Page 43 of Chef
I huff to myself, I never thought coming here that I would call The Keep “home” but that's what it is. I have family, friends, and Takoda here. How long that lasts remains to be seen. After the shit he pulled tonight I’m not sure whether I want to kiss him or throttle him. I guess I’ll figure that out when he gets home. I’ll either want to kiss him senseless or hit him in the balls.
“Yo, you good?” Niko asks as we slow and pull into the Keep.
“Yes. No. I don’t know.” We pull to a stop and my brother sits there, eying me. “I wasn’t scared, if that’s what you’re asking.”
“What were you then?”
“Pissed. How dare they follow me on mywedding day.How dare they even be in my life right now, like what the fuck, dude? Then Chef, Takoda, whatever, then he sends me away because he can’t concentrate on what he’s doing because he’ll worry about me, well, what about me? What about my worry? What if something happens to him, Niko! What if-”
My words are cut off as my brother launches himself from his pretty bike and wraps me in his arms, dragging me from Chef’s ride. “He’s a tough motherfucker, Sage. He’s got this. And I got you.”
“We all got you.” Flack says from just inside the doorway, Elio standing beside him.
I give my little brother a tight smile, not wanting to worry him. He doesn’t like to see people upset. He stares at me for a long while, before his little shoulders rise and fall, and he steps forward, wrapping my hand in his smaller, somewhat sticky one. He doesn't say a word, just pulls me toward the gator rescue barn. I fall in step beside him, Niko bringing up the rear. Looking over my shoulder, I can’t find Flack.
“Flack’s watching the kids. With Miss Nancy.” Niko gives me a smirk and for some reason that image of Flack with Nancy helps my adrenaline to calm, just a little.
Elio waves at Niko to pull open the heavy barn door, my jaw dropping at what’s waiting inside.
“Holy fucking shitballs.”
Loyal
“Right, so we need a place with easy clean up, sterile and soundproofed walls, that's what you’re saying?” I ask, looking around at the Girl Gang.
“Exactly! The Keep is it’s own place with it’s own rules -”
“And it’s own badass bitches.” Vi adds, cutting off Lovely.
“Yes, that. You need to find your own ways of supporting your men and your club. For us it’s -”
“Maiming, torturing, bleeding, all the sort of stuff that gets people talking.” Chewy says, waggling her brows. It’s somewhat terrifying, but I’ve seen her at work and I know it’s effective. Whether or not it’s something I can do is a different story.
“Ah, what if we’re not quite at that level?” Joe asks, fingering her necklace, eyeing Chewy’s plans.
“You’ll get there. Just give it time.” Mira winks encouragingly.
Joe and I share a glance, because I don’t know if we’ll get there. Making that Hitchens guy lose his mind before the club got rid of him is about the extent of our torture powers. The roller door behind me sounds out and we all turn at Sage’s exclamation of “Holy fucking shitballs.”
“What the hell happened here?” Sage asks, eyes round as saucers.
“The girl gang.” Joe answers with a flourish at the wall now covered in all sorts of weapons. Like a murdery shadowboard.
“It’s your wedding present,” Kaia grins.
“It was my idea, but everyone chipped in,” Chewy answers, looking proud of herself.
I mean, it’s kinda beautiful. In a disturbing way.
“And the uncles are happy with this?” Sage asks, looking around Vex, Saint and Omen’s gator hospital.
“Welllll-”
“They’ll love it,” Blanche says with a nod.
A snort flies out of me because I know that Vex may not love it but I’ll be there to soothe his moods. It doesn't take much to make my man happy. All I gotta do is ask Aunt Joe to babysit.
“Hey, show her the best part!” Pops yells and I brace myself for Sage’s reaction.
