“No. I’ll do it,” she grumbles as she picks one up and, with her other hand, blocks her nose. I pick mine up, and we clink glasses and gulp them. The tequila burns the entire way down my throat.
Elena coughs and Axle pats her back. She slides the other shot over to me. “I can’t do another.” Her face scrunches. “It tastes like what I think nail polish remover would taste like.”
Without a second thought, I pick it up and down it, then pick up the other and do the same, not even taking a breath between. It makes my eyes water, and I fight the need to retch, but soon after, a warm sensation fills my stomach. “Two more, please.”
Elena gives me a sympathetic smile. “Are you sure?”
I put my hand up. “Yes!” After I slam those drinks down, the stress lifts.
“Why the name War Brothers MC?” I ask.
Her smile slips. “Most of them served in the military. Reaper, Bomber, and Viper were in the Special Forces together. When they came back, they wanted that brotherhood again, so they created the War Brothers MC. Bomber’s family founded the town, and because Bomber owned this property, the MC decided to set up here, in Crown Village. Jake described it as it gave them a home and a purpose because they got to make friends with other men that went through similar experiences when they were at war.”
I respect that, and I raise a brow at her. “So there’s more to them that meets the eye?”
“There certainly is,” she says as her eyes soften. “Well, I better give you the rundown on everyone here. Jake is the road captain. Cash here,” she says and glances at him, “is the treasurer, and as you can see, he’s easygoing.”
She turns her head to the left and whispers, “The man at the end of the bar with the black hair, that’s Bomber.” I turn to where she is looking and watch as he slowly brings the glass to his lips and downs his drink, then slams the glass back onto the table.
“He is the sergeant at arms.” She leans in closer, making sure only I can hear. “He’s very blunt and straight to the point, so don’t take it personally.”
My eyes widen. “What do you mean by that? I can’t handle another man like my husband.”
“Oh, no, not like that. I meant he can appear cold, but it’s just the way he is. The men here are different to anyone you have met before, but to be clear, none of them hurt women. Well... only if they ask for it.” Her face flushes pink. “Some women are into that type of stuff.”
My head falls back. “Elena. I don’t want to know.”
“What are you two whispering about?” Axle asks.
Giggling, she looks over her shoulder. “Nothing.” She leans in closer again. “So you won’t have any issue with Bomber trying to hook up with you, but some others...” Before jumping off her chair, she cringes. “I’m going to introduce Ava to everyone,” she says to Axle and Cash, then lightly pulls me off my chair.
My head spins from the alcohol, so I grab her arm to stop me from swaying. I’m such a lightweight.
“Make sure you say her name, so they knowexactly who she is,” Axle says.
“I will,” Elena replies.
She links her arm with mine, and as we take two steps toward Bomber, a woman steps in front of us and slides in next to him, clutching his arm. When she squeals, I shift to the side to see him grasping her forearm with cold eyes.
“No one touches me,” he grates out. It startles me, so I step back and scowl at Elena.
She shakes her head at me. “He won’t hurt her, he just”—she looks away before looking back at me and lowering her voice—“he doesn’t like them touching him. They keep trying, even though he has made it clear that he won’t sleep with them.”
“I’m sorry, Bomber, I forgot,” the woman says, trying to sound confident, but there’s a hitch in her voice. “I can come around later, baby?”
She is so forward. What in the world is this place?
He hisses and lets go of her arm. “No.”
It is clear and concise, and no one could have mistaken the edge in his voice. I don’t understand why she would try if he didn’t even like her touching his arm.
She nods, and when she scrambles out of the way, his eyes land on us. Elena hesitates before giving him a smile. “I wanted to introduce you to my sister, Ava.”
His eyes survey my face, and it’s a reminder they can see my bruises. He watches me warily and lifts his chin in acknowledgement. I try to smile, though I’m not sure whether it comes across as a grimace.
“Will your husband be giving us any trouble?”
I sharply inhale as my heart beats faster. “I... don’t think so.” He searches my eyes as if trying to find out if I’m telling the truth, and I shift on my feet, my gaze going to the floor. When my eyes reach his again, I reply, “Well, I hope not.” He slowly nods at me.
