“I want to talk,” Levi said to me. “But it’s getting loud, so Romeo is taking us home.” Her voice softened, and she shifted the baby back onto her chest. “It’s good to see you happy.”
“I was just going to say the same thing to you.” I breathed in a deep inhale and slowly let go of my fear. There was a time when we shared everything. “I’m sorry, Levi. You were a much better friend to me than I ever was to you.” I glanced at her beautiful baby. “Some things are exactly as they were always supposed to be.”
Levi smiled. “I better go. Romeo is waiting.”
Back in the chapel, Blue and Cruz had found a table in the corner. They appeared deep in conversation, and I wasn’t the only one who noticed. Rogue and Bullet shifted their glare from Cruz and Blue back to me. I shrugged and gave them the I don’t-know-shit glare right back.
On my way back to the pool table, I was stopped by Murph and Sherry. Sully pulled me into a hug, then went back to his penny poker game. Everyone said the same thing. They were happy to see me at the MC again, I looked healthy, and when would I start wearing a property of Blue cut.
The unsettled and vulnerable prickle of trepidation curdled in my belly. I feared I wouldn’t meet expectations and that fake smiles covered platitudes. This was when Romeo’s weed would make me one of them. Then, in my mind, heroin made me better than them.
I wanted to be worthy of being part of the Hellers again, of wearing a property of Blue cut.
Brenna and Pike played pool.
Blue turned in his chair as we approached. I took the invitation, sat on his lap, and draped my arm around his shoulder.
“Truth and dare done,” I quietly said to Blue. “I talked to Levi and got to see the baby. She’s so little. She definitely has Levi’s mouth. But I think she looks more like Romeo. She’s really pretty.”
“McKelle, you’ve got a challenger,” Pike hollered.
McKelle perked up. “What’s the bet?” she teased.
“Nah, I already know McKelle can take my money.”
That wasn’t Pike. I turned at the deep voice from the table. Breath stalled in my lungs as my chest tightened.
Kodiak leaned against the pool stick, and his gaze narrowed on me. “I want to play with Kiss.”
Blue draped an arm across my lap. “She’s busy.”
Kodiak tossed the stick onto the table. “Not with Hellers.”
I slid from Blue’s lap as he stood, pulled me behind him, and stepped up to Kodiak. Cruz jumped to his feet. Everyone around us quieted.
“She’s with me,” Blue said. “That’s all you need to know.”
“Then you need to know you’re getting your dick wet in Crawler cunt.”
Blue lunged for Kodiak.
Cruz grabbed Blue. “Bruh, not here.” Cruz glared at Kodiak. “Rules, asshole. I’m a fucking prospect, and I know that if you got a problem with a patch, you take it to the sarge, or you take it to the basement.”
“I’m not fighting Blue,” Kodiak said. “I’ve got no problem with you, but I don’t trust your lay. Wrench kept you close,” he said to me. “The only people he let close were those he could fuck or fuck over to get to the Hellers.”
“Which one were you?” I asked.
Rogue charged over, vaulting between them. “Are you fucking serious? You’re not going to spoil my ball breaker’s night by disrespecting club rules.”
Blade rushed over and stood next to Rogue. “What the fuck is the problem?”
“I’m making sure he knows who he has on his lap. She fucking sold out the Hellers to Wrench.”
Blade closed the space between them, glaring hard into Kodiak’s eyes. “I know exactly who she is. Like you, her path has crossed with Crawlers. But do you think I’d let a fucking traitor into my club?”
Bullet leaned against the pool table and lit a cigarette. “This isn’t the time or place, Kodiak.”
Resentment burned in my belly. It wasn’t Kodiak’s place to say anything. Bullet knew about my time with the Crawlers. Rogue knew. Blue knew. And because we’d drawn the attention of everyone in the club, they would all know.