Viper clicks his tongue. “Homophobia in this day and age, Bone? We ride for the Parade, for fuck’s sake.”
Bone turns red. “Fuck it, brothers, I’m old. In my day, gay jokes in a club would’ve gotten you killed.”
While everyone’s ripping Bone a new asshole, I notice the way Ace stopped tapping against the table, his hand clenched in a fist. His laughter lags for only a second behind everyone else, but it makes me wonder what’s eating at him. Maybe we gotta talk, make sure his head’s in the game.
I clear my throat. “With the money in from our last run—” I pause to let the cheers die down. “I thought we could startbuilding out back. Get our architect in and planning. Grease palms to get a rush job on permits.”
“Havoc’s eager to play house with his young old lady,” Preacher says with a wink.
I don’t deny it. “Fucking tired of having to put pants on to get a drink in the middle of the night,” I say instead.
“Get a mini fridge,” Gunner suggests. It sounds innocent enough, but I see the gleam in his eyes.
“Stop giving me shit, or I’m taking your patch,” I grumble, though I have to fight off a smile.
That’s what Sasha does to me—she makes me fucking smile at the thought of her, even at church.
“Tank and I will take care of it, Prez,” Bone says, and I nod with gratitude. I can always rely on our secretary and treasurer to get shit done.
“Appreciate it.” I pick up the gavel and look around the table one more time. “Anything else? Or I’m going to Knoxville to order a cut made.”
Diesel slaps my back. More cheers. More happiness. About fucking time something good’s happening around here.
“We’ll get the womenfolk to throw another party,” Tank says once the wolf whistles die down, his girth making his chair squeak underneath him. “No kids this time.”
“Hell yeah,” Trigger cheers. “I plan on drowning in pussy, reminding myself why I don’t want an old lady.”
Bullet punches him in the shoulder. “Ah fuck, man. You just jinxed the fuck out of yourself, and that shit’s contagious.”
I slam the gavel down, cutting off the chit-chat. “Alright, ladies. Plan your weddings on your own time. Get outta here.”
Outside of church, I spot Sasha sitting with Carol, so I head over there. I lean down and grab the back of her head, pulling her toward me for a quick kiss.
“I gotta go take care of something, darling,” I murmur against her soft lips. I spot the worry in her clear blue eyes before she opens her mouth to speak.
“Will you be safe?” she asks quietly.
Been a while since I had someone worry about me. Need to get used to the feeling again.
“Of course,” I reassure her, then press my lips against hers one more time. “Back in a few hours, then you can show me how your riding lessons with Bluebell are going.”
Eli Redbird, a Native friend of the club, has been coming over several times a week, teaching her things about horses I never fucking even thought of.
Her cheeks turn scarlet, and Carol snickers from the other side of the couch.
I scoff, tightening my grip on her hair. “I meant literally, baby girl. I already know how good you are at riding me.”
“Havoc,” she hisses as Carol starts cackling. “We’re not alone.”
“No shit, darling,” I drawl, straightening up. “They should all know who you belong to, and it’s not like I fucked you right here in front of everyone.”
As soon as the words leave my mouth, Sasha freezes, her eyes popping open. And, fuck, my jeans suddenly feel way too fucking tight.
“Maybe you’d like that,” I growl, reaching down to adjust myself. Sasha’s eyes follow the motion as she numbly shakes her head.
Carol clicks her tongue. “Get out of here, boy, it’s too early for all that. Haven’t had my fourth cup of coffee yet.”
I raise an eyebrow and point a finger in her direction. “First of all, you’re not that much older than me. And second of all, you’re old enough to know you shouldn’t be drinking that much coffee.”
