“That’s true.” Shelby never tries using our name to impress or scare people like some girls might.
“She’s loyal,” Jigsaw says. “She was a fuckin’ badass in Washington, too.”
“Fuck yeah,” Dex adds. “She was the first one to notice Red Storm’s Texas rockers. And she knew why it was a problem.” He touches his temple. “She’s smart. I trust her to have my patch.”
“Thank you, brother.” I reach over the table and shake his hand, then pivot to shake Wrath’s hand.
Rock catches my eye. “I’m looking forward to getting to know her better.” He nods to the vest, indicating when he trusts Shelby, she’ll have his crown too.
“Same,” Teller adds.
Z shrugs. “Why else do you think I was trying to get you to move next door to us?”
I rumble with laughter. “Is that what you were doing, Prez?”
“Yeah.”
Hustler catches my eye. “Same, Rooster. I didn’t get to be around her enough, yet.”
“Understood, brother. I got no issue with that.”
Ice clears his throat and lifts an eyebrow.
I glance down at the vest again.
Aw, fuck. I didn’t expect to find patches from Ice and Pants too. Well, maybe I expected one from Pants.
“She’s a good ol’ lady, Rooster,” Ice says. “Shows respect. Reads the room. Observes before speaking. All good qualities. Rare too.”
“Thank you, brother.”
“That’s cool and all,” Pants says, waving a dismissive hand through the air. “I just want a shot at her mom.”
I don’t doubt that’s partially true.
And it’s exactly what we all needed to break up what was becoming an emotional moment.
“Get in line,” Steer says.
“Like fuck you are.” Jiggy throws a scowl at Pants, then Steer.
Dex moans and presses his palms together, shooting a look at the ceiling like he’s praying to the gods who watch over our most degenerate brothers. “Not this again.”
Chapter Fifty-Six
Shelby
Some of the guys emerge from the war room. They briefly stop to say hello to us before going on their way.
No sign of Rooster though.
I bite my lip and can’t stop peeking at the doors every couple of seconds.
“Sometimes the officers have to stick around,” Trinity explains.
“Especially when they’re in trouble,” Heidi adds, slapping her hand over her mouth to hide her laughter. “My brother’s a frequent offender.”
Hope shakes her head but doesn’t verbally disagree.
Charlotte side-eyes Heidi. “I’d argue your husband is detained just as frequently as Marcel.”
“They’re partners in crime,” Hope adds.
“Fair.” Heidi nods.
I sneak another look at the closed war room doors. What if Rooster’s in trouble? Nah, if he is, then so are a bunch of other brothers.
I swear the girls know something’s up because they keep giving each other sly glances and fighting laughter.
I don’t get the impression I’m the butt of the joke, so I ignore it.
Finally, the doors open again.
Jigsaw grins as soon as he sees me. “Stay put, songbird.”
I stand and move closer. “I wasn’t going anywhere. If anything, I was worried you got yourself into trouble.”
“Aw, were you worried about me?”
“Always.”
Hope laughs softly. “He certainly lives a risky existence.”
Jigsaw grins at her, then Lilly. “I missed you two while we were on the road.”
“You were missed as well, Jiggy,” Lilly says.
“Don’t lie to him.” Z slaps Jiggy on the back as he passes him on his way to Lilly. He drops onto the couch and slings his arm around her shoulders as if he expects a show to begin.
“Hey.” Logan’s voice rumbles behind me. He touches my shoulder and I turn, staring up into his eyes.
My knees turn to jelly. “Hey,” I whisper.
He was only in his meeting for about an hour. But I can’t quiet the butterflies waking up to perform a Texas two-step in my belly when he looks at me with all that smoldering determination in his eyes.
A few of the other guys brush past us but I can’t take my eyes off Logan to see who they are.
He opens his mouth. Closes it. His gaze sweeps the room. “Let’s go upstairs.”
“Now hold on a second.” Steer’s voice is a slow, teasing drawl. “Don’t you have a present for Shelby there in your hands?”
“Aww, let him give it to her in private,” Lilly says quietly.
“But we want to watch him give it to her,” Pants says.
“Actually, you don’t. I’ve been scarred for life living on the RV with them,” Jigsaw says.
Rooster scowls at him. “There’s an easy fix for that, you know.”
I drop my gaze to the bundle in Rooster’s hands.
Black leather.
Colorful patches.
I gasp. My hand flies to my chest, pressing over my heart. “Logan?” My voice barely comes out above a whisper.
“Ahh, she knows.” Murphy winks at me.
“I hadn’t planned to do this with an audience,” Logan says to me, throwing another scowl at his brothers. “But I guess it’s fitting.”
“Bro, you should really get down on one knee,” Wrath suggests, pressing his palm toward the floor.
Ignoring Wrath, Rooster leads me to the chair we’d been in earlier. He sits and pulls me between his knees, resting his hands on my hips.