“Subtle.” Sledge shakes his head. “You and my sister truly are a match made in Heaven.”
“And Spencer. Don’t forget the third side to our triangle of love.” There is zero sarcasm in my comment, just straight up facts.
“Anyway, let’s keep an eye out and if anything starts ringing alarm bells, we’ll reconvene. Now, it’s that time of year, boys. We’ve got Kincaid and Jonesy outside waiting.” Hoops lifts his chin, pointing it to the entrance like we don’t know where it is. “They think we’re about to go riding into town, you know, to make our presence known to anyone who wants to fuck with our people. “
I rub my hands together like an evil jokester and grin like the devil.
“Can I make them sweat a little?” I excel at this part. Our pups are becoming full fledged Khaos. Nothing says party like making them think they weren’t voted in. Is it cruel? Absolutely. Do we do it anyway? One hundred percent.
“You’re such an ass, G. Plus, they’re too intelligent to think we voted them out. We need them and we already consider them family.” Oh, sweet, naïve Teddy Bear.
I stand, hold out my hand, and let a sinister grin play out on my face. “Wanna bet?”
My words barely out of my mouth before I’ve got twenties flying across the table. Because he’s on board, Sledge takes the bets and the money, keeping track of who says what. Bear just shakes his head, defeated by our lack of maturity. It’s overrated anyway.
“You’re insane.”
“Aw, you big ol’ cub, why you gotta whisper sweet nothin’s to me?” For my troubles, I get a massive slap to my head before I head to the door.
Showtime.
Opening the door that separates our church meeting room from the rest of the world, I put on my angry daddy mask, hiding my amusement like a fucking pro, if I say so myself.
Before I can even scare the will to live out of our prospects, I’m the one who stops in my own tracks, mouth hanging open, eyes wide and watery.
“What? Don’t I even get a snarky comment?” Shaking my head and trying to get my brain to start working again, I launch myself at my best friend but both Kincaid and Jonesy latch onto my arms on either side to hold me back.
“Easy, brother. I still have stitches.” When I narrow my eyes at our prospects, they immediately let go and this time I hold up my hand for a bro hug.
“Fuck, it’s good to see you.” My voice cracks as I give two side punches to Boner’s back making sure I’m gentler than usual.
“Can’t get rid of me this easily, man. I’ve got shit to do, women to fuck, and bikes to ride.” Fuck yeah, he does.
As soon as we let each other go, I wheel around and point an accusing finger all these assholes at Church clapping like fucking seals.
“None of you motherfuckers thought it’d be a good idea to tell me he was getting out, today?” Goddamn, I would’ve gone to pick him up.
“And ruin the surprise? We had the prospects do their jobs and pick him up.” Hoops blesses us with a rare, genuine, grin then points his index finger at my face. “Wouldn’t missthatfor any fucking thing.”
My frown is deep and judging from the chuckling all around, I’m guessing I’m the butt of this joke.
That’s when I feel them. Twin tears tickling the sides of my cheeks and running down my neck. I wipe them away and rub the back of my hands across my jeans.
“Har har, don’t mock me because I’m in tune with my emotions. Y’all can get all the way fucked.” I grin, winking at Hoops, who nods right back to me. He gets it.
Boner settles in his seat at the table, and fuck, it’s good to see him where he belongs.
Back to the problem at hand.
“Prospects. Get your asses in here.”
Kincaid narrows her eyes, searching mine like a fucking x-ray machine. Poor Jonesy immediately snaps his head up from his phone, eyes wide with the fear of God swimming in them as he first looks at me then at Kincaid. Neither one of us is giving him any indication of what the fuck is going on.
“There a problem?” I fucking love this woman. She’ll be a perfect addition to our club with that kind of fearless attitude.
“Since when do prospects ask questions? Get your asses in here and shut your fucking mouths.” Okay, I may be putting it on a little too thick here.
Jonesy is the first to move, scuffing his feet on the floor like he’s walking to his death. Kincaid tilts her head to the side, still staring at me like she’s digging into my soul, then a hint of a smile plays on her mouth and I know I’m caught.
