Page 82 of Rebel

In the recent past, I might have bristled at the word “property,” but I understood the club culture enough now to know what it really meant -- protection, respect, belonging.It didn’t mean he owned me.But it did mean I would be cherished by Rebel.

“In the years I’ve led this club, and the ones prior to that as a patched member,” Charming said, his voice carrying across the now-quiet room, “I’ve seen members come and go.I’ve seen old ladies stand by their men through hell itself.But there’s only ever been one that was close to the same fire as you.”His eyes met mine.“You’ve proven yourself loyal.You’ve earned your place.”

He extended the cut toward me.“This marks you as one of us.Anyone messes with you, they mess with the entire Devil’s Boneyard MC.Welcome to the family.”

My hands trembled slightly as I reached for the cut.The leather was soft, well-worked, with the weight of significance behind it.Rebel stepped back, giving me space for this moment.

I slipped the cut on over my T-shirt, feeling the leather settle on my shoulders.It fit perfectly -- someone had taken care to get my measurements right.The room erupted in cheers and whistles as I adjusted the front.

Rebel moved back to my side, his arm sliding around my waist, possessive and proud.“Looks good on you,” he murmured in my ear.

The formality broken, members surged forward.Hands clapped Rebel on the back, voices called congratulations, bottles of beer and shots of whiskey were thrust toward us.The celebration hit full swing, raw and unfiltered.

“Never thought I’d see the day,” said a gruff voice to my left.I turned to find Shade, who had apparently emerged from his digital cave for the occasion.“Rebel officially settling down.Hell must be freezing over.”

Rebel flipped him off good-naturedly.“Just because you’re married to your computers doesn’t mean the rest of us can’t find happiness with actual humans.”

Shade raised his beer in acknowledgment, then locked eyes with me.“You need anything, electronic or otherwise, you come to me.You’re family now.”

The simple words hit harder than I expected.Family.I’d been alone for so long.Now things were different.

A throat cleared behind us, and I turned to find Samurai standing there.The Japanese member was one of the more intimidating figures in the club, not just for his physical presence but for his quiet intensity.His tattooed arms were folded across his chest, his expression as stoic as ever.

“Samurai,” Rebel acknowledged with a respectful nod.

The man’s gaze moved from Rebel to me, then to the ring on my finger, and finally to the property cut I now wore.Something shifted in his expression -- the barest softening around his eyes.

“You chose well,” he said to Rebel, his voice measured.Then to me: “And so did you.”

He raised his glass in a silent toast before drifting back toward the bar.From Samurai, those few words were equivalent to an hour-long speech from anyone else.

“Damn,” Rebel whispered.“High praise.”

Music surged louder as someone cranked it a few notches.The celebration shifted into higher gear, taking on the feeling of stolen time -- joy snatched in the midst of danger.Everyone in the room knew that after tonight, things would move fast.Shade might have thrown people off with his digital breadcrumbs, as he’d called them, for Ellis and Denton.But I had a feeling things with the Morettis and Vata weren’t completely over.And who knew what else would head our way?

But for now, there was this moment.

Charming reappeared at my elbow, pressing a shot glass into my hand.“Club tradition,” he explained.“New family drinks with the President.”

I took the glass, sniffing it cautiously.Tequila.

“To family,” Charming said, raising his glass.“And to outlasting our enemies.”

Rebel and I echoed the toast, and we all downed our shots.The liquor burned a trail down my throat, settling warm in my stomach.

“Now,” Charming said, all business again as he set down his empty glass.“Shade tells me we have an hour before he should have things wrapped up with his latest trails for Ellis and Denton.After that, you should be in the clear.”

I nodded.I leaned against Rebel’s solid warmth.

His arm tightened around me.“Welcome to club life, babe.Never a dull moment.”

A loud crash from the bar drew our attention as two younger members started wrestling, knocking over stools in their enthusiastic celebration.Their laughter rang out as others egged them on.

“Should we stop them?”I asked.

Rebel shook his head.“Let them blow off steam.”

Another member approached, this one with a camera.“Gotta document the historic moment,” he insisted.“Rebel finally claimed.”

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