Page 23 of Bowser (Dragon Riders MC 2)
Link furrowed his brow. “How long have you been standing behind that door?”
I grinned. “Your motorcycles are fucking loud.”
Link glared at Bowser. “No more meetings here.”
Bowser shrugged. “Not my fault you had to rev your engine outside before shutting it off.”
Sly pointed. “He’s got a point.”
I waved my hand in the air. “You know you need me. You know you need a woman talking to these other women in order to get them to go along with this plan. And you know Joanna won’t close down her practice long enough to make this ride with you, so stop thinking it, Link.”
The guys pursed their lips in surprise as Link sighed.
“Hope, I can’t—”
I glared at him. “It’s a good thing I’m asking the entire crew then, instead of just you.”
Sly snickered. “She’s feisty. I like her.”
Bowser growled. “Back off.”
I giggled. “Down, boy. It’s okay.”
Ash let out a bark of a laugh, the only sound he had made since this entire meeting started. And as the guys turned to look at him, he focused on me.
“You got an opinion on this?” I asked.
He puffed air through his nose. “I didn’t vote with the original vote because of this exact issue right here.”
Everyone fell silent as the man talked.
“Sly’s concern is all of this backfiring on us. I’m not concerned about that, though.”
I shook my head. “Neither am I.”
Link murmured. “Do they even know we’re here?”
Bowser shushed the man as Ash continued to speak with me.
“What I’m concerned about is how we’re going to convince these girls to work with us. That’s the kicker. I don’t have any confidence issues, except for that one problem. And you, Hope, just solved it.”
I smiled. “Glad I can be of service.”
Link shook his head. “I’m telling you, we can’t—”
Ash turned to face the group. “I’ve proposed an adjustment to the plan. Now, we vote.”
Bowser held my gaze for a long time before he nodded.
“All in favor of Hope riding along to talk with the women we recruit about this plan, raise your hands.”
And even though Link didn’t raise his, everyone else did.
Outvoted, four to one.
“Your sister’s gonna kill you for this,” Link said.
“Trust me, it can’t be any worse than what Skeleton’s already done to me,” I said.
Bowser walked over to me. “I’m going to keep you safe. The entire time you’re with us, you’re staying with me. Understood?”
I nodded. “Understood.”
Sly walked up beside him. “And you’re sure this is what you want to do?”
Ash talked over their heads. “Things could get hairy out there. Especially if word gets back to Skeleton about what we’re doing before we enact it.”
I sighed. “You guys, I’m sure. I’ve never been surer of anything in my entire life.”
“Anything?” Bowser asked.
I grinned up at him. “Well, maybe one other thing, too.”
I winked up at him, not caring who saw. Not caring who judged. Not caring who told my sister, or pissed off Link, or any of the other shit that didn’t matter anymore. I wanted my freedom back. I wanted my life back. But more than that, I wanted Bowser to be proud of me. I wanted him to know how much I cared about him. I wanted to show him that I was strong enough to stand by him. That I was worthy of linking my arm with his and filling the boots that stood beside his own.
But Link always had to go and ruin shit.
“Even though we’ve voted, I’m still the president of this club. And if I want to, I could veto this.”
The guys groaned as I slipped away, approaching him as my head tilted back to keep my eyes locked with his.
“Is that what you want?” I asked.
He blinked. “What?”
“Is that what you want? To veto me going on this ride?”
“Doesn’t matter what I want. What matters is what’s—”
“Good for me? Or good for Joanna?”
When he didn’t answer me, I knew what was going on.
“I know you two have talked,” I said.
He shrugged. “We always talk.”
“No. I know you two have ‘talked.’”
I nodded my head over to Bowser and he sighed.
“Hope, I’m sorry. But I have to—”
I held up my hand. “Before you speak those words, let me ask you something.”
He nodded. “Fine.”
“Are you the president of this club?”
“Yes.”
“And you’re sure about that?”
His nostrils flared. “Of course, I am.”
“So, you—Link whatever-your-last-name-is—is president of the Dragon Riders.”
“That’s me.”
I nodded. “So, if you’re the president, then why the fuck are you letting your girlfriend make all of your decisions for you?”
The guys held back laughter behind me, but I was serious.
“She isn’t,” Link said.
I shook my head. “Not from what I can see. Because right now, you’re basing your decision on this altered plan on something you’ve probably promised Joanna. And here’s the thing you need to understand about my sister: she’s always played it safe. That was her role in our family when we were growing up. She always used rational thought to make her decisions and she never once did something risky. She never climbed a tree for fear of falling out. She never speeds for fear of getting clocked by a police officer. Even if she’s going three miles over the damn speed limit. She has the same routines, she eats the same things, and she even wears the same kind of outfits. Day in and day out. Am I wrong?”
