tats from the back of the brother who’s been spilling secrets. We take an oath when we join the club. A rat can break a club, which is why Rav took this shit so seriously. Tennessee is our national chapter in the US. They need to be solid.
“We’ll figure it out, brother,” I tell him and push up to my feet.
The prospect, Mac, drives me to the bar where I’m meeting Amy. She’s still wary and I’m willing to give her the space she needs to figure that out while we’re getting to know each other. I’ll give her as much time as she wants as long as she gives me a shot.
“You need picking up?” Mac asks as I climb out of the car.
I shrug, feeling like a fucking kid being dropped off by his mum. “I’ll let you know.”
I close the door and walk toward the bar—Daniel’s Bar. I’ve never been here before and my eyes don’t stray to the decor as I walk in, but zero in on Amy who is sitting at a table alone.
Fuck, she takes my breath away. She’s fucking beautiful and for a moment, I just stand and watch her as she nervously fiddles with the glass in front of her, her eyes darting around.
I’m not wearing my kutte and I feel naked without it, but I don’t want people watching us because of the colors on my back. I don’t want her to feel like she’s under a microscope. Ain’t ashamed of my club links. Never will be, but I don’t want to scare her off yet either. Not until I have her where I want her to be.
I head over to the table, and when her eyes come to mine, I see a hint of relief. Did she think I would stand her up? She’s fucking nuts if she thought that.
“Hey, babe.”
“Hey, Shane.”
She stands and I press my lips to hers as she does. She feels soft, sweet as fuck in my arms.
We sit, each taking our seats. “You want another drink?” I ask her.
She nods and thanks me. I order us more drinks and get settled in my seat. She tucks a piece of hair behind her ear and I track the movement, my greedy eyes trailing every inch of her face.
“You ever been here before?” I ask her.
“With my friend, Harmony. She and her cousins like to come here. Are you finding it strange being in a new city?”
“I’m getting used to it. It’s different compared to London.”
“I’ve never been.”
“Maybe one day I’ll take you.”
Her face gets soft. “I’d like that.”
I let out a breath, a smile tugging at my lips. This woman is the light to my dark. I should walk away, let her find a decent man, one who isn’t caught up in criminality, but the thought of her with someone else makes me want to lose my shit. She’s mine, and I’m not willing to give her up.
11
Amy
I watch as Natalie nervously moves around the room, grabbing a coffee from the dispenser on the table, her eyes everywhere. The people who come to the group often lack confidence, wondering why they came, if they were wrong to come, but she seems particularly anxious.
I put down my files on my chair and head over to talk to her. She’s a petite woman, with dark hair the tips of which are an electric blue. She’s young too, maybe twenty-one, twenty-two. This is her first meeting after suffering months of harassment from her boss. When I spoke to her on the phone, she seemed scared, tired and anxious. I’m hoping the group can help her.
I set up Workers Against Workplace Harassment shortly after all the shit storm with Dr Hofstadter died down. I was in a bad mental head space and I needed something positive to funnel my energy into. Setting up the group was a way to channel all that.
“Hey, how are you doing?” I ask her.
She smiles at me. “I feel out of my depth.”
“That’s natural for your first time here.” I grab a cup and start to make myself a coffee. “Don’t worry. Everyone here has been where you are now. We’ll make it easy for you.”
“You were assaulted?” she asks, then winces. “Sorry, I shouldn’t pry.”
“You’re not. I was sexually assaulted by a senior doctor at the hospital I work at.”
Saying it fast doesn’t make it hurt as much, doesn’t let the filth that usually covers my skin sink in as deeply. Even now, after