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He clapped my arm. “Hey, I know it hasn’t been easy lately. It’s times like these you need to stay in touch. Lean on me, lean on the guys. That’s why we’re here.”
“Okay.”
“First week go okay at Paws & Claws?”
“No one hates me yet, so that’s a plus.”
A heavy arm landed across my shoulders, and Knight tugged me up against his side. “Who would hate this adorable mug, huh? Not possible.”
He reached over and squished my face.
I struggled to escape, getting a thorough hair ruffling before I got free. Ghost sat in a booth a few feet away, nursing a soda and looking unmoved.
“Damn, Ghost, you’re not even gonna help?” I groused.
“I’m not getting in the middle of Knight getting all…mother henny.”
“I’m not a mother hen!” Knight exclaimed. “Stop calling me that.”
Hollywood came up behind us, laughing. “Total mother hen.”
“A hundred percent,” Tex agreed.
He huffed. “Whatever, I’m a tough alpha protector. I’m more of a wolf than a hen.”
“As long as you’re not a snake,” Tex said.
“No kidding.” Knight turned and fist bumped him. “Never again.”
Last summer, he’d had his old biker club, the Sons of Serpents, try to drag him back into the life. Knight had to fight his way out by making a deal with the leader to win him money in an illegal fighting ring. If he won, he walked free. If he lost… they’d take their loss out of him personally.
Thankfully, he’d fought like hell for a chance to keep his new life. His boyfriend, Aiden, was a pretty big motivator, too.
We all lined up for pizza and soda, then took seats in the booths. Hollywood, Tex, and Ruby took one booth. I slid into the one across from Ghost—he preferred to sit alone—and Knight pushed in next to me.
Matteo leaned his hip against one of the booths up front so he could face us.
“Well, you’ve all been in the program long enough to know the drill. Let’s check in. Knight?”
“Classes are going pretty well. I’m all set to officially be an apprentice by the end of the year.”
Matteo nodded. “That’s great. We’re going to continue through that transition, since there’s no one knocking down the door to take your spot, but once you’re settled in to apprenticing, we’ll graduate you from the program. You feel okay about that?”
“Yeah. I mean, don’t expect me to just vanish on these guys. We’re still cooking out every Monday at Ghost’s place.”
Everyone chuckled, except for Ghost, who gave a sound that was half-grunt, half-sigh of acceptance.
Matteo checked in with Hollywood, who was firmly settled at the barbershop, and Tex, who was adjusting nicely to his newer job at Wilde Roots greenhouse.
“Elias?” Matteo prompted. “How’s the junkyard job going?”
“Pretty good. Except…”
“Except?” Matteo echoed.
Ghost looked as if he were chewing on something before he spit the words out. “They want to promote me.”
He frowned so hard his forehead furrowed.
