Reckless Temptations (Tempted #4)(29)

“Are you fucking with me?”

Jack shook his head.

“Put it on,” he said. “You’ve earned your right to those colors, wear them proud,” he added, tipping his chin toward the vest I was clutching in my hand.

I glanced over my shoulder at Bones, taking in his shit-eating grin, and the pride reflected in his eyes.

“You’re an asshole,” I clipped.

“Stop! You’re giving me goosebumps,” he teased, taking a step closer to pull my hat off and tousle my hair. “What the fuck are you waiting for? Put your goddamn cut on! Wanted to tell you yesterday but your ass was nowhere to be found.”

Pipe and Wolf started pounding their fists against the table as they chanted for me to put it on.

It was a surreal moment, a profound one, finding your place in the world. It was the first time in my life I felt like part of a real family. I slid the vest on, a perfect fit, and my brothers took a chance a piece congratulating me. Jack wrapped his arms around me and patted my back.

“Proud to call you a brother,” he said sincerely.

“Thanks, Prez,” I replied with a grin.

“You know what happens now don’t you?” Pipe said, eyes full of mischief.

I turned my attention toward him as he threw something at me. I caught it just in time, starring at the box of condoms before grinning widely at him.

“Fuck, yeah,” I agreed.

Blackie lined up shot glasses along the table, filling them with Patron before raising his own toward me.

“To brotherhood,” he saluted.

“To Riggs,” Bones added.

“Ay!” Pipe shouted.

“To being a Knight!” I chimed in, clinking my glass to theirs and shooting back the tequila.

“There’s plenty more where that came from,” Blackie promised, as my phone rang.

I pulled myself away from the high and lifted the phone to my ear.

“Hello?”

“Hi. Is it a bad time?” Lauren’s voice filled my ear, reminding me of the text message I received before.

The guys started getting rowdy, re-filling their shot glasses and shouting their well wishes. I downed the shot Bones put in front of me, handing him back the empty glass and stepped out of the Chapel.

“Hey,” I said hoarsely, the burn of the tequila working its effect on my voice. “Sorry, I got side-tracked,” I explained, once I was in the common room. “I’ve got the best news.”

“Really? What happened?” She asked, and fuck me, her voice did things to me. She actually sounded sincere, like she wanted to know. What was even more bizarre was that I wanted to share it with her.

“I got patched in, Kitten. They voted and I’m officially one of the Satan’s Knights,” I said excitedly.

“That’s great, babe,” she boasted, falling silent after the endearment left her lips.

“Yeah, waited a long time for this. They’re having a party for me tonight at the clubhouse,” I said, glancing over my shoulder watching Bones and Blackie stepping into the common room.

“I’m happy for you, Riggs,” she whispered.

“Thanks,” I said, stepping away from my brothers. “Listen, the guys are busting my balls but…why don’t you come tonight?”

I’m an idiot.

I closed my eyes and slammed the palm of my hand against my forehead.

Really, there is no other way to describe me. I have no fucking idea why I asked her to come to my patch party.

“You want me to come to your party?”

Yes.

No.

Blackie handed me another shot. The man was on a fucking mission, I’ll give him that.

“I’ve got to go but yeah, sure, why not?” I said in a hurry. “So maybe I’ll see you later?”

“I don’t know, Riggs,” she said.

Good. Good. Maybe she won’t come.

But a part of me, a real small part, actually wanted her there. I just had no fucking idea why. Not a clue.

“Detour. You come tonight and this could be it, Kitten,” I said, realizing I got my patch and lost my fucking brains.

“I’ll see. If I don’t come, though, have a great night,” she responded. “Bye Riggs,” she said before ending the call.

“I just fucked up,” I said out loud, staring at my phone.

“What’d you do this time?” Bones asked, lighting up a freshly rolled joint.

I snatched it out of his mouth and took a heavy pull.

“I just invited Bianci’s sister to my pussy party.”

I left out that the fact that if I had to choose between the club whores that would swarm this place tonight or my Kitten, hands down I would choose the girl next door with the gorgeous eyes and sexy glasses.

Glasses.

I thought glasses were sexy.

Yeah, I really lost my fucking mind.





“What?” Mia asked, as I stared at my phone.

“He was patched into the club,” I said automatically.

“Yeah, I don’t know what that means,” she counted, shaking her head.

I turned to her.

“It means he’s a full fledge member. It means he gets a vote, it’s everything to a man like him,” I explained.

I remember when my brother became a made man. I remember the black suit he wore, the scent of his cologne, and how he wore entirely too much hair gel. But, what I remember the most, is the look in his eyes when he kissed my cheek before he left. They were full of pride, thinking he had made it in life, that he finally had everything he ever wanted. He didn’t know every word of his oath was another piece of his soul he handed the Devil. Anthony didn’t realize until he lost everything he ever wanted, until he lost Adrianna and their baby.