“Ladies,” I said a little too loud, my smile tighter than usual.
Ellie turned first with a sweet smile. “Vandal, how’s it going?” Her gaze flicked to Macy. “Who’s your friend?”
“This,” I began, draping an arm around her shoulders, “is Macy, my oldest friend in the world. We grew up right next door to each other.”
Humor and amusement shone in their eyes, but I ignored the questions that lurked underneath. “Hey Macy,” Eliana said, extending a hand. “It’s nice to meet you.”
“Right,” Harper said, snapping out of her momentary daze. “Have a seat.”
Macy was stiff but not unkind, just guarded. “That’s okay, I don’t have to.”
Ellie stood from her chair, her gaze fixed on the newcomer. “It’s all right. This is what we do. Have a seat. Do you want a drink?”
That tugged a reluctant smile across Macy’s face, but she looked to me first, almost as if asking if this was a safe place.
“I gotta talk with my brothers and I don’t know how long that’s gonna take. Stay here with the girls and I’ll be back when I’m done. Promise.” Those violet eyes darted around the room as if she expected danger behind every barstool. “Ellie is married to my Prez, you’ll be safe here.”
Her shoulders loosened a fraction and she nodded. “Yeah, okay.”
She reached into her bag for her wallet.
“This is our place. No charge.”
“It’s okay, I can pay,” she protested, but I laid a hand on her shoulder.
“This is MC headquarters, Mace. Private bar. Have a drink. I’ll be back.” I squeezed her shoulder and walked off, confident the ladies would take care of her. She needed their special brand of softness and feminine strength.
I headed straight for the office, but it was completely empty, not even Slate was behind his impressive computer setup. Doubling back, my gaze connected with Macy’s and I sent her a smile and wink before heading to the back. The guys favored this spot because it was outside with plenty of seating and absolute privacy.
I found Diesel and Rocky out back with a bunch of the guys, smoking, drinking, and shooting the shit. Rocky spotted me first and got to his feet. “What’s wrong?” His deep voice sliced clean through the noise.
I dragged a hand through my hair, took a breath, and laid it all out. I told them about Macy showing up at Steel City Ink.
“The girl you grew up with?” Gio asked, brows raised and eyes wide.
I nodded. “Yeah, that’s her. Totally fucking shocked me.” I told them about her job as a bookkeeper and the guy Diego who couldn’t take rejection. “After the kidnapping she found out exactly who he worked for. Sombra Negra,” I spat the name out. “And there’s a cop that keeps showing up wherever she lands. She can’t escape him.” My hands balled into tight fists that needed an outlet as I recounted everything Macy told me.
Nobody said shit for a long time, but I knew it wasn’t judgment. It was consideration. They were calculating the risk of taking on this task, preparing for what it might mean. Deciding if this was a fight for the MC. It was a big ask, going up against anybody associated with a fucking cartel.
“I need to help her,” I said, rushing to fill the silence. “Whether we agree to help her as a club or not, I can’t walk away. She’s like family to me.”
“You haven’t seen her since you were sixteen,” Rebel pushed back. “A lot can change in twelve years.”
I shook my head. “Macy was the only thing like family I had before Steel Demons.” My breaths came out in sharp, shallow pants.
Diesel finally stood, his gaze locked on mine. “Rebel has a point,” he said, holding up a hand to stop whatever argument I’d been about to make. “We need to know everything before we decide.”
Rocky nodded. “No secrets.”
I wanted to be angry because it wasn’t the answer I wanted but I’d been here before, heard the arguments whenever someone needed our help. I nodded, putting on an understanding face. “I’ve told you what she told me and that’s all I know.”
“Go get her,” Rocky urged gently. “I know you didn’t let her leave the clubhouse,” he grinned but it faded quickly. “This is cartel shit and those fuckers are crazy. We need to know everything.”
I nodded, noticing that Slate had already opened up the steel-cased laptop that never left his side. “Yeah, okay.” Reliefpunched me in the chest, making it hard to breathe while I walked inside to get Macy.
She looked up as soon as I stepped into the bar. Her eyes caught the low light, wide with a hint of vulnerability she hid under layers of toughness. She stood before I stopped at the table. “What’s wrong?”
I hated that she expected to be let down. “Nothing. They want to talk to you.”
