Page 25 of Blade

I knew he wouldn’t back down, but there was no way I was claiming Becca as my sister. Despite her being my best friend when we were growing up, I had never seen her as a sister.

He knew he had me cornered.

“You know I’m not.”

“Then I repeat, you do not get to say she is off-limits.”

I narrowed my eyes for half a second before I turned and took my seat at the table.

“In case anyone has forgotten,” King said in my direction, “I already declared her off-limits as Willow’s granddaughter.”

King banged his gavel as he did every time we started church.

I sat in my seat, stewing. I acknowledged I misdirected my anger at Jack, but I never could keep my head in check when Beck was involved. The meeting went on without my attention until someone kicked my foot.

I looked up to find King glaring at me.

“What?”

“You want to contribute to the meeting, Road Captain?”

I realized now we were coming to the end of the meeting.

King chose me for the job of Road Captain when we settled into Diamond Creek because I knew the roads. Growing up here, I knew the area like the back of my hand. Which made me the logical choice for setting up the runs.

I went over the information for the upcoming run, and when I finished, King closed the meeting the same way he opened it, with a bang of his gavel.

We all shuffled out of church, and I heard one of my brothers yell, “Let’s get this party started!”

I made my way to the bar, and a prospect had a beer waiting for me when I sat down.

It didn’t take long for people to show up. We opened the doors once a month to the outside. Men and women from town were welcome to party with us. Giving the brothers a chance at new pussy and the club girls a break from us, not that they ever asked for one.

I sat nursing my beer, watching Beck in the mirror behind the bar, making sure none of my brothers got any ideas in their heads.

“Hey, Blade, how’s it going?”

I looked over at the man standing beside me.

Ryder Thomas. We were friends growing up. Now he was just one more person from town that didn’t recognize me. One more person who didn’t know I was alive.

“Hey, Ryder, no kids tonight?”

He leaned back, his elbows against the bar as he looked out over the room.

“Nope, my parents take the girls every now and again to give me a night off.”

Suddenly, he stood up.

“Beck?”

I turned toward his line of sight and saw her rushing over.

Shit.

“Ryder? Oh my God!” she squealed, launching herself at him as she hugged him tight, and he spun her around.

I wondered if I would get the same response if she knew who I really was?

---