Crucifixed (Royal Bastards MC: NYC Book 2) by B.B. Blaque (interesting books to read for teens txt) 📗

of ‘em had bailed on the club and becomin’ Bastards. FOCUS was goin’ and there was nothin’ we could do about it, but I knew he’d be there with company if I needed him. We agreed to take care of the money through him since he’d be up Redhook’s ass in Florida. The Bishop was our backer in Royal Bastards Video and anything financial would go through him without raisin’ any red flags. It was everything we’d hoped for. Brooklyn was officially ours, which meant all of New York City was ours.

When the meeting broke, I pulled Lex aside and told her to take Gingersnap with her to get somethin’ from the saddlebags for me. A couple of the other ladies were already over there sifttin’ around for their shit.

“Yeah, it’s kinda small, but ya can’t miss it.”

I watched them walk off and felt really proud of how far she’d come in such a short time and the friendship with Lex was somethin’ I could really see bein’ something beyond club sisters. It made me happy and was just one more reason to believe Gingersnap was gonna stick around.

There was a loud squeal and I did a half-sprint to where the girls were standin’.

“Crucifix! There’s somethin’ in my ol’ man’s bike and I’m sure it’s not mine. It better belong to you or your ol’ lady!”

It was hard to hold in the smile, but I got to my bike and nudged Gingersnap in the arm. “Baby, did you leave somethin’ in the wrong bag or somethin’? Go check.”

Lexi pushed her forward and they walked over together. There was squeal from a different girl.

“Well, how do ya like them apples? Crucifix, are you leavin’ your shit all over the place these days or what?” She was Hazard’s ride-along of the moment and had a brash Jersey girl accent. “Ya got stuff over here, over there . . . what’s the deal?”

Lex looked into the first girl’s bag and pulled out a leather vest. “Hey, Snaps, is this yours? I’m wearin’ mine.”

Gingersnap shook her head and shrugged. “No. I don’t have one. You know that.”

Lex unwrapped it and gave it a good once-over. “Nah, Gingersnap, this can only be yours . . . see, look what it says.”

Gingersnap took the vest Lexi was thrustin’ at her and saw the road name patch and then flipped it over and started laughin’. “Oh, my God! It says ‘property of Crucifix’! Seriously? Is this mine?”

“I dunno . . . last time I checked I didn’t have another ol’ lady, but if any of you ladies know somethin’ different, lemme know.” Fi came over and threw her arms around me as I sat on the bike.

Lexi went over to Magic’s bike and called Gingersnap over. “Are you excited? I got ya somethin’ to go on it!”

The girls stood by the bike and Snaps was given a set of cool vest extenders and a keychain like the cross on my tank and another like a gingerbread cookie to hang off her new leather. She ran back around to me and stopped dead in her tracks.

“What in the world are you up to, Crucifix? That cannot even be mine.”

I laughed. “I woulda gotten you a dog, but do ya know how much of a bitch it’d be to walk one in the City?” I scratched under the chin of the fluffy black kitten on my lap. “If ya don’t like him . . . I mean, I could take him back. Poor guy was an orphan like us.”

“Oh. My. God! I love him!” She was giddy when she grabbed the kitten gently out of my hands and kissed its nose. “I’ve never had a pet before. You know how they were there. I can’t believe he’s mine.”

“He’s all yours, baby . . . look at his collar, you’ll see.” My heart was as full as it’d ever been in my life.

She ran her fingers around, lookin’ for the red collar the girls had picked out for him. If they hadn’t been makin’ such a great distraction for me, I woulda never been able to surprise her like that. I owed ‘em big time.

One.

Two.

Three.

“Crucifix . . . umm . . . I’m confused. He’s not wearing a collar.” She was bouncin’ nervously in her boots and I pulled it outta my pocket and handed it to her. “Oh, sorry, babe. I forgot to put it on him. Check it out, though. See, he’s yours.”

I pulled her between my legs as she fiddled with the collar and the kitten. She started to do a little jump dance type thing, and Lexi grabbed the kitten out of her hands.

“Is this . . . really?”

“Really.” I took back the collar, unbuckled it, and switched spots with her so she was sittin’ on the bike. Then I knelt down. “Fiona Katherine Farrell . . . will you finally marry me or what? Talk about a serious vow . . . the only one you’ll ever have to keep. It says it all if you say that one little word . . . yes. I’ll never walk away from you again.”

“Yes! Yes! Yes!” She wiggled on the seat and laughed. “Oh, my God Crucifix!”

I grabbed her hand and slid the ring onto the finger of her left hand. Suddenly, the crowd of brothers and sisters who’d gathered behind us started clappin’.

“I told you we were takin’ back Brooklyn . . . it’s our place from here on out!” I stood up and grabbed the vest. “Now, ya gotta officially be my property . . . I mean, since you’re my fiancé and all.”

When I wrapped the vest around her shoulders, I saw tears in her eyes. For the first time, she was cryin’ for a good reason and I was a happy motherfucker.