Page 26 of Trip

Shaking my head, I took a seat and sighed. “Ain’t him, Scribe. Ansel can be an asshole when he wants, but he couldn’t fake that reaction. He looked sick to his stomach.”

“So what’s the plan?” Enigma asked.

“My sister is not going near that car until it’s safe,” Romeo firmly stated, and I agreed, nodding my head.

“She’s not,” I muttered. “I am.”

King pushed off the wall as Priest whispered, “What?”

Looking at King, I reiterated, “I’m getting behind the wheel.”

King glared at me but said nothing as Scribe piped up, “Trip, that car isn’t safe. Whoever is trying to bring Ansel down isn’t going to care who’s behind the wheel. We just got you back, brother. Not losing you again because you need to prove something.”

I scoffed. “There’s nothing to prove, Scribe. Not gonna let C.C. get behind the wheel knowing someone is tampering with the engine. Woman is a damn good driver, but I’m better. You all know it. So does Ansel. That’s why he brought me in.”

“My sister may have something to say about that,” Romeo challenged.

“She can get over it. Not gonna risk her life because she’s got a lead foot.”

King narrowed his eyes as we all heard a motorcycle pull up. “Tell him the real reason.”

Looking at my Prez, I groaned. “Are you trying to get me killed?”

“Did that all on your own, brother. This is me saving you.”

Romeo stiffened, crossing his arms over his chest and snarked, “What the fuck is going on?”

Just then, the front door opened and in walked one of the tallest men I’d ever seen in my life, and that was saying something because Frank was six and a half feet tall. Yet, when this guy walked in the front door, he actually had to bend his head down.

“Tank?” Romeo gasped. “What the fuck are you doing here?”

“Prez sent me to sit on you.”

“Why?”

King cleared his voice. “Now would be a good time, Trip.”

Turning to Romeo, I stood and clearly said, ‘I’m claiming your sister.”

Romeo stared blankly at me, blinked a few times, then a large smile appeared on his face as he asked, “Does she know that?”

“Not yet.”

The fucker laughed and slapped me on my shoulder. “Good luck with that. You’re gonna need it.” Turning away from me, he walked over to Tank and said, “Come on, brother. Let’s go to TheBourbon Bar and get drunk. This shit just got interesting real quick.”

Tank growled, his eyes squinting as he looked at me, but said nothing as he followed Romeo out of the house.

The sound of their heavy boots against the wooden floor echoed long after they left, leaving an unsettling silence behind. King leaned back against the wall, his arms crossed, watching me like a hawk and shaking his head.

“Trip, you better be sure about this. Claiming another brother’s sister isn’t just a fun weekend decision—it’s a vow, and in the biker world, vows hold weight,” King said, his voice steady but edged with warning.

I nodded, meeting his gaze without hesitation. “I’ve never been more sure, Prez.”

King studied me for another moment, then gave a curt nod. “Then you better make damn sure she knows it, and soon. You don’t want Romeo or Tank on your ass if they think you’re fucking around. Their Prez didn’t send Tank just to sit on Romeo. Tank’s here to ensure you do right by her, according to biker law.”

Now it was my turn to grin. “She’s it for me.”

His expression softened, just slightly, before he pushed off the wall and headed toward the kitchen. “Well, don’t screw it up. And remember, you’ve got your club watching your back—and watching you.”

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