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CHAPTER THIRTY

SAINT

T he breakfast that started off friendly and chatty ends as a silent affair. Even the bunnies notice the tension of the moment and take away plates, rinsing them before placing them in the dishwasher efficiently and quietly.

“Watch her,” Bullseye tells Heathen, inclining his head toward my woman, taking the responsibility from me.

Then, at his instruction, we all leave the kitchen and file into church.

I’m the fucking VP, vice president, second only to my prez, but at the moment I feel as powerless as the newest prospect. I acknowledge that from the moment I saw Pippa holding onto my cut, realising its importance and rescuing it from the flames, that she was mine, even though I didn’t want to admit it at the time. Sex with her has been so amazing, I’ve never experienced anything like it before in my life, and if I lose her, I don’t think I’ll ever feel it like that again. And we haven’t been careful. She might already be pregnant. Ending Pippa might be ending more than her.

Ending Pippa might be ending my life. I’m not sure I want to live in a world without her in it.

Once we’re all seated, Bullseye bangs the gavel. “Only one topic I want to discuss. Philippa Owens.” He glances at me. “Sorry, Brother, know I gave you more time, but you’re falling so deeply, maybe I’m trying to save you from yourself.” He looks around the table. “Vote is, either the VP gets himself an ol’ lady, or we dispose of a threat to the club. A Fed.” After a pause, he adds, “Floor’s open.”

Should I be pleased that no one rushes to say anything? In fact, they all look stunned, as if, like me, they’d expected more time. I use the opportunity to put my case.

“Brothers, you know I had no idea what I was getting into when I saw her car run off the road. Hadn’t a clue who the fuck she was, hell, didn’t even know if it was a bitch or a man. But she caught my interest when she saved my cut, and when, despite her injuries, she managed to climb out of the ravine. You all know me,” I pause, to indicate myself, “I’m an asshole, I’m no knight in shining armour, apart from my brothers, I’ve never wanted to protect anyone in my life. But she’s got to me,” I place my hand over my heart. “She’s in here, and I can’t get her out.” Again, I stop, and slowly let my gaze roam the room, landing on each of my brothers for a moment. “I trust her.”

Tempest sits back in his chair, eyeing me carefully. “And what about you, Saint? You say you trust her, but what if we can’t? What position are you in if the club votes to end her?”

Lowering my face into my hands, I rub my temples, then lift my head, knowing my anguish must be visible. “I don’t fuckin’ know,” I say, almost in a whisper, then repeat, “I don’t know.”

Bullseye bangs the gavel. “Let’s not draw this out any longer. I want answers from around the table.” He looks at the man sitting next to me. “Freak?”

I draw in a breath, want to cover my ears, want to live in denial for just a bit longer. Instead, I have to force myself to listen as the brothers tear my woman’s character apart.

Freak stares sideways at me, his face fixed and impassive. I avert my eyes, not wanting to see what’s in his. He clears his throat. “Had quite the conversation with Ms. Owens.” He seems in no hurry to give us the outcome, taking a pack of cigarettes out of his cut, and lighting one up. He draws in smoke and lets it out before continuing. “I think she wants to help Ace rather than destroy him. I vote aye for her being Saint’s ol’ lady.”

Looking round at him sharply, my lungs let out the air they’d been holding. He gives me a chin lift as my eyes meet his.

Piston is sitting next to him. He sighs heavily, and for a second, I’ve no idea how he’s going to vote. Eventually, he says, “Aye. If only for a chance to win my money back.”

There’s a moment of levity, then Woody speaks. “It’s an aye from me. She had a fucked up childhood, I can relate.”

Stalker raises his hand. “If she can corral the bunnies and get meals cooked, I’m all for her staying.”

Paint shakes his head. “Despite myself, I like the bitch, woman ,” he quickly corrects having seen my glare.

A snort comes from Rattler. “I thought I was quite convincing, but she wasn’t buying anything I was selling when I tried to trick her. But as long as the VP vouches for her, I don’t mind her hanging around.”

From Winchester, it’s just a simple, “I’ll go with the majority.”

Short states, “I like having her around. She’s good for the VP. Lets us see his human side.” If he hadn’t given me his support, I’d have slapped him around the head for that comment.

“I’d like to learn what she can teach me,” Genie states simply.

We’re back to Tempest, and I’ve no idea how he’ll vote. He gives a heavy sigh. “We’ve taken her old life from her, and as long as Saint can satisfy her this new one is what she wants, I don’t see a problem with him taking her on. As long as,” he stops, gives me a lingering glance, “the VP can control her, and makes sure she doesn’t go running back to her old life.”

Now it’s down to Bullseye, my prez. I have to admit my eyes are pleading when I direct them his way. He stoically looks at every brother except for me, drawing in a deep breath before making a pronouncement. My heart almost stops beating as I wait for his answer.

I watch as he lifts the gavel, then watch it fall as if he’s going to issue a death sentence, barely daring to breathe as it hits the table.

“So voted. Pippa is Saint’s ol’ lady.”

My head drops down into my hands, the release of tension so great I feel dizzy as my blood pressure rapidly drops back to a more normal level. I’m not even sure if I tried to stand, whether my legs would support me.

I hear chairs scraping as brothers get to their feet and leave the meeting. Some slap their hands on my back in passing, a couple say something, but the words don’t compute, the rushing sound in my ears overwhelms them.

I don’t know how long it is before I come back to my senses, realising the thing that I should have done first, is what so far, I haven’t made a move to do. Find Pippa and tell her.

“Starting to think the vote didn’t go the way you wanted.” Bullseye’s deep voice breaks through the fog. “You want me to call the brothers back in?”

“What? No!” I glare at my prez. “I’m shocked, is all. You didn’t think about warning me what you were going to do?”

Unrepentant he shrugs. “I read the room, Brother. Grabbed the moment. Had a suspicion this was how it was going to go down. Didn’t seem any point in drawing things out, and as for you? Well, now you and Pippa can move on with your lives.”

“She’ll never betray us.” My voice is as firm as I can make it.

Bullseye stands, leans over me and snarls, “See that she doesn’t. She’s your woman and your responsibility now.”