at my cohorts, then go to find paper and pen so I can get busy.
TWENTY-THREE
‘HANNAH’
SQUIRT/ITTY BITTY
Trying to fight off this massive headache, I already took some Tylenol and am currently drinking ice water with a cool washcloth on my neck. Dani and I are sitting at the table. She’s on her phone and I’m in my notes on mine. We are trying to make our plan for the signing that’s coming up fast. The idea of paper and pen, don’t know what I was thinking at the time. That’s what our phones are for.
After the confrontation Pops, Noodles, and Panther, along with the Grimm Wolves men and Presley went to see if they could rent a boat or two to take some time enjoying Lake Conroe. Since they didn’t come back, guessing they were able to get one. Just the idea of them in their leather kuttes and jeans makes me want to laugh.
Dottie is lying down so she can make it through the afternoon. She’s still not one hundred percent. And that’s my fault, I know that and need to find a way to make it up to her somehow. Maybe do some of her punishment when we get back home to start.
Maggie and Auntie Zoey are on the sofa Presley slept on. They are whispering to each other with the television on softly. I know Bullet said he texted Flame about which cabin we were in. He said both Flame and Joy would be over shortly so when there’s a knock on the door, Maggie stands and goes to open it with Auntie Zoey right behind her, hand on her gun in the back of her pants. Fuck, even this far from Timber-Ghost, Montana she’s carrying.
When the door opens, all I hear is screeching. Loud. Then a tiny red-haired woman runs in trying to hug both Maggie and Auntie Zoey at the same time. Behind her another woman, a bit older than the first, stands with a smile on her face watching her friend.
“Well, howdy! How are y’all doing? Come on, put on your sitting britches so we can catch up on things. Damn, Shadow, ya look different. Wait a minute, you went and got yourself a man. I’m tickled pink for you. Oh my gosh, who’s that? Tink, y’all could be two peas in a pod for goodness’ sake.”
While she takes in a breath and before she can keep going, the woman behind her comes closer.
“Hey, Tink, hi, Shadow. You know that Spitfire keeps going and going like the Energizer Bunny unless you stop her. But she’s right, that girl could be you a few years ago.”
