Ryatt nodded and linked their fingers. Then they followed me across the room to the president’s table.
“Ryatt—”
“Rizz,” I said, interrupting Blade.
Dozer laughed. “Your mom chose your name,” he said to Ryatt.
“MC has rules—for everything. Just ask Jazzy. Our SaA likes to bust our balls. You won’t win an argument so don’t bother.”
“You won’t be given the choice to argue,” Rogue said and laughed. “Prospects do as they’re told. To get you out, the board voted you in.”
I nodded toward Willy. “Thank you doesn’t seem enough. Tonight, your drinks are on me. And I heard you like to pet Bullet’s kittens so that’s on me, too.”
I took a step back. Ryatt was my prospect, but this was his moment. These were his brothers.
Romeo pulled out a chair for Ryatt. “This won’t be the first time you’ll bleed for the MC. You get your cut, your top and bottom rocker, and your road name.”
Tank laughed. He had Bristol on his lap, and a cigarette between his lips. “It’s up to your mom to decide when you’ve earned your center patch.”
Tank and I both had the night off. I assumed Kodiak was working since he wasn’t here. When dealing with mob bosses, I’d rather not work with a guy who couldn’t follow the rules. But my hesitation was more than his fuck-all attitude. Bullet might trust him, but I didn’t. Kodiak could drag me down with him, and I didn’twant anything to keep me from McKelle and Ryatt ever again.
Ryatt sat in a chair, and Jazzy handed him a needle and thread. She showed him where the patches should go.
I wrapped my arms around McKelle. “He’s going to be sewing for a while.”
As the hours went on, the atmosphere in the MC shifted. Patches went back to drinking and playing cards. Music filled the chapel. McKelle gave up pool for the night. She stayed next to Ryatt. He had to be touching some part of her. He twirled her braid around his fingers, then he’d drag his fingertips along her nape, or his hand was high on her thigh.
I sat to the right of him, bumping my knee against his knee every time I shifted on the chair.
Dozer sat with his dad, and every time Tank’s boisterous laugh erupted in the room, a warm feeling settled in my gut. Dozer was my friend, he brought me into the MC, and I’d never understood Dozer’s connection to his old man.
I fucking got it. Not only had Tank hooked me up with the job, but he’d had my back with Ryatt. Not just with the lawyer, but his acceptance of the three of us seemed to sway the opinion of everyone else.
Oh hell. One of McKelle’s favorite songs blared through the speakers. She jumped from her chair, grabbed onto Levi, and dragged her into the middle of the room to dance with Hana, Pippa and Jazzy.
Ryatt pivoted on his chair. He watched McKelle, and I stared at him. I knew what he was feeling. McKelle was sex in motion. Her hips swiveled to the heavy thump of the bass. Her braid swished across her back as she flipped her head to the beat.
“I missed out on this at Chrome,” Ryatt said as he scooted his chair back. He sidled up next to McKelle, rested his hands on her hips, and danced with her. Although, within a few beats of the song, they were kissing more than dancing.
Dozer slid onto the chair next to me. “Romeo is going to have the bike here in the morning.” His gaze lasered in on McKelle and Ryatt because Pippa danced next to them with Hana. “He’ll be fine, you know. It’s going to take a few days.”
I turned to him. “I know what he’s feeling. Like you can’t believe anything this good can happen to you, and since nothing good ever does, you don’t believe it’ll last.”
“I think sometimes we don’t think we deserve good shit to happen to us so we self-sabotage.”
“I’m not going to fuck this up.” I glanced around the room. Hellers were a brotherhood, but would they feel the same about my relationship with Ryatt? I wasn’t going to let them say shit about my girl. And I was feeling equally protective over Ryatt. He was mine, and after that kiss, I wanted more. “I never want to lose this, but if it’s a choice, I choose them.”
Dozer laughed. “Are you worried about kissing Rizz?”
“I’m worried some of the old timers might not appreciate my hand on his ass while they’ve got Bullet’s kittens on their lap.”
“We all know you. I got your dick pic in my phone, and we’ve listened to you and McKelle fight and fuck since the day you moved into the MC. Pretty sure nothing about you and Ryatt is going to surprise them.”
Maybe he was right. Maybe I didn’t give a fuck if he was wrong. I pushed away from the table. The song hadslowed. Not that it mattered. McKelle had her arms draped over Ryatt’s shoulder, and he had his hands on her hips.
I slid in behind her, tugged her braid over her shoulder, and pressed my lips to the soft skin of her neck. McKelle tipped her face, and I slanted my mouth over hers.
“I think I’ve earned my Heller whore patch.”
