“That didn’t last long. I’ve heard of cold feet, but never cold tits. If you can’t handle a little…” His voice drifts off as Jinx reaches for the hem of her tank top and drags the wet material up and over her body, revealing a pink lace bra that leaves nothing to the imagination.

She tosses the tank top at him, hitting him squarely in the face with it. “Oops, sorry about that. My aim is off. I am, after all, only a girl.” She reaches for her cut and slips it back on before sliding the zipper up to just between her boobs. “Now, would you like me to get you another beer?”

Boomer snarls at her before yanking himself from Knight’s hold and storming away.

“He’s a peach.” She smiles, looking out at the rest of the brothers. “Anyone else need anything?”

I don’t know if it’s the scowls we’re all giving the room or if they realize she won’t be the easy target they assumed she’d be, but everyone begins backing off.

“That was awesome. I want to be you when I grow up.” Mercy grins, moving to link her arm through Jinx’s.

“Fuck no, you’ve caused enough trouble over the years. Do you see this gray hair? This is because of you,” Kaz complains, pointing out his nonexistent gray hair.

“Whatever you say, Kaz. Am I okay to steal Jinx? I want to talk plans.”

“She’s all yours.”

Jinx looks at me briefly, but when I don’t say anything, she shrugs and walks away with Mercy.

When she’s out of earshot, I turn to Scope and growl under my breath. “A word, Pres,” I bite out.

He sighs and motions for me to follow him. Instead of taking me to the room he holds church in, he takes me up to the security room, where all the camera feeds are. I step inside and turn to close the door, but Eightball and Knight are right behind me.

I move back to let them in as Scope sits at the desk in the corner and faces us. “And what exactly can I do for the three of you?”

“Why the fuck would you make Jinx a prospect without talking to us first?”

“Now, why the hell would I do that? She’s not your old lady. You haven’t come to me and declared your fucking intentions, and last time I checked, I’m the president of this club. I don’t have to tell you shit.”

“There was no vote. You know the brothers would never have agreed to this,” Eightball states. He’s not wrong, not if what happened downstairs is anything to go by.

“I don’t have to have a vote to bring on a prospect as long as they have a sponsor willing to go to bat for them. I only need to put it to vote when it’s time for them to patch in.”

“Who the fuck would be crazy enough to sponsor her?” Knight huffs out a laugh.

Scope grins. “That would be me.”

“You do know you’re setting her up to fail, right?” I shake my head.

“You don’t think she’s capable? You don’t think she can hold her own just because she’s a woman? Need I remind you what some of the women in our lives are capable of?”

“This is different.”

“Why? Because you care for her?”

“No, because you know the brothers will never vote her in.”

“A lot can change between now and then. Have some faith.”

“And if this were Mercy?”

“I’m doing this so that Mercy can have some freedom outside this place. I know she can hold her own, but a single person is always easy to take out when the other side brings more numbers with them. Jinx and Mercy have already formed a friendship and want to start this business together. They’re a team, whether you like it or not.”

“Then why bother making her a prospect? If they are already friends and were going to spend time together anyway, why put her through all this?” Knight thumps his hand on the desk.

“Mercy is my old lady. She has protection. Jinx is no one. If fighting breaks out between us and another club, she has no protection. She’ll become just another casualty of war.”

“So, you tied her to the Chaos Demons for protection, knowing the same link would probably bring her trouble?”