Chapter 25
Katarina
The rest of the afternoon was relaxing and Hawk took me and Klara around the clubhouse.
He hadn’t hidden me before, but something about how he paraded me around and introduced me to people I hadn’t really spoken to besides a small hello or even a smile before, was nice.
I even met the elusive Keys. He had a great setup, similar to the security room at Papa’s home.
“Why haven’t I ever seen him before?” I asked as we strolled back to the bar.
Sugar rushed over. After a few exchanges, she passed Hawk a glass of the Crown Royal that Papa had sent with Niko, and she had my vodka ready quickly after. Klara asked for a vodka martini, and Niko requested a vodka, shaken.
After thanking Sugar for the drinks, I sipped as I walked to Hawk’s table and took a seat beside him as the others sat around the table.
“Keys wasn’t always like that. I think the shock of Pops then Butch shook him up. Everyone processes things in their own way,” Hawk said as he rolled the whiskey around in the tumbler.
There was that name again.
“Well, I’d be happy to help him come out of his shell,” Klara said before she sipped her drink, wiggling her brows.
Niko’s lips flattened and he picked up his glass, taking a large gulp.
“You alright, brother?” I asked.
Niko cleared his throat, then gave his million dollar smile. “Yes, just a very long day. Your husband runs a tight ship.”
There was business between them, that’s how I ended up here, so I assumed that’s what he meant and knew better than to ask questions about it. Especially in mixed company.
We sat and chatted for a while, Hawk somehow touching me at all times.
He either had his arm draped over my shoulders or his hand on my thigh, squeezing.
Curiously, while Klara and I carried on our side chat, I caught Niko watching her several times.
She seemed clueless, and surely she would have told me if there had been any kind of non-platonic encounter with my brother.
I should speak to her later, though. While I loved my brother, I also knew the type of man he was when it came to women.
And sadly, I doubted Papa would ever consider someone like Klara for Niko.
Klara and I were laughing when the front door burst open and Eagle, Lacy, and the others piled in.
“Honey, we’re home!” Eagle called out as he scooped up Lacy in his arms like he was carrying her over the threshold.
She squealed, and Falcon and Daisy were behind them, arm in arm. I stood up to greet them, and Daisy’s smile grew wide when she saw me.
“Hey Katya! I got you something!” Daisy said as she hustled over, throwing her arms around me. My eyes were wide as we squeezed each other but I smiled at the gesture, and at Lacy.
Lacy patted Eagle’s shoulder. “Baby, put me down. I gotta get my souvenir bag!”
Daisy let me go and started digging around her bag.
Lacy ran back outside so I told Daisy, “You didn’t have to do that. And you look so sunkissed. Did you spend that much time at the beach?”
“Oh, yeah,” Daisy said as she finally pulled a small bag out. “The weather was fantastic. Next year, you’re going.” She shoved the bag at me.
A small soft package wrapped in tissue paper was inside. Opening it carefully, I grinned when I saw my name. “You got me an airbrush shirt?”
Daisy was beaming then flung her jacket open like she was going to flash me. “We all got one, so we had to get you one, too!”
The design had a colorful pink and orange sunset on a beach with a motorcycle near a sand dune, then my name in hot pink and DEMC underneath.
Lacy came in and pouted for a second before she came closer. “You showed her without me?” Her big blue eyes looked so sad, so I grabbed her for a hug.
“Oh Lacy, I love it so much. I’ll go change in just a second. Wait, where’s Shiv?”
Lacy fished out a small bag and handed it to Kristie as she walked over to see what all the commotion was. Then she handed me a plastic bag. “Oh, she made Jackal stay an extra day without all the craziness.” She grabbed my arm and leaned in closer. “Because oh-my-gosh, was it crazy down there.”
Kristie squealed as she held up her shirt. “Oh my God! We have matching shirts! I’m changing right now. Be right back.”
As she took off down the hall, I poked around the bag and Lacy said, “It’s not much, but I saw them and had to get them for you.”
Pulling out several utensils, I grinned so hard my face hurt. “There’s little motorcycle things on them,” I crooned. At the end of each utensil was either a helmet, a wheel, or even a mini motorcycle.
“You love to cook and you can put those at your house or leave them in the big kitchen,” Lacy said, her smile small and nervous.
“This was so thoughtful, I love them all.” Looking over my shoulder to the kitchen I said, “I don’t know.
I use the big kitchen so much, but this could be a cute touch in the house.
” Overcome with emotion, I threw myself at her.
“Thank you so much. I really love them.” Pulling away a little, I smiled and held up the shirt for Hawk to see.
More people filled the bar and the noise level went up. I excused myself to the nearest bathroom to change shirts, since they had theirs on.
Once I pulled it on, I couldn’t help but grin. I’d never had an airbrushed shirt before and I’d never gotten a gift like that from friends. They had a shirt made for me so we’d match.
I wanted so badly to fit in, but it hadn’t been easy, and I worried I was seen as an outsider still, so the shirt was symbolic to me. Maybe it wasn’t that big to them, but it was to me.
Looking in the mirror, I got a little choked up.
But I swallowed it down. I’d never in my life been so emotional as I had since I got to this place.
With Mama being gone so long and being raised by mostly men, escorted by men, and trained by men, I was taught to be stoic, composed, remember who I was.
But my whirlwind here released some part of me that had been suppressed for so long.
Who knew being around a bunch of bikers would soften me up?
Laughing at myself, I rushed out of the restroom to go show everyone the shirt, but froze when I opened the door and saw Jeannie speaking to Hawk.
He scowled at her then walked towards me. I stood in the doorway, watching her walk away after she shot a look over her shoulder.
His scowl softened. “I came to check on you. You were in there a bit. You alright?” he asked, trying to tuck some hair behind my ear but I pulled away.
“What the hell was that about?” I may have been a novice in bed, but I’d been around enough hungry women in my life to know when there was trouble.
He was calm. “I came to find you, and she popped up. I told her I was looking for you and to get out of my way.”
“I do not like her.”
He grinned. “Your accent thickens when you’re mad.”
“I’m not mad, I’m suspicious. I do not like her.”
“So you said. She’s just a bunny.” He leaned in and kissed my forehead. “You’re my wife.” His tone, his warm smell, and the feel of his lips on my skin lowered my hackles.
“She is not a bunny, she doesn’t live here,” I said.
He sighed. “Right. She’s nobody. So don’t let it bother you.” He grabbed my hands, pulling them up to his chest, one still clutching my other shirt. “I’m the president. It’s not even me they want. It’s just the patch. She’ll get over it. Now, c’mon. We got a full house.”
“Fine. But I want to catch up with the ladies a bit. They bought me presents,” I nearly whispered as I pulled my shirt-wielding hand away and tugged at the hem of the new one.
“Of course. C’mon,” he said as he threaded his fingers into mine and led me back to the bar.
Kristie, Lacy, and Daisy were at their normal table so I walked over to put my shirt next to Hawk and grab both Klara and my drink. “C’mon. Let’s go catch up and have them tell us all about the crazy trip.”
Klara stood, and so did Niko. “Ladies.”
Yes. Definitely had to talk to Klara in a bit. He was being strange.
We took a seat and the women all crooned at my shirt.
“It’s perfect!” Daisy said.
I ran my hand down my stomach. “It’s not too tight?”
They all laughed. Kristie leaned in. “I have like twenty pounds on you, and they got me skintight, too. That’s the look here.”
“You are also much taller than me. Oh, ladies, do you remember Klara?” I asked after stopping myself from a sip. “This is Daisy, Lacy, and Kristie. Shiv is still away.”
Klara smiled. “I remember. We had fun at the wedding.”
“Don’t forget me,” Jeannie’s voice cut over the music. She pulled up a chair from another table and squeezed in next between Lacy and Daisy. “But we just met earlier, so I suppose you wouldn’t yet.”
Klara smiled gently. “Oh yes. Jenny right?”
God I love her.
“Jeannie,” she answered.
Klara nodded. “Right. So sorry. I remember them because they were all at the wedding. But I don’t recall seeing you there.”
I squeezed her thigh. I loved her, but for some reason, these women loved Jeannie.
Klara apparently didn’t care. “Katya, darling.” She glanced over. “Look at how cute with your matching shirts.” She looked across the table. “Where’s yours?” she asked Jeannie.
“Maybe it’s where Katya’s cut is.”
My brows pinched. Daisy and Lacy stared at Jeannie with wide eyes. Kristie sipped her drink, her eyes everywhere but the table, her thick waves shielding most of her face.
“Her what?” Klara asked.
Lacy grabbed her drink. “Maybe we should go to the fire pit. It’s so stuffy in here.”
Kristie jumped up and Daisy stood, still watching Jeannie carefully.
I put my hand up. “Really quick, though. What was that supposed to mean?” I asked.
Jeannie smirked and Daisy gripped her shoulder. “Let’s go outside, Jeannie.”
Jeannie shrugged. “I was just commenting that I don’t have a fun shirt from the rally, but it doesn’t make you an Old Lady any more than I am. Only a patch does. And patches are on the cuts. But I haven’t seen you wear one. Did I miss the ceremony?”