Page 51 of A Twist of Fate

“Do you have to go work? If so, you know that’s fine. I’ll just watch a movie or something.” I hated that she was so understanding, because once she found out I wouldn’t have to pull stupid prospecting duties or hours any longer, she would be happy. At least, right up until I told her why I no longer had to worry about those hours.”

“Thing is, I’m no longer going to be a prospect.”

She watched me for a few minutes before responding. “No longer a prospect, but not leaving the club either. They’re patching you in?” I nodded my head. “And you’re accepting it?”

“That’s the plan. I’m so close to finding out who…” She stopped me there.

“It’s not just about finding out who was behind everything anymore though, is it?”

“No, it’s not. I’ve grown to like quite a few of the guys there too.”

She smiled at me then. “Well, I knew that would happen. As much as I hate the idea of the club because of what it cost Toby, he still used to talk about everyone. There were very few people who he didn’t like or trust, but for the most part, those guys were his brothers as if they had been by blood.”

“I didn’t understand that concept before. I have it with Zeke and Sul, but I didn’t think anyone else could get under my skin in that way.”

“I’ll stand by you if that’s what you want,” she told me, though her voice was low and she wouldn’t meet my eyes with her own.

“Gretchen, it’s more than that. If I patch in tonight, it’s not just me patching in. I’ll have a property patch for you to wear too.”

“What?” The one word was screeched out. “I can’t do that.”

“Why not?” She didn’t answer and just stared at me. It wasn’t like she was looking at me though, more that she was seeing through me and right into her past. “You said yourself that Toby vouched for most of the guys. You know why I’m doing this.”

“Look what happened to Ever,” she told me. “What if that happens again, only it’s me they’re after this time?”

“Do you honestly think I’d allow that to happen?”

She hesitated just long enough to make me wonder how she saw me, or our relationship. “It’s not that I don’t trust you. I just can’t wrap my head around having to be involved with people that I’ve blamed for the loss of my baby and for Toby all this time.”

“You need time?”

“Yes. No.” She shook her head then. “No, I don’t. I know what I need to do for you.”

“Nope. Take me out of the equation. What do you need to do for you, G?”

“I need to run away from this town and never look back,” she commented then sputtered out a half-assed laugh. “That’s what I want to do every time I have a tough decision to make though. I want to be by your side and help you figure out who was behind everything.” I started to argue that she would not be doing that, but she cut me off before I could get a single word out. “Don’t worry, I know you won’t allow it and that I won’t be able to know about club business enough to be of any help anyway. I still want to be there to support you while you do it though. It’s important to both of us and to Ever, even though she doesn’t know that’s what you’re up to.”

“So, you’ll go tonight and accept my patch?”

Gretchen sighed deeply and almost sarcastically. “I’ll go. Wearing your patch won’t be too much of a hardship, I suppose.”

“Do you think Ever and Anna will be here?” Gretchen asked as we pulled up to the clubhouse.

“No way of knowing, G. I promise, we won’t stay long if you’re uncomfortable here.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. This is your special night with the club. We’ll stay as long as we need to.”

“I love you, G.” I leaned down and took her lips with my own, stamping my love there so she wouldn’t forget as she was forced to face a place she had turned into a monster inside of her own mind. Not that I could blame her for doing so, with all things considered. I was hoping the evil element had already been taken care of with Crow’s forced move to Florida, but that remained to be seen for now. The parking lot was thick with bikes and a few cars and trucks meaning we were probably among the last people to arrive. I tucked Gretchen in my arm and started walking her toward the door. “Let’s go ahead on in and get this over with.”

She huffed out a laugh. “I’m pretty sure that’s not supposed to be the attitude of a prospect who might be made full member.”

“Pretty sure most prospects don’t already have the woman of their dreams waiting to be taken home and ravished.”

Gretchen came to a full stop. “Ravished, you say?” The playful gleam in her eyes made my chest squeeze. “Maybe we should just call it good now and head back.” She turned on her heel like she was about to leave, but I grabbed her up around the waist and started digging my fingers in, tickling the shit out of her. The peels of laughter that came from her were worth everything.

“You two going to keep this shit up out here or get your asses inside?” Merc called from the door. “Pretty sure your attendance is required inside Prospect!” He didn’t wait for our response, instead he turned and walked back inside.

Gretchen’s laughter died off then. “Well that sounded ominous.”

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