“Oh? How so?”
“Patch in,” Viper answered. “Become a brother.”
“What?”
“You heard me. Become a Sinner.” He seemed pretty set on the idea as he continued, “You’re basically one now. You’ve even got your own road name.”
“Oh yeah? What’s that? The Butcher?”
“Fuck yeah.” Viper smiled proudly as he added, “You’re a legend among our kind in this town, and if things play out the way I think they will, soon you’ll be a Sinner.”
“I don’t know. I haven’t ever thought about joining the club.”
“Hell, we already consider you one of our own.” A smirk crossed his face as he said, “I should probably warn ya that there are a few brothers who are a bit squeamish about what you do. They think of you as some sort of mortician or something... They’d call you brother, but doubt they’ll ever shake your hand.”
“Seriously? Thought your boys were tougher than that, but I get it. Not everybody has the balls to stomach my line of work,” I teased.
“No doubt.” Viper chuckled, then asked, “So what do you think?”
“I don’t know, man. I’m too old for prospecting.”
“You’ve been prospecting for the past ten years, so you’re good there.”
“But what about everything else? Stilettoes, the partying, and all the running.” I shook my head and sighed, “I’m just too old and set in my ways for all that shit.”
“Oh, I get it. There’re times when I feel like I’m running a fucking daycare around here.” Viper chuckled under his breath. “But I think this is something you should really consider. Might do you good.”
“How’s that?”
“You’d have a family like none other, and I gotta tell ya. There’s something about knowing these boys always have your back. It gives you a sense of peace like you’ve never had before.”
I could tell by his tone of voice that he meant every word, and I couldn’t deny that I was tempted by the thought of having a family like theirs. It was something I’d always wanted for Kiersten, especially after her mother died. Country had given her that when he made her his ol’ lady, and now, I was being given the opportunity to do the same for Everleigh. “So, how would this work?”
“I’d present the idea to the officers, and if the majority approve, we’ll take a vote.”
“And if they don’t approve?”
“Then, they don’t. It won’t really change anything.” I felt an unexpected sense of comfort when he said, “In my eyes, you’re already one of us.”
“And then, I’d work solely with you and the club?”
“Yeah, that’d be a must. And you’d be expected to be there when we needed you... I have a feeling there’ll be times when we could use your expertise on some matters.”
“Then, I’m in.” I stood and extended my hand over Viper’s desk. “Just let me know what the brothers decide, and we’ll go from there.”
“And you’ll discuss things with Hop and Tripp?”
“Yeah, I’ll head over and talk it over with them now.”
“Good deal.” Viper shook my hand as he said, “It should’ve been this way from day one.”
“Yeah, you might be right, but better late than never.”
“You got that right.”
Viper saw me outside, and I was just about to head over to my bike when a thought crossed my mind. I immediately stopped and asked, “I meant to ask earlier, but how’s the girl?”
“Which girl?”