Page 48 of Framed for Life
Not at all like I’m the cause of all the terror that ruined the night.
When I shiver, Skull puts his mug on the table and wraps both arms around me.
“Easy, baby,” he murmurs against my temple because he must be picking up on my thoughts. “It’s gonna be fine. See all these mean bastards, they’re gonna be right there alongside me when I take down the men who are after you.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
Prez strides into the room and bangs the gavel. “Special Church session is called to order.”
The casual buzz of conversations about guns and bikes shifts to focused anger.
“We have information,” Prez announces. “But first, we need a moment of silence. We lost Pit Bull from the Broken Wheel chapter last night.”
A rumble of curses go around the room as Katie gasps in my arms.
Shit. She didn’t know one of the members got killed. There’s a lot she doesn’t know and I’m the jackass that didn’t tell her.
“He was a good man,” Prez mutters, shaking his head. “We’ll bury him here on the property tomorrow evening. Full club honors.”
No one says a word for that minute. When it’s done, Prez clears his throat and runs his hand through his hair. “It’s not the first time nor the last we’ll lose a brother. It’s part of outlaw biker life. But he died defending the women, and we’re all grateful as fuck he made the sacrifice.”
“Amen,” someone calls, but I can’t speak with my anger riding high, choking off my airway.
“Now, on to business,” Prez says as he sits in the chair at the head of the table, his eyes finding me in the crowd. “Skull, bring us up to speed. And introduce your woman too.”
My woman.
The words are heavy and something I never thought I’d be thinking. But I want to wear them like second skin.
“This is Katie,” I say, pride and possessiveness filling my ribcage. “She’s my property, club property now.”
Katie turns and looks up at me, unable to hide her shock. “Property,” she whispers, confusion drawing her brows together.
I like the word property associated with her too. Call me a caveman.
“You’re under my protection now which means you belong to the club. The mob brought their violence here because they wanted you. They don’t get what’s mine. Ever.”
Tears well in her pretty green eyes, making my chest burn.
“None of this makes sense. Why would they want me of all people?”
I announce to the room, “One of Russo’s men said Katie has a deed to a property that rightfully belongs to them.”
The men rumble. Katie’s eyes are wide as she processesthat intel. Finally, she laughs humorlessly, “I don’t know what kind of crack they’re on, but I have a deed to anything.”
“They claim you do, sweetheart, and you’re the only one who knows where it is.”
Dashing a tear off her cheek, Katie shakes her head. “I’m telling you, they must have the wrong person.”
This is when I have to break even worse news. “They came to the park yesterday because they knew that’s where you’d be. I thought they were there to tangle with the club, but I was wrong.”
Her face goes pale, her eyes go wide, and I watch her draw some hard conclusions.
In a weak voice, she says, “Thank god you were there.”
“Exactly.” I reply, trying to keep my anger out of my voice. If I hadn’t been there….
”We’re fortifying the perimeter,” Prez says, interrupting the storm building in my head.
