Mywife.
FIVE
Shona
The clubhouse was bustling when I finally got free of Savage’s arms. If Viper hadn't threatened to come into the room, I didn’t think I would have been able to untangle myself from Savage’s body. Whether it was because I didn’t want to or he didn’t want me to was still unanswered.
Ace stood with his family, Shauna with Chains, Ryleigh with Fury and baby Mark in his arms. Hawk was talking with Bear, while Orla and Morena were talking with some of the bunnies. Viper had his arm slung around Kayleigh’s shoulders. That hadbeen happening a lot lately. I wondered if there was anything there.
Nomads were sitting around the clubhouse, drinking and talking. It was weird to think that Savage had been helping them for so long, he’d been spending time with them all like they were his club. I’d always wondered why Ace had sent him and not one of the others. Judging by the way they all acknowledged him as he walked past; looks of trust and respect, I could see I didn’t give Savage enough credit. He stood by the side of the bar he normally did and waited, looking down at his phone. He’d always just watched over me, he never distracted me, especially when it was busy. It felt nice to have him there, even if it was to keep unruly customers at bay.
I saw Fury talking with a man I hadn’t recognised and when Lorcan came over to talk to him, I realised he was the one they all talked about. The Dublin Dia. The fact he was called a God made me wonder just how powerful he was. It was also very rare for the mafia men to be present during an announcement like this, so thismust be big.
The prospects all walked in and motioned to Hawk that they’d shut the gates. It meant we could all be here at the same time. Maree sidled up to me behind the bar and helped me, just as Ace was calling us to attention.
“Quieten down,” he ordered. “I wanted to firstly thank you for coming on short notice. I know it wasn’t easy to get everyone here at the same time, and we’re appreciative that our associates could come too.”
He motioned for Lorcan and Eamon, who nodded their heads.
“This was a joint effort, we got the man who has been terrorising us and Kilkenny for too long. Soon we will get back to former glory, and for that we are celebrating tonight. We would also like to issue a warm goodbye to long time member Butch, and his beautiful wife Maree-”
“Damn straight,” Maree interrupted, which had everyone chuckling.
“They’re off to Wales to retire peacefully, and hopefully live out a very long and quiet retirement.”
Everyone raised their glasses and drank.
“Finally, I wanted to thank one of our own for undertaking a lengthy and sometimes dangerous job of finding a new Prez for our Nomads. Usually, something like this would be dealt with in house but when they ask, we come and vice versa. Savage, to you brother, thank you.”
Everyone turned to Savage, who leaned on the bar and nodded his head. He had no other expression like he usually did for everyone else… everyone else but me, that was.
“Trigger, although young, has risen in the ranks of the Nomads and has taken on a lot that even I hadn’t seen in all my years. Welcome to your position, brother. We know you’ll be everything the Nomads need.”
Fury let out a cheer. I knew the two of them were close friends, so that was nice. He was young, just like Fury, but he’d been in a club since he was a baby. He was a born member.
“Now, without holding the place too long, we all know I hate talking shit, drink and let loose,” Ace said. A chorus ofSlainterang out, and everyone drank to the good news. I made a move to walkover to Savage, to ask why he hadn’t told me he was going to be back for good, but he was already moving away and heading to Maree at the end of the bar. She and Butch were talking with him, and a warm smile made its way onto his face.
Dear God, he was a beautiful man.
“I’m going to die of thirst over here,” I heard Viper say from beside me. I spun around, embarrassed that he caught me ogling Savage. His smile told me he knew exactly what I was doing too.
“What’ll it be?”
“You know what I drink, darlin’.”
I rolled my eyes and poured him a drink before I handed it over.
“What’s going on with you and Kay?”
His smile dropped a little, and he shrugged. “I could ask the same for you and my boy over there.”
“Nothing,” I shrugged, hoping it came off sincere, but we both knew it wasn’t.
“Sure.”
I rolled my eyes, thankful that I had other people to serve. When the bar quietened down a bit, I looked back over at Maree and saw that Savage was walkingout the door of the clubhouse, a smoke in between his lips. Maree spelled me and I headed out after him, not caring who saw.
He walked to the side of the clubhouse, away from others and smoked, his leg kicked back on the side while he leaned against it.
