17. Emma
Chapter seventeen
Emma
Three Days Later…
Harley and I hover in front of the bar top, my fingers digging through the bowl of chips and buffalo chicken dip while the security monitors flicker above us.
The clubhouse is alive as they prepare to celebrate their fearless leader.
Everyone is milling around, laughter and music thumping for Stud’s welcome-home party.
But our eyes are locked on the screens, anticipation buzzing through us as the parking lot feed shows the truck rolling in.
I crunch a chip just as the truck door swings open and Stud, still battered but determined, hobbles out.
My dad makes his way around the truck’s hood after hopping out of the driver’s seat.
The prospect Kenny makes one of the worst mistakes of his life and sprints over to his president, trying to help him out of the truck.
I grimace and flinch in solidarity as Kenny takes a few whacks from the walking cane Stud is wielding like a sword, while Stud shouts something I can’t hear over the monitor.
Scarlett strolls to the bar top, grabs a piece of cheese from one of the trays lining it, and pops it into her mouth.
She chews thoughtfully, eyes on the monitors.
Curious, she asks, “What are you two glued to over here? Is Stud finally making his grand entrance, or are we just watching Kenny get his ass handed to him again?”
I watch with mock sympathy as the prospect scurries away like a dog with his tail tucked, rubbing his arm where Stud’s cane landed, Rock hot on his heels.
The camera catches Stud pausing, surveying the crowd waiting outside, a wry grin tugging at his lips even though he’s pale and visibly exhausted.
His eyes soften as he says something to Allie, then he pulls her into his arms.
I’ve never seen Stud be sweet with a woman, and honestly, it’s a shock. He’s always been great to the sisters, but I’ve never seen him snuggled up with a woman like that. But after getting to know Allie over the past couple of weeks, I couldn’t have picked a better woman for him.
“Kenny is getting his ass handed to him again,” Harley and I say in unison.
“He looks like he’s about to keel over,” Harley whispers, leaning closer, worry flickering in her eyes.
I swallow hard, my heart racing for a second as I watch him and Allie embrace before they head toward the clubhouse’s main entrance.
I watch as brothers greet him and shake his hand as he makes his way inside. I nudge Harley, trying to grin.
“He’ll make it. If anyone can walk out of a coma and straight into a party, it’s Stud.”
The prospect makes his way into the clubhouse, followed by Rock.
“I swear to shit, prospect, if I have to tell you one more fucking time, I’m knocking you out and titty-fucking you just like I did that fucker at the bar the other night.
Go get a fucking recliner for your President and put it in the middle of the bar. ”
I watch as the prospect slinks off to the kitchen. Rock puts his hands on his hips, shaking his head in disgust or disappointment. I can’t quite tell with him. I just know he’s put out. “Fucking training wheels, am I right?”
He turns around, eyeballs the food on the bar top, then dips a chip into the salsa, pops it in his mouth, grabs a beer, and walks off.
I shake my head in amusement. He really did get into a bar fight last weekend, and to “assert true dominance,” he titty-fucked the guy.
Thankfully, I did not witness it. Some things can’t be unseen, ya know?
Scarlett, still standing behind me, mutters, “It was actually kind of hot.”
Harley whips around in disgust and elbows her in the hip. “Gross! It was pretty funny, though, to be honest.” She smiles and nods at me in agreement.
I nod back. “I’ll take your word for it. It sounds like there’s going to be a repeat. Maybe I’ll catch the next one,” I deadpan.
Harley glances at Scarlett. “Oooo, I like your new purse, bitch!”
“Thanks, I got a new accessory too, and it’s Tiffany Blue,” she says with a wistful smile, petting her new black sequined purse. “Get a new gun, get a new purse to carry it. You know how it goes.”