Chance’s eyes narrowed with suspicion. Shotgun knew Chance had guessed.
“His name, brother.”
“It’s Rain,” Shotgun confessed.
Chance nodded and sat back in his chair while stunned silence surrounded him.
“Not sure what to do with that,” Bear admitted finally. “Can’t exactly give you an ass-kicking and warn you not to hurt him like I would one of the girls.”
Diesel snickered, amused.
But Shotgun held Chance’s eyes. “I’ll black the ink for him,” Shotgun whispered, and the room turned deathly quiet. All amusement faded as they stared at Shotgun.
“What do you think’s going through my mind?” Chance asked softly. That was when Chance was most dangerous.
“Don’t know; you’re not exactly forthcoming,” Shotgun retorted. He was lashing out and recognised that, but couldn’t stop it. He’d not let them attack Rain.
Chance leapt to his feet, knocking his chair backwards. “Not fuckin’ forthcoming!” he roared. Chance leaned forward, placing his knuckles on the table.
“You’ll black the motherfuckin’ ink? You think so little of your brothers that you’ve considered leaving? That we’re such judgmental bastards we wouldn’t stand with you? That we’d begrudge your happiness?”
“Chance…”
“Shut the fuck up,” Chance glowered. “Well, asshole? Are you calling us Zeus? Or worse? We’re gonna bend you over, destroy your ass and bury you with your cock in your mouth? What yousaying, Shotgun? That we can’t be trusted? That we’re into gay bashing?”
Shotgun realised how much he’d underestimated his brothers. Now he was dealing with the fallout.
“Are you happy to have me in your club? With what I want from life. A husband and wife?” Shotgun fired back. He knew the answer but was trying to deflect the anger.
“Jesus, we haven’t moved on from Zeus at all, have we? Not if a brother is scared to be himself,” Big Al muttered.
“Are you afraid, Shotgun? Frightened of what we’d say?” Tiny demanded.
Shotgun hung his head. “Rain and I have made sure our bond is solid. Six years strong. We are in love, and don’t give a shit who knows it. We asked our initial girlfriend, Rowena, to be in a committed relationship. As said, we’re good to screw but not be seen together in public. The second fled due to the war. How the fuck do you think I feel?
“Rowena made us ashamed of our needs and desires. She wasn’t the first and won’t be the last. It’s not gonna be easy finding a woman who’ll let Rain do her while I fuck him. Do you get it now? Society will believe she’s a slut; two men at once. Your old ladies did call Allegra a whore, ho-bag, and bucket cunt for dating Rain and me. And you can’t deny that; you heard them. We’ll be labelled deviants for wanting what we need to be happy. So yeah, I was fuckin’ scared of how you’d react.
“Not because you’ll destroy my ass, as you put it, Chance, but because you won’t understand. None of you saw anything except Allegra was fucking Rain and me. You didn’t pick up that we were comfortable or even question it. Nobody defended Allegra and told your old ladies to shut their mouths. They were driving me away, and you did nothing to stop them. Why the hell wouldn’t I be worried about what the club says? The signs werethere, showing the truth among the three of us. You ignored them and thought Allegra was being a greedy bitch.”
Shotgun threw Big Al’s words back at him, and Big Al winced.
“What Rain and I want isn’t normal. The town judges Hellfire because we wear cuts. Venomous Fangs caused murder and mayhem, and we’re all on the block. Allies might cut Hellfire loose because of Rain and me. You suppose I haven’t considered every damn angle? So yeah, I’ve looked at blackingmyink toprotectthe club.”
Chance was growing angrier as he spoke, and Shotgun sat back.
“You think I’d let the allies dictate who’smybrother? Hellfire isn’ttheirs,it’s ours. If they don’t like the fact you’re in a relationship with another man, they can walk away. We will back you and the people you love, and I don’t give a fuck about the cost. Do care that my brothers are happy.
“Did you forget our reactions? The brothers knew you were bisexual. But you don’t talk about it, so we avoided it. Just figured when you’re ready, you’ll come to us. Didn’t expect this bullshit though!” Chance snarled.
“My feelings and worries are bullshit? Where were you when the old ladies hounded my woman and tried making her life a misery? You bitched I wouldn’t come to the clubhouse, but none of you stood against your women. Face facts, we don’t run Hellfire, they do!” Shotgun fired back. “You might have forgotten the past; I haven’t.”
Shotgun got to his feet. “Get you’re hurt, I hid this from you. Try walking a day in my boots.” With that, Shotgun walked out.
“You don’t turn this on your brothers, Shotgun!” Chance roared.
Shotgun kept walking.
Allegra
