kitchen. Jazz was already pouring me a mug of coffee. As I walked over to accept it, he gave me a serious, narrow look. “I know what that face means.”
I met his gaze steadily. I wasn’t intimidated by Jazz, and I’d speak in this conversation the way I always did: respectfully, but honestly. “Is there a problem?”
“Watch yourself,” Jazz said seriously. “Heath’s one of our own. Make sure you respect his boundaries.”
I suppressed another laugh and took my mug of coffee from Jazz’s outstretched hands. “He’s made it exceedingly clear what he thinks of me,” I said. “I can take a hint.”
“Don’t fuck with him,” Jazz pressed.
I rolled my eyes. “I have no interest in the Kid.”
And I didn’t. Despite the fact he acted like I carried some plague, he was way too young for me, and I got the sense he might not have a ton of experience. As much as that pushed my buttons, I wasn’t going to get burned in that way again. I’d learned my lesson last time.
Raven snorted as he set the boxes of muffins on the kitchen island. “Right, none at all. That’s why you were frozen in the doorway drooling.” Before I could argue, though, Raven opened one of the boxes and nearly squealed with delight. “Did you make these this morning? Oh my god. They look amazing.”
“Of course I made them this morning,” I said, half joking and half genuinely offended. “I wouldn’t bring you day-olds like some kind of grocery store baker.”
Jazz warmed up a little at the sight of the muffins. Raven grabbed the first one, and then there was a mad rush as Gunnar, Jazz, and Tex all tried to get the biggest, best-looking muffins in the box. I smiled. Seeing people get excited about my pastries never got old.
I grabbed the second box, keeping it safe from the hungry horde, and then glanced at Blade. “You ready?”
He nodded. “Priest should already be in my office already. Come on, Gunnar.”
Gunnar mumbled his acknowledgment around a mouthful of pastry. He slapped Raven on the ass affectionately—Raven jumped and swatted at his shoulder with a wide grin—and then followed Blade toward his office.
I carried the second box of muffins into the office and set it on Blade’s desk. Priest stood up when we entered and greeted me with a firm handshake and a warm smile. “Dante. Good to see you.”
“Sir,” I said.
“How’s Mal?”
“Good as ever,” I said. “He sends his best.”
“Send him my regards as well,” Priest said.
Out of all the Hell’s Ankhor members, I was most familiar with Priest. He, Ankh, and Dad had been friends for years, ever since Hell’s Ankhor took control of their territory. I hadn’t seen much of Priest since Ankh’s death—which was expected, considering all the trouble they’d had with the Vipers, let alone the grief Priest was dealing with. But growing up, Priest and Ankh had been a familiar presence in the Liberty clubhouse, and I still carried a deep respect and warmth for them.
Blade took his seat behind his desk, and I sat in one of the two chairs across from him, with Priest in the other seat. Gunnar leaned against the wall with his arms crossed over his chest.
Priest took one of the muffins from the box. “Thanks for these. You brought my favorite.”
“Yessir,” I said. “It’s the least I could do.”
Blade nodded and took a sip of his coffee. “What are the updates with your members who caused all this trouble?”
Straight to business, then. I liked that about Blade—no bullshit with him. He always cut to the chase. It made it easy to respect him, because you knew he wasn’t manipulating you, or fucking around. He was a natural leader. If anyone could fill the big shoes Ankh left behind, it was Blade.
“Well, first of all, they’re no longer Liberty Crew members. They were excommunicated from the club and banished from our territory, as well as Hell’s Ankhor territory.”
Blade nodded approvingly.
“We haven’t heard from them since then,” I said. “No trouble so far—but we’re not letting our guard down.”
“Good,” Blade said. “And I assume you know the monetary compensation isn’t going to cut it for reparations.”
I nodded. “Of course. Liberty’s ready to work with Hell’s Ankhor in whatever way necessary to keep a good relationship between us.”
Priest nodded at me, visibly pleased with the conversation. Like a proud dad watching his kids.