Page 28 of Panther's Magpie
“Oh no, it is. Members don’t allow people to use their real names unless they are close or intimate.”
I gape at her. “Excuse me? So if I call him Calloway, people will think I’m sleeping with him?”
She laughs. “Pretty much. Don’t let them see you on his bike. It’ll be over for good.”
I swallow hard. He has had me on his bike, though. What the fuck?
“Okay, you are panicking. I’m picking on you. You knew him before he was Panther, so maybe he doesn’t mind you calling him his real name. Maybe don’t do it in front of the others.”
I vaguely remember Eagle saying the same thing.
“And the bike thing? Because I’ve been on his.”
She waves me off. “For the most part, they don’t let random women on their bike, but you’re his sister’s best friend and under his care at the moment. Besides, aren’t you, like, ten years younger than him?”
“Seven,” I mumble as I look down.
“So yeah. He probably thinks of you as his sister. Don’t let it stress you out. I’m sorry I even said anything,” Rain says confidently.
The words should comfort me, but they don’t. Instead they sting, hitting me where I least expect them to.
I don’t want to be like a little sister to him.
Do I?
When did this get so confusing?
“What are you ladies talking about?”
I freeze as I hear his voice.
This is about to go from bad to worse.
Fuck my life.
PANTHER
I didn’t expect to see Rain and Maggie bonding as I came back to the clubhouse today, but I can’t say I hate it.
Rain has been the only girl around this clubhouse for far too long. If I were to admit it to myself, I like having Maggie around.
Not only is she funny and smart, but she brings a softness to the clubhouse that I think we need.
Back before I bought the bar, this place was a pigsty. Every night there was a party with alcohol covering almost every square inch of the place. Between that and the half-naked women strolling around, well, it wasn’t a place I would want to bring Aspen, that’s for sure. I didn’t blame Mustang for not bringing Rain around either.
When I pitched it to the guys, I said it was a security risk. We were opening our gates every single night to women that we had no idea who they were. Sure, Meek was quick to run their names as soon as they handed over their IDs at the gate, but still, it wasn’t the best way to keep our place safe.
So I bought the bar, had this place deep cleaned multiple times, then made it a rule. Only old ladies and family were allowed in the clubhouse. Maggie was granted a pass for the reason she was here, but usually we wouldn’t have even allowed her in. A friend of a family member isn’t a reason to be in our space. This is our sanctuary. The place we should be able to come to feel safe.
To see Rain here for the first time on her own, I’m glad I made that decision. She felt safe enough to come here by herself, and that’s what I wanted.
“What are you ladies talking about?” I ask.
I don’t miss how Maggie’s back goes ramrod straight. Rain has humor in her eyes.
“Aspen. She sure knows how to get herself into trouble. She was telling me stories about their childhood.”
“Oh yeah? Which one?” I quirk an eyebrow.
