Chapter 21 #2
The clubhouse was clearing out. No friends from town or club girls would be allowed on the compound until after the Iron Raider threat had been dealt with.
Bones was sulking. His broody stare was fixed on Lennon, who was talking with Tank and her dad.
He usually made more of an effort to pretend he wasn’t obsessed with Lennon, but maybe the pain, coupled with the outrage from being left out of the upcoming fight, wore through enough of his layers that his emotions were bleeding out of his eyes.
I’d say I felt bad for the guy, but I really couldn’t.
I’d never understand why he insisted on holding himself back from Lennon.
She might be an enormous pain in my arse sometimes, but she was the kind of special that you had to snap up when you got the chance because it wouldn’t be long before some other asshole tried to swoop in and shoot his shot.
I’d considered going after her myself for about three seconds before the involuntary heaves took over.
Lennon might be smart, kind, beautiful, and feisty, but she’d always be like a sister to me. More’s the pity.
My other best mate, Priest, had drawn Indigo’s attention away from Knuckles, who was manning the clubhouse bar tonight.
I slid onto a few seats behind Priest and shamelessly eavesdropped on their conversation.
I’d been feeling off my game lately and needed some new ammunition to lob at Priest the next time the grumpy prick irritated me.
“Come on, angel. The Iron Raiders have always been a problem for the Crows, and it’s for Crows to solve it.
” Oh good, I hadn’t missed Priest telling her she couldn’t be there when we decimate the Raiders.
“That sounds like some meanie grown-up way of saying ‘no girls allowed,’” Indigo replied in a sulky tone.
Priest grabbed a sucker from his cut pocket and put it in his mouth with an exasperated sigh.
“If you want to challenge Duke on systemic misogyny in MC culture, I’ll help you write your speech after the Iron Raiders are destroyed. It’s safer this way.”
“I can take care of myself,” Indigo snapped, narrowing her eyes at Priest.
“Not safer for you, angel,” Priest explained. “Safer for me.”
“Fuck you very mu—wait. What?” Indigo asked, quirking her head like an adorably psychotic puppy.
“I’m the VP of this club, and I didn’t realize a sworn brother was plotting to betray us in the worst way.
I have to go and fix this. And when I do, I need to know you’re here or at The Goldfinch.
If you’re not, if you’re with me and in danger, I won’t be able to concentrate.
I’ll be eaten up with worry and unable to focus, unable to kill our enemies and watch my brothers’ backs the way I’ll need to. ”
“But—”
“If I know you’re safe, I can keep my focus where it needs to be.
I can do what needs to be done and come home to my family…
to you.” Priest must have hit her with some grade A smolder because the irate badger gleam left Indigo’s eye, and she relaxed her posture a bit.
“That was the sweetest bullshit I’ve ever heard, Growly,” she said with an angelic smile.
My friend huffed a laugh. “Yeah, well, did I convince you?”
Indigo sighed and leaned her elbow onto the bar top.
She took a long pull from her beer while she considered her options.
“Hmm, I guess since President Duke insisted, I’ll listen this once.
For future reference, all requests of this nature must be given in writing three business days before the intended battle, or I will be considered a free agent and ready and willing to fuck shit up to prove my point. ”
“Understood,” Priest rumbled to her in a tone I hoped I’d never hear again.
The wanker was getting off on her crazy!
I shuddered, given the absolute ick at the sound of Priest’s bloody bedroom voice.
“We leave the day after tomorrow. I was wondering if you’d let me take you out tomorrow night? ” Fucking finally.
“Like…on a date?” Indigo asked.
“Yeah, angel, on a date,” Priest replied. Indigo considered it for a moment, and then a moment longer. She was silent long enough while she processed what Priest had said that my brother began to shift in his seat, probably feeling nervous that, for the first time in his life, he’d be rejected.
“Can Sheila come?” Indi asked, breaking the silence that had stretched tightly between them.
“Uh—yeah,” Priest stumbled briefly. “Yeah, of course,” he added, recovering quickly. “Okay,” my adopted sister replied shyly, “that sounds fun.”
“I’ll pick you up at eight.”
Indi rolled her eyes and smirked at Priest. “Pick me up? From where, down the hall? I can just meet you in the lot.” Priest stood from his stool and walked into the space between Indigo’s knees, where she sat facing him on the barstool.
I was glad he chose the “hair tuck behind the ear” move when he delivered his parting lines to her because if he’d leaned into her ear to speak them instead, I’d never have been able to hear it.
“You’ll wait in your room for me to come knocking.
You deserve to be picked up at the door, not honked at in a lot like a hooker.
Any man lucky enough to deserve your time better show you the respect you deserve. Got it, angel?”
Oh, well done, you clever bastard. Indigo’s face was flushed as she said, “I deserve respect. Got it.” Priest kissed her on the forehead.
“Good girl. I have a phone call scheduled in a few moments with Clover. I’ll see you tomorrow at eight.” Indigo’s eyes caught mine after she dragged them away from Priest’s retreating form. I grinned at her and made the “okay” gesture with a wink.
“Get it, lil’ sis,” I teased.
She threw a wadded-up napkin at me with an embarrassed, “Shut up, conscience.” Indi hopped down from her seat and galloped over to Lennon, dragging her up the stairs.
I tipped the beer Knuckles had left me to Ace’s picture and took a swig, pleased I’d gotten the tea without having to endure girl talk for once.