Chapter 9 ~ I Didn’t Walk… I Ran

Venom ~

I called Snake into my office.. The last several days I had noticed things in my room out of place.. like someone has been rummaging around.

As soon as he walked in I said “Change the locks on the top floor to fingerprint pads. Someone has been getting into my room somehow. I want cameras set up in the hall and at the stairwell.”

Snake said “Will do. We have a meeting with the president of the Wild Riders about an alliance.. also.. the sheriff in Trenton Falls wants to speak with us about some girls who went missing.”

Nodding, I asked “When is the meeting with Psycho? Delaney and Maddox are coming in about an hour.. Maddox is going to play with Manic’s boys for awhile.”

He told me “The meeting is in two hours. Do you think Delaney will be okay while we are with him?” I laughed and said “Delaney would be okay in a den of lions, dude. She’s badass!”

He chuckled “It’s good seeing you happy. It’s been a long time coming.” I shook my head “I’m falling for her, brother. Hard. I want her to be my Old Lady. Although, somehow, I think that euphemism will offend her.” We laughed and went out to greet them, as they pulled in.

She stood off her bike and grinned “Nice welcome committee.. Should I have brought a pie?” Laughing, I scooped her up and swung her around “I missed you.. Two days is too long.” As I kissed her, Maddox groaned “That’s just gross! Why does it have to be all hugging and swapping slobber all the time? I don’t think I want a girlfriend.”

We all laughed and I said “Kissing is a perfectly natural way of expressing my feelings for your sister, little bro!” He shuddered “Still gross” and went to find Derek and Brock.

I was explaining about my meeting with Psycho.. when he and his VP walked in. I sniffed and muttered “Humans” to which she giggled. We are the only werewolf club and as such, everyone wants to be our allies.. It can get annoying.

They sat down at the VIP table with us, and one of the girls set a beer down in front of them. I asked her to bring Delaney and me another one.. but when she set mine in front of me, I growled “What the fuck is this?” She whimpered and said “Tammy said she always opens your beer for you.”

I whipped my head around to see Tammy behind the bar “Tammy! Your lane seems to have deviated.. Why are you tending bar.. and when have I ever accepted an open beer from anyone?” She didn’t respond and I yelled “Answer me!”

She whined “I was just helping Whiskey out. He had to go to the bathroom.” I snarled “You are a Sweet Butt.. you don’t tend bar, unless I say so. Sit your ass down!” Then I yelled “Whiskey! Close the till and leave the bar when you need a break. None of the whores can be trusted to serve drinks!”

Delaney had been silent.. so I glanced at her. Her eyes were fixed on Psycho’s VP, Razor. I looked at Razor to see him leering and licking his lips. I opened my mouth to call him out and she said “Keep licking your lips and staring at me like I am the entree’ at the last supper, and I will gut you like a fish.”

All my men busted out laughing.. Snake said “Spoken like a queen!” Razor sneered “Watch your mouth, bitch. A whore is any man’s game.” I punched him in the mouth and told Psycho “Keep your dog on a leash.. else he will be a dead one. If he even Thinks about insulting my woman again.. there will be nowhere for him to run! Even your God won’t save him.”

Snake said “We don’t appreciate you coming to our club and talking down to our women. Our club girls will be treated with respect. Our queen being insulted will get you killed.”

Delaney leaned over and whispered “You realize you just claimed me in front of the entire club? Now what do we do?” I grinned and realized she’s right. I whispered back “I know it’s soon.. and this is definitely not how I planned on asking.. but I want it. I want it all.. with you. I want us to be a family. I want you to be my woman.. and eventually, my wife. Will you wear my cut?”

She laughed.. “I kinda like putting you on the spot. You spew pretty words. For the record.. I was just curious how you would respond. Yes. I will wear your cut… if Maddox is okay with it.” I told her “I pray to the Goddess he is.. Otherwise, I’m out a thousand bucks for two cuts I can’t use.. I got him one, too!” I jumped up and yelled “Valkyrie! Prepare a feast. Tonight, we have a claiming.”

I looked at Psycho and said “I have to find my little brother and have a talk.. Then our meeting will take place.” And walked out with Delaney to the backyard.. searching for Maddox.

I sat down on the ground beside him.. Delaney on his other side. I said “Brother.. I have asked Delaney to be my woman. She said she will.. if you agree.”

He said “Why do I have to agree? She knows how I feel about it.” I chuckled “Because we have to have a ceremony and then I will put a cut on her that says she belongs to me. But! And this is a big but.. I also want you to wear my cut. It is a little different than Delaney’s. Hers reads ‘Property of Venom’ while yours reads ‘Brother of Venom’.”

He jumped up and launched himself into my arms and whispered “Really? I will really be your brother?” I laughed “Yes.. really! Is that a yes, then?” His little head nodded so hard, I worried it would fall off. Delaney laughed “And then they were family!”

I went straight to my office with Psycho and Razor, when we walked back inside. Delaney went to the kitchen to help the Valkyrie.

I smiled at Psycho and said “Tell me what you bring to the table.. before you do, though, I will tell you.. We are not one percenters. I won’t lie.. or pretend.. we stay on the right side of the law, at all times. But I will tell you.. I do nothing illegal without the implied consent of law enforcement. I don’t deal drugs, guns or prostitution. Even my Sweet Butts earn a living. I will never be involved in human trafficking.. other than to prevent it. We are active in our community. Poker runs to help families in need.. toy runs so indigent families have Christmas for their kids. What can you add to that?”

He smiled and responded “We are pretty much the same.. we do however, deal weed.. and my sweet butts are well enough provided for they don’t have to earn a living.”

I busted out laughing “Well. We smoke weed.. so having an ally who deals might come in handy. And Dude? If your sweet butts are spreading their legs.. or sucking their way through your ranks.. they are most definitely earning a living! I just happen to make sure mine have a paycheck.”

Razor said “We provide everything for ours! They don’t need money!” Snake chuckled “Bet you have a high turnover of whores then. An uneducated man.. no clue about women.. Imagine that! A woman won’t stay where she’s not appreciated.”

Chainz slammed my door open “Boss! You need to get out here! Queen is going to kill her!”

I immediately jumped to my feet… wondering who would be stupid enough to rile Delaney up. Then it dawned on me who it would turn out to be!

I didn’t walk.. I ran..