Tack parked. I hopped off and he swung off behind me.
I got close.
“After you deal with the Russians,” I started, “can we take off on your bike?”
“Where?” Tack asked.
“Anywhere just as long as the ride’s long and we end it alone together.”
I watched his face get soft as his hand came up and cupped my jaw, his thumb sliding along the apple of my cheek.
“That’s a plan, Red,” he whispered.
“Awesome,” I replied.
He dipped his head to touch his mouth to mine, he gave my lips the tip of his tongue then he lifted his head, dropped his hand from my jaw but grabbed mine. We headed inside and I was touching my own tongue to where Tack had touched his, tasting him when we made it inside and were instantly assaulted by a wave of sound.
And the sound was cheering.
Tack stopped dead and I did with him as I was confronted by every member of Chaos and, if they had an old lady or a woman, those too shouted at us.
“What on –?” I muttered but shut up when Brick stomped to me and ripped me away from Tack by wrapping his beefy arms around me. He lifted me in the air and shook me so hard my head snapped around.
Then he dropped me on my flip-flopped feet with a bone-jarring thud.
“Wasn’t sure, Cherry, what with those fancy-ass shoes and skirts ‘a yours. But, babe, you kickin’ ass for Tabby, that sealed it,” he declared.
“Sealed what?” I asked dazedly, staring up at him.
“You’re one of us,” he answered and at his words, warmth flooded through me.
“Really?” I breathed like that was my dearest wish in the world and, at that precise moment, it was.
“The pepper spray was sissy,” Boz stated, joining our group. “But no arguin’ with the results.”
“Feel good?” Dog asked and I turned to him to see him grinning at Tack. “Never forget that. Open hand slappin’ him like he was a girl and askin’ him if it felt good. Fuck me, that was the f**kin’ shit.”
“I wish I’d have seen it,” Sheila, standing close to Dog and smiling at me put in. “Dog won’t quit yappin’ about it.”
Dog scowled down at his woman, “I don’t yap.”
She gave him a look then looked at me and mouthed, “He yaps.”
I stifled a giggle.
“Wouldn’t think you had it in you,” I heard and my eyes went to Mitzi who had joined our group with Hop, his arm around her shoulders and I felt my body still at seeing them. “Glad to know you do,” she went on and hard-as-nails, tough broad Mitzi gave me a genuine smile.
Mitzi smiling at me. Hop was smiling at me too.
Seemed me kicking some squirrel-ball ass was a cause for celebration and Mitzi and Hop were on a good patch.
Their business, not mine.
“Thanks” I whispered.
“Red needs a beer, so do I,” Tack announced loudly, claiming my hand thus me again and dragging me into the common area of the Compound.
“Got it,” Tug called from behind the bar.