Page 79 of Under Kid’s Protection

“Never.” He shook his head as he rubbed his hands up and down her arms. “Last chance to back out.”

“What?” She peered at him.

“Church is about to start,” he explained. “I’m putting it on the table tonight. You will be my old lady by the end of the night.”

“Oh!” Her grin grew. “Wow. Fast.”

That wasn’t a yes. He stooped down to get to her level. “Are we doing this?”

“Yes.” She nodded vigorously. “No doubts. I’m in.”

His heart flipped like the high school football player who just asked the head cheerleader to homecoming. “I gotta go, but I’ll see you in a few.”

He kissed her forehead and reluctantly departed, jogging toward the clubhouse.

47

Kid

Approaching the door for church, Kid took a deep breath. They would discuss important shit tonight. Two items would impact how the club would run going forward. The third, and the surprise, would only have to do with Kid.

Claiming an old lady as his own should be a formality. These things were never a surprise. Everyone saw the announcement coming a mile away. A guy didn’t make this decision on a whim. By requesting his brothers to recognize someone as an old lady, he would be asking them to lay their lives on the line to protect her. It was serious business. If his brothers didn’t trust her, they could reject their brother’s claim on her.

He doubted anyone would have ill will toward Carrie. She hadn’t pissed anyone off, and they were well aware of Kid’s feelings toward her. He’d caused two bar brawls for her. So, he shouldn’t be nervous about it.

Yet the possibility was there. Kid took nothing for granted. Kevlar could say their coupling was too early in the club history to be declaring property. Though, that would make him a hypocrite, considering his woman wore a vest proudly proclaiming her to be his. Frankly, he wouldn’t be the first president riddled with hypocrisy. Kevlar wouldn’t do that to him. Maybe Frog, because he was a wild card they were still learning.

Bracing himself, he inhaled a cleansing breath before turning his eye to Pooter, who stood guard at the door. Grinning, he clapped the man on the shoulder. “See you soon.”

Kid had every intention on voting this man into the club. He deserved his rockers. The fact that Frog got them before him really pissed Kid off. While he understood the politics of it, he didn’t like it.

Pooter dipped his chin in a nod, and Kid walked into the meeting space.

While the Royal Bastards had a large stained hickory table with the club logo burned into the center, they didn’t have enough members to fill the seats. Kevlar sat at the head of the table with a gavel for his right hand. To his left, Torch fiddled with the seat. Beside him, Frog leaned back and crossed his ankles. Seven seats were empty.

Kid shut the door behind him, drowning out the stereo someone had just switched on. Moving around the table, he took his seat to the right of Kevlar.

His brother surveyed the table, picked up the gavel, and slammed it down. “The first official church in our new clubhouse is called to order.”

Every one of them thudded their fists against the table a few times in celebration.

Once they had quieted, Kevlar shifted his attention to the door. “First order of business. Pooter. We need to vote on his patch.”

“Aye!” Torch hollered.

“Seconded,” Kid declared.

“Well, far be it from me to object.” Frog shrugged.

Kevlar slammed the gavel down. “That was easy.”

Another round of the men rapping their knuckles against the table.

If only every item that was brought to the table went so smoothly. Kid had attended far too many churches to know that this wouldn’t last. Hell, the next motion—the Colombians—could turn into a debate. Especially considering there would be five members and majority ruled.

“Torch,” Kevlar said as he got to his feet. “Let him in.”

Kid had seen no one jump out of a seat faster and more enthusiastically than Torch did in that moment. Snickering to himself, he ran his fingers along his chin. This was a good move. Pooter had proved himself six ways from Sunday. Kid glanced toward Kevlar as his brother went over to a cabinet to retrieve the patches for Pooter and frowned internally.