Page 21 of Dutch

"Yeah, I do, unless we want this to blow up in our faces." I bitterly laughed.

"I got you. I'll?—"

I cut him off. "I'd rather you not make promises."

I turned away from him, my instincts telling me to get away from this place, maybe even leave the country. Still, I couldn't bail on Dutch and the crew. "When?" I asked, turning back around.

"Tonight, we don't have much time."

I was already mentally preparing myself. "We'd better tell the others."

We exited his office, and he briefed his crew on the meeting details.

"Are you all right?" Dutch asked.

"Yeah, nothing like a deadly reunion, right?"

Dutch didn't laugh this time. "We got your back."

"I know." I swallowed hard, fighting back emotion.

A commotion made me look up. Cash, a newer recruit, was clutching his bloody arm.

"What happened?" I asked on high alert.

Cash grimaced. "It's nothing. While prepping, I caught it on a rusty nail."

"Sit your ass down. Tetanus won't be a walk in the park if it gets infected," I said, rolling my eyes.

I grabbed the first aid kit I peeped the other day and ignored the glares from the other members. I cleaned Cash's wound, and my muscle memory kicked in as I remembered patching up Malakai after countless fights.

"You're good at this," Cash noted, seeming surprised.

I shrugged. "I grew up around MCs. Either you watch people bleed out or learn to patch them up."

The room was silent at my words, and I knew Dutch was watching me, but I stayed focused on Cash's injury.

"I secured the bandage. "There, be careful," I instructed.

"Yes, ma'am." Cash smiled and flexed his arm.

I closed up the kit, and the room was back to business.

"Oh, she has skills," I heard someone say.

"We need to put her on the payroll," another person chimed in.

I couldn't deny the flicker of warmth in my chest. I felt happy to be accepted.

Dutch cleared his throat. "Okay, people. Jahlil's crew should be here in thirty minutes, and I want everyone ready."

The club was busy as positions were assigned and weapons checked. My stomach churned as I watched everything unfold. This had been my brother's best friend. This was Jahlil, now just a man who betrayed me.

"Just when I thought my biggest drama would be what color ink to use in my tattoos."

Dutch smiled. "Life can be like that sometimes."

Everyone moved with purpose as the minutes ticked by. I closed my eyes and tried to remember Jahlil as the boy who taught me how to ride a bike and not my enemy.

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