Page 36 of Riot’s Revenge

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RIOT

The clubhouse was the plan. To me, it seemed like the simplest solution in the world. The moment we pulled into the yard, I’d already decided Maria would stay there for a few weeks, long enough to get back on her feet and find somewhere else to go. The club had spare rooms, people around at all hours, and more than enough space. She’d be safe.

Problem solved. At least, that’s what I’d thought.

Shadow killed that idea almost immediately.

He was standing outside when we arrived, arms folded across his chest, his expression unreadable as his gaze tracked from the truck to Maria before finally settling on me.

“What happened?”

I gave him the short version.

Shadow listened without interrupting, his face giving away nothing. When I finished, he nodded once, then said, “No.”

I stared at him. “No?”

“Club ain’t a halfway house.”

Irritation flared instantly. “It’s temporary.”

“Still no.”

Beside me, Maria looked like she wanted the ground to open up and swallow her whole. Her shoulders had drawn in so tightly it looked painful, and she kept her eyes fixed on the dirt as if disappearing might somehow become an option.

Reaper, on the other hand, looked annoyed on her behalf. “Come on, Prez.”

Shadow didn’t even glance at him. “Not happening.”

“She literally has nowhere to go,” Ghost called.

“Still not happening.”

My patience started wearing thin. Before I could argue again, Shadow looked directly at me.

“She ain’t an old lady.”

The words landed like a slap to the face, because I knew exactly what he meant. The clubhouse wasn’t just somewhere to sleep. It was home. Family. Brothers. Old ladies. Maria didn’t fit into any of those categories. The problem was that somewhere along the way, everyone standing there had started acting like she did. Even me.

Silence settled over the yard and for a long moment, nobody spoke.

My gaze drifted to Maria. She looked exhausted. Humiliated. She’d been forced to watch the last pieces of her life being packed into boxes while strangers argued over where to put her next, and somehow, despite all of that, she still managed a small smile and a nod, as if she was trying to make this easier for everyone else. “I understand. Thank you for the use of the truck and the help. I’ll find somewhere.” She pulled out her phone and started tapping on it.

My heart clenched and I let out a sharp breath. “Fine.” I glanced at Maria, then at the truck full of her belongings, before looking back at him. “She’s got my place.”

Shadow looked genuinely surprised. His eyebrows nearly disappeared into his hairline before a slow smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth.

Maria opened her mouth to argue, but I cut her off.

“Pup,” I called to one of the prospects. “You drive her car.” I held my hand out for Maria to hand over her keys, she stared at me for a moment, trying to work out what I was up to before rolling her eyes and placing them in my hands.

I threw them to the prospect and turned to her. “Get on the bike.” She sighed and turned to walk to the bike. What worried me was that the fight had left her, she really was exhausted.

Until we got on the bike and Maria spent the entire ride arguing through the helmet comms.

The truck followed a few car lengths behind us, headlights flashing in my mirrors whenever we stopped at lights. Somewhere back there, Ghost, Reaper, and Tiny were probably still talking shit while half of Maria’s life rattled around in the truck bed. The prospect was behind them.