“There are also completely different clubs and gangs that operate around here and across the country. Most have no intention of going straight. We support and help our chapters with what they need. However, this is a small town, and our focus is helping the community. Rather than pocket all the money we make, we help those who need it most. We offer protection from other MCs and gangs that do business in and around Houston. We’ve gained loyalty from the community and the police. You can say it gives them motivation to turn a blind eye.”
She shifts her gaze from my face to the floor. “How does someone become an insider?”
I inhale deeply. “There are no hard or fast rules. Prospects and members know everything. Some wives and girlfriends do too. Some girlfriends have grown up in the club life because theirparents were in one or other family members were. Others don’t want to know the details. It all boils down to trust. If our trust is extended to the wrong person, it puts the entire club at risk. Not only in terms of jail time, but frankly, people could end up dead.” I shake my head. “I’ve told you too much already, so I’ll stop now. The short answer is: If you want to be part of the MC, you have to have an in.”
She chews her lip in concentration. “Jack, I would never say anything.”
“I know you wouldn’t. That’s why I’m explaining some of this to you. You deserve to have an idea of what you’re getting yourself into by being here. At any time, you can change your mind and we can call your dad.”
“I’m good.” She pauses. “Have any of your girlfriends been involved in any way? Like, not done anything, but known about what goes on or been a part of the club and . . . aware of everything?”
Jack shakes his head. “Nah. I’ve never been close enough to anyone to trust them that much. Maybe my sister, Becky, but she kinda grew up in it, so it’s different, and she chose to leave. If I were to end up getting close enough to someone to consider sharing everything, I would need to make sure they were all in. I’m not the type of person to come home and hide who I am to someone I love, so full disclosure would be the only way.”
She twirls her hair around a finger, drawing my attention to her neck. It looks so soft, so distracting. “Do you take an oath or something when you join?” she asks.
I huff. “You’re quite inquisitive, aren’t you? Interested?”
She stares at me like a deer in headlights.
“I’m kidding,” I say.
That’s the second time I have asked in a roundabout way if she wanted to be involved in the club, and both times I got a non-answer. Keep your mouth shut, Jack.
I move on. “Mike’s dad ran the club when I joined, but since then, Mike has stepped up. He’s my best friend, my brother.”
Jessi steadies her composure. “Sounds like a great family. I hope I find that one day. How does someone become a prospect or member?”
“Again, no hard or fast rule. They normally start out working in the shop, and if the prez and other members start to show some interest, we will test them on their loyalty and ability to run small errands. If they do well with that, they can be patched in as a prospect. This is where they get more involved with club business. They begin to be heavily tested, forced to cross the line and up the stakes, per se. One remains a prospect for typically a year or longer. Then a vote among the members happens. It must be unanimous to patch in a prospect. Once you are patched in as a full member, you agree that the club comes before all else—for life. If you betray the club . . . I’ll let you piece together what happens. Some of the guys keep their loved ones in the dark about everything, and it works for them, but what do you have if you don’t have trust?”
Jessi shrugs.
“Anyway, I would love for you to meet them sometime. They would love you, and you would like most of them. Some young ones are still asshats, but most are good people. Although most are affiliated with the MC, you don’t need to be to hang out at the club. People will hang out at the bar when they drop their bike off to get worked on. Members spend most of their time there unless we are out on a job or a run. There are some wild parties there sometimes.” I chuckle, just now registering what she said. “What tipped you off that I was part of an MC in the first place?”
She twists her hair again. “I guessed. I’ve seen movies and have watchedSons of Anarchy. I’m sorry if I offended you. I wasn’t judging, I swear.”
I cage her in between my arms, pressing her back against the counter and forcing her to look up at me. “You weren’t scared of me? You didn’t consider the danger, or was that why you started to avoid me?”
She gapes at me, her green doe eyes wide, and I pull back, not wanting to scare her.
“Jack, I knew you weren’t dangerous, at least not to me.”
I fight the magnetic force drawing me toward her and glance away.If she only knew.
“For the record, I wasn’t avoiding you,” she goes on. “I was avoiding the embarrassment of having crashed your garage that night.”
“Jessi, that was the best night I’ve had in a long time. You didn’t crash anything. Let’s make a deal, yeah? Never. Ever. Make yourself scarce or hide from me again.”
Her cheeks flush, she bats her eyes, and she giggles. “You and your deals. What do I get in return for such a tall task?”
“What do you want?”
“Hmm, so many possibilities.” She taps a finger against her chin. “I need to think about it. Can I take an IOU?”
“You can have whatever you want, Jessi.” I’m unable to hold back the truth. I can’t get enough of seeing her sweet cheeks blush, so I flash her a wink and her beautiful face flushes.
I finish the dishes as she fills our meal-prep containers, giving me almost triple the serving size. While she continues spooning out our portions, I approach a topic I’ve been nervous about mentioning. “Jessi, I don’t think Austin or his friends will come back here, but if they do, call me.” I hand her my phone. “Add your number. I’ll text you so you’ll have mine.”
She taps the screen then hands the phone back. Her contact added.Jessi.
