Next, I close my eyes and savor the cool, tart burst of pineapple. Then I return to the chicken. So many different flavors. Little blasts of heaven on my tongue. I’d long ago forgotten the simple pleasure of real food prepared by someone who actually gives a damn.
After dinner, Rock calls everyone in for church.
I follow the guys, staring at everything. Still can’t wrap my head around this clubhouse. Wrath points out a few things—laundry, bathroom, yoga studio.
“I think I’m gonna need a map,” I grumble. “And why the hell do bikers need a yoga room?”
“Excellent question.” Stash slings his arm around my shoulders. “You see, it used to be our champagne room. Poles, mirrors, comfy couches—girls would visit and put on a show for us.” He throws a stink eye at Wrath. “Then someone decided the wives should use the space for their yoga practice instead. And we’re not even allowed to watch!”
Wrath smirks, clearly not giving a fuck about the accusation. “You’re gettin’ a whole new clubhouse to host your degenerate parties.”
“The new clubhouse is gonna be off the chain!” Stash pats my back. “You have to come down to Crystal Ball with us. Dex and Z have done amazing things with the place. You won’t recognize it.”
What changes does a strip club need? Ah, fuck everything else has changed—why not Crystal Ball too? “I’m sure.”
“It’ll be easier for you to get some action away from the homestead.” He throws another pissy scowl at Wrath, who still doesn’t seem to care that his bikerness is being called into question by a brother.
Wrath casually shoves Stash into the wall and turns his serious stare on me. “We want this to feel more like a home now. A bunch of us built houses on the property. We’ve got kids here. It’s less risky to have the wild parties they wanna throw somewhere else. Gives us a place to house out-of-town visitors, too.”
I nod, agreeing with his logic. “Just how much property is there?”
“A lot.”
Teller bumps up along my other side. “We hunt the property in the fall. My house is right down the hill but we broke a trail from my place to the back of the club’s property. Got a few tree stands scattered around.” He lifts his chin at Wrath. “We put in a food plot to fatten up the wildlife. Sasquatch over there nailed a beautiful eight-pointer last season.”
Damn, I haven’t been out in the woods in years. Pretty sure handling a rifle violates my parole. And I’m not doing one damn thing to jeopardize my freedom. Thankfully, hunting season’s way off.
Wrath picks up an imaginary weapon, aims, and fires. “Never knew what hit him.”
Sparky turns around. “You’re so mean. Poor lil’ buck was out there trying to live his best life and get some deer pussy.” He points an accusatory finger at Wrath and Teller. “And you two come along and fuck up his game.”
Teller cocks his head and runs his hand over his chin in the same dickish way he did as a teenager. “I don’t recall you complaining when you were cooking up that big batch of venison chili.”
Sparky rubs his stomach. “That was so good. We need to make that again.”
“You could, I don’t know,” Wrath says slowly, infusing as much sarcasm as possible into his words, “get your ass out in the woods with us.”
Sparky’s eyes bug. “Me?” he sputters. “Nope.”
“That’s what I thought.” Wrath shakes his head while Sparky skips away.
“He keeps you busy, huh?” I ask.
“Nah. He’s down in the basement most of the time. It’s good for him to be up here interacting with other humans for a change.”
I squint at him. “I don’t remember this…paternal side of you, Wrath.”
“Aw, fuck.” He wipes his hands on his chest and down his sides. “It’s Rock’s fault. Must be fucking contagious.”
Teller snorts. “Paternal my ass. Wrath threatens to beat us to death with our own limbs at least once a day.”
“Now that sounds familiar.” I grin and pat Wrath’s shoulder.
He bares his teeth at me in response.
When we reach the main room, Murphy pushes open a wide, wooden door. Inside, I recognize the old, scarred table and the chairs. Especially the president’s chair.
I stare at the setup for a moment, allowing the ghosts of my past to settle around me.
Wrath directs me to his chair—which used to be mine—but I wave him off and take the seat next to him instead.
“Brave man,” Dex says. “No one else has the balls to sit next to Wrath.”
As an answer, Wrath holds up his arm, reaches past me and shoves his middle finger in Dex’s face.
“What?” Dex shrugs. “It’s a compliment. Sort of.”
Once everyone settles down, Rock knocks his knuckles against the table. “First, we need to officially welcome Grinder back to the table.” He turns to me and slaps the worn wood top. “Missed you here, brother.”