Page 138 of The First Cut

“They wouldn’t have believed any of it if they knew it came from me. Worse, they might have mentioned something to Driller or Khan.”

“And they’d have killed you.” Al sighs.

“To keep what they were doing a secret? Oh yeah. Of course, I didn’t know just how involved either of them were. I honestly thought they might be covering for one of the other brothers or a nomad, perhaps. I was shocked to discover the truth. Things like that happen in movies, not real life. To find out what Driller and Khan were up to shook us all. Not because they aren’t capable of heinous things. I know exactly what Driller, in particular, was capable of. It’s that they managed to hide it from a whole club of brothers, and they did that for years. I’m still not sure how they pulled it off. Sometimes I think we missed something.”

“That happens when you focus on something for so long that it almost takes over your life. It makes you question everything. Many a sane man has gone crazy looking for holes where there were none.” David, who is sitting opposite me, kicks his feet up on the low table before Marjorie yells for him to move them, making me laugh.

“You should tell your man. He’s the new president, right?”

“He is. He’s a little intense, but he loves me, keeps me safe, and makes me happy.”

“Good. You deserve that.”

“I think we all do, right?”

“Here, here,” someone shouts before everyone raises their waffle cones in a toast.

I shake my head at them. “It’s good to see you all. It feels amazing to be here without looking over my shoulder.”

“I wouldn’t go that far.” Marjorie sighs.

“Huh? Why?”

“Because I don’t think tall, dark, and delicious is here to see me.”

I turn just as the door opens, and Hannibal strolls in. He walks straight to me before bending down and picking me up, kissing me right there in front of everyone. We break apart to the sound of cheers.

“You left.”

“For an hour to get ice cream. I hardly fled the continent.”

“You should have told me. I was worried.”

I sigh and kiss his jaw before he lowers me to my feet.

“I’m sorry, I just needed a little air. Everyone is acting so weird, and they aren’t even here yet.”

“They care.”

“I know. It’s the only reason why I haven’t set them all on fire.”

He grins at me. “I’ll tell them to rein it in.”

“Thank you. Here, let me introduce you to everyone. We have Al, Jordan, David, and his lovely wife, Marjorie.” I reel off everyone else before pointing behind the counter. “And behind the counter is Ed.” He waves without looking over, but clearly, he’s paying attention.

“Everyone, this is Hannibal. My old man and the President of Raven Souls MC.”

Al gets to his feet and offers him his hand. “Good to meet you. Hope you do a better job than the last dickhead.”

“Al!” I sigh.

“What are your intentions with our Lola, young man?” Jordan asks, making me groan.

I bury my head against Hannibal’s chest. He kisses the crown of my head before sliding his thumb under my chin and tipping it back.

“It was you, wasn’t it?”

“What was me?”