committed relationship.
"If you want to tie the knot first, that's good, too." He slipped his pistol into the back of his jeans, underneath the waistband. "You can talk to my sister about that. She'd know who we need to contact."
"Whip?"
He stopped. "What?"
"Can I just enjoy today?" She remained on the bed, her shoulders rounding. "It was a pretty big thing for me to say I love you."
His mouth relaxed, and he came to her. Sitting beside her on the bed, he gathered her hand in his.
"It's a huge fucking deal to me, too, sis." He inhaled deeply. "It means everything."
"For me, too."
Several seconds passed, and he linked their fingers together. "Now that you're mine, you might want to warn your sister that if I ever hear her try to badmouth you, she's going to deal with me, and she's not going to like it."
"What did she say?" She could only imagine, and whatever it was, it couldn't hurt her.
"Doesn't matter." He kissed her. "I'm going out and having a smoke. Then, I'm going to talk to Priest."
"It's almost two o'clock in the morning." She yawned and plopped her hands down on her thighs. "I don't even know why I got dressed."
He kissed her again. "Get undressed and snuggle down in bed. I'll be back soon."
"I'll wait up for you." She yawned again.
He stopped at the door and looked back at her. His eyes softened in amusement. Her body warmed, loving the way he looked at her.
Stretching out on the bed fully clothed, bound to prove him wrong and stay awake until he came back, she waved him away. He slipped out of the room.
She'd only close her eyes for a few seconds.
Chapter 24
Whip
"I don't give a shit about the timing." Whip stabbed out his cigarette in the ashtray. "Cusclan has fucked up my life too many times. I'm not going to let them take this away from me. I want Twyla."
"I get it, brother. I trusted your dad with my life, and I trust you're doing the right thing for the club. You can make the announcement on Wednesday during the meeting." Priest tossed a stack of papers onto the table in front of Whip. "In the meantime, look at this."
He flipped through the papers, looking at the handwritten columns. "What is this?"
"The list of Tarkio members in the prison system. That's just for Montana. The first two pages are Tarkio members. The other pages are listings for the members of Cusclan, Moroad, Brikken and Notus in Washington, and Bantorus over in Idaho, Ronacks only has a handful, and the last page has California's records for Lagsturns Motorcycle Club. I don't think we should leave them out of the equation because of their influence." Priest leaned back in the chair.
He read through the names. Surprised that a lot of them he recognized and even met throughout his life. Without being told, he understood the reasons behind their sentences. Their crimes were done for the good of the club.
What citizens would never understand about the underground was the criminal aspect in motorcycle clubs and the mob. There was a sense of community with those walking the path that those living in the outside world were not privy to. Without some kind of control on the other side of the law, those in Missoula would suffer. Those living their life, protected from the harsher lifestyle, would feel the impact.
Letting their children walk to school would no longer be safe. Women would disappear. Many would be sold into sex trafficking. Innocent people would get killed. Those in higher power would take advantage of those in need.
Without anarchy, there was no Tarkio.
Priest leaned forward. "I talked to Walker. He gave a different insight into what is happening in the penitentiary.
"Did you find out something that will help us with Cusclan?" He stacked the papers, having seen enough. "I'll tell you now, you'll have a revolt if you even bring up a merge."
"Fuck a merge." Priest's gaze hardened. "The answer is right there in front of you."
He cocked his head, curious about the direction Priest wanted to take Tarkio. "I'm not following you."
The corner of Priest's mouth lifted, shifting his beard. From the look on his president's face, he was more confident about his choices than he was the other day.
"You'll find out Wednesday, along with everyone else." Priest knocked on the table. "I have one more thing I need to do. If everything works out, I'm going to need more from you. So, from