Read Online Between Embers (Lost Kings MC #5.5): A Companion to White Heat: Three Short Stories by Autumn Jones Lake - Free Book Online Page B

that at his best friend’s wedding is the polite thing to do, so I force a smile instead.
    Besides, I wasn’t lying. The last thing I want to do is get married. Let any man think he owns me. And a guy like Z would definitely be the I-own-you-caveman-type of husband.
    Fuck that.
    “Marriage is for suckers,” the guy across from us says, slurring each word. He has the nerve to jab a ham-sized finger in the air at me. “She’s hot now, but give her ten years. She’ll be fat and do nothing but bitch at ya.”
    Z leans over the table, grabbing the guy by his shirt. “Watch your fuckin’ mouth, asshole.” He growls a few more warnings so low, I can’t hear them. The guy ends up shuffling away after flipping Z off.
    “Sorry,” he mutters as he sits back down.
    “One of your brothers?” It’s hard to keep the sarcasm out of my voice.
    “Sort of. He’s from another charter and he’s a dick. No one here would ever think something like that, let alone say it.”
    It’s true. None of the guys I’ve met before have ever been rude. Slightly terrifying, yes. Rude, no.
    Trinity breezes by and drops into the chair next to me. “Are you having fun?” she asks breathlessly.
    “Are you ? You’ve been running non-stop all day.”
    She waves off my concern. “I’m done for the night.”
    “Sure you are,” I tease.
    Trinity’s boyfriend…no there’s nothing boy about him. Trinity’s man lumbers over, settling a hand on her shoulder. They stare at each other with complete adoration for a few seconds, before he lifts his chin at Z.
    The two guys do this unspoken conversation thing, that’s actually fascinating to watch. Next thing I know, Z’s sliding his chair back.
    “I need to take care of something. You okay?”
    “Sure, as long as that guy doesn’t come back.”
    Z’s gaze searches the tent. “If anyone bothers you”—he points out two guys with Lost Kings MC cuts on—“let Dex or Ravage know.” He shifts and I follow his line of sight. “You know Murphy and Teller. They’ll look out for you, too.”
    “Uh, okay.”
    “I’ll take care of her, Z. Go ahead,” Trinity says. She pokes Wrath in the side. “Go do what you need to so you can hurry back.” He flashes a smile so warm he almost doesn’t look so scary. After they’re gone, she raises an eyebrow at me. “Someone bother you?”
    “Not really.” I don’t want to seem like I’m complaining. I’ve dealt with plenty of rude, drunk men in my life. I can handle it. “So you really went with a monarch theme,” I tease, nodding at the table at the head of the room where the bride and groom are.
    Tittering laughter bubbles out of her. “Yeah. The whole king and queen thing. That’s what we do here.”
    A young woman slides into the seat across from us. “Hey,” she greets.
    Trinity flashes a tight smile at the girl. “How’s it going, Sasha?”
    “This is really something.”
    “Is it your first LOKI wedding?”
    “Yes.” The girl swings her vacant gaze my way. “Whose old lady are you?”
    “Uh,” I glance at Trinity unsure how to answer the question. From spending time with Z and listening to Hope, I know what an old lady is. Well, I know enough to know that’s not what I am to Z.
    “She’s with our VP,” Trinity answers for me.
    “Oh.”
    “Who are you with?” I ask to be friendly.
    She lifts a lazy finger, pointing across the room at a cluster of guys with cuts claiming a different territory than Z’s. “Crazyhorse. I ain’t his old lady, though. Well—” she giggles. “I am at club events. His wife’s one-hundred percent citizen.”
    I’m not sure how to respond to that. I glance at Trinity whose staring daggers at the girl. Before she responds, someone calls her away. “I’ll be right back.”
    Leaning forward, I catch Sasha’s attention. “Forgive me, but what did you mean about citizen?” I ask, because hell, I’m curious.
    “Oh. You know. She’s like his wife outside the club. Like, legal wife.