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The house is safe and I don’t worry once I’m behind my twelve-foot walls, but my people say I need security, so I have two people watching over me when I’m home. Being home alone the day before had been a fluke. Usually, my travel team arranges for the at-home people to be there, but I’d assured them I wasn’t going anywhere for a few days, and no one knew we were home, so I should be safe behind all my locked doors. Once my assistant spilled the beans that I was out and about, all the protocols had kicked in.

And sure, I pay them, so I can tell them to go away, but why bother paying for the best and then not listening to their advice?

My first stop upon arriving home was to check on Davy’s cleaning skills. The mirror was spotless and shiny, the garbage had about as many sanitizing wipes as I’d expect, everything was in its place, and nothing appearedoff.

I imagine upholstery work is all about attention to detail, which meant I’d be able to trust Davy with some bigger things. Maybe.

I was about an hour and a half into my workout when my phone rang, and I answered it from across the room with my watch because it was Ghost, Hailey’s better half and my main point of contact with the bikers. Hailey is our guitar player, and she’s been with Ghost for as long as I’ve known her.

“Hey, you up for lunch with us?” Ghost asked. “Got someone who needs a sit-down with you. We can come to you if you can’t get out, or we can host you in the VIP section of the restaurant. Your call, but I figure you gotta eat.”

The bikers were pretty good at getting me in without anyone spotting me, and then sitting me so the rest of the patrons only saw me from the back. Ranger had worked out with me for about an hour and then swapped out with Mac, who was doing curls. I looked at him and he nodded.

“Yeah,” I told Ghost, “one of your brisket plates sounds good. No idea what you put on your spicy fries, but damn if they aren’t addicting. What time you want me?”

“One o’clock work?”

“Perfect. See you then.”

* * * *

Will

Sometimes I enjoy being driven around while other times I prefer to drive. My security guys would rather drive me around, but I convinced them to ride with me to the restaurant. I had this new Stingray and I wanted to drive it.

So, one of them rode with me and the other followed in the SUV.

I wore my disguise to placate them — a ballcap with my hair under it so it doesn’t look long, clean-shaven, clothes that are a little dorky, and glasses — and then parked kind of close to the back entrance. My guys came in with me and sat at a different table. Honestly, I trust the MC to keep me safe in their establishments, but since the Drake Security guys had to accompany me on the way, they may as well come in and eat.

However, Brain led me to their office, where Bubbles was sitting on a loveseat looking at his phone. He put his phone away and stood when we came in.

“Ghost put your order in, and Dawg knows what kind of beer you like. A waitress should be here any minute with our food. Please,” Bubbles motioned to the table set for three, “have a seat. I thought we needed a little privacy for this conversation. Nothing’s wrong, everything’s good, but Davy asked me to explain a few things.”

“For a number of reasons,” Brain said, “we aren’t big on broadcasting information about which of our members have spent time in prison. We’re going to share some club secrets and some personal secrets, and I trust you won’t share them with others.”

I sat and shrugged. “I trust the MC with some pretty big secrets. I hope you feel I’m trustworthy with yours.”

“Exactly right,” Brain said. “Hailey’s our family and you’re her family. That makes you family, too.”

Two waitresses came in with our drinks and plates along with two large pitchers of beer, asked if we needed anything else, and left.

“They won’t come back unless we page them,” Bubbles said. “Dig in, and I’ll tell my story.”

“Before you get started, while I’m thinking of it, put Mac and Ranger’s food on my bill, too, please.”

“Yours is on the house,” Brain said. “We’ll comp theirs, too.”

I pulled four twenties from my wallet and put them on the table. “Give some or all of it to the waitresses, then.”

Bubbles took a bite, swallowed, and began. “I did a long stretch in maximum security, but was moved to a minimum security facility near the end. Davy arrived about a week after me, and he came right to me and offered himself to me for protection. That isn’t really necessary in low security, but I wasn’t of a mind to clue him in. I’m not gay, but things are different inside. I was clear this was an arrangement and not a relationship, but I realized he had a crush on me a few weeks in. I did my best to curb that, but I also worked to show him he has value and worth above and beyond his ability to bend over and take a dick up his ass. He’d been well trained, but by the kind of asshole who pushes his slaves down rather than building them up. I tried to build him up.”

“Davy says he told you he went back to his original Master when he was released,” Brain said. “When Davy refused to mule for him again, he was promptly kicked out. He made his way here, hoping to pick things up with Bubbles, which obviously wasn’t going to happen.”

“I paid his first month’s rent in a tiny house,” Bubbles said. “The owner lives right next door, and I knew he’d watch out for him, help us keep Davy safe. I bought him a cheap motorcycle, and then Matty kind of adopted him. They work out together sometimes, go thrifting for vintage clothing,” Bubbles rolled his eyes. “I adore both of them, but sometimes they’re just too much.”

“And Davy isn’t allowed to talk about his relationship with you in prison because you’re locked tight in the closet?” I asked.

“There’s no closet. An asshole is an asshole no matter the gender, same with throats. I’ll fuck the male version if it’s the only thing available, but I only have relationships with girls. Not interested in holding a guy. Usually, when I fuck someone inside I send them on their way when I’m finished, but Davy needed some aftercare because I don’t think he’d ever really had it before. I was trying to teach him he had some value. I understand how he got confused, but I was already with Lexi when he showed up, and I think that helped.”