Page 24

"But you gave her your cut anyway," Phoenix says.

"Yeah."

"Protected her from Dusty."

"Yeah."

"Bought her breakfast."

"Yeah."

"Got her a job."

"Yeah."

Phoenix sits back again, and I can see him processing. Weighing what I've said against what he knows about prospects, cuts and the rules we're supposed to follow.

"You plan on seeing her again?" Judge asks.

"Yeah. I told her I'd check on her at seven."

Phoenix runs a hand over his face. "Jesus Christ, prospect."

"I know…"

"No, I don't think you do." Phoenix cuts me off. "You've been here six weeks. You're not patched. You don't have the protection that comes with being a full member. And you just claimed a woman in front of the entire town."

"I know."

"If this goes wrong, if she's trouble, if she brings something down on us that we're not ready for, that's on you. You understand that?"

"Yes sir."

"And if someone comes looking for her, if someone tries to take her back to wherever she came from, you're the one standing between them and her. You ready for that?"

I don't hesitate. "Yes sir."

Judge uncrosses his arms and steps forward. "You're sure about this? About her?"

Am I sure? I've known her less than a day. I don't know where she's from or what she's running from. I don't know if she'll still be here in a week or if she'll disappear the second things get hard.

But I know the way she looked at me when I said I'd come back. I know the way she smiled when Margaret gave her the job. I know the way she felt on the back of my bike, arms wrapped around me like she trusted me completely.

"Yeah," I say. "I'm sure."

Phoenix and Judge exchange another look. Then Phoenix nods slowly.

"Alright," he says. "Then she's under the club's protection. Anyone fucks with her, they fuck with us. You make sure she understands that."

Relief floods through me. "I will."

"And Angel?" Phoenix's voice hardens. "Don't make me regret this."

"I won't."

"Get out of here. You've got shit to do before seven."

I stand up and head for the door. When I open it, I can hear the common room on the other side: low conversation, the sound of brothers being brothers.