I chuckle. “I let you run away once, baby. I’m not letting you do it again. You’re it for me. And since we’ve said our vows and signed on the dotted line, you and Kaylie aren’t going anywhere without me. Don’t think I’m taking this shit lightly. I’m not.”
“You are insane.” She turns her head away toward the window. I hear her whisper, “You can’t mean it.” I can see her reflection in the side mirror. Her eyes are glassy with unshed tears. She still doesn’t believe me, but I’ll have plenty of time to prove it to her. Forever is a long ass time.
I’m not quiet, and I don’t whisper. I make sure she hears me when I tell her, “I meaneveryfucking word.”
Kaylie giggles. “You need to put more monies in the swear jar, Mason. You’re going to run out of swear words.”
9
EVERLY
Pulling into the clubhouse parking lot, my stomach is in knots. I don’t know how this will go down. I don’t expect a warm welcome by any means, but I also hope they’ll at least give me a chance to apologize.
Grand gesture.
Mason’s words echo through my mind. What the hell kind of grand gesture does one give to a group of bikers and their women? I don’t own a Harley store, a bar, or have stocks in a leather clothing company.
When we walk inside, Kaylie is wedged between me and Mason, holding onto our legs with Winston bouncing off my calf. She’s acting as if she’s never been here before. My hackles are raised, wondering what has her behaving so shyly until I catch a glimpse of Sadie staring daggers at me from across the room next to a not so happy looking Hawk. Kaylie may be small, but she understands anger and, unfortunately, she fears it.
Everyone is gathered in the common area of the clubhouse. Some shooting pool, others hanging out by the bar having a drink. A few of the ladies are sitting on the couches. I’m about to suggest I take Kaylie upstairs when Mason shouts to the entireroom, “Listen up! I have an announcement to make!” Everything goes silent.
Mason puts his arm around my shoulder and blurts out the news. “Ever and I are married! We want you all to be the first to know,” he jokes, but the room stays silent. No one reacts. No cheers. No applause. Not that I would expect anyone to be excited for us after the last conversation we had here, but the silence is very telling.
They don’t approve. They don’t want us here.
No.Me.They don’t want me here.
I’m two seconds from scooping Kaylie up and running out the door, but Sadie’s words have my feet frozen in place. “Are you pregnant? Did you knock her up, Mason?” she accuses, pointing toward my flat belly. “Is that why the sudden change of heart? Mason’s your baby daddy?”
“What? No. We haven’t even … you know what, that’s none of your business.” I don’t bother to tell her we haven’t had sex. That’s nobody’s business, although apparently around here there’s no such thing asnobody’s business.
“You get yourself into some kind of trouble? Picking up mommy’s old habits?” The accusations keep coming.
“No.” I grit.
“I know. You got spooked about someone destroying your little salon and you think marrying the biker, wearing his property patch, will keep people from fucking with you?”
“No! Jesus, Sadie. It’s not any of those things.” I start, but Mason steps in front of me, blocking my view.
“That’s enough, Sadie. I know you two have some things to work out, but Everly and I are married. Our relationship is our business, not yours. Not the clubs. Outside of the fact that we wanted to celebrate our union with everyone here,my brothers,my family.But if you can’t support us and be happy for us, thenget gone,” Mason says. “But whether you approve or not, you will respect the fact that she’s my ol’ lady.”
“So, you’ve suddenly had a change of heart, is that it? Because not too long ago you stood right here in this room and basically told Mason you weren’t interested in him or hisbiker lifestyle. Now you’re standing here again, and you’re hitched.” Sadie throws her arms out in dramatic fashion. “Color me confused. If you don’t love him, why are you marrying him?”
I step out from behind Mason, staring Sadie down point-blank and argue, “I never said I didn’t love him.” The truth is out, and I can’t take them back. I never meant to admit that to anyone, let alone to a room full of people. My cheeks heat. My eyes burn. The urge to run out of this room is overwhelming, but I don’t. I stand my ground.
Sadie throws her hands up, letting out a long sigh. “And that’s supposed to fix everything? Because you love him?” she snarls.
“What is your problem with me, Sadie? It isn’t that I insulted you or your lifestyle. You have thicker skin than that. So, what did I do to youexactlythat made you hate me so badly?”
“You’re a fucking Devil!” she exclaims. “You’ve got Devil blood running through your veins. The sworn fucking enemy of the Kings.” Sadie looks around the room. “That’s right. She’s a Devil, and now they’re back in our town causing trouble. She’s one oftheirs, and now I think she’s the reason they’re here. Why else would they risk coming back after what just happened? Unless they left something orsomeonebehind.”
Curses and grumbling voices fill the air, but I can’t make out what they’re saying. My focus is on Sadie, trying to make sense of what she’s just said.
“Everly Greene is a fucking Devil. Her father is the same asshole my Papa put in the ground. After everything your family has done to ours, you should not only show your respect but yourgratitude. God knows the less Devil blood running around on this Earth, the better off we’ll all be.”
“Sadie Jay,” Liz’s warning is loud across the room as she stands tall against Caleb’s chest. Her face is etched in fury. “You shouldn’t speak about things you know nothing about.”
“Oh, but I do know. I found her birth certificate. Her father was Viper. The same asshole, Papa?—”
