“But not all of them, right?” I asked. “They invite new authors as well?”
“That’s why they’ve reached out to me. Apparently, Olivia Stark read my last MC book and passed it on to Ali Forrester. They both loved it and have asked if I would attend this year’s event.”
“That’s amazing. See. They’re inviting you because they like you!”
“But I’ve only released three books. How the heck did they even hear about me?”
“Sweetie,” I said softly. “This is how the world works y’know. The important thing is that they reached out and that you’re going to say yes.”
“But Eldie says you’re gonna need to wear a boot for four weeks and the cruise is in two,” he said.
“Who said I’m going with you?”
“There’s no way in hell I’m going without you.”
Well, that was seriously sweet. “Well, if you can put up with gimpy me, I’ll do my best to keep up.”
He grinned, leaning down to kiss me. “You’re not gimpy, you’re just a leg down at the moment. Kind of like a pirate.”
“Arrrrrg,” I exclaimed, interrupting our kiss. “Where’s the cruise going?”
“I’m not sure, to be honest.” He waggled his eyebrows at me. “But I know it’s somewhere you’ll be required to wear a bikini.”
I rolled my eyes. “I’ll try to find something that’ll match my super-sexy boot.”
He leaned down and grinned before kissing me gently. “I like that idea.”
“I bet you do.”
Once I was cleared to head home, Ropes gently loaded me in Ben and we headed to my place where he spent the next few hours catering to my every need.
Falling in love with this man might just be the best decision I’d ever made.
* * *
Ropes
“What is this?” Minus yelled as he burst through my door.
“What the hell?” I protested, bolting up from my bed.
Minus scowled. “I asked you a question,” he said, holding the copy of my book that I’d given him high above his head. “What the fuck is this?”
“Looks like a book,” I replied wiping the sleep from my eyes.
“Very funny. Ropes, how long have we known each other?” Minus asked but cut me off before I could answer. “A long fuckin’ time, that’s how long. So, how come in all that time you never told me that you could write like this?”
“What? Are you serious?”
“When you first told me about writing romance, I honestly thought you and the club were fucking with me, but then I read your book and I could tell that you’d actually written this. I could hear your voice within the characters. I may not be the demographic, but I thought this was really good.”
“I don’t know what to say, I’m a little shocked honestly.”
“If you say there’s money to be made for the club, then I’ll sign off on giving you the time and resources needed to take this venture to the next level,” Minus said, extending his hand.
“That’s great, but I can take care of my own expenses.”
“You sure?” Minus asked.
“I may have left my family’s money behind, but I kept every grain of knowledge I learned from them about business. My investments are solid, have no debt, and I’m flush for cash. You allowing me the time to write and travel will be plenty. The timing couldn’t be better, too.”
“Why’s that?”
“I’ve been invited to my first big signing event.”
“Time to get out there and sink or swim huh?”
“You have no idea how right you are.”
* * *
“This is fucking worse than I fucking ever could have fucking imagined!” The veins in Wolf’s neck bulged and spit flew from his mouth as he bellowed. Minus, in stark contrast, remained perfectly calm seated at his desk, hands neatly folded.
“Did you grow up on a fuck farm or do you buy them wholesale?” I asked glibly.
“Your mom gives them to me, and here’s one just for you. Fuck you, Ropes,” he snapped.
The fact that Wolf had brought my mother into this, even if it was in the most juvenile of ways, made me want to whale on him until the shit he was full of came out his ears. Did Wolf forget that my mother was dead before taking such a cheap shot, or worse, did he know full well? Either way, I had to let it slide. Wolf held rank over me, and I couldn’t do shit about it.
“You seem to have reservations about this plan,” Minus said, coolly.
“Reser-fucking-vations? No, I don’t have reservations, Minus. I think this whole thing is the stupidest fucking idea I’ve ever heard in my entire fucking life.”
“There’s that word again. I think I’m getting you a thesaurus for Christmas this year.”
Wolf took an ill-intentioned step toward me, and Minus immediately rose to his feet.
“Stow that shit right now,” he growled. “You’ve been at each other like a hen and a duck since Cutter died and I’m sick of hearing it. So, sit the fuck down and we can talk about this like men, or you can get the fuck outta my office and I’ll tell you both what your next fuckin’ job is. Got it?”
Wolf and I gave each other a reluctant nod and sat down.
“First of all, Ropes, show your Captain some respect and give your mouth a rest.” I nodded and Minus turned his attention to Wolf. “I asked everyone to come up with legal ways for the club to earn. I asked every member to be creative, and Ropes did what his President asked. As his Road Captain, you should be proud of him.”
“It ain’t just that,” Wolf snapped.
“Then what’s the problem?” Minus returned to his seat.
“The whole fuckin’ going straight thing. I think it’s bullshit.”
“You’ve made that crystal clear on multiple occasions, Wolf, and every time I’ve reminded you that this is the way Cutter wanted it, and that you’re free to patch out at any time.”
“Cutter is dead, and I’ve been in this club since you were trading boogers in the sandbox.” Wolf leaned in. “I’m not fucking going anywhere, and if you’re feeling strong enough to come at me with the brand, take your best shot.”
“Be very careful brother. As long as you wear that patch, you’ll abide by the code. Like it or not, Cutter gave me Red Dog’s staff. He gave me the burden of leading this club and he gave me a plan, a plan that I intend to follow. Not just because I want to honor his memory, but because I believe it means the survival of this club.”
“What’s the point of being outlaw bikers if we’re not outlaws anymore?”
“Let me ask you a question. Did you start riding bikes in order to become a criminal?”
“No, both things just sort of happened I guess,” Wolf replied.
“So, the fact that you love to ride has nothing to do with how you make a living out on the streets?”
“I don’t think so.”
“Then what does it matter how you earn, or whether or not it’s legal or illegal? I know what you’re afraid of, Wolf.”
“I ain’t fuckin’ afraid of anything.”
“Yes, you are, and it’s the same thing that every member of this club is afraid of. It’s also the very thing I’m trying to steer us away from.”
“What?”
“Obsolescence.”
“You keep saying shit like that and I still don’t know what you mean.”
“What made Cutter a great president?” Minus asked.
“I dunno, he was tough I guess,” Wolf replied.
“Sure, he was, but do you really think that’s what made him a great father to the club? Give it some thought, you knew the man for over twenty-five years.”
Wolf paused for a moment before replying, “He was a smart motherfucker.”
“Yes, he was. He also knew how and when to change with the times. When he started the Burning Saints, he had no juice on the streets and no money, so he did what he had to do to get things going. As soon as the club was established and stable, he moved
away from street hustles and established one of the biggest protection services this country has never heard of. He managed to do all of this without him or any of his officers ever seeing the inside of a Federal prison cell.”
“So, what’s your point?”
“My point is, Cutter could no longer envision that chapter of the club continuing. He knew, as well as I do, that times have changed in ways we could have never imagined. The days of the outlaw biker aren’t numbered Wolf, they’re finished, and if we want to keep riding together as a family, we have to adapt.”
“Jesus, Minus. You make it all sound so easy. We have blood on our hands, man. That shit don’t just wash off because you’ve decided to move from chop shops to flower shops. You’ve dug holes and you’ve helped fill some, we all have. You think the Feds won’t care about that shit just because Cutter felt guilty at the end?”
“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” Minus snapped.
“The fuck I don’t. I’ve seen it time and again. This shit happens to a lot of the old-timers when they come to the end of the road, or they’ve been locked up long enough, they get soft, or they get Jesus.”
“Cutter never lost his shit, or his edge and you know it. It’s why no one challenged him when he named me as his successor.”
Wolf glanced down.
“What? You think I didn’t know there’s been grumbling within the ranks since day fucking one? Cutter knew it was gonna happen and I did too, but no one challenged Cutter then because they knew better, and no one’s challenged me openly since he died because, despite your bitching, not one of you has starved to death.”
“We ain’t exactly thriving, though are we?” Wolf growled.
“What do you think I’m trying to do here, Wolf? I’m trying to find new ways for the club to thrive.”
“By selling Ropes’s Penthouse Forum letters?”
“Fuck, you’re old,” I said, unable to stop myself.
“What the fuck did I tell you, Ropes?”
“I’m sorry, Minus, but he’s sitting here calling my writing cheap 80’s porn,” I protested.
“And you’re gonna sit there and shut the hell up while he does, if that’s what I tell you to do.” He turned to Wolf. “And you’re gonna follow orders whether you like it or not. I didn’t bring you in here to ask your permission to move forward with Ropes’s plan, but you were his Road Captain, so I wanted to give you a head’s up.”
“What the fuck do you mean I was his Road Captain?” Wolf rose to his feet. “If you think you’re taking my Captain patch—”
“Settle down, Wolf, I’m not taking anything from anyone,” Minus said as he rose. “Cutter never saw the need for the club to have a treasurer and handled all the bookkeeping himself. In fact, there were only two people he ever sought advice from regarding financial matters. Duke, my mentor in Savannah, and you, Ropes.”
“What?” I asked, completely shocked by this bit of information.
“When you first came to the Club and told Cutter about your background he had a feeling that you’d be a good resource, and he was right.”
“What are you talking about? Cutter and I never discussed the club’s finances. Not even once.”
“Sure, you did. You just didn’t know it.” Minus smiled. “Cutter said he was constantly picking your brain about the stock market.”
“He’d read some article in the Financial Times or the Journal and ask my opinion about it, sure, but nothing more.”
“Nothing more than idle business chit-chat to you maybe, but he’d listen to you and make investments with the club’s money. Investments that are starting to see some major returns.”
“Are you serious?”
“Yes, and I’m now at the point where I need someone to help manage our money.”
“I thought Cricket’s been handling all that,” I replied.
“She has, but I need her focused in other areas now. It’s time the club had an official Treasurer and I want that person to be you, Ropes.”
I didn’t know who was more stunned, me or Wolf.
“Congratulations, Ropes. You deserve this,” Minus said, shaking my hand. “Wolf, Ropes is no longer in your crew, he’s your fellow officer. I expect you two to work together… without issue.”
“I’m cool,” I said, extending a hand to Wolf, who simply looked at it momentarily before shaking it.
“Whatever. I still think this is all fucking weird.”
“Look, I don’t expect Ropes to get rich off this book thing, but he’s agreed to cut the club in on the profits in return for dedicated time to write. He’s honored the code by not withholding and by coming to me with this, so we’re gonna do right by him.”
I gave him a nod. “I appreciate it, Minus.”
“You’ve earned it. The financial advice you gave Cutter is making money for us, and with you officially patched as Treasurer, I have a feeling there’s gonna be a lot more where that came from. So long as we’re seeing profit, we’re gonna support you and see where this all goes.”
Wolf nodded and Minus dismissed him, leaving the two of us alone.
“I honestly don’t know what to say,” I said.
“I meant what I said about you deserving a seat at the table. You’ve got skills and you’ve been a loyal soldier since day one. We came up in this club together, and you and your brother should have been officers by now. I’m gonna make that right because it’s the right thing to do, and the right move for the club.”
Minus and I embraced, and I thanked him again.
“Keep this info close to the kutte for now, and we’ll have an official blow out when you get back from the high seas.”
Devlin
ROPES HAULED OUR bags into an Uber while I climbed into the back. It took me a little more time to manage with my boot, and I was grateful I didn’t have to deal with luggage as well. Ropes assured me that I still looked great despite my new accessory, but I was counting down the days until I didn’t have to wear this stupid thing anymore.
Our flight from Portland to Ft. Lauderdale had been uneventful and the airline staff had been amazing, going above and beyond in helping me get settled. Thankfully, Ropes had splurged for first-class, and I knew the second we sat down and were offered a glass of champagne, I was going to love everything about this trip.
Arriving at the port, Ropes helped me out of the car, then organized for our bags to be loaded onto carts and taken directly to our room. I kept my backpack with ID and essentials, and he did the same, then we headed to the ship boarding.
An attendant ushered us to a line away from the masses and we went through security and then followed where directed, into what we’d come to find out was the VIP line. We were there not because of our importance, but because of my air cast.
“Your fancy footwear’s makin’ this easier,” Ropes said with a grin.
“Glad my clumsiness could be of assistance,” I retorted, and he kissed me gently.
“Really glad you’re with me, baby.”
“Me too.”
I leaned against him and heard him hiss out, “Holy shit, it’s D.W. Foxblood.”
I glanced up at him, then followed his line of sight to see a petite, casually-dressed red-haired woman walking by us. She was beautiful and was accompanied by an equally attractive man that I assumed was her husband. What I found most interesting, was that I recognized the man.
“I know him from somewhere,” I whispered as the couple neared us.
“Who?” Ropes asked, distractedly.
“The guy she’s with. I can’t put my finger on it, but I know him.”
“Clay?” D.W. asked as she approached.
Ropes, clearly startled, managed to squeak out, “Hey,” in return.
“I’m D.W., it’s so nice to meet you,” she said warmly, throwing her arms around a clearly stunned Ropes.
“I’m sorry, you’ll have to forgive me,” Ropes sputtered. “Of course, I know who you are, I’m just completely shocked th
at you know who I am.”
“I told Ali and Olivia that I’m a big fan of your work and I meant it,” she replied.
“I—” was all Ropes could manage.
D.W. Foxblood was currently one of the hottest properties in the literary world. Her wildly successful first book, Forbidden Pleasures had thrust her into the spotlight and had even spawned a series of movies starring singer-turned-actress Melody Morgan.
She smiled. “They didn’t tell you that you’re the reason that I agreed to come on the cruise?”
When D.W. said she loved his books, Ropes looked like someone had just told him he was about to have twins. Now he looked like he was also going to carry and deliver them.
He managed to spit out, “No, they did not.”
“Not only do I enjoy your stories, but there’s a level of authenticity in your writing that really grabs me. It’s what first got me hooked. I sent you an email once, but I never heard back.”
“I deleted that when I saw it,” Ropes said, turning pale. “I thought it was spam. I never, in a million years, would have thought that’d actually come from one of your people.”
“My people?” D.W. looked at her companion and they burst out laughing, before she cut herself off with a gasp. “I’m sorry, how rude of me. This is my husband, Mack,” she said, placing a hand on his shoulder.
The moment she said his name I realized exactly where I knew him from but said nothing.
“And this is my…” Ropes paused and looked at me before continuing, “girlfriend, Devlin.”
I shook D.W.’s hand first and then Mack’s, who’s eyes locked on mine.
“Devlin, right?” he said, smiling wide.
“You know each other?” D.W. asked.
“You work at Fat Donny’s place on Hawthorne, right?” Mack asked.
“Sometimes,” I replied.
“I came in with a guy named Finch a few months ago.”
“I remember. He’d just patched in. I did his first club tattoo. Dogs of Fire, right?”
“You’re in the Dogs?” Ropes asked, clearly taken aback. “I knew you rode but—”
“And you ride with the Burning Saints,” Mack said discretely.
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