the way, but nothing we couldn’t fix… together,” Wraith answers.
“Glad to hear it. Now, let’s get me home. I need some booze, some brisket, and a real fucking bed.”
I’m not so sure we should tell Zero now.
He’s in a good mood.
Wraith subtly shakes his head at me, and I take it that he’s on board with that.
Wraith will know when the time’s right to tell Zero about us.
I need to bide my time.
“Let’s get you home.”
As we walk into the clubhouse, Zero’s eyes widen in surprise. Streamers line the ceiling with balloons dangling from them. A welcome home banner runs along the back wall, and we’re all in for a real big-ass party tonight.
“Welcome home, pres!” the club girls all call out in unison as they explode party poppers on our arrival.
Mack lifts his sleeping head from his bed by the bar with a huff, then promptly goes back to sleep.
All that dog does is sleep.
Zero walks in and gives everyone a back-slapping hug. It’s so great to see him back in his own element and environment. He’s still favoring his side, though, the side where he was stabbed by Damir. He needs to rest and recover.
Wraith walks over with Cherry, and they stand in the middle of the room. “It’s so damn good to have you back, pres.”
“It’s so fucking good to be back. I didn’t realize how bad I missed this place until I walked through those damn doors. This place means so much to me. It’s great to be back with family again.”
Cherry moves forward with Zero’s cut in hand, smiling so wide her cheeks must hurt. My chest squeezes at how Zero’s face lights when he sees it. “You should never have had to take this off, pres.” She slides it over his arms, and he hoists it over his shoulders.
“Damn, that feels good.” He turns to Wraith gripping his shoulder. “We have a lot to talk about, but I want to thank you for stepping up while I was gone. You did good.”
Wraith tilts his head toward me.
I widen my eyes but stride up to them.
“There’s something you need to know,” Wraith adds.
My breath catches as Zero narrows his eyes on Wraith. “Okay… spill.”
Wraith reaches out, grabbing my hand while my heart thuds, then stops for a beat as the room falls silent.
Zero stares at our joined hands, and a scowl ignites over his features almost immediately. Then his face turns a bright shade of red, the vein in his neck pulsing in obvious anger. He takes a step forward, getting right into Wraith’s face.
Cherry pulls back on Zero’s arm to no avail, as I cling onto Wraith, who isn’t making any motions of rebuttal.
“What the fuck kind of game are you playing at?”
“This isn’t a game, Zero. I love her. I know I’m not the perfect guy for your sister, but I’m working on it.”
Zero brings his hands up, shoving Wraith in the chest, but he barely budges. “Working on it? Wraith, you’re a fucking maniac. I know who you are, what you’re capable of. I don’t want you anywhere near Prinie. I trusted you! I fucking trusted you while I was away to look after my club, my fucking family, not to poison her mind and make her think you’re worthy of being in a relationship with her.”
I tense up, my eyes flooding with tears as Wraith doesn’t fire up. Somehow, he stays completely calm. “I understand. My history with women is not ideal. But Prinie means so much to me… I will never hurt her.”
Zero scoffs, throwing his hands in the air and starts pacing as he walks off his rage. “This is bullshit! Prinie, tell me this is a fucking joke? Actually, I forbid you to be with him. You’re my sister, my responsibility, so you’ll do what I damn well tell you to.”
I grip onto Wraith tighter, moving to talk, but Wraith butts in. “Honestly, Zero, I respect the hell out of you as my president. I’ll say that openly in front of everyone here, but if you threaten my woman like that again, I will knock your fucking teeth out. I will not respect your opinion on this, Prinie is mine. You can’t stop this, no matter what you do. So, you can learn to deal with it or turn a blind eye when you see us together because I’m not giving her up. Not for you, not for anybody.”
Hearing Wraith stand up for me like this makes me