Chapter 6
Beth
It’s only been a few days since the courthouse.
Patch is all about being my protector, but I’m not so sure he likes the idea of marriage.
He’s doing his part to sell the relationship, I can’t really complain about that.
Sometimes it even feels real, but I know it’s not.
So I’ve tried to start distancing myself from him physically and emotionally.
I don’t want to get in the way of his work and club life when he’s already done so much for me.
We’re on our way to the clubhouse tonight because Patch has been summoned to a club meeting.
I get the feeling it is something special for a prospect to be invited to what they call church.
Their name for club meetings reminds me that I have not been to church in the last eight days.
Not only that, but I’ve been dodging Father Michael’s calls.
If I’m being honest, I don’t like the tone of his voice or the messages he leaves about me following Patch down the path of wickedness.
I used to be a firm believer, but now I find myself questioning it all.
How can Patch be so nice and accommodating while being a sinner, and Father Michael be so judgmental and harsh while being one of God’s voices on Earth?
Of course, I’m on the back of his bike again tonight because Patch never takes his SUV unless it’s storming outside.
Since I know he doesn’t like me as much as I originally thought, I don’t press myself close anymore.
Instead, I’ve learned to lock my arms around his waist and tilt back a little.
I’m anxious about meeting all the Savage Legion club members at once.
All I really know is that he disappears several times a week because he’s got prospecting duties there.
I don’t really know what he does there or if I’ll be accepted.
Since he trusts these men, I also wonder if he’s told them our arranged marriage is only so he can protect me and gather evidence against my stepfather.
Patch put the battery back in my phone, and now I get almost nonstop calls and texts at all hours of the day and night.
I let the messages all roll to voicemail and I don’t open the text messages.
Instead, every evening, Patch meticulously forwards all of them to our attorney, who is planning to use them to file harassment charges against my stepfather.
I don’t know what the messages say, but I can imagine.
They see me as a fallen woman for marrying a man who fell away from the church and who is a biker to boot.
I don’t think he’d be stupid enough to say the real reason he’s pissed at me which is because I ruined his plan to traffic me to some lowlife.
I catch sight of the clubhouse in the distance. It’s a large two-story building with modern windows and doors that have a pub feel about them. There’s a metal sign across the front that reads Savage Legion MC.
The closer we get, the more details I can pick up on.
Their clubhouse has a large porch and plants that look like trees in big pots on either side of the door.
Lights are shining brightly from inside and the porch light is on as well, making it seem welcoming despite the forbidding nature of the club’s name.
As we get off his bike and walk up the front steps, one of the prospects stumbles out, laughing as he bolts away from the building. More laughter rings out from the inside. A voice shouts out, “Come back, Evan, don’t be a spoilsport.”
I can literally smell beer hanging heavy in the air once we walk through the door. We head over to the bar and grab a seat.
The prospect working behind the bar scurries over the second he notices us.
Leaning over the bar, he gives me a feral grin. “What do we have here, Patch? Did you bring me a pretty little trinket to play with tonight?”
Before I can respond, Patch rises and slams his fist into the other prospect’s face. I watch in horror as blood begins to gush from his nose. The man begins rubbing his nose while complaining to Patch. “What the hell was that for? Shit, I think you broke my nose.”
Patch jerks his chin at him and states through gritted teeth, “Come close and I’ll fucking reset it for you.”
“No, thank you. Not in the mood you’re in. Seriously, what drugs have you been on tonight?”
“None. You just called my wife a fucking trinket and I’m not down for that shit, Rick.”
I turn to stare at Patch because here he is again, acting strangely possessive of the woman he clearly doesn’t want to be married to.
The man behind the bar, the one he called Rick, grabs a bar towel and begins wiping at his face.
Once he’s cleared away most of the blood, he tilts his head back and pinches his nose closed with an audible groan.
“Shit, I didn’t catch that. Say it again, real slow, because it sounded like you just said you have a hot wife none of us knew about. ”
It seems that most of Patch’s interactions are with other prospects because yet another one walks up.
Instead of being worried about the guy with the broken nose, he slaps Patch on the back and gives him a feral smile.
“Congratulations on being a vicious bastard after all. I didn’t think you had it in you. ”
“This is Larry,” Patch says, nodding to the taller one. “And Rick, you’ve already met.”
Larry tips his chin at me. “Good to meet you, ma’am.” His voice is polite, even as his eyes jump to Patch.
Rick stops pinching his nose and begins twirling pieces of paper napkins and stuffing them up his nostrils. “Heads up. Do not flirt with his fuckin’ wife.”
Patch’s head snaps towards him, and he shoots the poor man a death stare. “You talk too much and stick your nose where it doesn’t belong.”
Larry can’t seem to keep the smirk off his face for anything. “So that’s what got your nose rearranged, is it? I told you a million fuckin’ times that mouth of yours was gonna get you into trouble one day and now look at you.”
Rick holds his hands up, in a gesture of defeat. Glancing at me, he says with a wink, “I apologize and humbly beg your forgiveness. Beautiful women shouldn’t have to suffer being hit on by hot young prospects with too much testosterone and too few brain cells.”
His attempt at humor didn’t quite land the way he probably wanted. It just sounds outlandish and kinda like flirting.
Patch looks coiled tight, like a viper about to strike again. When he begins to move towards Rick, I grab his arm and loop it through mine. ”It’s okay,” I say.
The minute Patch backs down, he asks, “So, are you really going to fix my nose?”
Staring at him, Patch says, “No.”
Rick frowns and uses two fingers to stuff the napkins further up his nose.
“You’re a fuckin’ doctor, dude. Aren’t you ethically obligated to heal people?”
An older man walks up. He’s got a scowl on his face.
There’s something almost menacing about him, from his dark hair to his all black ensemble.
But then my eyes drop further and see the large crucifix he’s wearing.
The man’s eyes go from the prospect to Patch and he asks, “What’s going on here, brother?
You shouldn’t be fighting, especially tonight of all nights. ”
Larry volunteers, “Rick was flirting with his old lady.”
“In that case, I’ll leave you gentlemen to it,” Rigs says with a grin before turning to leave.
Patch reaches out to touch his arm. “Actually, I need to talk to you if you have a minute.”
Rigs seems delighted to be of service. “What can I do for you tonight?”
“This is my soon-to-be wife, Beth. We filed for our marriage license a few days ago and now we need someone to officiate our wedding. I was thinking that we could do something here at the clubhouse when you get a minute. We just want something with the two of us and a witness. What do you think? Would you be interested in doing a quick ceremony for us?”
“Of course, Patch,” he says, beaming at the two of us. “You just let me know when and I’ll be here.”
“It needs to be soon,” Patch responds. “Maybe even this coming weekend.”
“I’ll let the other club officers know. Or maybe you could announce it tonight after the vote on your patch.”
Shock ripples through me because I don’t know that tonight is the night he is getting patched into the Savage Legion.
I can tell by his response that Patch knows.
He extends a hand and as they shake he says, “Thank you, Rigs. As the very first member of the Savage Legion, it’s a real honor to have you officiate our wedding. ”
When the older man glances at me, I extend my hand as well. “You don’t look old enough to be the very first member, but I would really appreciate you marrying us.”
He shoots me a proud smile. “It’s true, I was the very first member that Claw recruited. This club was my lifeline for many years and now, I’m giving back in ways that weren’t possible for me back then. It would be my honor to conduct your wedding ceremony.”
Patch and Rigs talk a little more about the meeting and whether Patch has his speech prepared because all the prospects give a speech about why they should be voted into the club.
I just keep my arm linked through Patch’s and listen as they jump from one conversation to another.
Regardless of what’s going on with the one totally reckless prospect, all the others seem really grounded and nice.
As we move through the crowd of brothers, Patch keeps me close to his side as he makes introductions.
I just roll with it, shaking hands, smiling and greeting each of them in turn.
Eventually, all their names blur in my head.
There are just too many of them. Fortunately, I realize at some point that they all wear their club names on their cuts.