Page 11 of Filthy Savage

“Tell me…”

He hums, waiting for me to continue.

“Do the men still have clubwhores? Is it still ‘what happens at the club stays at the club’?” I ask, wondering how much has really changed and how much has stayed the same.

Atomic shakes his head, his eyes not leaving mine. “That stuff doesn’t go away, Spencer. But if you’re asking if I, King, or Gnaw partake, the answer would be no. For our own reasons, we’re committed to our women.”

“Gnaw?” I ask.

He smirks again. “Yeah, he just claimed his old lady, Kyle. Sweet girl.”

My head is spinning with his words. I cannot believe the three of them have old ladies and kids. Plus the fact that he’s also telling me they’re devoted to their wives. It’s nothing like the club from ten years ago, that’s for sure.

There wasn’t a single man who was devoted to anyone but himself and his own dick. I’m not sure what to say, so I don’t say anything. Instead, I stare at him, wondering what the hell I’m supposed to do next.

Atomic doesn’t seem bothered by the lull in conversation. A few moments later, he stands, sliding his palms down the front of his jeans.

“Nothing’s set in stone, babe. But I want to tell you how sorry I am for the circumstances. I hate that this shit happened. I love Clink.”

Tears fill my eyes, threatening to fall at his words. I should not be moved by them. I should be downright livid. And I was, but I’m not sure I feel the same way anymore until…

“You will always be family, Spencer. You can stay here as long as you want. I’ll even put you up in your own place if you decide to stay.”

“Why would I?” I say without even thinking of my words.

Atomic’s eyes widen. He places his palms on the table, his gaze searching mine before he speaks. “This is your home. Humble will be close by, most likely. It would be a good time to reestablish yourself.”

I think about his words. I like the sound of reestablishing myself, but I don’t let him see how much. I am already established in Austin, but I can’t imagine driving this far to visit Humble because I will visit him regularly wherever he is placed.

A few moments later, he leaves me alone with my thoughts, reminding me to come by the clubhouse tomorrow afternoon to discuss everything that’s going to happen with Clink and the process of the whole thing.

The process of jail, a plea deal, and prison.

The thought of it all makes me physically ill.

Once Atomic’s gone, I change into my pajamas, turn the lights off, and lie down in bed as I stare at the television in front of me. I zone out completely and eventually fall asleep. My dreams are in vivid color, and in every single one, an image of Humble appears.

There is one simple fact—I miss my brother.

BREW

There’sa knock on my door, and I try to ignore it, but it comes again. I start to tell the person on the other side to go away, assuming it’s Firecracker, but when the loud knock comes again, I realize the person isn’t going to disappear.

I unlock my door and pull it open, surprised to find Atomic standing on the other side. Stepping to the side, I watch as my brother walks past me and into my bedroom. He doesn’t say anything. I almost ask him why he isn’t at home with his wife and kids, but I decide against it, not wanting to sound like a smart-ass.

“I went to see her,” he announces.

I don’t have to ask him whoheris. I already know. Arching a brow, I don’t say anything as I wait for him to enlighten me on not only why he went there but also what was said. He walks over to my window and looks out at the darkness before he turns to face me.

“Told her that we had her back, that we have Clink’s back…”

“And?” I ask when it’s clear he has something else to say but isn’t actually saying the words.

I know my brother well enough to know when he’s still got something on his mind. More was said than just that, especiallysince it was Spencer he was talking to. He rocks back on his heels but doesn’t speak right away.

“Grover?” I ask, using his given name, something that neither of us does often. We may have grown up calling each other those names, but by the time we were prospects in the club and got our road names, the old parts of us ceased to exist, including our names.

“I told her what the club is like now. That we’ve got kids, wives, and we don’t fuck around on said wives.”

---