Page 45 of Tico

Then, I’m engulfed in a hug and I have to bite my tongue to keep from groaning in pain when she squeezes a little too tight.

“Xochitl?” Tico’s voice comes from behind us and Xochitl pulls away but then slings her arm over my shoulders.

“Hola(Hello), Tico.Mamá(Mom) just introduced me to your woman here.”

Tico steps forward as the rest of the guys file out of Church, and as they do, they all dip their chins at me.

When he stops next to me, I find myself leaning toward him without realizing it at first. Xochitl winks at me as she drops her arm and then Tico’s arm is around my waist, pulling me closer to him.

“Well, this is a surprise,” he says to Xochitl and Poison.

Xochitl grins. “Mamá(Mom) called me last night. After hearing everything, I knew I needed to meet the woman that knocked you on your ass.” Xochitl winks at me again. “Plus, I figured Poison and I might be able to give her some pointers for yourdiscussion.”

Wait. How did she know Tico was thinking of letting me go down into the dungeon?

Then, the air shifts as Xochitl’s face hardens. “And on a different note, I have news the both of you should hear, but it can wait until after today’s discussion.”

Both Tico and I tense as we exchange worried glances.

Then, Tico’s face softens and leans down, kissing my temple. “The vote passed, Vicious. They’re all looking forward to what you’ll do. Especially after hearing Daemon talk about some of your history.”

I turn, narrowing my eyes at Daemon but he just wiggles his eyebrows playfully at me.

“Aw, don’t look at me like that, Sis. After explaining what you did to those assholes your senior year, they know you can handle yourself.”

Xochitl and Poison’s eyebrows cock in question toward me and even Sofia seems intrigued. I sigh and look around, but neither Rochelle nor Pyper are close by and there are still no signs of the bunnies. I turn back to Xochitl, Poison, and Sofia.

“One of the guys at school, Jackson, cornered me one day after class got out with two of his friends. Jackson had been pressuring me for a while to go out with him. He wasn’t subtle about his advances, but I wasn’t interested in him. When they cornered me, he listed off everything he was going to do to me. Then he made the mistake of saying that when they were done with me, they were going to do the same things to Pyper.

“I broke his arm and leg and left him crying on the ground while I dealt with his friends—a broken nose for one and a dislocated shoulder for the other before knocking them both out. While standing on Jackson’s broken arm, I called Marcus, Daemon’s uncle, for help to get them someplace quiet. Three hours later, all three of them were a bloody, lifeless mess at my feet before they disappeared into a vat of acid. We then laid paper trails that hinted at all three of them skipping town.”

All three women stare at me in shock while Tico looks down at me with a proud look. Then Xochitl grins darkly as she shares a look with Tico. Poison gives me a proud nod while Sofia gives me look that says she knew I’d fit in here.

“Damn, T. You definitely picked the right woman.”

Dameon’s phone chimes and his face suddenly goes serious as he stares down at it. “Prez, we still need to discuss Sunny with Em.”

I look up at Tico in question only to find him already looking down at me.

“You were the one wronged in this situation. You and Pyper. I’ve already decided that she’s off the roster until further notice and she’s going to pick up extra duties around the clubhouse during that time. However, if any harm comes to you or Pyper for her giving the Chrome Vipers information, then she will be dealt with. Permanently. My question to you is, is there anything else you want to dish out or add onto her punishments?”

I bite my lip as I think and my gaze goes to the code they have burned into wall behind the bar.

The Royal Bastards code.

PROTECT:The club and your brothers come before anything else and must be protected at all costs.CLUBisFAMILY.

RESPECT:Earn it & give it. Respect club law. Respect the patch. Respect your brothers. Disrespect a member and there will be hell to pay.

HONOR:Being patched in is an honor, not a right. Your colors are sacred, not to be left alone, andNEVERlet them touch the ground.

OL’ LADIES:Never disrespect a member’s or brother’s Ol’ Lady.PERIOD.

CHURCHisMANDATORY.

LOYALTY:Takes precedence over all, including well-being.

HONESTY:NeverLIE, CHEAT,orSTEALfrom another member or the club.