Page 18 of Petty's Crime

Our club dues fund the bar so no purchase is required. Ignoring Roller, I place my hand to the small of her back and encourage her over to where Owl is waiting, poised with my normal beer in his hand.

“What do you want?” I ask her.

I’m actually impressed when she quickly scans the limited selection on offer, and then grins. “A beer will be fine.”

“Welcome to the clubhouse,” Red growls as he steps up behind us, reminding me I haven’t yet introduced her to my prez.

I rectify that immediately. “Prez, this is… mywife…Britney.” Again, I pronounce it asBrit-nay, just as she’d want me to. “Brit, this is my prez, Red.” I then go on to introduce the brothers alongside him, and Shadow and Titch who have wandered over.

After she’s exchanged a few pleasantries, she leans into me and whispers, “No women? That’s not what I was expecting.”

Red overhears. “Cher!” he calls out.

His old lady comes out from the kitchen, brushing something off her hands. “Whatcha want?” But any annoyance at being summoned disappears as she locks lips with her old man. I notice Red’s hand goes automatically to rest on her swelling belly.

When they finally part, Red nods his head toward the woman standing beside me. “This is Britney. Petty’s wife.”

She’s not surprised, so Red must have warned her. Instead, she reaches out her hand. “It’s good to meet you. This one’s mine if you haven’t gathered.” She grins. “It will be good to have more old ladies swelling the ranks. So far, there’s only me, Tiffany and Rosa.”

Britney takes her hand and shakes it warmly. “Good to know I’m not alone.”

“Mom?”

And here comes Zeke, Red and Cher’s sixteen-year-old kid. As usual, they’re dressed flamboyantly, in some flowery harem pants and a pink shirt.

As Red and Cher’s attention turns to them, Brit whispers in my ear, “What the fuck isthat?”

Now I’ve had my own difficulties getting my head around Red’s nonbinary child, but once I got to know the person inside, while I don’t understand, I can accept how they are different. I find myself bristling at her tone of voice, while telling myself it was only a few months back that my reaction was similar.

“Red and Cher’s kid,” I whisper back tersely. “And they’re nonbinary. Don’t show any disrespect, Brit, nothing else will have you out of here faster.”

She harrumphs but keeps her mouth shut. While Red’s focused on whatever Zeke has to say to him, she looks around the room once again, then pulls my head down to hers. Once more, she speaks directly into my ear. “What about them? Are they gay?”

I notice where she’s looking. Rope and Cuff are still standing close, and Cuff hasn’t yet removed his arm from his brother’s shoulder.

“Unless my gaydar’s fucked, then no,” I reply to her with a chuckle. They might be kinky fuckers, but I’ve only ever seen them fuck women and not each other.

It’s awkward as fuck introducing her around, but to give her credit, she’s polite, respectful, and if someone makes a joke, laughs in the right places. As the evening goes on, I see my brothers are being charmed. Even when the sweet butts make an entrance and leave no one in any doubt what they’re there for, Britney restricts herself to a small frown and an assessing look my way with a promise that we’ll be visiting the topic later. But in front of my brothers, she keeps her mouth shut.

While she’s practicing her rusty pool skills with Twister, Roller comes up to my side.

His elbow goes into my ribs hard enough to make me catch my breath. “Don’t know why you kept her secret. She’s a great catch, Brother. Pretty, knock-out body, and look how she fits in. Don’t think you could have done any better.”

Words that should make me proud, instead awakens something inside. Feelings that I’d thought I’d moved past.

Fear and dread at what I’ve brought back into my life.

CHAPTERSEVEN

RoseLyn

Cobra’s fun. He’s also polite and considerate. So why the fuck do I miss Petty?

Strangely, though, for some reason, I do. I miss his snide comments and the looks he gives me when he doesn’t approve of the costume I’m wearing, while all Cobra says is that I look nice. Kylie thinks his replacement is a huge improvement, and says I’m far more relaxed. But I feel less energised when he’s not around, as if something about him makes me come alive. Even if it’s only the desire to give him a piece of my mind.

I can’t even say I regard him as a friend, so it’s crazy that, without him, there seems to be a gap in my life.

I can’t fault Cobra for the way he does his job. He’s just as diligent as the others, and I doubt anyone would be able to get through him. I have no justification for any complaint, or to demand that another man takes his place.

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