Page 82 of Crush's Fall

Inside the church room, Axle waited for everyone to take their seats, except for Lucifer, who was standing off to the side. Then Axle uttered, “Go ahead, Lucifer.”

Lucifer cleared his throat. “If I have the promise of all of you to do better regarding the Claws, I would like to accept the prospect cut.”

The sound of a chair being pulled out sounded near the end of the table. Brute motioned to the chair next to him, directing Lucifer to take a seat. He did, and for the next hour, the table discussed what Lucifer meant and the many ways they could honor that promise.

Wearing the prospect cut and a smile, Lucifer carried his property cut in his left hand as he descended the stairs with the Howlers. They were going to make him do shit jobs for the next however many months, but eventually, he’d earn the colors and rockers, and be able to call himself a Howler. To him, it was worth it.

When he reached the mouth of the hallway, he heard his wife call from across the main room, “Luficer!Thereyou are!”

Bullet chuckled next to him. “Welcome to the family. She’s your problem now.”

As his brother-in-law gave him a rough pat on the back, Lucifer grinned. “Not a bad problem to have.”

Axle gave his shoulder a squeeze. “Since it looks like you’re going to have your hands full tonight, you can start your prospecting time tomorrow.”

“Thanks,” Lucifer said through a chuckle as he headed for Crush.

“Lucy No Fur, because you’re not a shifter,” she slurred, obviously having spent the last hour doing exactly what Pinky ordered.

The table of her club sisters burst out laughing.

“Feeling good?” he asked her and bent down to kiss her lips.

She gripped the front of his prospect cut and nodded. “Loofah, Sir, I’d like to rub you all over me.”

He snorted a laugh. “Drunk Crush is a barrel of laughs, I see.”

“If you mention it tomorrow, I’ll deny it,” she mumbled as she yanked him down to her again.

Lucifer kissed her again. “I think your impromptu party might be over, wife.”

“Boo,” her girls shouted as he scooped his woman into his arms and headed toward the front door.

“Congrats,” the Howlers called after them.

The next day… Crush

Crush knocked on the frame of Halo’s open room door in the apartment building and stuck her head in. She saw Halo lounging against the headboard of her bed. “Hey.”

Halo waved her in. “Hey.”

Crush sat on the end of Halo’s bed, folding her legs in front of her. “How are you feeling?”

“Like I got ran over by an entire club of bikes,” Halo responded.

After sighing, Crush reached out and took Halo’s hand in her own. “We need to talk about your taste in men.”

Halo groaned. “Do we have to? I think I learned my lesson.”

“Did you? Is this the first time he’s gotten violent?”

When Halo’s gaze shifted to the side, Crush knew she hit the nail on the head. “That’s what I thought. We are going to start giving self-defense classes again. I want you to join them.”

Halo rolled her eyes. “Okay.”

“I’m serious, Halo. I want you able to protect yourself. One time is too many. You need to remember that. If he’ll do it once, he’ll do it again. You’re not alone. I thought I taught you that, but obviously, you need a reminder that your sisters have your back. You can lean on any of us to help you out of any situation. No judgment. No questions if that’s what you need.”

“I know,” Halo mumbled and stared down at their clasped hands. “I promise I’ll come to you the first time, if something happens like that again.”

---