Page 90 of Praying for Thunder

Roam growled, “You didn’t miss shit. Drop it.”

“Drop what?” I asked.

Chubs smacked his forehead. “Do you know how many things are making sense now?”

“No.” I kept staring between them. “Not at all.”

“Are you trying to get me killed?” Roam asked Chubs.

“What?” I practically screeched.

That pulled Chubs from his stupor. He glanced around, saying, “Hellion, pipe down. This isn’t exactly the safest place to come out of the closet.”

I observed our surroundings, even more confused since there was no closet in sight.

Seeing Roam’s upper lip fill with sweat, Chubs grabbed him into a hug. Then whispered in his ear, “You are my brother, in leather and heart. I don’t give a fuck who you want to fuck—”

Ohhhhhh…

“Just because your dad might find this shit taboo, don’t mean it is. Just like Hellion said, we are longing to be free.” He pulled back and smacked Roam’s chest. “Be it, in here, until more freedom finds us.”

Roam kept swallowing. Over and over. Fighting tears like the trapped biker he was. Holding back his heart, and those desires, was clearly very hard on him. If someone told me I couldn’t hold Rya, I’d die. Girl or boy, I’d die.

To my friend, I lifted my chin. “I agree. Your time will come. Now, tell me how to be a shmuck.”

The two burst into laughter.

It was at a booth with leather bracelets that I’d find my gift for Rya. And, it would be when I spotted one with a lightning bolt, that I’d hear another army of motorcycles coming.

⚡⚡⚡

With a leather bracelet in my pocket, I didn’t dare look up to see leather vests I knew I’d recognize. I didn’t dare get my hopes up to see the dark brown eyes I had missed so much that it caused pain. I didn’t dare tell myself I was about to find the freedom we’d been discussing this evening.

No. My heart couldn’t withstand that kind of a blow.

It was all mere coincidence. That’s all. Right?

My sight purposely glued to tables, we kept walking. I knew the Royal Bastards were here when a paralyzing chill crept up my spine again. I knew Onus was glaring at me, waiting to see what I would do.

Nothing.

I was going to do nothing.

I wasn’t going to lie to myself for one second.

This is why I was at the rally. I understood now. Onus was testing me.

Sharell, his lie. My lie. She was his way to introduce me to the MC world, so that no questions would be asked.

The Bastard bikes had parked in the empty space across from the Steel Stallions, yet I still refused to lift my eyes. It was all coincidence. That’s it. That’s it—

On a booth table, I saw leather wallets with chains attached.

Dio…

Just a coincidence… “How much is that?” I asked, staring at another lightning bolt carved in leather.

“One-twenty-five.”