“It’s family day.” Bullet leans down and makes us aware. “Ya’ll picked a decent day to drop in.”
“Lucky us,” Winnie responds, smiling and taking it all in.
We fill our plates and land at a table with Bullet and a few of his brothers. The conversation is good, and there are zero remarks about our ages or the reasons why we’re visiting. It feels refreshing to be accepted without the baggage of the life that I left behind. A few women drop by the table to talk with Winnie, and my girl loves chatting them up. Any nerves she had before we came out of the room disappeared right away. I’m thankful everyone is putting her at ease, and most of them are aware of our situation, which Bullet shared with me. He had to ask his president permission for us to visit the clubhouse, and he told them a little of the family history.
“I’m going to help grab the punch while Hope changes her baby’s diaper real quick.” Winnie turns to me, her hand on top of mine.
“Who’s Hope?” My brow rises, trying to place if I’ve heard that name today. Part of me feels somewhat uneasy with her leaving my side.
“Badger’s wife.” She points to the small, raven-haired woman who is currently cradling a baby in her arms and the large, bearded man standing next to her. I recognize them now from meeting them inside.
“You okay?” I ask her anyway, wanting to make sure she’s comfortable roaming on her own.
“Yes. Everyone’s been very nice.” Win smiles at me and kisses my cheek before running off to help. My eyes follow her across the lawn and over to Hope, who takes her back inside the clubhouse.
“How long has she been your girl?” Bullet turns to me, drawing my attention away from the door Winnie disappeared through.
“Nine months,” I tell him, meeting his astonished gaze. “Why?”
“No reason. Just surprised she puts up with your scowly mug,” he answers, and I punch him in his shoulder. Bullet laughs harder and takes a swig from the bottle of beer in his hand. “At our meeting earlier, Prez was asking what your plans are.”
My shoulders lift in a shrug. “Don’t really have any. Honestly, this was a whim, and a complete stroke of luck that I talked my girl into coming with me. She still wants to go to college. I figure we’ll find a place near campus to live once we know where she’s going. I’ll find a job while I figure out what I want.”
“Her parents coming after her?” Bullet asks, and I can read the underlying concern in his tone. I shake my head.
“They’ve pretty much disowned her at this point. She called them, but…their family has a lot of grief from losing her older sister when the girls were younger. I hope they’ll move past it someday. I want to make her happy so they can see that being with me wasn’t the wrong choice.”
He nods his head like he agrees with what I’m saying and the choices we made collectively as a couple. I take my own drink from the can of soda in front of me while my cousin gazes around the get-together.
“Look, we’re opening up spots for two more prospects. Our current two are becoming patched members next week. If you want, Prez said he’d chat with you. I’d vouch for you on your behalf as well.”
“Prospect? Like to become a club member?” I tilt my head at him.
Bullet nods. “You prospect for a year or two, earn a rep with the club, build trust and loyalty with the members, then you stand to become a patched member. You can earn some cash, and it's a place to stay. Not in the cabins that are on the property, but here at the clubhouse, you’d have your own room.”
My attention catches on the word cash. I’m desperate to find a job right away and a place to live to prove to Winnie that we can do this. We can build a life without our families. “What about Win?”
“Prospects don’t have privileges for their old ladies until they’re a patched member. She could stay in the room with you, but she’d be working to earn her keep around here.” Bullet nods his head to a different group of women over by the tables who are not wearing property cuts. Most of them are wearing barely anything.
“I’m not letting Win be one of the club whores. Are you out of your fuckin mind?” My voice turns dark and deep, anger rising to the surface for the first time with my cousin.
“I’m not saying she’s available to fuck the single brothers. She doesn’t have to be one of the club whores, but she would be doing the same work as them. Cleaning, laundry, cooking, whatever is assigned to them. That's how the girls earn their keep for staying here. Some of the girls work outside of here as well, and your girl could go to school. You guys wouldn’t be worrying about meals and rent,” Bullet says, quick to calm me.
“I’ll talk to Winnie and see what she says,” I grit out, still not sure how I feel about it.
Bullet shakes his head. “Prez wants to talk to you today. Prospecting is short-term. If you make it, that is. The situation for your girl wouldn’t be long-term term and it allows you to take care of her while she gets to do her own thing the rest of the time. But I won’t lie, the club will become your number one for a long time. There will be times you won’t be able to tell her things. You may even have to lie, but in the end, it's for her protection.”
We sit in silence while I mull over what he’s told me. I’m not exactly a saint, and I’ve done my fair share of shady things for my family. I’m not hesitant to let that dark part of my soul outif it means creating something for Winnie and me. In the end, I just want her to be happy. I love her more than anything else.
“Yeah, I’ll talk to your prez.”
Bullet nods his head, and his eyes meet mine. “Good. Because he’s already on his way over.”
Chapter 8
Winnie
My feet are killing me, and my cheeks are hurting from all the smiling and laughing that I’ve been doing tonight. Bullet and everyone in the club has gone out of their way today to make Finn and me feel comfortable and to make sure we’re having fun. I love feeling useful and helping out as well. After some of the families and children went home, the rest of the night has been filled with dancing, playing pool, and getting to know the other members. The best part of all, though, is seeing Finn relaxed and unguarded. Even at home around his friends, he always wore a layer of armor around him. Being here and far away from his toxic family, he smiles, jokes, and we’re free to touch each other and show affection. My heart is full of love for him.
