Chapter 24
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Finley
I don’t know what’s eating Mercury, but I ignore that since I’m excited to see the woman who all but rescued me on that trail so many months ago when I got turned around and ended up getting lost. I decide to hash it out with him later when we’re alone, because his behavior is horrid and unacceptable as far as I’m concerned.
“Gemini,” I say, changing the course of who I’m speaking with and continue, “This is Paloma and her sister, Lelanie. They’re part of the Blackfeet tribe. Daniel sent them here to talk to us.” Aiming my eyes at Mercury, I expound on my warning, “So be nice!”
“I’m always nice,” Gemini says, defending himself.
“That wasn’t meant for you,” I whisper. “It was meant for the man whose face has gone stone cold.”
“My face is not stone cold… it’s cautious,” Mercury argues.
Slapping my hands on my thighs, I release a growl. “You’ll have to excuse him,” I tell the sisters. “He was raised in a barn and has the manners of a mule.”
I see retribution in his gaze that’s now pinned on me. Bring it on, buster, I think to myself.
“Always told him he was a jackass,” Orion adds, a humorous grin spread from one cheek to the other.
“What can we help you ladies with?” Gemini questions, pulling my focus back to the two women whose gazes are ping ponging back and forth every time someone speaks.
“We were sent to offer you an invitation to come with us to meet with Daniel and the elders,” Paloma replies.
“If you mean right now, let’s go,” Orion says, breaking all of us out of our shock. “Finley, you can tell them face-to-face about what happened to you, and even show off your wicked scars!”
I hit my hand against my face. Sometimes, he’s like a friendly, rambunctious golden retriever and now is one of those times. “Orion!” I hiss. “They’re not going to want to see my damn scars!”
“Well, why not?” he presses. “They’re badges of honor, Fin, showing you survived what was meant to kill you.”
“Fine, whatever,” I spit out. “We can come now if that’s okay, Paloma.”
“That is perfectly acceptable,” she replies.
Mercury motions to me when I start for my vehicle, shaking his head when I raise my brow. “You’re on the back of my bike,” he issues.
“I don’t have a helmet,” I smugly retort. I know there’s no way in hell he’ll let me ride without one so I feel pretty confident that I’ve outsmarted him. At least this time.
He smirks then says, “Good thing I had ordered one for you.”
“You’re pretty sure of yourself,” I snark as I stomp over to where he’s standing and watch as he opens up one of the saddlebags and pulls out a helmet which he hands to me.
“Where you’re concerned, absolutely,” he replies, helping me with the strap.
“Shithead,” I say, a sneer on my face. “Maybe I wanted to drive myself. You ever think of that?”
“Didn’t even consider it,” he remarks. “My woman rides with me whenever we’re together.”
“You say it like it’s a foregone conclusion,” I allege.
“Isn’t that what we just recently agreed to?” he probes.
“I don’t remember agreeing to anything,” I harrumph. Two twin giggles catch my ear and I turn toward the sisters, pointing at them. “Don’t encourage him, ladies.”
Paloma pretends to zip her lips but her eyes are swimming with humor. Lelanie doesn’t even try to hide her amusement. She just shoots me a wink and climbs into the car. “Your man is an alpha, Finley,” Paloma states.
“You don’t say,” I sigh, as I swing my leg over the saddle and pinch Mercury’s side, aggravated even more when all I capture is muscle beneath his cut. “Alright, Dark Knight, I’m on your batcycle, let’s go.”
Despite my initial irritation at being commanded to ride behind him, I find myself enjoying the scenery as we follow behind the dirt coated car. Not that I’ll readily admit it, of course, because I gotta have a few secrets. Right?
Eventually, we end up on a dirt road that’s kicking up dust and making me rethink the whole thing.
I’m going to look like a dust bunny by the time we arrive.
What kind of impression will that give the chief and the elders?
Frustrated, I dig my fingers into Mercury’s rock hard abs, then get pissed off that the man has absolutely no body fat whatsoever.
Hell, my own body, which is in pretty decent shape, has places I can pinch and pull on fat, for fuck’s sake.
I growl under my breath when I feel his chuckles against my body.
Jerkface.
We finally park and I note with some interest that each of the bikes backs in in a particular order, with Gemini’s bike being first in line. I wonder if it has to do with the positions they hold in the club and tuck that question away to ask at a later time.
“Follow us,” Paloma instructs once we’re all off the bikes and the helmets are on the handlebars.
I know they have specific names for their buildings, but this one appears bigger than the rest so I feel like it’s a community room of sorts.
Once inside, I see that while it’s dimmer than being outside, they’ve utilized lanterns to light the space.
I suspect they don’t have electricity out here and doubt they have much use for modern conveniences.
Gemini leads the way, Mercury right beside him while I follow behind with the other three men.
We’re led to a long table and while I’ve never seen the chief, I instinctively know which one he is by the garment he’s wearing.
Plus, the other men surrounding him on both sides are dressed differently, and they’re older.
Guess that’s why they call them elders, but what do I know?
Something else to look into because I’m inherently curious about everything.
“Chief,” Gemini says, holding out his hand.
“I told you yesterday to call me Daniel,” Daniel chides, causing me to bite my lip so I don’t burst out laughing.
“I know you did, I was honoring your elders by calling you by your title,” Gemini replies.
“We are not that formal these days,” the one to Daniel’s left says. “I am Nathaniel.”
The other two men introduce themselves, then I listen with rapt attention as they invite the rest of us to sit down. Before I know it, earthenware mugs full of crisp, cool water are placed in front of us with Daniel saying, “The road is dusty.”
“Yes, it is,” Gemini concurs. “But what we’ve found out is more important than a little bit of dust, Daniel.”
“I have explained to the elders what you told me on the phone. They want to hear it for themselves from Mercury and Finley so they can better understand.”