“I can’t explain that any more than you can. Maybe the Widowmakers were the bottom of the food chain. Minions. This web looks large. Saige thinks we may need to bring in some outside help if it gets any bigger.”
“You’re not fuckin’ serious. What? You gonna bring in the state police? The FBI? What do you think they’re gonna do to us with the amount of blood we all have on our hands? You’d be opening us up to being investigated ourselves. It’ll be our fuckin’ ruin, Prez.” Rolo says, and I don’t miss the desperation in his voice. He’s been with the club his entire life, but he has his wife now, and he’s constantly torn between putting her first or the club. Morgan is his be-all, end-all.
“I don’t fucking know yet. We’ll handle it with a vote when the time comes. We make decisions together, as a family.”
“Is Saige a part of that?” Noose speaks up and asks. He’s been the one most vocally against Saige here, even if she has already put him in his place on more than one occasion.
Chaos’ eyes darken, his eyebrows pinched as he glares at Noose. “Saige is my family. You all want to vote on whether or not she’s gonna be my old lady now, then? Will that make you all feel better? Now that the war is over, you need it to beofficial?” None of us misses the power in his voice, and the last thing I need right now is for there to be a fight between us all.
“Chaos . . .” I whisper under my breath, shaking my head, trying to calm him down as his voice rises, his fists clenching on top of the table. I stand up from my seat. “All in favor of Saige getting a property patch say ‘aye.’”
“But what if she doesn’t want a property patch, and we all voted for it, and now she’s got it, and she’s pissed at all of us for choosing for her, and then she sneaks into our rooms at night and—” Malice rambles, sliding his thumb across his neck and letting his head flop to the side, his tongue lolling out the side of his mouth, while his hand imitates gushing blood. He’s not wrong, and it’s a valid concern, especially since slitting throats is Saige’s go-to.
“I’ll deal with my crazy-ass woman. Now fucking vote.” We go around the table, everyone saying aye, including Noose. “Now that that’s settled, let’s move the fuck on. Otto is going to continue to follow the trails, and since it’s clearly bigger than we thought, we need to bring in Wes. Wrath, you want to reach out and see if he and his wife want to take a day trip up to Amberwood? Sure there’s some woods around here he can chase her through once he’s done working.”
“Yeah, I’ll get on it.”
“Good. Sin and I will work with Otto. Everyone else, it’s business as normal.”
“Lockdown is over?” Malice says with a wild gleam in his eyes.
“Lockdown is over, but don’t stir up shit. Vet the people you bring in, don’t be dumbasses.”
“You got it, Prez! I’ll keep it in my pants until we’re in the dungeon,” Malice says as he looks at Wrath.
“Was that supposed to be a dig at me, Mal?” Wrath asks, dropping his forearms to the table and leaning forward.
“Maybe. Unless you want to play with me out in the open?” Malice replies, wiggling his eyebrows.
“As fun as that sounds, you’re just not my type. But you’re welcome to watch anytime. I love putting on a good show.”
“Jesus Christ. That’s about enough togetherness for one fucking day, are we fuckin’ done here, Chaos?” I say, standing and ready to bolt. There’s only one thing on my mind, and I’ve gotta make a stop before I get to her.
Rollingup to Bloomfield Animal Haven, I’m eager to see her, but nervous as fuck she’ll think I’m stalking her. Have I consumed her thoughts the way she has mine? Fuck, I hope she’s happy to see me. I’d do just about anything to see her smile. To be the reason she’s smiling. I grab the bakery bag from Daily Rise and the two to-go mugs of caffeine from my passenger seat and head toward the building.
Once I’m inside, it’s not what I would have expected a shelter in a swanky town to look like. It’s clear they have money coming in, but not anything overly extravagant or opulent. I donate almost my entire paycheck from work to the Amberwood shelter, but it doesn’t go far. I’d give everything I have to help support all the good they’re doing there. Hell, anywhere.These animals deserve the same love and attention that ones with families do. Wish the world wasn’t so full of selfish assholes, and maybe we wouldn’t have such an abundance of them without loving homes.
I look around the space, taking in the decor and the warmth of the lobby. Then I see her. She’s wearing a pair of dark maroon scrubs, her hair plaited off to the side. My heart rate kicks up a notch as I take in her beauty.
“Rhys,” Bristol gasps as she looks over at me. She’s standing behind the check-in counter, her eyes bright and sparkling, the light hitting them just right, a swirl of caramel dancing in the irises. Her plump lips turn up at the corners in a smile she can’t hide, and fuck if it isn’t the most beautiful reaction to seeing me. “What are you doing here?”
“Volunteering.” I shrug like it’s no big deal that I’m suddenly two towns over from where I usually go.
She drops her hip to the side and crosses her arms. It’s so fucking cute. “But you volunteer in Amberwood.”
“That’s true, but something has been eating at me all week, telling me I should give some time to the shelter here.”
“In Bloomfield.”
“That’s correct. I’m sure you have some things that need servicing.” Bristol makes a choking sound that she covers with a cough, and this time, I don’t bother hiding my delight. She’s just so fucking cute. “Whatever you need, Dr. Owens, I’m happy to help. I’m great with animals, and I’m happy to just sit and give them attention if that’s what you need today. I won’t be in anyone’s way, if that’s what you’re worried about.”
Bristol regards me, taking me in, and for the first time in my life, I’m fucking self-conscious. This is a nice place for a shelter, in a ritzy part of the state, she’s a fucking doctor for fuck’s sake, and I’m just . . .me. Vice president of a motorcycle club, got more blood on his hands than goddamn Jack the Ripper and a whole lotta baggage. But I can’t stay away from her, and based on the look she’s giving me right now, she’s happy I didn’t.
“Tell me, Rhys, how long have you been volunteering at shelters?”
“Pretty much my whole life. Animals have never turned their back on me, never lied, cheated, or abused me. All they want is love and devotion, and in turn, they give you their entire life. Animals are a gift; I’d like to spend as much time with them as I can.”
“You like them better than people.” I can’t help but notice that wasn’t a question, but rather a statement of observation. Something tells me she feels the same way.
