Page 69 of Stag

“I tried that already. Apparently she’s not made of glass, and she’ll carry a fucking plate herself. Her words,” Harley said with a grin as he handed out cups of tea.

“Isn’t this all civilised,” Micro said, smiling at Claudia as she looked at him, “thanks, love. You didn’t need to go to any trouble for us.”

She waved at the plate. “I stuffed my face while you were all doing your thing. This is the least I could do. Is there anything I need to know?” She looked from one face to the other, but mine is the one she lingered on. See? Turns out I had to give her my best right the fuck now.

Claudia

Stag practically wilted at my question, but set down the sandwich he’d almost taken a bite out of.

“Yeah, there’s stuff to know. Grease is working on shutting Marissa out of your shit, and we’re gonna make sure you’re not alone when you go out, just until we know she’s not going to do something crazy.”

Huh. So weird to talk about my own twin sister like this. I’d never understand how this is what became of us. Two clones, so similar in so many ways, except for this. Or were we that different at all? Was this behaviour lurking in me too? Would I turn obsessive over Stag? In all honesty, I think I would. I was already starting to think of him as my man, something we probably needed to talk about later. Would I have turned obsessive over Marissa if things were reversed? The really scary part was realising I had no idea.

“Is there more?” I finally asked, because Stag had stopped speaking and shoved most of a sandwich in his mouth, like he was trying to silence himself.

I turned to Micro instead, and he dragged a hand over his face.

“Not really my place to say.”

“You’re the President, right? I’m guessing you’ve made some declarations since this is affecting your club. Aren’t you the man in charge?”

Harley laughed and slapped him on the back before he grabbed another sandwich and sat back with it.

“Fine,” Micro said, glaring at Harley before turning that glare on Stag, who was innocently shoving more food in his mouth to avoid speaking.

“Please.”

He nodded. “Okay, Grease has suggested that there may be the need to get your sister referred for some kind of uh… mandatory mental health evaluation.”

He offered me a weak smile, like he was waiting for me to attack or something. I guess that means he also suspects I could be as unhinged as her.

“I see. That’s probably a valid suggestion. I’d really like to talk to her first though. I think I owe her that.” Stag’s sandwich gag worked on him this time, because I could see he wanted to argue, but he was chewing frantically to try and free his mouth.

“Before he’s able to speak. What if I meet with her at the club, Grimm’s I mean, and you guys can be there to back me up? Maybe have a talk in the VIP area, if Grimm can make it available for half an hour? I’d be safe there, and it’s familiar ground for both of us.”

“Idon’t like this,” Stag said to me for the fiftieth time. We were sitting in Grimm’s VIP area, while several of his biker brothers lined the back wall, and Grimm himself was sitting by the door. I had never felt so safe or protected, but the fact that this was all in defence of me from my own sister was terrifying.

“Here she comes,” I saw Grimm say as he stood up to open the door. My sister looked like her usual self to the outsiders, to those who didn’t know her, but to me? She looked haggard. She looked exhausted. Her makeup wasn’t quite perfect. Her hair was lank and not as glossy. Her outfit in black and white, to fit the goth persona that didn’t quite fit just this once, was hastily thrown together.

The second she sat down in the plush chair opposite mine, her hands started flying, her signed words flowing rapidly. Stag slammed his hand down on the table separating us, and we both jumped and looked at him.

“Out loud. No hiding behind fucking sign language.”

Marissa must have challenged him, because he spoke again almost immediately.

“You want to say hateful shit to her, you’re gonna say it out loud so we can all hear it. Only a coward hides their inner bitch. You upset her, though, and we’re gonna have a real problem.”

When I turned back to Marissa, she looked a little dejected.

“I wasn’t going to say hateful things. I miss you, sis. I want you home with me, where you belong. We can have fun again. Didn’t we have fun?”

Her eyes darted in Stag’s direction, but landed back on me as I replied.

“We used to have fun, but you’ve changed, Mar. You’re so intent on what I’m doing that you’re forgetting to live for yourself.”

She nodded. “I know. I got a bit caught up in keeping you safe, but I’ll change, I promise. I just love you so much. I want the best for you.”

She cast her eyes around at all the other bikers in the room, chewing her lip nervously.