“Are you mad at me? Do you want your check back? I haven’t cashed it yet. Technically, I didn’t lie. I really did promise the clothes to Krista.”
“I’m not mad at you. I got my man, and I’m going to file a lawsuit with the city. So it’s a win, win for me.” She casted Knox a retaliatory look. He had gone to stand by the grill as soon as she had left.
“I would think twice about suing him. He is Sex Piston’s brother-in-law, and you said you were going to ask Train to make him, his replacement when he said Shade wouldn’t.” Lily frowned unhappily.
“I changed my mind when he locked me up in his jail. Besides, Train isn’t ever going to need a replacement. I’m going to keep that man alive so long he’s going to make the record books.”
“That’s sweet. You must really love him.”
“Lily, don’t get on my nerves. I’m in a good mood.”
“Come on; let’s go make our plates before I tell Knox you’re threatening me.” Lily tugged her up to her feet.
Killyama let Lily and Beth get in line first. Train slid a big T-bone on her plate when it was her turn.
“Save me a place at the picnic table.”
Killyama nodded, finding a spot where they could sit. Moon, Rider, Willa, and Lucky were on the other side of her. She waited until Train sat down before starting to eat, letting the talk flow around her.
“You’re being quiet.”
She finished the bite she was chewing. “I’m enjoying my steak,” she complimented him.
“I aim to please.” He grinned.
Despite herself, she leaned closer to him, but then straightened when she saw Willa glance at them.
“If she says we make a cute couple, I’m going to puke,” she whispered out of the corner of her mouth.
Train squeezed her thigh under the table.
Relaxing, she finished the rest of her meal.
“You ready to cut your cake, Rider?” Willa asked.
“Hell yes.”
Sasha and Jewell got up to clear the empty plates, and Beth and Lily joined them. Killyama lifted her plate then started to lift Train’s.
“I’ll do that.” Stori stopped her, taking her plate and Train’s before she could get up. “Just stay. We can handle the cleanup.”
The other women all nodded.
Hurt, Killyama tried to keep it from showing. Even Lily and Beth hadn’t wanted her help.
Feeling ostracized, she remained sitting, watching as Rider went to stand next to his cake. She was confused. At Train’s birthday, he had opened his presents before the cake.
When Rider then made no move to cut his cake, Killyama looked around, seeing the whole club had gathered at the back door.
“Aren’t we supposed to watch him open his presents first?” she asked Train curiously.
“No. Just wait. We have a surprise.”
“I don’t have to watch someone strip, do I?”
“No, babe, you don’t have to watch anyone strip,” he said softly.
“Thanks for my birthday dinner.” Rider nodded to Viper who stood up from his seat to stand by the cake.
Killyama, feeling even more confused, watched Rider go stand with the members at the door.
“Today is Rider’s birthday,” Viper stated, and Killyama turned her attention to him. “But it’s also our opportunity to thank someone who accomplished something we couldn’t have done. Killyama brought Gavin home.”
Viper’s expression wrenched her heart. Her and Stud had gone to the hospital a few times to see Gavin, but he had been too bad off to visit. Viper had explained that the withdrawals were so severe that, as soon as he could be stabilized, he would be going to a rehab center that Dr. Price had suggested.
“I will never be able to express my gratitude, or The Last Riders’, with words, because they don’t exist. It doesn’t matter that you belong to the Destructors’, because you belong to us, too. Stud and I agreed you’re just too much for one club to handle. You not only got all eight votes, you got every man and woman’s who is a Last Rider.”
The yells and cheers that came from all the members had her covering her face with her hands.
“Gavin said you deserved a dozen roses, and since Gavin can’t be here to show you his appreciation for what you did for him, we wanted to make sure you got them.”
When Train pulled her hand down, she saw Sasha place a red rose on the picnic table in front of her.
“Thank you, Killyama … for everything.”
She moved away, and Jewell placed another one down.
“Thank you.” Jewell wiped her tears as she moved away.
One after another, the women laid red roses down in front of her.
After Lily laid her red rose down, she came around the table to lean down to hug her. “Thank you, Killyama.”
Beth then followed her sister’s example, and it was everything Killyama could do to maintain her composure.
She was relieved when the women stopped passing by her, almost ready to break.