Page 41 of Best Laid Plans

I greet the people who greet me first, but I don’t bother to approach the ones who hang back. I won’t force myself on anyone, and if they’d rather cut me from their lives because of the trouble I brought into theirs, I’ll respect that.

Theo spots me and walks over, giving me a hug that lingers just a little too long for Powers, judging from his grunt.

“Hey, Theo, how you doing?”

“Better now I know you’re alright. Everyone said you were, but adults sometimes lie to protect kids, and some other bullshit. I needed to see for myself. It didn’t sit right with me leaving you there.” His voice deepens a little at that.

I lean over and press a kiss to his cheek. “One day, you’re going to make a great club brother.”

He flushes under my praise before someone calls his name. “I’ve gotta go, but I’m glad you’re okay. Thanks for coming for me.”

I offer him a wonky smile. If I try to speak, it will come out choked, so I don’t even try. Smart kid that he is, he has figured that out. He winks at me and disappears into the crowd.

“How old is that kid again?”

Powers laughs as G walks over and hugs me. As soon as he lets go, Powers pulls me back to him, making G grin. Before he can say anything to wind Powers up, I throw G a warning look. “Don’t be a dick.”

“How can you even suggest that?”

“Because I know you.”

“Please, I’m a changed man.”

“Really. So Amity knows you can cook, then?”

His eyes widen before he looks around covertly, making sure nobody overheard. “Now, let’s not get carried away.”

“You guys are such assholes.”

“I can cook,” Powers says with a casual shrug.

“I wasn’t talking about you, honey.” I pat his chest, his eyes heating with need at the endearment.

“Before you throw her over your shoulder and make good on that look in your eyes, we need to talk to Lil first,” G warns him, making Powers scowl.

A loud whistle splits the air, dragging all of our attention to Havoc in the center of the room. He waits for everyone to quiet down before he speaks.

“Those of you needed in church, head there now. We have things to discuss that can’t wait. Everyone else, stay put until we’re done. If you have to leave for any reason, do not go alone. And let a prospect know where you’re going. It might sound overkill, but I’m not taking any chances with this asshole.”

There are some grumbles, but for the most part, people aren’t complaining too badly. Nobody wants to be told they can’t go somewhere. But after losing Capone, and what went down today, people are coming to realize how serious it is.

I spot a couple of club girls, Glory and Rose as Powers slides his hand into the back pocket of my jeans and urges me toward the room where they hold church. I give them a small smile, but both of them glare at me.

“Well, okay then.”

“What the fuck?”

“Leave it, Powers. It’s just the way things are.”

“Bullshit. They don’t get to treat you that way⁠—”

“But the brothers can, right?”

His mouth snaps shut. As much as he hates to admit it, I’m right. “It doesn’t matter if it’s a patched brother, a prospect, an old lady, or a club girl. People get to feel how they feel. A person died. He was murdered by a man I brought into your lives. Whether it was intentional or not is irrelevant.”

He mutters something under his breath but passes the girls without saying anything. I keep my head down, and my nerves kick in once more. Something about being in this room, with all these men, makes my story that much harder to tell.

“Where are the old ladies?” I ask Powers quietly. I didn’t see any of them inside.