“Of course.”
“I think the rest of my questions are for Brain, personally. I’m sure the rest of you have other things to do.”
Bud leaned forward and said, “Brain’s important to us, you’re important to him, thus, you’re important to us. We’d kind of like to get to know you better.”
“For what it’s worth,” Duke told her, his eyes solemn, sad, “I liked you from the beginning, but I had to make sure the club was safe.”
I didn’t know how to answer. I wanted to call him a pompous assed cretin, but I also didn’t want to up the tension. The violence in the fight earlier had bothered me a great deal and I didn’t want to be the catalyst for another fight.
“Guys, you’re making her uncomfortable,” said Brain, “and I’d like to take her out to eat and give her some downtime before we meet with Abbott.” He looked to Bud. “I asked for two months and you gave it to me. I’m only five weeks in.”
“I did. Doesn’t mean we don’t miss you. The MC’s gonna think she pulled you away from us. The longer you keep her a mystery, the bigger deal she’ll be when you bring her around.”
Brain gave my hand a comforting squeeze as he stood, and gently pulled me up with him. “Thanks, Randall, for legitimizing the binding. Thanks, Bud, for coming along for moral support.” He nodded to Aaron and Duke, and as we walked out I told the room, “Nice to meet you.”
“No, it wasn’t,” Brain said with a chuckle as we rounded the house towards his car, “but now you legally know about us, and I can answer your questions, and no longer have to hide my wolf from you.”
“You talk about him as if you share your body with an animal.”
“I do, kind of.” He opened the passenger door for me, closed it, and went around to the driver’s side. “The wolf acts on instinct, and I have to remember I’m human and not ruled by my reflexes and instincts. Duke’s wolf is always closer to the surface. He hears better, smells better, when he’s in human form than most of us, because of it, I think. I have a feeling Randall is the same.”
“You were Duke’s second, does that mean you were the second most powerful wolf?”
He chuckled. “Oh, no. I’m probably in the thirtieth percentile amongst the MC when it comes to strength and fighting ability, but I make up for the difference with brainpower. My wolf has learned to listen to me, when he’s holding the reins, as I can usually get us out of just about anything.”
“You probably wouldn’t have caught me if you’d been human.”
“I don’t know. At least twice, I’d have likely lost the trail, but there’s a good chance I’d have picked it up again online.”
“Do you want to run at Randall’s tonight?”
“Randall will make sure you’re physically safe while you’re on his property, but that doesn’t mean people won’t come talk to you, and I don’t want you hurt emotionally. I won’t leave you alone in Chattanooga so I can go running.”
“I still have other identities, with money in their accounts. I can get a room for the night while you run.”
“The Atlanta RTMC has land away from the city. You’ll be safer at home, when I need to run, but I’m good for now.”
Chapter Thirty-Two
Brain
Harmony didn’t ask as many questions as I expected, and I wondered if she’d wait until we were home to let loose with her barrage.
We ate at a nice restaurant, and then headed to the address Abbott had given me, which turned out to be a huge-assed house on a golf course.
Eric met us on the front porch, and he shook my hand and then touched my arm as he said, “I’ve missed you. It isn’t the same with you gone.”
“Harmony, this is Eric. He has an overpriced yuppie crotch rocket, but the club still lets him ride with us, some.” I looked to Eric. “I assume you’ll take us to Abbott?”
He nodded. “Yeah, he’s up, and the guard could’ve let ya’ll downstairs, but Abbott figured you’d be more comfortable with me.”
Eric walked us through a hidden door, and then a series of doors, using a handprint for one, and an eye scanner for another.
I smelled Aaron, Sophia, and Gen as the last door opened, and I put my arm around Harmony to walk her into the room.
Aaron’s wife, Sophia, came running towards me and jumped as she neared, her tiny arms wrapping around my neck. I hugged her with one arm and looked to Harmony. “Remember Aaron telling you I’d helped keep his wife safe? This is his wife. Harmony, meet Sophia.”