Page 99 of The Trust We Broke
“You are?”
“But first, I need you to tell them what you know about the Rebels and your father, beyond him setting me up. They should know the full story before they vote.”
“Grudge, this isn’t how it’s done,” Smoke says.
I nod. “I know, brother. But it’s time I started to run this club my way.” I turn to face Lucy. “And if Lucy is going to stand by my side while I do it, then I’m going to include her more than you all might be comfortable with. She’s the smartest fucking woman I know, she’s gonna be my wife again, one day, and if I say she should be here, then she should be here.”
I don’t need to look at my men, because that little fucking twitch is back across her nose as she fights back tears.
Wraith grins. “I’m gonna propose that vote again.”
“But I didn’t tell you what I know.” Lucy reaches for my hand, and I squeeze it to reassure her.
“Doesn’t matter,” Wraith says. “There’s not been a single old lady that’s joined the club, recently, who hasn’t come with her share of trouble. And nothing you could say, or any vote, could change your man’s mind. So, show of hands. I’m proposing that Lucy becomes Grudge’s old lady.”
I swallow deep when I see every hand go up in agreement. Hooking my foot around the base of Lucy’s chair, I tug her to me, grip around the back of her neck, and drag her lips to mine.
“Get used to sitting in that chair,” I mutter against her lips.
My brothers whoop and cheer.
“This is madness,” Lucy says.
I tuck a lock of hair behind her ear, avoiding her stitches. “No, Bug. It’s the rest of our lives. And you should know that Wes Granger is the ex-president of the Rebels, and I’m confident he’s WG in all your reports.”
“I need a word,”Catfish says hours later, storming into the kitchen where Lucy and I are eating pizza to avoid the cleanup happening in the bar.
After I kissed her, Lucy went through all the information she had, and she agreed to return to the law office to see if there was any further intelligence she could find in her father’s regular files.
My brothers had digested the news about the set up, and we stayed focused on running down some leads.
I can hear the sound of prospects vacuuming. And the scent of lemon floats through the air. Cleaning up the mess we make every day and setting the clubhouse to rights is part of being a prospect.
“Can it wait? We’re eating.”
Catfish shakes his head, but I see the pinched look in his narrowed eyes.
“One second.” I turn to Lucy. “I’ll be right back. Don’t go anywhere.”
She nods. “I have pizza and beer. I’m good.”
I step into the rear lot of the clubhouse. It’s set up for parties. Wooden furniture, Adirondack chairs, a full outdoor grilling station. We should have winterized everything by now and I make a note to get some prospects on it in the morning.
“It’s gone,” Catfish says before we’ve stopped walking. His breath puffs in white clouds as he speaks.
“What is?”
“The money.”
My heart stops. “What money?”
He throws his hands out to the side. “The fucking money we said we’d put to one side instead of paying it out in dividends. All of it. Every fucking penny. The bank account is bone dry.”
I pull up the banking app I have on my phone and double-check what he’s saying.
Zero fucking dollars. Every damn cent.
“Call the bank in the morning. Figure out if it’s a mistake on their end. Meanwhile, I’m gonna call Vex.”
