by Blue Remy
Mace looked to everyone, then laughed. He relaxed slightly when Talon and Hawkeye let him go, allowing him to move his arms, though it was hard not to let a fist fly at Romeo for pointing a gun at his head. “Holy fuck me running.” He had to shake his head, fingers combing through his hair to get a grasp on everything.
“It was a unanimous vote, Mace. No hesitation on bringing you in. You’ve proven your worth more than enough.” Stone laid his hand on Mace’s shoulder.
There was a knock on the door. Demon opened it to talk softly with someone on the other side. As he reached out of the door, Romeo blocked his view with a cheesy grin.
“We are proud to call you brother and welcome you to our family. But, did you also know that Maverick means an unbranded calf?”
Mace’s brows furrowed, pulling his head back slightly. “Are you saying I’m a bull-shitter too?” He laughed, giving Romeo a bro hug.
Romeo returned it and let him go. “It means you’re either in this club or you’re not.”
Stone moved to the side, exposing Demon walking toward him. In his hand was—a fucking cattle brand?
“What the fuck?” Mace looked between Romeo and Stone in confusion.
Fuck. That. Noise.
They wanted to brand him? He should have realized this was coming. He knew outlaw clubs had initiations, but usually you had to fight for your cut, or they tattooed you. He was not expecting a fucking branding. You could get rid of a tattoo if it came down to it, but you couldn’t un-brand yourself.
Slowly, every brother in the room lifted up their left shirt sleeve, exposing the Six-Gun Outlaw brand boldly placed on their bicep, closest to their heart. The brand looked like an old fashioned style cattle brand, a backwards S lined up and against the letter G, which was encased by a circle, representing an O. It was the seal of true brotherhood, of being a family until the end, of having a group of men standing beside you through thick and thin. It was undying and unconditional love of brothers that someone might never experience.
And here it was, being offered up to a man trying to shut the club down. If he refused, he was a pussy, or a cop. If he allowed it, he was marked for life and would break his solemn promise to himself. He would lose that piece of Sam Dean left buried deep inside of him.
“What about infections?” Mace was quick to ask, hoping to get out of this without smelling like shit.
Saber coughed, walked over to the table, reached down and pulled up a large medic kit, unzipped it and let it fall open, revealing enough medical supplies to handle any sort of injury. “We got you covered man. The luck of having a medic as a brother.”
Mace wanted nothing more than to shoot the man who looked like he walked off a movie set. Saber had golden hair and eyes so blue they almost looked purple. Women couldn’t get enough of the lion-like male.
Reaching down, he grabbed the edge of his t-shirt and pulled it up over his head, wadded it up and tossed it to the table. “Let’s get to it.”
The room went into a solid roar of excitement when Mace welcomed the brotherhood into his heart, home and life. Someone shouted for the bottle of mezcal, while brothers circled him and Demon prepared the cattle brand. Mace knew he was going to enjoy this more than he should.
“What the hell is the mezcal for?” Mace looked to Romeo, a bit confused at what booze had to do with branding.
“Have you never had it before? The first drink is nasty. The second drink is a bit better, by the fourth drink, you’re numb as fuck and want the damn worm, and you won’t be worried about your shoulder anymore.”
“No. No liquor.” Mace shook his head. “If we’re doing this, we do it right.”
“Good,” Demon snarled when he brandished the orange glowing branding iron. “I want to hear you scream like a bitch.”
That wouldn’t happen. He planted his feet slightly apart, took in a deep, slow, breath, and exhaled as Demon placed the iron against his shoulder. Focusing on his breathing, he tried to put his mind into a zone where pain didn’t exist. The smell of burning flesh, the crackling of his skin didn’t help him get there, but he’d be damned if he was going to give Demon the satisfaction of hearing him cry out.
When the iron was removed, Mace did his best not to sit. Feeling lightheaded, he needed air and water. Saber was right there, chair in hand, pushing Mace into it, shoving water into his hand. Mace drank it down as Saber put salve on the brand, placing a piece of gauze over it.
“Keep the gauze on it for a couple of days, change it out twice a day.” He handed Mace some of the salve. “Make sure you put this on, or it will get infected. And welcome to the family, brother.”
Each brother welcomed him before they stepped back into the main clubhouse. After they were gone, leaving just Mace, Stone and Romeo, Mace stood and looked to the two men, feeling more a part of their family than he had his own.
Romeo picked up the cut and handed it to Stone, who in turn, held it open for Mace to put on. Mace couldn’t explain the feelings overwhelming him in that moment of slipping on the cut. It was a mixture of elation, brotherhood, family, and sour disappointment knowing what was coming. Unable to stomach the feeling, he pushed it out of his head. He’d deal with it when the time came. For now, he was Mason Younger, Maverick, of the Six-Gun Outlaws.
Romeo opened the door for Stone and Mace, then closed it behind them. A piercing whistle rang through the clubhouse, alerting everyone around to shut up. Stone gave Mace’s shoulder a squeeze. “I’d like to welcome our newest brother to the club. Everyone, meet Maverick!”
The clubhouse erupted into applause, whistles and hollering, mixed with some catcalls from the women. Mace shook his head as those that weren’t in the Chapel Room came up to congratulate him. He wasn’t interested in playing nice nice with the brothers and their Ol’Ladies, he wanted—no correct that, he needed Amy.
He was about to seek her out, but his eyes landed on her by the kitchen door, leaning back against the wall with her arms folded over her chest. Maggie was next to her, the two in a discussion. Amy’s light brown eyes lifted and locked with his. He saw the worry replaced with relief that he was all right.
Mace was about to break free of everyone when he was all but tackled by Tasha. Before he could stop her, she had jumped into his arms, wrapped her legs around his waist, followed by her arms about his neck. Opening his mouth to say something was the biggest mistake he made.
For the first time in his life, Mace felt violated.
She raped his mouth with her tongue.
Mace grabbed her arms, albeit roughly, and pushed her off of him, hoping she would land flat on her ass. As luck would have it, the woman was like a cat and landed on her feet. Wiping his mouth with the back of his hand, he spit her saliva out of his mouth. The hint of cigarettes lingered and he was about to puke.
“Someone get the man a drink!” Amy yelled, stalking over to him. By the look on her face, Tasha was about to get her ass beat and Mace was going to let it happen. Someone random placed a beer in his hand, patting the shoulder that was just branded. Gritting his teeth and clenching his eyes shut, he swallowed down the urge to punch the guy. It was all part of it.
Opening his eyes, he was forced to take a step back when Amy placed herself between Tasha and him. He wasn’t the only one to step back. Amy’s action caused Tasha to stumble back on her heels. Mace heard Romeo’s low whistle, before glancing over his shoulder to see Romeo running the back of his thumb across his throat, signaling Amy was about to throttle Tasha. He felt sorry for the girl, he had been on the other end of Amy’s anger, but Tasha deserved it. He hadn’t asked for or welcomed her advances at any time.
Amy moved to stand beside Mace, a smile that spoke volumes of danger plastered on her lips. She took ahold of his arm and dug her nails into the muscle just below the gauze hidden by his t-shirt.
How the hell was it, that no one ever touched his arm until it was wounded? It was like having a built in homing beacon that screamed, “Yo! Touch me! My person may drop to
the ground and cry like a bitch, but it’d be funny!”
“I was given to him as a gift for the night, sweetie.” Tasha’s eyes roamed hungrily over Mace, “And I plan on making it worth my while.” Her eyes flicked back to Amy with a smirk. “And by what I felt between my thighs, it’s going to be one hell of a ride.”
Watching Amy take control of the situation was a total turn on. He knew the complications of what Amy was dealing with and what she was facing. If she stepped forward, she was going to have to declare herself his property. It was the rules. He was available for any of the pass arounds, if he wanted them. Technically, they could have any man, at any time, it was the Ol’Ladies that were to be respected at all times.
“He won’t be accepting gifts … from you or any other female.” Amy spoke in a matter-of-fact tone.
Tasha snorted and rolled her eyes, moving back over to Mace’s side, slipping her arm through his. “You can’t do shit about it, sweetheart. I was given to him, only he can refuse it, and gauging by his reaction when I kissed him…” Tasha reached down with her free hand and grabbed his junk, letting her sentence trail off.
Mace nearly jumped out of his skin when she grabbed him. These women had some balls. His hand jerked down to remove her clutch on his junk, then he stepped away from her.
Amy grabbed Tasha by her hair and yanked her away from Mace, her face pure fury.
It was time to break it up. It was great Amy was making a stand, but there was no need for her to knock the girl out for doing what she was told to do.
Before he could stop her, Amy had Tasha’s head pulled back at a dangerous angle and was whispering something that obviously terrified Tasha, since she turned whiter than her hair. Once Amy let her go, Tasha ran away from the group with tears in her eyes.
“I am afraid to even ask.” Mace looked at Amy in total awe. She could handle her own, but this was a different breed here.
“Good.” Amy looked up at him with a devious smile.
Mace couldn’t help but laugh at her antics. He reached out and pulled her close, hugging her petite form against his. Lips brushed the top of her head, lifting his eyes to glance around the room. He paused, seeing Demon ignoring Maggie, his face dark with hatred while he stared at Mace and Amy.
CHAPTER 16
Safe.
That was what Amy felt when she was in Mace’s arms. Safe. She felt like she could take on the world and make it her bitch when he held her like this. She made gasping noises when his arms grew tighter around her, and gave him a squeeze back. “Mind loosening your hold there, stud-muffin?” She leaned back in his embrace, looking up at him. “What’s wrong?”
He frowned, looked at something behind her. “Nothing. Let’s go eat. I’m starved.” Mace lowered glacier colored eyes to look at her with a grin, dimples and all.
“I like the sound of that.” She took ahold of his hand and led him over to the buffet line, grabbing them both a plate. “I’ll hold the plates, you shovel the food?”
Once they had food and Mace grabbed drinks, they found a table off to the side but still among the festivities. Amy couldn’t help but smile when he pulled out her chair for her and let her sit first. He might have been an ass, but he was still a gentleman.
Amy couldn’t help but mentally scold herself for going a bit overboard when Tasha threw herself at Mace. Jealousy had reared its ugly head and she wanted to tear Tasha to shreds. Maggie’s snide remarks urging her to didn’t help either. Amy had placed herself between a rock and a hard spot when she told Tasha to back off. She laid claim over Mace, and it was either put up or shut up.
She wanted Mace, so there was no other decision. She let everyone in the room know she was his property by teaching Tasha a lesson. She had the right to tell a pass-around to back the hell off. Some Ol’Ladies didn’t want to see their men with the other women, but didn’t care if it happened when they weren’t around. Amy didn’t play well with others and she’d be damned if she was going to let another woman hang on, let alone kiss, a man she was falling for.
“Okay, I have to know. What the hell did you say to Tasha?” Mace bit into his hamburger, looking at her expectantly.
Amy snickered and shook her head, “You don’t want to know. Trust me.” Yeah, there was no way in hell that she was going to tell him she told Tasha all she was in the club world was sloppy seconds. She also explained to the girl she had better quit trying to hone in on the single men and begging to become an Ol’Lady, or she’d turn the women loose on her. Instead, she explained something a bit simpler. “I told her that I would let everyone know about her STD’s and let the wives’ seek their own special vengeance on her.”
The women in the club fought dirty. They handled their own, not allowing the men to get involved. It was a privilege to wear a property cut or to be collared by a patch holder, and the women weren’t going to have it ripped away by club whores. The men didn’t interfere in the women’s business, unless it affected the club. If it did, one of the officers would have a conversation with the patch holder and tell him to get his bitch in check. If he couldn’t, his bottom rocker could get pulled and he could be put on probation. If she kept it up, he would either have his ass kicked, or he would be told to leave the luggage behind or get the fuck out of the club.
Mace offered her a chip. “Remind me never to piss you off.”
She leaned in and took the chip from him with her mouth, giving him a solicitous wink. “You’re right.”
“Seems I’m right a lot with you.”
Amy giggled, swatting his leg in a flirtatious manner. “Count your lucky stars.”
“Speaking of lucky stars,” Mace took a long sip of his beer. Setting the bottle aside, he looked at her. “Why does Demon act like he does toward you?”
Amy’s stomach sank and she immediately lost her appetite. She stared at her plate, not wanting to look at Mace in case he would see the fear. She knew one day she would have to explain it to him, Amy wasn’t expecting to have to do it so soon. “He wasn’t always like this.” She finally got her emotions under control enough to look up at his inquiring eyes. Head tilted into his hand, he brushed a stray strand of hair from her face. “He’s around five years older than me, and I’ve known him for as long as I can remember. He’s been Zen’s best friend since they were in diapers. He was always around, kind of like Maggie.
“One day, I guess I woke up and decided I had a crush on him. I was twelve or thirteen. I was the little sister who always got in the way. Nosy as hell too.” Amy half laughed, leaning back in her chair, bringing her coke with her. Taking a sip, she let out a breath. “So nosy that when I was fifteen, I heard noises in one of the back rooms. I went to go find out what it was and saw Demon and one of the girls. They had just finished having sex I guess, and she had to say something to piss him off. He hit her. Several times.
“He never knew I saw it. I never forgot it. I grew up and quit paying attention to him. He decided then he wanted me. I think it was the whole ‘want what you can’t have’ thing. Every time I’d be interested in a guy, he’d run them off.” She shrugged, taking a drink, chancing a look at Mace. “He kept asking me out, I kept turning him down. When I moved, he kept telling everyone I was his property. He was delusional about it. And then he started talking to Maggie a lot and she’s had a crush on him since high school.”
“So him calling you his property must put a damper on things between you two?” Mace quirked an eyebrow.
“You could say that. I think he beats her. I’m afraid he’s going to hurt her bad one day. She won’t listen to me. They say love is blind, but screw that. She thinks she can’t do any better because she’s a thick girl, has some extra weight on her.”
“That’s ridiculous. She’s a beautiful woman. I bet we could find her someone better.” Mace tilted his head as he looked around the room. “But knowing Demon’s kind, he won’t let her go so easily.”
“No, he won’t. The only other reason he even keeps this idea of having me alive,
is because he wants to be vice president or even hold the president seat one day and thinks if he collars me, it’ll be a shoe in. He doesn’t realize he would run this club into the ground if he got ahold of it.”
“How about we talk about something else?” Mace nudged her gently with his shoulder.
She noticed him wince, and wanted to ask why, but knew better. She wasn’t dumb, she knew what went on behind closed doors. All the men had the same so called injury when they got patched in. Maybe that was what the mezcal was for, to dull the pain?
“How about we talk about your birthday present?”
Mace’s jaw hung open as he stared at her in total disbelief. Just the reaction she wanted. She wanted to surprise him and it looked like she succeeded and that made her swell with pride.
“How the hell did you know it was my birthday?”
Amy wiggled her brows, “You mentioned it when we first ran into each other. I put it to memory, I’m good like that.”
“I’d say so. What else are you good at?”
“How about we ditch the party and I’ll show you…” she paused, tilting her head toward him, keeping her lips just far enough from his that they didn’t touch. “Your present.”
Mace groaned in protest. “You’re going to be the death of me.”
* * * *
She had to help him remove his cut to get into the Jeep. Not like she minded. It was just another excuse to touch him. Climbing in beside him, she pulled out of the parking lot and hit the road back to the ranch.
Once they got there, she grabbed his hand and led him into the barn, rather excited to give him his gift. Stopping just inside the door, she turned and faced him, preventing him from going in any further. “Stay put.”
His brows shot up at her demand. “Okay?”
“Trust me.” She bolted for the house and ran up to her room. She found what she was looking for and ran back to the barn, almost out of breath. Mace stood in the exact spot she had left him in.
“I don’t like that grin.” Mace twisted his head slightly to the side, looking at her like she had something up her sleeve.
