Thalia paled, but I was done. I turned and picked up the menu. Moments later, I heard Thalia and Bear leave. Shotgun sat down and took his cue from me. Thalia wouldn’t ruin our date night, no matter how misguided she was.
Chapter Six.
Rain – January 2023
Thalia and my sisters were driving me mad. Four months had passed since Thalia had crossed Shotgun and Allegra, and they’d blown my phone up ever since. It wasn’t helpful that on the following evening with Allegra, we’d walked straight into Thalia, Callie, Polly, and Clio on a girls' night out. They’d all stared daggers, apart from Callie, who really didn’t seem bothered. When questioned, Callie replied that my happiness was the important thing, and she saw I was happy.
“Are you okay?” Shotgun asked as he let himself into the house I’d bought. It was a stopgap for now until we decided what the plan was.
Shotgun and I had discussed what would happen if he built a home on the compound like the rest of Hellfire. That was the easiest solution: we’d sell mine. When we’d started, I’d accepted that Hellfire MC was a massive factor in Shotgun’s life and an aspect I wouldn’t probably be much involved with. At first, I’d struggled; club business was just that, and I didn’t enjoy being cut out. But Shotgun explained what he could, and finally, I grew to accept it.
If I wanted the man, I took the MC too, which meant accepting Shotgun’s brothers. Not that anyone had guessed anything yet. Thalia, Clio, and Polly were making things awkward, and every time they saw Shotgun and me together, they expected us to come to blows. Nobody could understand how we appeared to both be dating Allegra and be satisfied sharing her.
Allegra had been called a lot of names, which Shotgun and I instantly shut down. I didn’t care that they were my sisters; Allegra was my woman. They’d show respect or fuck off. Well, my siblings would soon shit a brick when they learned that Allegra was moving in with me.
Shotgun was happy with that, as he claimed it was easier for us to get together. Neither of us had considered coming out yet because of the drama that had happened with Shotgun’s brothers and allied clubs. Every time we thought we had a break to tell them, a situation exploded. We were starting to believe we were jinxed.
Allegra slotted in seamlessly. It was as if we’d always been in a relationship. Shotgun was shocked at how effortlessly we all connected. The plan we’d plotted worked brilliantly, each of us taking a one-in-three-week turn at a couple’s night. And every Saturday was spent together, often chilling out with takeout and movies. Not to say we didn’t go out. However, PDA, when it was the three of us, rarely happened.
There had been no arguments until yesterday. Allegra was standing her ground, and I saw the point she was trying to make. Word had filtered down that the Venomous Fangs MC were gathering, and war was imminent. I wouldn’t say I grasped exactly what was going on, but I understood more than Allegra.
“Why can’t you come with us?” she’d demanded.
“Because I’m required here,” Shotgun replied patiently.
“Why?”
“Because my gun is needed to protect people.”
“Sorry, when did you become a cop, or join the National Guard, or become ex-military?” Allegra hissed.
Shotgun ran a hand over his face. “The club protects the innocent.”
“But you’re not the police!” Allegra yelled.
“No, but Hellfire signed on to stand with Rage and to protect Rapid City. The Fangs are coming, Allegra. They plan to maim, rape, torture, and kill. Doesn’t even matter to them who they’re doing that to. They’re rotten to the bone. Women and girl-children don’t mean shit, as far as Venomous Fangs are concerned. If it’s got a pussy and a pulse, it’s fair game. You want me to leave these innocents undefended?” Shotgun stated calmly, but I sensed his temper rising.
“Shotgun, you’re a civilian, not a fucking cop!”
“Ain’t arguing that. But I won’t walk away and save my own ass to keep you happy. Allegra, I won’t sacrifice children so you can tuck me up in bed safe and sound. Don’t those kids deserve protection?”
“Yes! But this isn’t your threat or fault. Let RC hire more cops; contact the National Guard. Don’t stay and die!” Allegra cried.
“Who says I’ll get killed? Doesn’t seem like you’ve got faith,” Shotgun fired back.
“Babe, Allegra has a point. Why defend RC? This isn’t Hellfire’s fight,” I interjected, and Allegra shot me a grateful look.
“Because Hellfire is staying, and they’re my brothers. They need me,” Shotgun replied and winced. Yeah, Allegra saw that opening; here it came.
“And we don’t? That club means more than us?”
“Okay, say I cowardly run away—and make no mistake, it’s running away—and leave my brothers behind. A couple die.” His face was torn with anguish at the words. “I won’t be able to live with that. Facing my reflection every day in the mirror, knowingI was a coward. That my gun might have saved their lives. I wouldn’t be the man you know and love; it would change me forever,” Shotgun fired back.
“But you’d be alive with us!” Allegra pleaded.
“Till I ate a bullet,” Shotgun stated badly, and I knew that was the truth. Honesty dripped from Shotgun’s words.
Allegra flinched.
