full, but apart from the clanking of plates and utensils, it’s quiet, with people sitting in one of two camps. The larger headed by Pip and the Utah members sits on one side of the room. They’ve pushed tables together so they can have whispered conversations unheard by the men sitting along the other wall, Drummer and his brothers from Tucson. His brothers, I realise had immediately come into my head. They’re not likely to be mine anymore. So engrossed in thoughts about where my future might lie, that I’ve entered with my fingers still wrapped around Swift’s is something that feels so natural, I’ve totally forgotten the stir it would be likely to cause.
“Fuckin’ hell.” Preacher’s eyes have gone wide. “Road, er, hate to tell you this, man, but you’re about to lose your fuckin’ hand.”
Oh fuck. Here it comes. I don’t have to wait long before finding out what Swift is going to do. She drops my hand, but instead of taking a step away from me, she puts her arm possessively around my waist to show I’m in no danger and sending another signal that causes my heart to miss a beat, a sure sign that I’m hers.
Piston pretends to look behind me and points. “Where’s Swift? You left her upstairs?”
Like lightning, Swift leaves my side, takes hold of Piston’s index finger and twists it back, applying pressure as she does, making him drop to his knees and howl.
“I think you’ve found her,” Bolt calls out, laughing his ass off.
Swift lets the stricken man go, who rolls onto his back cradling his finger. “You’ve broken it.”
“If she has it’s no less than you deserve,” Thor observes. “Talking of fingers, how’s yours now?” He eyes the bandage wrapped around Swift’s hand that the two of us try to ignore.
“I think Pip threw it in the garbage.” Swift makes the joke that’s on herself.
Thor looks down, probably realising how his question was poorly worded, but takes the hint about how Swift wants to play this. It’s gone, time to move on.
A loud whistle gets my attention from the other side of the room, where Drummer, Wraith, Peg and Blade are seated. Turning I see Drummer beckoning me over.
Swift holds me back but only to tell me, “I’ll fix you a plate.”
Knowing I’d rather extend my time with her, I reluctantly nod. “I’ll come find you.” Then I straighten my shoulders and go to see what my prez wants.
Drummer wastes no time getting to the point. “So that’s her?” He jerks his head behind me. “The woman who’s got you tied in knots?”
“Yes.” My shoulders straighten imperceptibly.
“Christ, it gets worse.” Peg’s shaking his head but giving nothing away.
All four men sitting in front of me have old ladies themselves, so Peg’s reaction has annoyed me. “I don’t see the fuck how?” I snarl.
Drummer takes a breath and narrows his eyes at me. “If, and it’s a big fuckin’ if, if she stays a member, how are we going to have two members fuckin’ each other?”
“You mean like Joker and Lady?” My comeback is fast and is answered by eyes going wide. It seems they’ve gotten so used to Joker and Lady that the thought didn’t occur to them that it was an example how two members could be together without it causing trouble.
Drummer eyes me wearily. “I’d have the same worry I had with them, when they admitted the truth and came out. Like when the bullets are flying, they’d protect each other first.”
I snort. “That’s never happened, has it? And if the bullets are flying, I’ll be the one waiting for Swift to protect me.”
Blade simply stares.
“You okay, Road?” Pip’s walked over, and he gives the four at the table a nod. When he places a hand on my back, it feels like he’s sending a message, that he’s now the one looking out for me.
“You knew about Road and your lady member?” Drummer asks him, leaning back on his chair so it balances on two legs.
Pip shrugs. “Saw which way the wind was blowing. Well, saw Road was interested, but wasn’t sure about Swift reciprocating.”
“Christ, man.” Blade still won’t address me as brother. “It’s only been a few days.”
“Escaping death together probably accelerates the feelings,” Pip offers, his eyes gentling as he turns to me. “You’d either end up hating or loving each other. You make a good team. Now why don’t you go join Swift?”
Drummer’s eyes narrow as Pip makes the suggestion, but jerks his head, dismissing