Fat stacks of twenties and hundreds wrapped in bands spilled out the opening. He pursed his lips and whistled, so sharp and unexpected Meg barely suppressed a laugh.
“It's all there, Prez. You can count it down to the dollar. She says it is, and I trust her.” Smiling, our eyes met, and I tried to lay off thinking about how bad I wanted to be inside her just then.
Come on. Hurry the fuck up. You've got your business here, man, and we've got ours.
The excitement in Dust's cool gray eyes raged louder. Then he said the words I dreaded.
“Skin, have a seat. Help me count this loot and get it inventoried for the vault.”
Megan took one look at the sparks in my eyes turning to smoke. This time, she couldn't hold it. She laughed, high and sweet and beautiful, and kept on doing it when the Prez looked at her like she'd lost her mind.
About an hour later, I couldn't get the stink of fresh money off my hands. “It's all there, Prez, see? Just like I told you. Right down to the final dollar.”
“Yeah, yeah. You weren't bullshitting. We've got our second chance for this club right here, and it's all thanks to turning your mistake into a miracle.”
“Mistake?” Meg spoke for the first time in forever, sitting in the corner, next to the club's old filing cabinet.
“My words, not his, beautiful.” Dust thumped his chest. “Our boy's got too big a hard-on for him to realize you're trouble, sweets. You oughta be thankful.”
“Yeah, trouble...about that.” She stood up and walked over.
I grabbed her hand, trying to stall her out. She wanted her assurances, but there was a right way to approach the Prez and a wrong one. I didn't want him chewing into her, no matter how good his mood was from our newly fat cash supply.
“Now that you've got your money, I need to know that you're never going to come after me again, Dust.” She walked past me and stared at him like a wildcat. “I want assurances that we're good on both sides. I need to know I've paid my debt, and whatever trouble Skin caused is done.”
“Assurances?” The Prez glared at her, considering her request.
The girl had courage, I had to give her that. 'Course, she didn't realize what he'd done. She hadn't seen him throttle bastards to death with his bare hands, or take rival prospects out back when his old man led the club, making them scream louder than anybody else could, 'til they sang and gave us whatever we wanted.
Dust didn't get to be Prez thanks to his daddy. He'd gotten the patch because he was as hard, uncompromising, and relentless as he was reasonable.
“Yeah, sure, I'll give you my word. Here, girl, reach out your hand and shake.”
I watched him take her by the wrist. I couldn't breathe 'til I saw the familiar handshake I'd seen him use before when deals went down. Dust grabbed her wrist and pressed his fingers deep, like a Roman soldier feeling for a dagger.
I'd read about that when I was growing up, going through a spell where history's badasses intrigued me. Didn't have a clue where the Prez picked it up – it had to be intuitive, because I'd have bet every dime I had against him ever paying attention in any history class.
“There, babe,” I said softly, running my free hand through Meg's dark brown hair as they broke hands. “Satisfied?”
“No, actually.”
Fuck. My eyes jumped to the Prez. I could see the cold, frustrated, predatory edge creeping into his eyes.
“I don't have time for games, little missy. You'd better name whatever the fuck you're after or drop it. I've given you my word, and any brother around here will vouch that it's pretty damned valuable. You think I'm a liar?”
Instinct took over. I stepped up, got between them, and looked the Prez dead in the eye.
“You know she isn't, brother. The girl wants to know she's safe, and I don't blame her, but you can't give her the assurance she's looking for. That's my job.” Meg's bright blue eyes flashed wonder and confusion.
I grabbed her by the wrist and jerked her into my chest, wrapping my arms snug around her sweet body, everything I wanted to own for the rest of my days.
“What's going on here, Skin?” Dust growled.
“I'm claiming her as my old lady. Right here, right now. Nobody's gonna stop me. This club won't ever make demands from a woman wearing a brother's brand.”
For a second, the whole world stopped. Meg tensed in my arms, scared and uncertain, but her eyes were wide. Filled with the desire, the need, the admiration I'd come to love.
The Prez just gawked, taking a few seconds to collect his senses. “Bullshit. You don't really mean it...do you?”