Page 5 of Blade

As soon as they leave, Millie takes the seat opposite me and tells me all about the town while I drink the superb coffee in front of me and eat the pumpkin spice scone.

Three

Thank Goodness for Pie

Blade

You can’t miss the heavy footsteps of my brothers walking through the compound. It’s a good thing they’re loud, because I got lost working on Emryn’s car. The tire was a no-brainer, but then I took the liberty of checking through the engine to make sure it was in good running order. I put my tools back on my table, wipe my hands clean of the grease, and head inside for our meeting.

I wouldn’t miss this meeting for the world. Up till now, I’ve been allowed into some parts of the Pride discussions, but I’ve never been allowed to vote. Today’s the day I find out if I’m a full-fledged member. I’m not too worried about the outcome. Demon was the first Pride brother I was partnered with, and I consider him a friend. Demon is married to Sofia, who happens to be a lawyer, and a kick-ass one at that. Sofia and their son, Dean, are the most important people in his life, even more than his club brothers, and he would die for any one of us. He’s taught me so much about doing bodywork on a car and about what the club is about. Demon also shared that he was going to support me when the time came to vote for my membership.

War is the enforcer of the club, and he’s a tough nut to crack. His job is to protect the club in any way he has to. It wasn’t easy to gain his trust. I didn’t care, though, because I have nothing to hide. He can dig as hard and as deep as he wants to; there’s nothing I haven’t told the club. Eventually, I broke through War’s hard exterior, and over time, he’s given me the more difficult cars to work on because he understands that I thrive on a challenge. War would do anything for his brothers, but the softest part of him belongs to his wife, Maddie, and their kids.

The way the Pride brothers behave with one another is something you can’t imagine. There’s no rivalry, jealousy, or pettiness. They lift each other up, and all the adversities the club has been through have only made them stronger.

“Hey, guys.” I announce myself at the door. “Are you ready for me?”

Saint opens the door wider and steps to the side. “Come on in,” he says with his Southern drawl. I walk past him and see that all the senior members have taken their seats. Guard waits for me to enter. On his right is Ghost, and to his left is Orion. Ghost is the man they brought back to the land of the living. His story is so unbelievable that I wish I were around when Guard and his brother Ghost were reunited. Orion and Guard have been friends for ages, and Orion is the VP of the club. He’s also a tech guru and has taken another brother Wildcard under his wing to teach him the ropes. Ghost and Orion are married to amazing women who are vastly different in temperament. Abby is married to Ghost, and she’s a librarian with a quiet strength who seems to know how to calm the beast in Ghost. Orion is married to a spitfire named Vi. She’s vibrant and opinionated, but has a heart of gold. Vi nearly died when she refused to say where to find Maddie when a stalker came calling. She’s loyal to both the brotherhood and the sisterhood made up of the women who are linked to the Pride men.

Around the room, I see Wildcard, Priest, Demon, War, Hammer, Risk, Thunder, Steady, and Roscoe. I note that the other two prospects haven’t been invited for the meeting. Aaron and Owen have only been with our club for a year. The rule is that a prospect has to do two years of service to the club as a minimum before being considered a member. Even then, if one member votes against you, you’re out.

I want this! It doesn’t hit me until this very moment how much I want to be part of Satan’s Pride. I’ve been telling myself that either way, I can live with their decision, but I’ve been lying to myself. This is where I belong. The Pride is my home. In my own head, I’ve been telling myself it doesn’t matter, but it does. I swallow the lump that’s forming in my throat, reminding myself that I’ve done everything they’ve asked of me, and it has to be enough.

“Blade, come forward,” Guard tells me. I take one last look around the room. I’ll either be in this room at every meeting or never see it again. I step toward our president and face the men I’ve called brothers for the last two years, awaiting my fate. “There’s only one thing on the agenda today. We’re voting to either accept or reject Blade as a member of the club. His time as a prospect is complete. Each of you has had the chance to spend time with Blade. Being a Satan’s Pride brother is about loyalty, respect, hard work, and honor. We’ll go around the room, starting with Demon,” Guard says, jerking his chin toward Demon.

A loud, firm “Yes” comes from the man I’ve grown close to. Demon even gives me an encouraging smile. Each man takes his turn, and they echo the same “Yes” as Demon. The last man to have his say, other than Guard, is Ghost.

Ghost looks at me, then stands and comes right to me. His eyes meet mine. “Why do you want to be in the Pride?” he asks. I can see that he’s not looking for some bullshit answer. Ghost wants my truth.

“All my life, I’ve been the good kid; the good son. I made everyone around me happy, and for the most part, I was happy too. But in here”—I point to my gut—“there was an ache. I didn’t understand it. I couldn’t figure out what was wrong with me. Then, one day, I walked into the shop, and War hired me on. I watched you guys: the way you treated one another and the way you’d all lay your life down to protect the club and each other. That was when I knew this is where I wanted to be. Never did I think Guard would approach me, and I settled into the feeling that working here was enough, but when Guard invited me in, I considered myself the luckiest man in the world. This is home. This is where I belong.” My eyes are glued to Ghost’s. His stoic expression gives nothing away. What’s probably just seconds seems like hours. I can feel my heart pounding in my chest while I await his decision.

Slowly, Ghost turned to Guard. “Yeah. Let’s give our brother a home,” he says in a low, rumbling tone. Guard reaches for a jacket hanging on a chair.

“Take off the prospect jacket,” Guard orders with a grin.

I hold my breath, like this honor is going to be taken from me any second, like a terrible nightmare. I shrug off my jacket. Ghost takes the jacket out of my hand, and Guard helps me into my official Satan’s Pride leather jacket. “Your name is Blade in this club. In accepting this jacket, you are accepting the brotherhood. Satan’s Pride comes with our own brand of rules. You know them because you’ve had to live them for the past two years. But this is a lifetime decision, putting your life on the line for the club and your brothers. In return, we do the same for you.”

I finally let out the breath I’m holding and run my hands over the jacket, breathing in the fresh new-leather smell, admiring the club insignia on my chest. “I won’t ever let you down,” I vow.

The room erupts with whistles, applause, and stomps on the floor as the guys celebrate. Fuck! I’m here! I’m finally here!

Emryn

There’s a whole lot of yelling going on inside the building. I can hear the noise as I come closer to the garage. I knock on the door, but there’s no answer. I’m trying to decide what to do with the pie Millie insisted on giving me to take to Blade because it’s clear they’re not going to hear me over the hullabaloo.

My choice is to leave it on the step with a note for Blade to let him know that Millie sent the pie, but it could spoil before it’s even found. Or, I can take it home and bring him a fresh piece tomorrow when I pick up my car. I decide on a third option, which is to take the pie back to Millie and tell her Blade isn’t at the shop.

I’m about to leave when I hear a voice call out to me. “Ya, sweets. You looking for something?” A man a little younger than Blade, but with reddish-brown hair and blue eyes, and wearing the same kind of prospect jacket that Blade was wearing last night, walks toward me.

“Uh, well, I’m looking for Blade.” I hold out the carefully wrapped take-out box. “Millie asked if I would drop this off. If Blade’s busy, do you think you can give this to him when you see him?”

“You can’t trust anyone with Millie’s pie. I’m Owen, by the way.” I raise my brows, wondering how he knows it’s pie, but I take his extended hand to shake. “Millie always sends Blade pie,” the man answers my silent question. “You’re going to have to give it to him yourself.” The guy moves to the door, unlocking it and opening it wider for me to step through. “I’ll go get him for you.” He disappears through yet another door that must be connected to the club, because as soon as he opens it, the noise is deafening. They must be having a party.

I want to tell the guy not to bother, but he’s gone before I can stop him. I look around, completely out of my element. The lot is full of cars and bikes, but the shop has five cars inside, all in various stages of repair. The engine of one car is sitting on a bench. A few cars over, I see mine. I make my way over and see that the tire has been replaced.

“Hey, Emmy. You’re here a day early, aren’t you?” I hear Blade’s teasing voice behind me. I whip around to see him standing close with his hands on his hips and a glorious smile on his face. He’s even hotter in the light of day.

I hold out the box Millie gave me, probably looking like a total nerd, and stutter out the words, “Millie wants me to give you this.” I’m such a dork! I wish the ground would open up and swallow me whole. Instead, I force myself to cross the few steps over to Blade and practically throw the pie box at him. He sets it aside and continues to watch me with an amused expression.

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