“Right, and this year I might make hamburgers for the Thanksgiving parade.” He rolls his eyes. Manny’s gumbo wins every year. It’s basically its own food group and the most popular thing on the menu at the Whiskey Bar n’ Grill: the restaurant owned by the club on Bourbon Street. Manny refuses to work there, but he will make the gumbo and deliver it. I’m assuming it’s because he won’t give up the recipe. He will, however, fill in a shift or two at Muso, and the Soup Kitchen that Priest, the club Chaplain, helps run.
“I always thought you’d make a great ol’ lady,” he says. “Despite what the club thinks about your occupation and recent promotion. I don’t see it as a bad thing.”
“The problem is, I don’t play second fiddle to a man,” I say pleasantly. “And I know how bikers think. I was married to one for an extended period of time.” No need to remind him I still am.
Many tuts. “You think the ol’ ladies let their men tell them what to do?” He chuckles, then presses a hand to his face. “Oh, my god, you do, don’t you?”
I sigh. “It doesn’t really matter, what goes on there is none of my business as long as no laws are being broken.”
He eyes me curiously. “You’re a spitfire. I can see why he’s ga-ga for you.”
“He’s not ga-ga.”
Manny laughs. “Riiiiiiight. That’s why I never see him with anyone else. No sweet butts. No blow-ins or random chicks. Nobody. A little weird for a biker, wouldn’t you say?”
Of course I like hearing that, and coming from Manny I know it’s not just a line, but I don’t need him knowing I like it. “I guess he must do his extracurricular activities somewhere else.” I also don’t need Manny, or anyone from the club, getting wind until the two of us figure this out.
I still haven’t quite worked out how to fit both of our worlds together. With me as the captain, and Haze as an MC member. I know I love him. I also know that this club is everything to him — a second family he never really had. Cash has been like a father figure — one that was needed because neither Haze, Brew or Logan got jack shit from their own dad. He was a piece-of-shit scumbag who treated the entire family horrifically.
Manny shakes his head, a knowing smile on his lips. “Nope.” He pops the ‘p’. “And trust me, honey, I would know. I knoweverythingthat goes on inside the clubhouse walls.”
“Is this supposed to be conducive to me enjoying my lunch?”
He hands the wrapped sandwich over. “You know I love the attitude. It’s exactly what a man like Haze needs. He acts all tough and mean, but we really know his one weakness is the girl that got away.”
I think about that for half a second.The girl that got away.
“I-I don’t think he sees me like that,” I say, but there’s doubt in my tone.
He studies me for a second. “You can tell me. I’m not the enemy, and sometimes it’s good to vent.”
I also know Manny is really just one of the girls. All the women in the MC go to him for advice because he’s loyal and trustworthy, but I also know he’s a meddler. He loves to interfere and play Mr. Matchmaker.
“All you need next is a harp and some rose petals and you could play Cupid.”
“You know what? I’ve thought about it, but changing the subject won’t work with me.” He wags a finger. “You’re a hard nut to crack,Captain,but I’m determined.”
“To what? Add me to the group chat?”
His brow furrows slightly. “How do you know about…”
“Payden,” we both say together.
He grins. “Well, it’s not a secret, but it is a fun group. In fact, Bella is hosting a healing circle this weekend, you should come along.”
“What on earth is that?”
“It’s a deep meditation and healing sanctuary,” Manny says, like it’s obvious.
Bella, Priest’s ol’ lady, runs a crisis center for women, and she holds a lot of workshops and other charitable events at her building downtown.
“All of that sounds swell, but I’ve gotta go.” I wave my sandwich at him. “I’ll think about it.”
“I’ll text you the details!” he calls after me.
I wave behind me as I leave, rolling my eyes just a little. I’m not into all that woo-woo stuff. I mean, I know the planets align and it means something, but who really has time for all of that jazz? I certainly don’t. I’m also not going to advertise my personal life to Manny. As much as I like him, he’s deeplyembedded into the MC, and I’d be a fool to confide in anyone from the club when I don’t even know myself. Then again, I’m close with Payden, not that she has an old man in the club, but she’s a member by association.
When I get back to the office, we have a meeting after lunch. Our current case is one that’s been our main priority for the last couple of weeks: cracking the rooftop killer case. While most of my main duties now include paperwork, overseeing and recruitment, it’s still important to huddle daily, support all my officers and detectives, and keep them motivated.
