We tore through the city limits and finally pulled up out front of the Demon Nest, the bar that served as the clubhouse for the Demons MC. Ford parked the bike and climbed off, killing the engine. I followed him, not really sure what we were walking into.
“Aren’t the other guys pissed about me?” I asked him.
“Sure,” he said. “But Larkin approved my claim. They can’t do shit about it unless they want my boot on their skull.”
“Who’s Larkin?”
“The club president,” he said.
“Oh. So like, the leader.”
He shrugged. “Yeah, the leader. Come on.” I followed as he pushed open the door and went inside.
The place was packed. I was completely shocked at how many men were in there, every single one of them wearing the Demons cut. Their jean jackets were covered in patches and slogans, but the backs were all dominated by the Demons symbol.
Every head in the place snapped toward me as soon as I walked in the door. Ford grinned and held his hands up. “Morning, brothers,” he said.
There was a general murmur. I caught the eye of the guy named Spoil from the night before, who just looked disgusted. I followed Ford to an empty table in the back.
“What’s going on?” I asked him.
“Looks like Larkin called in the boys.”
“Why?”
He grinned at me. “Because of you.”
I stared around me. These terrifying men were all gathered together because of me?
“But I thought he approved the claim.”
“He did,” Ford said. “But that don’t mean anyone wants a war. My guess is we’re here to hash out what the hell we’re supposed to do with you.”
I felt a cold drop of terror fall through my chest and into my stomach. The men had mostly all looked away and gone back to their conversations, but I could feel their eyes keep coming back to me.
And they didn’t look happy.
I’d never been in a room full of pissed-off bikers before, with only one man on my side. True, he was big and imposing, terrifying in his own way, but still only one man.
Maybe I really had bitten off a little more than I could chew.
Ford noticed the nervous look on my face. “Don’t worry,” he said, grinning at me. “You’re fine. You’re mine now.”
That sent chills of excitement all through my body. I wasn’t sure if I was reassured or simply attracted to him.
Before I could say any more, a man walked out from the back room and stood in front of everyone, close to the bar.
“Larkin,” Ford whispered to me.
I nodded at him. I recognized the man from the night before. Graying hair, longer and thinning, but muscular and covered in tattoos. He wore thin-rimmed glasses that somehow made him look even more menacing. He surveyed the room impassively, neither smiling nor frowning, just basically looking.
“Shut up,” he barked finally, and the room went silent. “You all know why we’re here.”
“Yeah,” the man named Spoil said, “that bitch.”
All eyes snapped to me.
“Yes,” Larkin said. “The girl. And Ford.”
Ford grinned. “You got me there, prez.”
“But not just them,” Larkin continued, drawing the stares away. “We’ve grown fat and fucking happy, haven’t we boys?”
Murmurs of agreement.
“Been nice, being at peace,” Larkin continued. “Been fucking nice reaping the rewards of our blood, sweat, and fucking piss.”
More agreement from the crowd. I could instantly see why Larkin was their leader. He seemed tough, but he sure as hell seemed to know how to control a room.
“But here’s the thing, boys,” he said. “There are those out there that want what we fucking got. The Mezcals been pushing up from Mexico, the Rebels been fucking with our western territory for months now, and I’ve heard whispers of the Snake Spit coming in from Dallas.”
More murmurs, but this time angry, annoyed. I looked at Ford and he gave me a small smile. “More to us than just biker jerks, eh?” he said softly.
I looked back at Larkin.
“I chose to let Ford lay claim to the girl,” Larkin said. “I made that choice for a reason. We been fucked with too many times. We need to begin to protect our own, to show that we can’t have any killings on our fucking territory without our say-so.” He stared down all of the men, especially Clutch and Spoil. “And so here’s the deal: We’re going to hunt down the fucks that done the killing, and we’re going to put lead in them.”
A general cheer of agreement came from the men. I couldn’t help but get swept up by it.
“Ford made his choice with the girl, and that’s his damn ass. We all know what it means to lay claim to a woman, and he did it freely. So that’s on you, Ford, but also on me.” He stared out at the men again. “Nobody questions the girl or Ford, because the truth is, we were already at war well before that girl came to us for help.” Another long pause. “Prepare yourselves, boys. Blood is coming.”