Page 64 of Ranger's Rise

“You can’t claim Freedom without me.”

I nod. “I’m claiming her today.”

“No! Then I’ll miss the biker-married party.”

“We can wait for the party, Victory. I don’t mind waiting until you can be here for the party, but I’m claiming her today.”

She starts crying and I look around for help. Lorelei comes to save me. “What happened?”

I put my hands up. “She wants me to wait to claim Freedom. I can claim her and don’t mind waiting for the party, but I’m claiming her today.”

Victory gets louder. “She’s not going to wait for the party.”

“She will. She’ll wait for you, Victory. You’re her sister, she’d want you to be here.”

A chick I’ve seen before comes over and stands near me. I’m wondering why she’s so close, but Lorelei has my attention. She’s got Victory calm and I’m encouraged. I’m claiming Freedom today, so Victory needs to be okay with this. Otherwise, the rest of the day will turn to shit and that is not how I want this to go.

“You don’t mind waiting for the party?” Victory asks with tears, but Lorelei’s got her.

“Not at all and I know Freedom wouldn’t either. You mean too much to her and she’d want you to be here.”

“What a sweet man you are. You’re Ranger, right? I’ve seen you at the Club. Sarah said you were great. We like tandem.” The chick puts her hand on my chest and I step back.

“I don’t know you and I sure as fuck don’t know Sarah.”

She smiles like that makes her more interesting. All I see is conniving. “You were with her and Trixie Thursday.”

Victory pulls my arm. “That’s where you were? I knew it. Were you with Shultz?”

“No. I was at Rex’s bar with Cort and VP.”

“Don’t be shy, you don’t have an ol’ lady here. The women here understand.” This fucking chick is too much.

“Get your hands off me and step the fuck back. I don’t know you and haven’t been to the Club all fucking week. Just to be clear, I’ve never been with the Club chicks here and couldn’t tell you anyone’s name.”

I turn and Freedom’s eyes are the first thing I see. She’s fucking pissed. Not fucking happening. “I met you the week I got here. When I decided to stay, I talked to you and I’ve seen you every day. I don’t know her or whoever she’s talking about. I was at the bar with Cort and VP Thursday.”

“And Chris says you were with Trixie and Sarah?”

I swing my head. “That’s what she says.”

“Raid?”

I look to the side and see VP. “Get off Phoenix grounds and out of town. You’re done here.” He turns back to Freedom. “He’s Badass and wouldn’t play you. We were...”

“I believe Ranger. I don’t need you verifying it for him.”Thank fuck. “She pulled the same shit with a Brother at the Club, but his girl didn’t believe in him. I don’t have that problem.”

VP laughs. Freedom looks at Victory and Lorelei. “What’s wrong, Victory?”

“I wanted him to wait to claim you, but he said you would wait to have the party, so I can be here.” She starts with the tears again. Freedom puts her arm around her and looks at me.

“I have no problem waiting until she can be here. It’s obviously important to her and you. That makes it important to me.”

She nods. “So we’re waiting for you to be settled before the party. Why are you crying?”

“You'll wait for me?”

“However long you need us to.” She looks at me and I nod.