Where he is and who he’s with.
“’Sup, brother?” Thorn greets me in the parking lot as soon as I shut my bike down.
He’d been on a run and missed all the action last night. But by the shit-eating grin on his face, I assume someone told my best friend about rescuing Kady.
“Bro, your dad is pissed,” Hammer says. My other best friend since infancy and our MC’s Road Captain, Hammer, had been on the road with Thorn. I would have been with them, but a last-minute change in plans kept me at the clubhouse. Thank fuck, too, or I wouldn’t have been here to rescue Kady.
Hammer’s little sister zips into the parking lot in her tiny blue sedan, parking a little too close to my bike for my comfort. She jumps out of her car, rushing over to us.
“What’re you doing here, Teal?” I ask, trying not to laugh as Thorn pretends Teal’s not five inches away from him.
“He told me to get my ass here,” she says, pointing at her brother. “Are we on lockdown, because—”
“You should hang here for a bit,” Thorn says quietly.
She blushes and stammers and is generally her adorable self. Known Teal since she was a baby and I’d kill anyone who hurt her, same as the rest of my club.
“You know better,” Hammer scolds. “Get your ass inside.”
Used to her brother bossing her around, Teal ignores him. “Is it true? Is Kady back?” she asks me.
“Yup.”Back at my house and never leaving again.
“I ain’t got all day, Blaise!” my father shouts from the front door. His face softens when he sees Teal, and he waves her inside.
“How you doing, sweetie?”
“Good, Uncle Bolt.”
“Go see if you can help Marty in the kitchen.”
Teal gives him a long-suffering sigh. “Kitchen duty, really? I’d rather help with—”
“Teal!” Hammer snaps. “It ain’t summer camp.”
She huffs and takes off.
“Should I put you on kitchen duty, too?” my father asks, slapping Thorn’s arm.
“What?” he says, dragging his gaze from Teal. “No.”
Thorn’s not only my best friend—he’s the club’s Sargent-at-arms. Moved into the position after his dad—our former SAA—died last year. Known Thorn my whole life. Trust him with my life. Dad does too or he wouldn’t have allowed the club to vote him in to his position.
Hammer growls and grumbles a bunch of curses and stomps into the chapel but not before landing a solid punch to Thorn’s upper arm.
After my dad goes inside, I stop Thorn. “What’s going on? Why’s everyone so twitchy?”
His gaze darts to the open chapel doors, and he shakes his head. “Nothing good. Come on.”
We’re the last ones at the table. I nod to the rest of my brothers. “Where’s Kady now?” my father asks, getting down to business.
“At my house.”
“Good. She needs to stay put.”
The corner of my mouth quirks up. “No problem there, Pop.”
Dad slams his fist on the table. “I ain’t fuckin’ around. Red Storm’s motherfuckin’ pissant-prez is claiming Kady stole an ounce of crank last night.”
