“Okay, Angel. Your secret’s safe with us. You have my word.” Sugar reached over and hugged me. “You have my blessing to be with Storm. Not like you need it.” She snorted. “My nephew does as he damn well pleases.”
“He does. But your blessing means the world to me.” I hugged her back.
“I love having another ol’ lady in our small group.” Tina hugged me from the other side. “Welcome to the ol’ ladies club, honey.”
“Thank you. I’m happy to be here.”
We pulled away and grabbed a cookie.
I loved the camaraderie I felt with Tina and Sugar. It was different from what I had with Tara and Steph, and Mama Kim. Intenser, much like what the men in the club displayed. Danger lurked around the club as Tina once told me. When most people were oblivious to the hidden evils or chose to ignore them, like with the Dirty Hunters, we were in the middle of it all. The locals didn’t know about Ava and Nancy’s assault at The Bullet. They had no idea how hard the club was working to rid the area of those vile men.
Having a group of women in the club, fellow ol’ ladies to rely on was priceless. Except there was one I hadn’t gotten an opportunity to get to know on a personal level.
“I wish Jill was around more.” I’d only seen her twice, and both times were in passing.
Tina frowned, eying Sugar. “Yeah, Jill’s always kept a safe distance from the club. I think it’s the way Boxer prefers it. He’s super protective of his sister. The same with her ol man, Wolf.”
“Have any of the other guys shown any interest in a woman while I’ve been gone?” Sugar broke a piece off her cookie and popped it into her mouth. “Mmm, so good.”
I mulled over Sugar’s question and Hero entered my mind. The day at Sugar Bliss, I was sure Tara had caught his eye. Maybe not, though. He hadn’t seen her since, so it probably wasn’t worth mentioning.
“Nothing I’ve noticed. They’ve been busy with the Hunters.”
We continued chatting and getting to know each other better. Eventually, Storm came and took me upstairs.
He shut the door and locked it behind me.
“How’s my girl?” His arms went around my waist and he gazed into my eyes.
“I’m perfect.” I ran the tips of my fingers through his beard. “Sugar is wonderful.”
“And you were worried she wouldn’t like you.” He brushed his nose against mine. “I got her wink of approval.”
“Did you?” I cradled the back of his neck and pulled his head toward me.
“Yeah. It’s all good from here on out.” His lips ghosted over mine.
“And in one month, we’ll be official.”
“In my heart, we already are.” His mouth descended on mine and I was swallowed up in his arms..
My heart was in the same place as Storm’s…Kaleb’s. He was mine and I was his.
I was the happiest I had been since the summer at Lake Waleska when I had drooled over my brother’s best friend. Except what I had with Storm was real love, not a childhood crush.
Storm was my forever.
36
Madeline
Today was a big day. One month had passed, and this afternoon I was getting inked. Or “marked” as Storm put it. It was symbolic to him and his club to show I belonged to him.
For me, it meant forever. I was ready. Ready to be Storm’s... forever.
We were a perfect match in our daily lives and in bed. While Storm did his job as president of Knight’s Legion, I stayed at the clubhouse and learned the ins and outs from Sugar and Tina. I had become very close to them.
Sugar helped me read Storm’s moods and Tina helped me deal with Carla.