Cherry is a strawberry blond, maybe a little older than myself, with blue eyes. She smiles and looks like she has a bubbly attitude.
Molly is a brunette with brown eyes who has to be in her fifties. She is a little more on the chunky side than the others.
Pepper has black hair with little specks of gray all over. She is obviously the oldest, but her green eyes make her look fierce and wise.
Then there is Vera. She looks to be in her thirties with reddish brown hair and the brightest red lipstick you can imagine. She looks like a total bitch.
“Hi, nice to meet you all,” I say politely to the girls.
“Do you need any help, Babs? “ I ask, ignoring the girls now as they're sizing me up.
“Nah, I think we about have it covered. Think we are all about to head out to the bike show as soon as the boys are done with church,” she says, throwing the knife in the sink.
“You should be careful, not being patched in and all,” Vera says, leaning against the counter. Her voice sounds condescending, sending red flags off in my mind. Top that with the look she is giving me and I want to stab her with Babs' knife.
“She’s Bull's daughter, nobody would be stupid enough to fuck with her,” Pepper says, lighting a cigarette.
“Yeah, but she’s not from around here. She might as well be a civilian; anyone would think she’s a whore,” Vera says, eyeing me. “I did.”
They are talking as if I'm not even in the room. What the hell?
I look right back at her, my pulse racing. My dad wouldn’t appreciate me starting a fight after being back five minutes, but if I don’t stand up for myself she will never respect me. Respect seems to be a high priority around here and I've gotta earn it.
“With that whorish lipstick you're wearing, someone could think the same about you,” I say, pursing my lips.
Babs starts laughing along with the other ladies.
Vera smirks at my remark, cocking her head to the side. “Feisty. I like you already.” Her smirk turns into a grin.
The kitchen doors are thrown open and a guy walks in; he looks familiar. He’s wearing a black bandanna and has a black beard that's braided. I look at his cut in search of his name and see it says ‘Old Man’. Then it hits me like lightening; he’s the guy that hit on me the night I helped bartend.
“Hey, ladies, we’re heading out. Pack up your shit and let's ride,” he says, pulling Vera into his side. She must be his Ol’ Lady, the way they start kissing. The way he talked to me that night didn’t give me the impression that he had an Ol’ Lady. I pray he doesn’t recognize me; that could worsen things between Vera and I.
Vera starts kissing his neck. He turns his face to let her into the crook of his neck and notices me. He grins wolfishly and winks at me. Shit, he recognizes me.
With that, I turn to find Shadow. As soon as I open the kitchen doors, there he is.
“Ready?” he asks, pulling me into his arms.
I nod and grab his hand, heading for the door. He leads me into the chapel instead. “What are you doing?” I ask, confused.
He goes over to a chair at the end of the table and pulls up my leather jacket.
“I’ve been looking for that!” I yell, trying to grab it, but he pulls it from my reach.
“Wait, look,” he says, holding it back up.
I look at it, but I don’t notice anything different. Then he turns it so I’m looking at the back. I’m stunned at what I see.
It has patches; one that says 'PROPERTY OF SHADOW', and another of the Devil's Dust symbol.
I don't know what to say. At first, I thought wearing something so branding in public was ridiculous; like a dog with a dog tag. But after seeing the patches, and feeling the disrespect in the club of not having them, I want it more than anything.
Shadow slides it onto my arms and pulls me into him.
“Now you're mine and everybody will know it,” he says, making me gasp with excitement.
I bite his bottom lip and whimper at the love and lust vibrating through my body, making Shadow chuckle.
“Let’s go or we’ll never make it to the show.” He turns me toward the door.
When we reach Shadow's bike, Bobby starts clapping and everyone jumps in. I turn cherry red as I hear cat calls, and everyone congratulating Shadow. You would think I'd gotten married with all the excitement in the air. I feel respected as I get nods and smiles from other Ol’ Ladies.
“'Bout time, brother,” Bobby says with a face-splitting grin. I look over at my dad. He is not clapping and doesn't look happy.
“Yeah, fuck you,” Shadow says to Bobby, with a matching face-splitting grin.
Everyone’s bikes start up after Bull first starts his. The loud, thunderous sound of motors fills my ears. My whole body vibrates with the freedom.
Bull pulls off and everyone follows.
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