Page 135 of Their Property
No one would give me a chance, and that was the best-case scenario. Some territories out there would throw me in a prison just for being female and openly wanting to work in government.
Round and round my thoughts went, until a warm kiss on my cheek pulled me to the here and now. I met Dyno's thoughtful gaze with a sheepish smile. “Hi, sorry. I'm just...thinking.”
T-Bone turned to face us at the table, leaning against the kitchen counter. “So youareconsidering saying yes.” The surprise was evident in his voice.
“No. I mean, I don't know.”
Grudge came in silently, running a hand along my upper back in a show of support. He took the seat next to me and began to sign, his hands moving more fluidly since he'd been practicing.“Tell us what's on your mind. Let us help you.”
“I do want to work for a territory's government again,” I said, using my hands and voice. “It's what I know and what I'm good at. I want to be an advocate for people who need a voice at the top, to give them safety and stability. I'm just not sure I want to work withhim.”
“You're right to be cautious,” Tiff said. “You don't know what this guy's endgame is. What's he trying to accomplish for himself?”
“I should have asked him that,” I admitted.
“Maybe you still can,” Chris suggested. “If he's willing to keep talking things out with you. Like Tiffy said, it's not an easy decision.”
T-Bone rubbed his hand over his beard. “So, I know I kinda went apeshit when his guys captured us and all, but if I'm gonna be perfectly honest, I don't think it was the most unreasonable thing in the world.”
The rest of us stared at him like he’d grown an extra head. “I can't believe what I'm hearing,”Grudge signed, which I relayed to the others.
“I know, I know. It was the thought of Kyrie getting taken from us that made me lose my shit. But I mean,” T-Bone shrugged, “back in our day, we had to apprehend people in a similar way to talk to them. That's just how we did things.”
“We're a biker club,” Dyno reminded him. “They were trained soldiers under a guy who's trying to become a governor.”
“So? He was a bodyguard. He worked in fields. The guy probably grew up a scrappy street kid like us.” T-Bone paused, eyes landing on me. “I'll even go as far as saying that if Four Corners was run by a different man than ol' Vance, and those people were struggling, starving, and fed up, shit I probably would've joined an uprising too.”
“Bash would have rallied the club to overthrow a piece-of-shit governor,” Dyno agreed with a nod. “No doubt in my mind.”
“Mm-hmm,” Grudge chimed in and signed,“I can understand his reasoning. We would do the same if in that position.”
“But kidnapping people?” I asked. “When they're heading home, just minding their own business?”
“Depends on how important those people are, what kind of leverage we'd get, but sure. We're not above it,” T-Bone said, then grinned salaciously, running a hand toward his crotch. “You're giving me kidnapping fantasies, little lady.”
“Excuse you, we're still here!” Chris exclaimed.
A peal of laughter burst out of me before I could stop it. “I would have much rather been kidnapped by you than the first guy who stole me away.”
Dyno snorted. “Hey, it worked out for Mari and the Demons.”
“Alright, we're leaving.” Tiff started to get up from the table until I reached over and touched her arm.
“No, please. We'll be serious, and I really want everyone's input on this.”
Tiff gave me a skeptical look but sat down and rolled her hand for me to continue. “Alright, keep talking it out. What are your concerns?”
“I hear what you guys are saying, and I might be willing to let the kidnapping thing go, provided it doesn't happen again. Gerard promised it wouldn't. But that's the thing, I don't know if I can trust him.”
“Yeah. Even if he's an effective leader and fights for his people, that doesn't necessarily mean he's a good person,” T-Bone mused.
“He could be lying about everything,”Grudge said, then reached for a notepad to elaborate.Even if he's a good governor for years, he could turn around and become a dictator overnight. It just depends on what his goal is. Does he want endless power and wealth? Or is he satisfied with a safe, stable territory?
“What Grudge says is right,” Dyno added. “Dozens of territories have risen and fallen since the Collapse. So many people have suffered from lofty promises spoken through the teeth of a liar. It's a very realistic thing to worry about.”
“Oh, trust me, I'm worried about it,” I said. “But most of those have been conquered by violent invasions, not with any diplomatic plan in place.”
“We already know Gerard isn't shy about using violence,” Dyno argued. “They bombed a building with people inside. They burned half a city, Kyrie.”
