Chapter 26
Tessa
I’ve spent a couple of weeks working side by side with Queenie, getting a feel for how she runs the clubhouse and getting to know everyone.
The moment I started walking around in Jasper’s property cut, a whole new world of respect opened up for me.
I don’t know how I feel about that. I’ve normally been of the opinion that everyone is supposed to be given a basic level of respect.
But being Jasper’s old lady puts me in a position of authority over the other women, especially club girls, because one day soon I’ll be in charge of them.
The clubhouse bar area is crowded tonight, but no liquor is being served. Instead, there are brothers huddled around different tables, cleaning their weapons, filling extra clips with bullets, and making bets on how fast they can kick the Hyenas’ asses.
Jasper already told me to be ready for anything.
He believes the Hyenas are on their way to attack the clubhouse.
He’s called in reinforcements from two other clubs to ensure the outcome he wants.
That’s the absolute limit of what I’m allowed to know as his old lady.
And that’s fine. Club business is not my business, after all.
Queenie always says the brotherhood takes pride in being protectors, and our worry hinders their ability to plan and deal with dangerous situations.
She’s taught me to quell my anxiety by doing something useful.
I’ve grown extremely fond of Jasper’s mother.
She’s full of the same kind of wisdom my gran has, though she’s not nearly as old.
The two of us have been on our feet all day, supervising the club girls in the kitchen. Queenie says the brothers need protein to fuel their bodies and liquid to stay hydrated. That makes perfect sense. We want them all to be alert and strong if danger is near.
A dull headache throbs along one temple.
It’s either pregnancy hormones or the stress that’s been preying on the back of my mind.
Needing a moment away from the noise and tense atmosphere, I give Jasper his refill of sweet tea and head to the restroom.
He grabs my hand and pulls me back for a kiss, right in front of all his club brothers.
It makes me smile how open he is—he doesn’t give a damn who sees us kiss.
I wouldn’t have thought a big biker would be so open with his affection.
When I turn, his club brothers are all looking wistful. That’s the moment I realize not one of them has an old lady yet. Let’s hope Jasper shows them the way, because I’d hate to see them die old and lonely.
Weaving carefully through clusters of club brothers, I head straight for the restroom.
Inside the bathroom, it’s cool and mercifully quiet.
The thick, heavy wooden door swings closed behind me, muffling the noise from the bar.
I let out a long sigh of relief as I step into the furthest stall, locking the door behind me.
Sitting down, I drop my head into my hands, inhaling deeply to steady my nerves.
Running the clubhouse is not an easy task.
It’s chaotic, but not in a bad way, I suppose.
I’m gonna grow into the job—I have to if I want to be with Jasper.
My stomach flutters gently, reminding me once again that his baby is growing inside me. I run my hands over my belly, tickled to feel our child tumbling around and making his presence known. It’s a reality that’s become my anchor in this unpredictable new world.
I’m just about to stand, wash my face, and head back into the fray when the faint sound of a voice reaches me through the thin wall beside the stall. My body goes perfectly still as I lean closer, my breath catching, my palm pressing against the wall.
A man’s voice, tense and hushed, comes through clearly enough for me to make out the words.
He’s listing off numbers. Telling someone how many men are on watch, details about weapons, and specifics about the club’s current readiness.
My heart beats wildly in my chest as I realize this isn’t casual gossip or idle chitchat.
The words are spoken with a cold, professional detachment.
Panic lances through my chest, and I strain harder to recognize the voice.
No matter how hard I try, the voice isn’t strong enough for me to place it.
A sick sense of betrayal churns in my gut when I realize that I don’t need to know who it is.
Whoever it is, he’s feeding critical information to someone who means harm to Jasper and his club brothers.
I can’t let them hurt the man I love—or, heaven forbid, Queenie or Rock.
I quietly come to my feet, my heart working double time as adrenaline surges through my system. My hands tremble slightly, but I push through it, silently opening the stall door. I make sure my steps are light as I cross the tiled floor, intent on reaching Jasper as quickly as possible.
I refuse to let anything threaten the fragile new family I’ve begun to care about deeply, or the child Jasper and I have sworn to protect at all costs. Whatever’s coming, we need to be ready.
As soon as I step out of the restroom, my eyes scan the crowded room for Jasper.
I spot him near the back, right where I left him, talking quietly with Slate and Mica.
My heart pounds faster as I make my way swiftly towards them, pushing past the throng of bodies with urgency.
Jasper’s eyes snap to mine as I approach, immediately reading the distress on my face.
“What’s wrong?” he asks, straightening and stepping closer, his voice low but filled with authority. Slate and Mica fall silent, their attention fully shifting to me.
I lean in close, my voice barely above a whisper. “I heard a male voice talking through the bathroom wall. He was giving someone detailed information about the club’s defenses.”
His eyes get big, but before he can speak, I say nervously, “Jas, you were right, you said someone was spying on us from the inside.”
A tense silence stretches between us. Jasper’s jaw tightens, fury flaring briefly in his eyes before he nods sharply. Without hesitation, he gestures to Slate and Mica. “Come on. Let’s find out exactly what’s going on here.”
Mica responds quietly, “There’s a tiny office back there, too small to be of use, remember?”
Jasper begins moving. “I remember. We use it to store cleaning supplies. The prospects and club girls use it all the time.”
Jasper leads us away from the noise of the main room, his hand clasping mine.
Slate and Mica follow closely behind, their expressions grim.
Jasper moves quickly, guiding us down a dimly lit hallway to the door adjacent to the ladies’ restroom.
I keep close to his side, feeling safer next to him than anywhere else right now.
Jasper reaches the utility room door, trying the handle gently at first. It gives under his touch, the latch clicking softly as he pushes it open.
He steps inside carefully, scanning every inch of the cramped space.
Slate and Mica crowd in after us, their large bodies making the already small room feel impossibly tight.
The room is cluttered with cleaning supplies, extra bar stools stacked haphazardly in one corner, and shelves overflowing with club merchandise.
I glance around, searching for any sign of recent activity.
Immediately, my eyes catch the scattered cigarette butts on the floor near the far wall, fresh ash still dusting the concrete.
A slight chill skitters down my spine as I realize someone has been standing there betraying the club just moments ago, all hidden away where no one could see.
Slate growls under his breath, his jaw visibly clenching. “I can’t fuckin’ believe this shit.”
Mica steps closer to the wall that adjoins the restroom, pressing his hand against the thin drywall. He taps it softly with his knuckle, the dull echo confirming how easily sound would travel through it.
Jasper looks down at the floor, crouching briefly to study some disturbed dirt and scuff marks. His movements are precise and controlled, but his facial expression speaks to his fury. Straightening again, he meets Slate’s eyes. “He’s gone already. Maybe unaware that Tessa overheard him.”
“I was really quiet. I didn’t flush or run water.” Feeling myself blush, I tell the rest, “I didn’t really need to go to the bathroom, I just wanted a moment to myself.”
Slate curses softly, rubbing the back of his neck as he glares around the tiny space. “How the hell did we not notice someone slipping in here regularly?”
“Because he’s a prospect,” Jasper says flatly. “He’s supposed to be going in and out of this room to get cleaning supplies and shit. Whoever he is, he’s smart enough to pick moments when everyone’s too busy to notice him slipping away.”
Mica nods in agreement, his usually calm expression now clouded with concern. “We have to find him fast, before he can do more harm to our club.”
“We will,” Jasper promises, turning to me. The anger fades slightly from his expression, replaced briefly by gratitude. “You did good, Tessa. You might’ve just saved our asses tonight.”
Pausing, his hands rub up and down my arms. “For future reference, if you want a minute to your fuckin’ self, you go up to our suite and relax. I won’t have my old lady skulking around the damn restroom to get away for a few minutes.”
I nod, getting where he’s coming from. His words soothe some of my anxiety, and his overt praise fills me with a quiet pride and reinforces the fragile trust building between us. It gives me hope that if we work together, nothing can tear us apart.