Page 20 of Her Feral Biker
My jaw set. This could be a short damn negotiation that ended much like last night’s events, but in reverse. That their blood lay on my hands didn’t slide by me.
I should have kissed her for longer outside her shop.
Fuck it, just as I found something—someone—in life worth living for, I’d probably die before I could keep my promise to go back and find her tonight. I’d left instructions with Reyna that the house I kept in the woods, isolated and away from club property, would be left in Annalise’s name. I’d made sure of that this morning.
That I walked into this fucked up mess of my own making without my patch on my back was no mistake.
“You are welcome here, with your…family.” The don’s voice pitched slightly. He smiled, the emotionless sort of expression associated with a predator.
"We're here for one person. He doesn’t seem to be present.” The Pres folded his arms. “He’s caused grief to one of our members.” His stance went rigid. “And his wife.”
That was stretching the truth, but it was as close a comparison as could be made across our cultures, so I didn’t intervene. I knew better than to open my mouth unless called on right now. Trust in moments like this was where our hierarchy held its own. We were stronger together than we were apart. The Kings held me up when I struggled alone, brought me in during my darkest moments after my mother died and my father drank himself into a pit he never recovered from. I lashed out plenty then, earning the scar that slashed my face.
Reyna helped stitch me up that day, and plenty of others since when I started my own downward trajectory. But the Kings gave me a sense of pride, and showed me what family was. For long enough, I'd wanted that for myself. Thought I’d grown too old to claim a woman and fucked around beyond what I could have.
Until I found Annalise.
Now, I wondered if she wouldn’t be better off away from the mess of my life. What I’d brought to her. But she seemed to have her own demons to fight. A fight I’d willingly join until my last breath for her.
“I have heard of this.” The don shifted in his seat at his small table, pouring himself a glass of red wine. He offered it to the Pres, who didn’t move. The don sighed. “I apologize for my son’s behavior. He is…not yet ready to lead.”
Somewhere behind him, men in his ranks murmured.
The Pres huffed, and glanced over his shoulder at me. “I have one of those of my own.”
I shook my head. “Not interested.”
“Thank fuck.” He turned back to the don. “I owe you for the men you lost last night.”
I swallowed hard.Fuck.But it was my penance. I started to step forward, but a large hand gripped my shoulder tight, forcing me back into place. I didn't need to look around to know who held me back.
Holding my ground I waited out the moments, feeling like a kid back at school, only the punishment was likely a death sentence for screwing up.
The don waved his hand. “Your problem child and my problem child had a tiff. It is fine. I have settled the debt. Your female is very nice. Her shop is not of interest. Her father…is a very strange man. He also will not bother you again. Or her, if that is her wish, so I believe. I had a little…heart to heart?” He raised his eyebrows as though checking on the colloquialism.
A man at his side nodded and looked straight at me. “Your woman won’t be bothered again. Prinze knows not to enter your town again. There is a Family matter now.” He stated with all the finality of a favorite uncle putting his foot down.
I raised my eyebrows as the Pres looked over his shoulder at me as though to saygood enough?I looked around at my brothers, all standing strong, their patches facing me. Every one of them were willing to fight against numbers that would end in worse bloodshed than last night, and not in our favor.
But they’d do it anyway, because they were called upon, and because Prince Kola has been the perpetual irritation on our territory. This truce left us with no fight but also no men down. It was more than I could ask for.
I nodded back to the Pres, something loosening in my chest when relief eased his features.
One by one we filed out into the sunlight. I’d promised Annalise I’d see her tonight, but then I’d thought today’s work would take a whole lot longer. too.
“You did well there. I thought I’d have more words with you.” The Pres spoke softly enough that I almost didn’t hear him over the bikes starting one at a time.
I pressed my lips together, biting back the first words that came to my mind. “Thanks for not throwing me straight under the bus," I said finally.
He laughed. “You’ve come a long way since you joined the Kings, Titan. It’s good to see.” He turned away.
“I’m going to see her, take her out to the house for the night,” I said softly.
He didn’t turn back, didn’t nod, but then he didn’t tell me to stay with the rest of the club, either. Just paused, then walked away.
I waited until everyone left, then I peeled away and headed straight back to my girl.
****
