Page 34 of Ruin

“I don’t—”

“Ryo,” I warned.

Ryo shot his gaze to Ruin and glared, only Ruin didn’t see it. Instead, his gaze was down on my hand on Ryo’s arm. Interesting. When I removed it, he seemed to blink out of his daze and said, “You got my word we’ll keep him safe.”

“Fine,” Ryo snapped as he turned and started for the car.

“Ryo,” I called and took the gun from my holster at my hip, holding it out. Ryo stomped back for it, grumbling under his breath. When he had it in hand, he knew to wait while I removed the gun on my right ankle, the dagger on my left, and the others on each wrist.

“Fucking hell,” Ruin muttered while Mimi giggled.

We waited in silence while Ryo secured our weapons. As soon as he was back, Ruin started for the door with Mimi at his side. I didn’t mind being behind him at all, as I got to see him move in those pants.

When he opened the door, the music hit us, yet it wasn’t loud enough to drive someone crazy if all they wanted to do was talk. Stepping in, the atmosphere was calm, the place set out neatly. Ruin moved over towards the right side of the bar, where many other bikers stood with some women.

“Ruin” was yelled. Many approached, back slaps the standard greeting between the men. I didn’t miss the uncertain and sometimes hostile gazes Ryo and I got. Thankfully, Mimi was spared from them, especially when she was the first introduced.

“And this is her brother, Wolf, and their friend Ryo,” Ruin explained. I wouldn’t have exactly downplayed it that way, but maybe he thought it would be safer.

“Aren’t you the boss of the Takahashi family?” a man with a baseball cap on questioned.

I nodded. “Yes.”

Another man, this one bigger than the others, moved his hands in clear sign language. Ruin replied in the same way and said aloud, “They’re here to have a good night.”

Ruin knew sign language. I didn’t let on that I also did, but it was good to know.

The big man grunted.

“There’ll be no trouble from us,” I told them. The men still looked wary, and I couldn’t say I blamed them.

“Mimi, Wolf, Ryo, this here is Pick”—he wore the baseball cap—“Billy”—he was blond—“Beast”—the big man who signed—“Knife”—a man with darker hair—“Dive”—large man with steel eyes—“and Handle”—who had facial hair and tattoos. Actually, a lot of them did. “I’ll introduce you to the others hangin’ around soon.”

“Precious,” Pick called. “Get your sweet arse over here.”

A stunning red-haired woman who had been talking to a blonde rolled her eyes, said one last thing, and then made her way over. What surprised me was that Billy curled her into his side, yet Pick smiled down at her like she was his world.

Pick took her hand and used his other to gesture to my sister. “Baby, this is Mimi. Mimi, our woman, Josie.”

Our woman?

Ourwoman?

Ryo and I glanced at each other with our brows raised.

“Hey, Mimi.” Josie smiled.

“Hi, nice to meet you. I’m… um, living at the compound in Ballarat, so I’ve heard about you from Zara, your sister.”

Josie smiled. “How is she?”

“Good, the last time I saw her. I, ah, don’t mingle too much.”

Josie smiled softly. “I can understand that. Do you want to come meet some of the other old ladies?”

Mimi glanced at us and then back. “Sure?”

“Mimi,” Ruin called. “You’re cool to stay here if you want to. Or you can come to the table over there with me.” He nodded to a table Knife and Beast had gone to.

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