Reckless Temptations (Tempted #4)(28)

“How’d it go with Wu?” He asked, passing the joint.

I took the first pull, welcoming the burn of the herb and shrugged my shoulders.

“In and out, easy job.” I thought about it—Wu, the Red Dragons and how over the top their operation looked. “The Dragons don’t play, huh?”

Bones had been part of the Satan’s Knights for a couple of years now, making him more knowledgeable when it came to rival clubs and how they worked. He had a better understanding of the history between the Knights and the Dragons too. He didn’t need me to tell him that Sun Wu was a lethal bastard, he already knew that.

“No they don’t,” he affirmed. “It’s good for the club that we make nice with him. You doing that job for him shows good faith. We don’t want that guy or his club as an enemy,” He said, taking the joint from me.

“I hear you,” I said, staring at the bikes that lined the Dog Pound, noticing how everyone’s bikes were parked, but the guys were nowhere in sight. “What are you doing out here? Where is everyone?”

He looked at me for a moment, silently, before he offered me the joint again.

“They’re all inside,” he replied finally.

“I’m good,” I said, declining the joint and watching on as he took one last puff.

“I was waiting for you,” he said, blowing out the smoke. He coughed slightly, and I reached over and slapped him on the back.

“Aww you missed me, brother?” I joked.

Bones and I went way back, a brotherhood before either of us ever knew of the Satan’s Knights. His mother, Lorraine, was my family’s housekeeper, the sweetest lady you’d ever have the pleasure of knowing. When we were kids, Lorraine would bring Bones with her on the weekends and we’d play together. We remained close through the years, and while my parents tried to shelter me, Bones was the one who enlightened me. He introduced me to sports, women and pot. And when I broke away from my family, he and his mom welcomed me with open arms.

Lorraine passed away two years ago around the same time Bones became a patched member of the Satan’s Knights. He’s led me on this detour, bringing me into the fold and introducing me to the club. He’s the one who gave me my road name, and it’s because of Bones, I’ve found my place within the MC.

I owe him a lot but he’s never asked for anything other than my friendship. He’s my brother, first and foremost. Always. Until we die.

“Riggs, you know I always got you, right?” He questioned me, both verbally and with his eyes.

“I know and that shit works both ways,” I said, staring back at him, wondering where this was coming from.

He nodded thoughtfully as my phone chimed, signaling I had a text message.

“Everything okay?” I asked, as I reached into my pocket for my phone, glancing down at the screen to see Lauren’s name. I swiped my thumb across the screen and opened the message.

Kitten: Hi…so, I’ve been thinking and I think I’m ready for that detour.

I smiled slightly, about to reply when I realized I was in the middle of a conversation with my friend and he looked all sorts of weird. I lifted my eyes back to Bones.

“Jack wants to see you. They voted on whether to patch you in,” he said, solemnly.

Shit.

“You don’t look too fucking happy. They voted against me?” I asked angrily. That was fucking bullshit. I’ve done everything asked of me and then some, I proved my loyalty and I fucking deserved my patch.

Bones jumped off the table and patted my shoulder.

“Come on, let Jack explain everything,” he ordered.

Fuck that. Jack Parrish could kiss my ass. I shoved my phone into my pocket and hopped off the table. I’d go meet with my so-called brothers, but I wasn’t about to listen to some bullshit excuse why they had voted against me.

“Calm down,” Bones warned, quickening his pace to catch up with me as I charged into the Dog Pound.

“I am calm,” I seethed. I very calmly was going to fucking flip their precious, fucking table upside down.

I charged into the Chapel, Bones on my tail, and peeled off my cut that labeled me a prospect, the fucking joke of the Satan’s Knights.

“Riggs, don’t—” Bones started.

“I’m done,” I interrupted throwing my cut onto the table. “You got something you want to say?” I asked the man seated at the head of the table.

Jack raised an eyebrow, diverting his eyes back and forth between me and Bones. Then I heard Bones laugh behind me.

“What the fuck is so funny?” I asked, through gritted teeth as I glanced over my shoulder toward my friend.

They all started laughing.

Every single fucking one of them.

“What is so fucking funny?” I hissed, eyes on the Bulldog as he rose from his seat.

“The brothers and I thought it was time to vote on whether we patch you in,” he explained, as I rolled my eyes. Was he really about to sugar coat this shit for me?

“It was unanimous,” he added.

Blackie rose from his chair, walking toward the back of the room as Jack stood in front of me.

“Congratulations, you’re officially one of the Satan’s Knights,” Jack declared, taking the leather vest Blackie offered him.

I looked at the leather cut in disbelief, running my fingers over the stitching of the patches and lifted my eyes to my president’s.