“Dude’s got to be tappin’ her,” Tank said. “I’ll kill him if he hurts her.”
Justin knew Tank wasn’t kidding. He looked past Blaine and Marly at Chloe dancing with her girlfriends. Relief washed over him, as it had every time he’d looked at her, touched her, and thought about her since Justice had given them the good news.
When they’d been moving her things into the house, Justin had felt the same overwhelming sensation of knowing he was finally in the right place, with the right person, as when he’d truly become part of the Wicked family. He looked around at his friends and family. Steph was rolling her eyes at Dwayne. Zander was flirting with three daughters of Dark Knights members by a high-top table, and as usual, Zeke was standing nearby, keeping a watchful eye on him.
Some things never changed.
Justin took comfort in that. He knew he’d dodged a bullet today, and it killed him knowing he could have gone to prison and missed out on all this. He was grateful for his good fortune, but he’d trade it all to give Chloe her confidence and her life back.
Tank stood up a little taller. Justin followed his gaze to Leah, who was carrying a tray of drinks to a table where Cuffs was sitting with Justice and a couple of other members. Leah had lowered her eyes every time she’d walked by Tank tonight, and Tank had been watching her all night.
“What’re you thinking?” Justin asked.
Tank’s gaze never left the waitress as he said, “Wondering why she’s so freaked out by me.”
“You’re a freaky guy.”
Tank slid him a sideways look. “The chick’s mysterious. I’m just wondering if she’s a loner or running from trouble.”
“Just because she’s leery of a guy who could crush a man’s skull with his bare hands doesn’t mean she needs saving, Tank. Relax. She probably feels you watching her, and that’s not going to make her any less wary of you.”
Across the room, Ginger put her arm around Leah’s shoulder and said something in her ear. Leah nodded and headed over to another table.
“Ginger keeps a close eye on her girls,” Justin reminded him. “I’m pretty sure she’d know if there were trouble brewing under this roof.”
Tank nodded and finished his beer.
Mike came through the crowd and said, “I thought your father would never leave your side. You got the goods?”
Justin chuckled and pulled a Twix bar from his pocket. “Don’t I always hook you up?”
“I was worried about you getting put in the slammer,” Mike said as he tore open the candy wrapper. “You’re my best supplier.”
“Gramps, what do you think I’m running here? A rinky-dink operation?” Justin teased. “It wouldn’t matter if I was in the big house or not. I’ve got connections. I’d never leave you high and dry and make you go cold turkey.”
Tank set his empty beer bottle on the table and said, “He would have had Chloe hook you up. And if she couldn’t, you know I would, old man.”
“I’ll remember to put you back in the will,” Mike teased, and took a bite of the candy. “Now, that’s good stuff. Almost as sweet as your little gal, Maverick. How’s she doing?”
Justin glanced at Chloe, who was heading his way, and said, “She’s got some healing to do, but we’ll get there.”
The sound of metal tapping glass drew their attention to Preacher standing at the head of the table. “If I could have your attention for a moment.”
Justin reached for Chloe’s hand and pulled her closer. He wrapped his arms around her from behind so she could see Preacher and said, “Missed you, baby,” into her ear.
“Me too,” she said over her shoulder, and Justin kissed her.
“I’d like to thank you all for your support during this trying time,” Preacher said loudly, drawing their attention. “And for joining us tonight as we celebrate Maverick’s name being cleared and his and Chloe’s bright future.”
Cheers and applause filled the room.
Preacher held his hands up, silencing the crowd, and said, “But with that good news came the discovery of other women who, like our dear, sweet Chloe, have suffered at the hands of a monster. These women all have difficult times ahead of them. They will have to face their attacker in court, and with that will come grief, and hopefully closure and healing. But thanks to all of you, I know they won’t have to