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“You know you could earn yourself a thump don’t you?” Miri responds with a small smile on her face, but her eyes are sparkling with mischief, so I know she’s not actually threatening me.

Taking my seat across from Miri, I wink, which has her shaking her head in amusement. “What do you want to eat?” I ask her as I take the menu from the table and pass it to her.

I take one for myself and take a look. “Do you want a starter Miri?”

“No, I never bother with them, or I’d waste too much of my meal. I’ll have the ribeye with creamed spinach and asparagus.” Miri places her menu back in the holder on the table.

“That sounds good, I’ll have that with you, but add some mac and cheese to mine,” I chuckle when Miri rolls her eyes at me.

The waitress takes our order a few minutes later, and I have ordered a beer, the only one I’ll have tonight with driving, and Miri ordered a white wine.

While we wait, I notice a group of men looking at Miri. I let them know I’ve seen them. I’m not wearing my cut, but it’s in the SUV if I need it. I tap out a message on my phone to Finger, letting him know I may have trouble brewing if he fancies a bit of fun later.

Miri hasn’t noticed the men looking at her, and I don’t point it out. I reach over and take one of her hands in mine and lean forward some. “I’ve spoken to Pres, and he’s going to organize the wedding. He said Finger and Cilla can be witnesses if that’s okay.”

“Yes, that is fine. When can he do it? We have to get the license first.”

“Keys already has that in hand, and Pres thinks we can walk into his office whenever we like and that’s all that’s needed,” I relay that and watch Miri sit with a shocked look on her face.

“Just walk in whenever we like?”

“Yeah, that’s what he said,” I smirk at her, which, of course, annoys her somewhat.

“Well, how about two days then? I can wear whatever I find that feels right. I’ll be Mrs. Brooks. Mrs. Liam Brooks.”

“Yeah, you will at that, Thumper,” I respond grinning.

The waitress brings our order and we settle to eating, but I’m watching the assholes who are still looking at Miri. I’m getting a bad feeling about this, and when my phone pings I read the reply from Finger.

Finger: On our way. Cap, Rides, Hot Rod, Scalpel, Tread, Xero and Dice all wanted to have some fun.

Joker: OK.

“Is everything okay?” Miri asks, obviously feeling the vibes I must be throwing out.

“Yeah. Some of the brothers are taking a ride out and going to meet us. You don’t mind do you?”

Miri looks me right in the eye as she responds, “Nothing to do with the men that have been staring at me all night? I don’t mind backup, Liam. If it were just us and something kicks off, we wouldn’t stand much of a chance, so I’m good with brothers coming.”

I nod, showing her I’m grateful that she has no issue with backup, and she’s noticed the assholes that are becoming more and more interested.

“If they start anything you get behind me, Miri. I don’t want to worry about where you are, and behind me tells me you are safe. I don’t know what their agenda is, but it feels wrong.”

Miri nods, gives me a smile, which isn’t for me, it’s to show the assholes that we are ignoring them. For now, at least. “We act normally and wait for everyone to arrive. They can’t start things in the middle of the restaurant. They will wait until I go to the restroom, or you do, or we leave. As long as we stay at the table we are clear to wait.”

“Agree, and they won’t be much longer. I have one eye on the door and will tell you as soon as they appear. Now eat, let’s not waste what we came for.” I take up my cutlery and keep my eyes on Miri.

We eat and murmur to each other, but both of us are aware of the men watching our table. Finally, having had enough, I turn in my seat and stare at them. It doesn’t take long before they realize that I’m staring back at them, and they give me a smirk that is sickening. My smirk in return has two of them looking rather nervous. Yeah, I know something you don’t know.

“They are here,” Miri says before jumping to her feet, creating a display of hugging Finger first. Now, if it weren’t serious, I would laugh at the look of horror on his face right before he looks at me. Miri rolls her eyes at him before she hugs everyone else. Tread laughs and hugs her back, making a display of it for me, and the assholes who are not so smug now.

The Restless Demons MC cuts are on full display, and everyone in the restaurant now knows not to fuck with Miri, as she has made it more than obvious she is one of us.

“Come on, Miri.” I hold my hand out to her, and she quickly takes it. Walking to the front of the restaurant I hand my card to the young woman behind the counter, and she takes payment for our meal.

Outside, Miri climbs into the SUV, and I close the door but wait for my brothers to settle around me.

Finger asks, “What do they want?”