I replied.
“You hit Booker too fucking hard for a backyard game. You need to admit it and apologize,” Hatch said, taking a step closer.
By now, our members had tightened their half-circle as well. Perhaps it was instinct. This group of men had all seen their share of street fights and could feel in their bones when one was about to go down. And one was most certainly about to go down.
“I think Booker’s a big boy and can handle himself,” I said.
“Really, Hatch. I’m fine, man. It’s cool,” Booker said, now having joined the others.
“See? He’s cool, everything’s cool,” I said.
“That’s not the way I see it,” Hatch replied.
“Well, there it is,” I seethed, my anger starting to reach the boiling point. “Per usual, it’s all about how you fuckin’ see things isn’t it, Hatch?”
“You’re gonna see my fist if you keep it up, boy.”
“I thought tonight was supposed to be about peace and unity?” Booker said.
“He calls me ‘boy’ again, and we’ll be testing the limits of my holiday good cheer,” I hissed.
Hatch stepped closer.
Maybe I’d never forgiven Hatch for having a hand in my exile after I started dating his sister. And perhaps, he hated me for taking that same sister away from him and having her work for my club. Whatever the real reasons were, both Hatch and I were willing to use a meaningless after-dinner football game as an excuse to beat the shit out of each other in front of our clubs.
“I said apologize...boy.”
I fisted my hand, but before I could feel his face against my knuckles, my woman stormed out of the club and yelled, “Don’t even think about it.”
* * *
Hatch
“Connor Wallace, if you hit him, you and I will have a problem,” Maisie warned.
I raised an eyebrow in her general direction and noticed Cricket and Maisie standing side-by-side, the bond between my woman and my sister was as strong as ever.
“Same goes for you, Jase,” Cricket said.
Minus and I met each other’s eyes and I could tell he was contemplating how far he was willing to push my sister. I was having a similar war in my own head.
“I’m serious, Hatch,” Maisie reiterated, crossing her arms for effect.
Cricket mimicked her stance and leaned forward. “Minus.”
“Fuck me,” I hissed out and stepped away from Minus. It wasn’t worth it.
But it wasn’t done.
Minus also stepped back, but I could see he and I were on the same page.
Maisie walked over to me and frowned up at me. “You good?”
“I’m not happy my woman decided to get in the middle of somethin’ she has no business gettin’ in the middle of, so...no, I’m not good, Maisie.”
“You don’t get to be cross with me, Connor,” she said. “There was no way in hell I was going to let you and Minus go at each other like a couple of barbarians in front of kids.”
Before I could argue, the roar of pipes blared in the silence, and eight riders approached. Instinctively, I pushed Maisie behind me and noticed my brothers do the same with their women.
“It’s the Bikers for Kids crew, love,” Maisie reminded me, and stepped toward them.
“They’re early.”
Since I didn’t know them personally, I still took her hand and pulled her slightly behind me. Her hand landed on my ass...a kind of warning, you could say.
We’d had arguments in the past about me being overprotective, but I reminded her that would never change, so she had to figure out a way to wrap her mind around it, or it would drive her crazy.
Crow, Booker, Hawk, Mack, and I headed to the new arrivals, while Ace and Knight herded everyone else inside.
Well, they tried.
My woman had other plans.
“Go inside, Sunshine.”
“Their women are with them, love,” she countered. “They might appreciate seeing a friendly, female face.”
She had a point. But I didn’t like that she did. “Babe, will you let us suss this out, then invite everyone in?”
“Oh my word, Connor, they help children. What do you think they’re going to do to me?”
“Jesus.”
She grinned up at me. “Let’s go welcome our guests, darling.”
I reluctantly took her hand and led her to the bikers now getting off their bikes, their women following suit. Maisie smiled her million-dollar smile and welcomed the group, ushering everyone inside for drinks and food before I’d even had a chance to vet any of them.
“I’m Cowboy,” the club’s president said as he approached. “It’s nice to finally meet you face to face.”
I shook his hand. “Hatch.”
“This is Curly and Mongoose, my VP