Page 57 of Inglorious
“Hell yeah. But with your permission, I want to claim Nanci.”
Vortex paused for several long moments, and I thought he was about to refuse me. He studied me carefully, but I couldn’t read his expression. Even if this fuck said no, I’d still claim Nanci. But it would be easier with Vortex on side.
“You have it. Harm Nanci, and I won’t hesitate to bury you.”
“I expect that.” There was nothing else to say. I rose, headed for the door, and paused. Actually, I had something else to say. I held Vortex’s gaze. “You are the last person I’d have accepted back here. You hurt the club and Rhea when you ran like a pussy.”
“I had—”
“I’m talking. Shut up.”
Vortex subsided.
“Can’t deny you fled like a yellow-bellied coward. But you returned. I wouldn’t have given you VP, and I’d have beaten your ass under different circumstances. This is your second shot, Vortex; don’t fuck it up, because you were and currently are a good brother. You’re a reasonable VP, and it pains me to admit that. As I said earlier, I’m human, and so are you. We make mistakes. There won’t be a third chance, Vortex.”
“Understood.”
“Good.” I left grinning.
As I headed into the rec room, slight movement caught my gaze, and I spotted Chill once again in the shadows. His eyes were fixed firmly on Meadow as she wiped the counters down. A scent of stew wafted through the air, and my stomach rumbled in response.
I walked over to Chill, and he jumped, looking guilty.
“The food smells amazing,” I said, and Chill nodded.
“Meadow is baking homemade bread,” he muttered.
“Brother, if you like her, make a move. Meadow’s a nice lady,” I replied, and Chill looked horrified.
“What are you talking about? I don’t do relationships,” Chill spluttered. “The ladies love a bit of Chill in their beds. It would be cruel to deprive them of everything that is me.”
“And that’s bullshit. I can see shit in your eyes. Lie to yourself, brother; that will make your fall all the sweeter,” I said and walked away, leaving Chill muttering. I headed over to Razor, who was standing with Hercules.
“Open a book. I bet within four weeks, Chill is chasing his tail over Meadow.”
Razor and Hercules swapped glances and grinned.
“Clarify that because Chill’s already running in circles,” Hercules stated.
“In a month, Chill will have claimed Meadow,” I replied. “One hundred on it.”
Razor whipped out a book. “Give me a date.” He wrote down the date I said, and Hercules offered a different date, matching my bet. Razor smirked, added his own, and headed out to find Vortex, Nanci, and Doc. They needed to be included, too.
Nanci
Inglorious had left me stunned and slightly wary. Did he really desire me like I’d desired him for so long? It was no use denying shit, every man I’d dated, which hadn’t been many, had been compared to Inglorious. It may have been subconscious, but I’d done that.
Lately, Inglorious seemed much more like his old self. I could see the mischievousness in him, and his legendary charm was starting to show once more.
Vortex approached and sat as I relaxed outside the clubhouse and gazed over Main Street. I loved this place. It had been built in the style of an old Wild West town. In front of the buildings was a wooden street with railings that horses would have been tied to. Every so often, a gap would appear, and a small set of steps would lead to the dirt road.
Psych had told me there had been tarmac down and they’d ripped it up and restored it to its former glory. Not that a dirt road had much to brag about. But it was there once more. I knew the club had considered laying brick down because dirt turned to mud pretty quickly, but they had decided against it. People would simply need to bring rain boots.
“I’d an interesting conversation today,” Vortex stated, handing me a Coke.
“Yeah?”
“Inglorious asked for permission to claim you.”
