favors with some of the club women either because they’d think she went overboard or because they’d be jealous that she looked so damn good.
“Girls,” I said, leaning in. “Gianna’s one of us now. And I think she’s getting a hard time from some of the other women in the club, so she’s been scarce. I wanna invite her over. Bring her into the fold. How do you feel about that?”
Their initial expressions didn’t say good things, so I continued.
“If you don’t want it, we don’t have to go all-in, but I told Jesse I’d take her back so either I go sit with her or we invite her over. If she doesn’t mesh tonight, I won’t push again and I’ll give her all the sisterhood she needs on my own, but if you can test things out, it’d mean a lot.”
“No problem,” Ella said, putting her drink down hard. “I met her, and I liked her. Despite… you know.” Ella’s face went sour for a second, but she shook it off. “I’m cool.”
“Sure,” Pippa said. “If it weren’t for her tipping the guys off about the plot to go after club women, we might not have all made it through to be here tonight, me particularly.”
Jenna’s lips were just a little bit twisted, but then she seemed to consider Pippa’s words. She nodded, but didn’t look very happy about it.
“Yeah. Okay.”
These girls were cool. It was well-known that Gianna had been through all their men at least once. I knew that Spency had spent lots of time with Gianna and yet Pippa didn’t hesitate. She was right. Gianna likely saved a few lives. Sadly, her stepsister wound up dead in all that mess.
Jenna looked a little less certain. But from what I knew of Jenna so far, she’d take Gianna on as a side project once she got to know her a little. Jenna knew from me that Gianna was a great person and from what I’d heard, she even gave Rider shit for Gianna being treated like a pariah at Luke’s funeral. Jenna loved taking care of people, so it was just a matter of time before Gianna was firmly folded into our crew.
I saw Gianna sitting with Jesse two seats over from where my biker still sat at the bar. I made my way over.
“Hey Gia,” I said and wrapped her up in a hug. “Fuck, girl. It’s been a minute.”
“It has,” she said quietly with a shy smile. “But here I am.” She gave a nervous laugh.
Jesse’s arm had been slung around her throat protectively even though they were sitting side-by-side. And it made my heart twinge because he was sheltering her against anything that might come at her here tonight and making a statement that she was his.
I loved this for her. So fucking much.
“What’s new?” I asked.
She shrugged. “Oh, you know. Life’s a series of surprises.” Her face was flushed. She looked around, self-consciously.
Jesse put his hand on her thigh.
“Wanna come sit with us? Me ‘n the girls?” I asked, gesturing to the booth.
“Oh.” She stretched her neck and looked over at Ella, Jenna, and Pippa.
Jenna waved and smiled.
See? Straight away.
Gianna waved hesitantly.
That was when I saw my brother Spencer heading toward me. He dropped a loud smackeroo on my forehead. “Hey you.”
“Hey,” I said.
“Buy me a shot later?”
“Well, all right.” I pretended to be harassed about it.
He was probably still ticked about the calendar, but my getting kidnapped had luckily taken it out of the spotlight. A little, at least. He smirked and slapped Jesse’s shoulder.
“Hey Gia. Good to see you,” he said.
Gianna bit her lip. “Hi.” She stared down at her nails.
“So, you wanna? Come sit with us, G?” I asked.
“Oh, I, uh, don’t wanna leave Jesse here by himself.”
“Oh, he’s got a hundred buds to party with, right Jess?”
“Shoot some pool, Spence?” Jesse asked. “If you’re gonna go, that is…” Jesse added. “Soon as a table opens up.”
She stared at him with a mixture of panic and uncertainty, I think.
Spencer looked at me and then his eyes moved to the table with his girlfriend and the other girls, and then he looked back at me like, are you fucking nuts? He didn’t say it, but I knew that look on his face; it was precisely what he was thinking. Me, inviting Gianna to sit at a table with a bunch of girls (including his woman) whose men she’s had sex with?
I gave Gianna a pointed look. She seemed to see something