Page 105 of Scar

“Scar got him out of the basement for me,” Tally answered without hesitation. “I don’t know who else is down there, and I don’t want to know. But if you have someone else whose senses are as sharp as mine come through here, you might want to move your super-secret door to your hidden chamber.”

Fucking hell, this woman could not get any hotter. Why the fuck were they not in their apartment? Scar needed to be inside of her, right fucking now.

Steel cleared his throat. “He should not have told you about that.”

“He didn’t,” Tally told him. “I knew about the basement the first day I was here. I just didn’t know why there was soundproofing in a section of your floor until last night when Scar disappeared for several hours. I put it together then.”

Lucky shifted on the desk. “The other women?—”

“Don’t know,” Tally finished for him. “I know. Trust me, when your ears are as good as mine, you tend to pick up on things that people would rather keep hidden. I know how to keep my mouth shut. And need I remind you that I just gave you equal leverage over me. Scar can give you the murder weapon if needed.”

Scar splayed his hand over her belly. He heard the slight quiver in her voice when she said the word ‘murder’. She was not as blasé about having killed her father as she seemed. He had no doubt it would hit her soon, and he would be there to hold her as it did.

Steel shook his head. “Not necessary. We appreciate your discretion.”

“What will it take for you to allow Scar back into the club?” Tally asked pointedly. “Because I have to tell you, Simone’s been rewatchingSons of Anarchysince we found Scar’s cut in my apartment, and I will not stand back and let you have a blanket party on him or something.” Her face turned towards Lucky in that slightly off-center way she did when she was trying to speak directly at someone. “Neither will Harper or Sissy. You’d have to go through us to get to him.”

Scar started absently playing with the end of Tally’s braid. He was collecting a number of her bands on his right wrist from removing so many from her hair. Maybe he’d be able to collect all of them so she couldn’t put it back up again.

Lucky cleared his throat. “We aren’t that sort of club. We’re a family.”

“I’ve recently added patricide to my resume,” Tally said with a shrug. “‘Family’ is a bit of a loose term for me right now.”

“Not for us,” Steel said sternly. “But I can appreciate your honesty, Tally. So let me return the favor. I don’t know how much longer I’ll be President. My wife, Jenna, is sick.” Steel had to swallow hard. “She’s going to need more and more of my attention as time goes on, and frankly, I’d rather spend what time we have left together with each other and our children.”

“Sissy told me about Jenna. I am so sorry.” Tally’s voice was full of empathy for a woman she’d only just met.

Steel nodded once, though Tally couldn’t see it. “There are some things I have to get in order before I can step down and then we’ll cast a vote for the new President.”

“Wait,” Tally held up her hands. “You don’t meanScaras your new President, right?”

José snorted, Lucky blanched, and Steel coughed. Scar just removed her hairband, adding to his collection.

“God, no!” Steel answered. “Scar has many talents, but leadership is not one of them.”

Scar started to comb his fingers through Tally’s hair.

“We don’t know who would be voted in,” Lucky told her honestly. “And that’s something that won’t be discussed here or now. Steel’s point is that we would like Scar back in the club prior to Steel stepping down.”

“Would he be an Enforcer again?”

Steel shook his head. “Ghost is our Enforcer and there’s no reason to have two, at least under my reign. Bulldog is in agreement on this,” Steel added pointedly to Scar, as if he knew Scar was only half-listening.

“It’s for the best, Julian,” José added. Did he think Scar would disagree?

“Here is what I am offering,” Steel continued. “Scar can rejoin the club as a patched member after a prospecting period of six months. During that time, I amencouraginghim to see Dr. Rutenberg. He’s a therapist in town some of the others in the club see. While I cannot make Scar go, it is my hope that he will. After learning the extent of what he’s gone through, I think it’s for the best.”

Tally patted Scar’s shoulder behind her. “So do I. In fact, we’ll both go.”

“Pretty sure you walking into that office would be the only way to get him there,” José muttered.

Scar did not disagree.

“What would prospecting entail?” Tally asked. “I won’t have him hazed or scrubbing the floors with a toothbrush.”

“Well, frankly,” Steel told her, “you have no say in what a prospect can or cannot be subjected to. However, let’s be honest. I can’t really see a member telling Scar to do something degrading or humiliating and live to tell the tale. No, Scar’s prospecting time will be more about reacclimating himself into the club and the town, as well as getting you situated with whatever it is you need to make Mount Grove your home.”

Tally smiled. “Good. Now, I have conditions of my own.”

---