What the hell was happening to me? I was going to be a married woman soon. Maybe I didn’t want to be, but I was going to do it for the club.
The club needed me, and I needed to prove that I cared about them. They’d given me so much. The least I could do was help save some of their lives.
I couldn’t live with myself if I had a chance to make the war go easier for them and didn’t do everything in my power to make that happen. The men of the Demons MC did hard things all the time. I just had to be strong.
I slowly got out of bed and made sure to put on some clothes this time. I wrapped a robe around myself just to make sure. As I left my room, I peeked into the living room.
And saw Clutch sitting on the couch, his feet up on the coffee table, without a shirt on.
His body was ripped and hard, all rough muscles and tattoos. I couldn’t help but stare, my mouth hanging open, at his incredible body. He hadn’t noticed me yet, as he watched the morning news, a cup of coffee in his hands.
I quickly tore myself away and went into the bathroom. I brushed my teeth and did something with my hair.
I had to get ahold of myself.
I walked back out and went into the kitchen.
“Morning,” Clutch grunted.
“Put a shirt on,” I said.
He grinned. “Why? You distracted?”
I made a face. “If you’re staying here, you’d better at least try to stay decent.”
“Whatever you say.” He grabbed his shirt and pulled on it, and instantly I wished he hadn’t.
“I need to go to the clubhouse,” I said to him.
“Whenever you’re ready.”
I bit my lip but didn’t respond. I looked at him for a second but decided I didn’t want to press. I got some coffee and went to my room to get dressed.
The ride out to the club was easy. We didn’t talk much, and I got the sense that Clutch wasn’t in the mood for chatting.
That was fine with me. I was about to go agree to something that seemed truly horrible, even though I knew it wouldn’t be real.
I’d never actually marry this guy. I’d say the words and play the part, but I’d never really be his wife. It was only real and only had power if I let it.
We pulled up out front and Clutch killed the engine. I climbed off and he just looked at me.
“Not coming in?” I asked him.
He stared at me silently for a second, his gaze intense and brooding.
“You sure about this?” he asked me.
“Yeah,” I said softly, “I am.”
“Seems to me that you have no real reason to do anything for the club,” he said. “You don’t owe us anything.”
“I do though,” she said. “Just like you, I grew up here. This is my home. I have to help if I can.”
He just shook his head. “I’m not watching it.”
“Fine. Nobody asked you to.”
He started his engine again and pulled out, riding away.
I watched him go and wished he hadn’t left. I wanted him there in the room for some reason, almost like I drew strength from him being around.
But it was done and he had left. I wasn’t backing down from this just because Clutch had decided to ride off.
I turned and walked into the clubhouse, determined.
It was early again, and so it was pretty empty. I spotted Stonewall and Larkin sitting at the bar, eating breakfast and talking softly.
With nervous pains in my stomach, I walked right up to them.
“Morning, Janine,” Stonewall said. “You look serious.”
I tried to smile. “Just got to talk to my dad about something.”
Stonewall frowned. “Yeah, okay.”
Dad stood up. “Let’s go into my office.”
I nodded and followed him into the back room. He sat down behind his desk with a sigh, but I stayed standing, not wanting to be too comfortable.
“Listen, Dad,” I said.
“Wait,” he interrupted me. “Hold on a second. I just want you to know that whatever you decide, you’re always a part of this club.”
“I want to do it.”
He stared at me silently for a second, and I could see the pain in his eyes, though he was trying to mask it.
“Are you sure?” he said softly.
“I’m sure. If I have a chance to help this club, maybe even save a few lives, I’ll do it.”
“You don’t owe this club anything.”
I smiled softly. “That’s what Clutch said.”
Dad raised an eyebrow. “Smart boy.”
“But I do owe this club everything,” I said quickly. “You saved my life back then, and everyone here welcomed me, raised me. You’ve all sacrificed a lot for the club, and now it’s my turn.”
He looked mournful, like someone he loved had just died. I hated to see him like that, but I knew I was doing the right thing.
It wasn’t the easy thing, but it was the right thing.
“Okay,” he said. “I’ll tell the others.”
“What happens next?”
He shrugged slowly. “I’m not sure. I’ll get in touch with Jetter and the Rebels. We’ll work it out.”
“How fast will it happen?”
“Not fast,” he said. “Jetter will claim you first, get everyone used to the idea. Then we’ll start patching them over. Then you’ll get married.”