Chapter 23
Ember
I’ve been a nervous wreck ever since Tico and the guys went into Church.
He told me not to stress, but how can I not when they’ll be voting on if I’ll be allowed to help them or not.
Plus, what if they say something that changes his mind about letting me be down there with Uncle Ryan, and later, when we deal with Dad and Scooter?
“Relax, mija (dear one), everything will work out.”
I pause my nervous pacing and look over at Sofia, who is sitting at a table not too far away. She sets her coffee mug down and pats the table next to her.
“Come tell me what’s troubling you, mija (dear one).”
I bite my lip as I look around the main room.
Rochelle and Pyper are sitting on one of the couches, watching a movie on the giant TV mounted on the far wall and Jesse is stocking the bar.
There’s no sign of the bunnies or any of the other Prospects.
Exhaling shakily, I sit down in the chair next to her and my knee starts bouncing immediately.
Swallowing thickly, I glance over at her, worried she’s judging me but all I see is understanding.
“It’s… I mean…I don’t think it’s something I can really talk about,” I say quickly but quietly. I’m in new territory with my concerns and feelings. Plus, I don’t know all the rules here yet. What if I say something that will later get me in trouble?
She hums and nods. “I understand better than you think, mija (dear one). Has Tico told you much about nuestra familia (our family)?”
“A little. He said his sister, Maria, is the President of the Royal Harlots MC in Kiel. Other than that, he hasn’t told me much yet. But then again, we just met yesterday.”
My cheeks burn at that. God. Has it really only been one day? Shit. Will Sofia judge me because of how fast things are progressing between me and Tico?
Sofia smiles gently, almost in understanding. Surprisingly, it derails my mini freak out.
“My late husband, Enrique or Trident as he was known to the club, used to be the President before my Tico. And before Trident, his father, Miguel or Chainsaw, was the President. That said, Tico wasn’t handed his spot in the club nor the President patch despite being raised in this clubhouse.
He started like everyone does, even if they’re legacy.
As a Prospect. He worked his way up and eventually; he earned his Enforcer patch.
A few years later, Trident wanted to step down from being President. ”
Her eyes mist and her fingers tremble slightly around her coffee mug.
“No one outside our family knew the real reason at the time, but Trident…my Enrique…his health was slowly failing. Then came the heart attack last year that took him from us.”
I gasp and reach over, placing my hand on hers. I open my mouth to say something, but the words get stuck in my throat.
She gives me a watery smile. “My Enrique knew even before Tico did that he would make a good President. So did the rest of nuestra familia (our family) and the club. He was voted in unanimously, and it was no surprise that he made Taco his VP.” She pauses as she smiles, a fond look on her face.
“Those two have been side by side since pre-school. So, mija (dear one), what I’m trying to say is that I understand what you’re going through.
If you haven’t already, you’ll come to hate the phrase ‘club business’ but I’m guessing what it means here is different from what it meant in the club you came from. ”
I nod. “Most likely. At first when I came here, I was skeptical, but I knew Daemon wouldn’t have joined another club unless they were different from the one we grew up in. Yesterday proved that in more ways than one.”
Sofia gives me another small smile. “Here, that phrase is to protect us if something goes wrong. Think of it like plausible deniability.”
I pause as I let that phrase sink in. “That’s completely different from what I’ve—”
My voice trails off as the main door opens and two women step inside.
Immediately, I can see the resemblance with one of them and I wonder if she’s Maria, Tico’s sister.
She has curly, dark brown hair that’s cut short at her shoulders.
Peeking out from under her cut, my gaze snags on some sort of circular tattoo she has going over her chest and up over her shoulders.
It’s intricate and it catches my artist’s eye.
Then she turns and my gaze locks on her left arm.
Her tattoo has vibrant butterflies going up and down her arm with a red background, and on her lower she has an image of a day of the dead woman.
I raise my gaze and look closer at her face.
She has a strong jaw like Tico but whereas Tico has chocolate brown eyes, Xochitl has Sofia’s gray-blue eyes.
“Mi hija (my daughter),” Sofia says as she rises. “It’s so good to see you again.”
The woman who resembles Tico smiles and walks toward Sofia.
“Mamá (Mom).”
They hug and then Sofia hugs the second person, talking quietly to her so I’m not able to hear what she’s saying.
Sofia turns back to me. “Ember, I’d like you to meet my daughter, Maria or Xochitl [SOH-chee] to her club and this is Poison, her Enforcer.”
Both women’s gazes roam over me and I fight not to shift nervously under their scrutiny.
I’d worn a t-shirt and shorts today because I wanted to be able to move around easily as my body heals, but that means a lot of the bruises I gained last night and from when I fought Luna a few days ago are on display.
Maria, er Xochitl, cocks an eyebrow at me in question. “Domestic dispute?”
I shake my head but keep my chin held high. “No, I’m a fighter. I fought last night in Ice’s place and I had another fight a few nights prior to that.”
Something shifts in their gazes at that, and Xochitl gives me a look I can’t decipher.
“Damn,” Poison mutters as she looks me over again, but this time, I can tell she’s taking in more details.
Surprisingly, Xochitl smirks at me. “Good. Sometimes mi hermano (my brother) needs someone who is strong enough to tell it to him straight.” She pauses as her smirk grows. “And kick his ass if need be.”
Then, I’m engulfed in a hug and I have to bite my tongue to keep from groaning in pain when she squeezes a little too tight.
“Xochitl?” Tico’s voice comes from behind us and Xochitl pulls away but then slings her arm over my shoulders.
“Hola (Hello), Tico. Mamá (Mom) just introduced me to your woman here.”
Tico steps forward as the rest of the guys file out of Church, and as they do, they all dip their chins at me.
When he stops next to me, I find myself leaning toward him without realizing it at first. Xochitl winks at me as she drops her arm and then Tico’s arm is around my waist, pulling me closer to him.
“Well, this is a surprise,” he says to Xochitl and Poison.
Xochitl grins. “Mamá (Mom) called me last night. After hearing everything, I knew I needed to meet the woman that knocked you on your ass.” Xochitl winks at me again. “Plus, I figured Poison and I might be able to give her some pointers for your discussion.”
Wait. How did she know Tico was thinking of letting me go down into the dungeon?
Then, the air shifts as Xochitl’s face hardens. “And on a different note, I have news the both of you should hear, but it can wait until after today’s discussion.”
Both Tico and I tense as we exchange worried glances.
Then, Tico’s face softens and leans down, kissing my temple. “The vote passed, Vicious. They’re all looking forward to what you’ll do. Especially after hearing Daemon talk about some of your history.”
I turn, narrowing my eyes at Daemon but he just wiggles his eyebrows playfully at me.
“Aw, don’t look at me like that, Sis. After explaining what you did to those assholes your senior year, they know you can handle yourself.”
Xochitl and Poison’s eyebrows cock in question toward me and even Sofia seems intrigued. I sigh and look around, but neither Rochelle nor Pyper are close by and there are still no signs of the bunnies. I turn back to Xochitl, Poison, and Sofia.
“One of the guys at school, Jackson, cornered me one day after class got out with two of his friends. Jackson had been pressuring me for a while to go out with him. He wasn’t subtle about his advances, but I wasn’t interested in him.
When they cornered me, he listed off everything he was going to do to me.
Then he made the mistake of saying that when they were done with me, they were going to do the same things to Pyper.
“I broke his arm and leg and left him crying on the ground while I dealt with his friends—a broken nose for one and a dislocated shoulder for the other before knocking them both out. While standing on Jackson’s broken arm, I called Marcus, Daemon’s uncle, for help to get them someplace quiet.
Three hours later, all three of them were a bloody, lifeless mess at my feet before they disappeared into a vat of acid.
We then laid paper trails that hinted at all three of them skipping town. ”
All three women stare at me in shock while Tico looks down at me with a proud look. Then Xochitl grins darkly as she shares a look with Tico. Poison gives me a proud nod while Sofia gives me look that says she knew I’d fit in here.
“Damn, T. You definitely picked the right woman.”
Dameon’s phone chimes and his face suddenly goes serious as he stares down at it. “Prez, we still need to discuss Sunny with Em.”
I look up at Tico in question only to find him already looking down at me.
“You were the one wronged in this situation. You and Pyper. I’ve already decided that she’s off the roster until further notice and she’s going to pick up extra duties around the clubhouse during that time.
However, if any harm comes to you or Pyper for her giving the Chrome Vipers information, then she will be dealt with.
Permanently. My question to you is, is there anything else you want to dish out or add onto her punishments? ”
I bite my lip as I think and my gaze goes to the code they have burned into wall behind the bar.
The Royal Bastards code.
PROTECT: The club and your brothers come before anything else and must be protected at all costs. CLUB is FAMILY.
RESPECT: Earn it & give it. Respect club law. Respect the patch. Respect your brothers. Disrespect a member and there will be hell to pay.
HONOR: Being patched in is an honor, not a right. Your colors are sacred, not to be left alone, and NEVER let them touch the ground.
OL’ LADIES: Never disrespect a member’s or brother’s Ol’ Lady. PERIOD.
CHURCH is MANDATORY.
LOYALTY: Takes precedence over all, including well-being.
HONESTY: Never LIE, CHEAT, or STEAL from another member or the club.
TERRITORY: You are to respect your brother’s property and follow their Chapter’s club rules.
TRUST: Years to earn it… seconds to lose it.
NEVER RIDE OFF: Brothers do not abandon their family.
My gaze locks on two words and I hesitate.
“You are my woman, Vicious, but if you recall what I said yesterday, I want you as my Ol’ Lady when you’re ready,” Tico whispers in my ear, and I realize he must have noticed where I was looking.
And which words had made me pause.
Something shifts in my chest at his words.
I know some people might say we’re moving too fast, but this just feels right to me.
I glance over at Pyper, smiling when I see her fully relaxed next to Rochelle as they talk.
Even Rochelle seems a bit more relaxed than usual.
Though, not fully since she still glances around cautiously at all the guys who could easily overpower her, but I know they never would.
It will take time for her to realize these guys would never hurt her.
My chest warms as I come to my decision.
I look back up at Tico. “Yes.”