“What about the women at Kitties?” Bash asks, clearly thinking about all the women who work for him at the strip club.
“I’ll keep tabs on Brooklyn,” Gator volunteers. “She’s got a kid.” Everyone gathered around the table knows he has a thing for the purple-haired dancer, he has for months.
“Fine.” Tacoma agrees.
The Kings have a code. No women. No children. Families are off limits.
“We can’t move them all here.” Tacoma turns his attention to Gator. “Put in a call to the Saints. We’re going to need some assistance.” I’m sure he’s not looking forward to explaining to Chief that his sister is now on the fucking Russian cartel’s radar.
“And June?” I find myself asking.
Tacoma’s eyes meet mine. “You claiming her?”
I purse my lips. “No.” I can’t deny that the woman has gotten under my skin, but I’ve got no desire to settle down.
Tacoma gets a contemplative expression on his face, then nods. “Yeah. Fine. We’ll let her stay since we owe her for protecting Stella.”
“Great. We’ve got Journey’s woman covered, but what are we going to do about the cartel and the Sinners?” Bash asks.
“We’re going to fucking eradicate them.” Tacoma crosses his arms over his chest. “Nobody fucks with the Kings.”
“Nobody fucks with the Kings!” we all chorus.
The Valenciaga Cartel has started a war they can’t win. Our reach is too long, our numbers too big, but with every war comes casualties.
Tacoma bangs the gavel one more time. “That’s all for now. Stay vigilant, brothers. Keep your women close.”
As we file out of the chapel, the mood is grim. Every brother’s face is set in stone, the usual bullshitting completely absent.
Stepping into the common room, my eyes immediately search for June. She’s exactly where I left her, surrounded by the old ladies. All of them are laughing as she tucks her phone into her pocket. From the looks of all the makeup on the table, my girl got her content.
My girl? Get that shit out of your head, asshole. She doesn’t belong to you.
June catches my eye from across the room, and her whole face lights up, those crystal blue eyes pulling me in.
Fuck.
Something cracks open in my chest at the sight of her here with my family.
“Damn, baby.” Bane stalks past me, making a beeline for Frankie. He takes one look at her face, plucks her out of her chair, and kisses her hard. “We’re going home,” I hear him growl as I approach the table.
Frankie laughs and calls over her shoulder to June as Bane practically drags her toward the door. “I think he likes the makeup!”
“Have fun,” June laughs, giving her new friend a little finger wave.
“So.” Stella slides up next to me, her arms crossed over her chest. “Don’t break her heart,” she says firmly. “She’s been through enough.”
I glance down at my baby sister and lift a brow. “What the fuck are you talking about?”
“It’s what you always do.” She glares.
I can’t even argue with that. She’s not wrong. I know I’ve left a trail of broken hearts across Odin, but she can’t put that on me. I’ve never made any promises to anyone.
Instead of responding to her threat, I wrap my arm around her shoulder and pull her into a side hug. “Tacoma’s put the club on a soft lockdown. That means we’re all gonna stay at the clubhouse for a while. You can leave for school and work, but that’s it. And you don’t go anywhere without Bax. Yeah?”
She rolls her eyes dramatically. “Fine.”
Releasing her, I turn to Bax, who’s watching from the bar. “Don’t let her out of your sight.”
