Page 65 of Stag

“There’s a charge registered now against her for harassment against the club, so she needs to watch it, or next time it could be more serious. I don’t think she’s evil or anything, but she’s messed up enough that I don’t want her here destroying all that we’re working for. Her sister is under our protection now though, so hopefully she’ll be able to stay out from under her thumb.”

He’d called her my old lady earlier, and I was quick to argue, but since it was what I wanted, more than anything, the words were sticking in my head. In my throat. In my fucking heart. Was she my future old lady, or the first woman to truly break my heart?

“Brother, she’s safe with you, and she knows that. Do you guys need anything, or are you all set at Henley’s?”

It took me a moment for my brain to step out of my thoughts, and catch up with his words.

“Uh. I think we’re good, but why was Henley here? He said he was going away.”

Micro shrugged. “He’s taken Glory to stay at one of his glamping sites nearby, seems someone was curious about what they’re like, and he felt she needed a few days away from the norm.”

“So he took her to a campsite? That’s a shit way to treat the woman he loves.” The moment I said it, I sighed, because I knew I was doing it again. I couldn’t just say something like ‘why stay so close’ or ‘why not take her somewhere fancy’. I had to crap all over his gesture. The same gesture that led to me having somewhere swanky to stay with the woman I was falling in love with.

“Sorry. I’m an asshole. I know he’s good people.”

Micro watched me hating on myself for a moment, probably seeing shit I didn’t want to be letting anyone see.

“Why do you think your go-to is to say something insulting first? I’m not being a prick here, I’m just wondering. You’re a good guy, but you seem to always opt for the path of most resistance.”

I went back to fondling the table surface. Why were we having some fucking girly feelings chat anyway? This was keeping me away from the only person I wanted to be around.

“I just explained it. I’m an asshole.”

“You’re not though. I’ve known you a few years, man. I know you’re funny, and sarcastic, but sometimes I feel like you just try to bait people. I know some people think we’re a pussy club because we’re not all about starting trouble and pissing everyone off, but isn’t it an easier, happier life when we don’t? I mean, I hear your old lady chewed Rocket and Harley new ones for dissing you, so maybe you should listen to that and apply it to how you speak to us. We’re your family, not your punching bags. Although, that said, I’m sure Rocket would let you punch him. I think it’s like some kink of his.”

His face twisted into a grimace, and I snorted. He wasn’t wrong about Rocket. He liked the fisticuffs, and he loved winding people up to get them. Was I worse than that? Was I making people uncomfortable just for shits and gigs?

“I’ll work on it, Pres,” I said finally, lowering my hand from molesting the table.

“I like her. She’s got your back, and you need to know you have that. You have it from us, but like Rocket did until recently, I think you doubt that. You may be from the other chapter, but you’re also a founding member of this one now. You matter. There and here. Everywhere.”

He cleared his throat, tilting his mug to glance at it, probably realising it was as empty as mine at this point. He didn’t move to get more though, and neither did I.

“So your day job, what’s happening there?”

Oh yeah. That. “I have one meeting with them tomorrow. I know it’s the last day I’ll be employed by them. It’s been coming a while. Redundancy is bullshit. I’ll get a payout, but it’s not like that’ll last very long.”

Micro glanced at his mug again, which FYI isn’t going to refill itself, and it annoyed me in that irrational way the most inconsequential things can.

“You want me to refill that or what? It’s not like you can’t just get more.”

He shoved the mug further away. “Trying not to drink it like water. Apparently it’s not great for you when you do that, and I have a daughter to stay young and healthy for. So, what about your other job?”

Oh hell. That. “Well, they didn’t make me kill someone this time. I just sat in a fucking cage for nearly seven hours, watching a door that never opened or got approached once.”

I wanted to smack that laugh from his face, but as boring as it’d been, I’d take a dozen of those jobs over another murder. I’d whinged at the time, but it was the easiest job there was, right?

“They’re paying you, I hope? This isn’t just them taking the piss?”

Ah the silver lining to the very large, disturbing cloud.

“A few days a month working for them and I’m earning a few times what I was getting at the office, so yeah, I’ll say.”

Micro’s eyebrows raised. “Nice. You can buy the drinks next time we’re at the pub. Don’t get in too deep, okay? You can come to me any-”

My phone rang, and the name on the screen was Claudia, which made me hesitate for a moment, because how the fuck could she call me?

“Best you answer that, brother.”