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Zindel sighed. “So, he truly understands you, then?”

Ze nodded. “And accepts me.”

“All right, then. I’ll be nicer to him… after Hell Week.”

Ze snorted. “You can’t participate in Hell Week, you aren’t a member.”

Zindel frowned. “Awww, but I wanna.”

“Too bad. If you want to, join the club,” Ze said.

Zindel shook his head. “Naw, I’m good. I like my freedom.”

“You have freedom in the club.”

“Not like I have it now.”

Ze sighed. “Fine. I’m heading upstairs to clean up. Sure you don’t want to help?”

Zindel shook his head. “Nope, there’s a bird up there. Scared the shit out of me when I first saw it. Probably shitted all over the place since the window’s gone. That’s all yours.”

Ze laughed and shook his head. His brother was so prissy. He grabbed some plywood from the basement, then went upstairs to his apartment and yes, the bird was still there. After chasing it around the room for a little while, he did manage to get it back out the window. He covered the window first, because that needed doing. Then, he picked his money up, surprised his brother hadn’t claimed it. The bird must have really scared Zin away. Ze got to cleaning up and as he did, he smiled thinking about his future with Tiger.

10

TIGER

Seven Days Later

Ze had warnedTiger that Hell Week was a test of sorts, but he wasn’t expecting it to be so damn degrading. He wasn’t used to having to wash grown men’s clothes, or bikes and shit. He hadn’t had to clean like this in his entire life. He grew up rich and the maids did all of the manual labor needed to keep their homes in order. All in all, the last seven days had been a humbling experience. All it took was one look at Ze to make it all worthwhile. Their tests had come back negative, but he’d held off on fucking his man. If he had to endure Hell Week, he’d make him endure it too in another way.

Bruiser threw an apple core on the floor as he was sweeping and he held back on making any comments. He just swept it up into the pile of dust and debris that he’d gathered.

“So, how much did that fancy-ass bike of yours cost?” Bruiser asked him.

Tiger looked at him. “A hundred and twenty grand,” he said.

Bruiser’s eyes widened a little, then he nodded. “Well, that’s all fine and dandy for a dandy like you, but you need to get yourself an American bike. Preferably, one that isn’t made for bitches. Translation–runs on gas as its main fuel source.”

Tiger looked at the man. “Nothing wrong with electric motorcycles. They go fast as fuck and aren’t loud as hell.”

“And let me guess, better for the environment and all that shit?”

Tiger shrugged. “A perk, but not why I own them.”

“Well, Lords of Chaos members drive American bikes. So, fine, get you an electric one if you must, but at least let it be a fucking Harley,” Bruiser said.

“Naw, he doesn't need to do anything. His ass ain’t gonna make it to be one of us,” Hound Dog said, stepping over to them.

“Oh, I will be. You think these asinine chores are going to run me off. It’s child’s play,” Tiger said.

“Didn’t you break a nail the first time you had to wash the dishes?” Wolf taunted from behind, forcing Tiger to turn to face him. “Get the fuck out since we can’t say it any plainer.”

Tiger glared at the man Ze had a great deal of respect for. “Why should I?”

“Because no one in the club fucking trusts your ass. You tried to kill our brother, you think any of us want you near him?” Wolf said.

Tiger threw down the broom and stepped up to Wolf, looking up at the man who was three inches taller than him at six-six. “You listen to me and listen well. I want Zaire and I’ll do whatever it takes to be in his life. And if that means I have to deal with your ragtag band of biker buddies, so fucking be it. But don’t make the mistake of thinking you can intimidate me. I’ve killed men bigger than you for less.”