“That’s debatable,” I growled.
She peered around Hollywood, glowering at me. I could tell she wanted to say something equally rude but didn’t.
“Another round?” She looked at Hollywood and my sister.
“I’m in. Got nothing else to do.” Jill shrugged, sipping her whiskey.
“How about we up the ante and play strip poker?” Hollywood suggested.
I got to my feet. “Game over.”
Aspen’s eyes widened, mouth slightly gaping.
“Outside, Hollywood.” I stormed to the door, grabbing my coat off the rack, and put on my boots. I’d relieve Wolf and the prospect early from their shift. Anything to get out of Aspen’s presence.
Hollywood followed my orders as I expected, but he had a curious look about him. Every day he asked if I’d confronted her about the breakup. It annoyed the shit out of me. I didn’t need him giving me relationship advice, even if I wanted to know how she could treat me like crap. Maybe I’d been a fool for believing her when she’d promised forever. She had been only sixteen at the time.
Could that have been it? We were just too damn young to know shit about anything. I growled to myself, putting on my black knit beanie.
“Supper will be ready in twenty minutes,” Aspen called out. “Don’t be late.”
I narrowed my gaze, hating how she made me feel out of control. “Fine.” I went to the door and left.
20
Storm
A week had passed since Boxer and the others left. I was struggling. I wasn’t okay with it. Being with Angel and having a baby changed my priorities. I’d protect them at all costs.
Finally, I understood why my Uncle Matt wanted to get out of the illegal arms business. Why he desperately wanted the club to be clean for Sugar and the boys’ safety. Uncle Matt loved his club and brothers, but his family was his everything.
So was mine.
The MC lifestyle flowed in our blood… Knights blood for more than fifty years. It also ran through all of my brothers’ veins. I’d never let the club die, but all this stress and fuckin’ drama and danger needed to stop.
Was it too much to ask for a bit of peace and quiet?
Apparently so.
As I gazed at my brothers, I saw it in their eyes. The complex and honest truth. They were ready for war. Prepared to die defending what was ours.
We weren’t made for picket fences and polo shirts. We lived to ride free on our hogs. Some with an old lady holding on tight. We were all rough with jagged edges. Only abiding by our club’s bylaws and standing rules.
Brotherhood of bikers who fought any threat to keep our families and town safe. As much as I worried for Angel and my baby, this was the life we chose. Last night in bed, she’d ordered me to handle Casso Campbell any way I felt necessary. I loved her grit and fire. If I let her, she’d fight beside me to defend what we loved.
No chance in hell I’d let her get caught in the middle of another fuckin’ war. Sugar, Tina, and Roja were all fired up over what Casso had done to Aspen. I didn’t understand the instant connection they had to her. Women were a mystery I didn’t attempt to solve.
Honestly, I didn’t like Aspen. I would’ve gladly given her a fake passport and money to get the hell out of Minnesota and the fuckin’ country. She’d done my brother wrong before I met him. I’d never seen a young guy so devastated. He might be a brutal fighter, built like a fuckin’ warrior, but even the toughest man could be broken. He bled, like everyone else. His heart wasn’t made of iron.
When I’d found him in the gym the night she arrived, he had that same destroyed look in his eyes when I met him. It fuckin’ made me furious. I would’ve thrown her out on her ass if Angel would’ve let me.
My brother might hate Aspen, but he also loved her, so I’d do whatever it took to protect her.
“Did you all get your shit in order?” I swept my gaze around the table, pausing at Boxer’s empty chair. I worried about him being locked up with Aspen. Not being able to communicate with him didn’t sit well with me.
Grunts filled my ears.
I nodded toward my SAA to get on with it.